Sunset to Sunrise

An Illustrated History of New Zealand’s Lighthouses by Captain Timothy Nicol

This book truly is a labour of love.

Captain Timothy Nicol, Safety Services Manager for the Maritime Safety Authority, together with lighthouse engineer Ken Belt maintained and renewed all New Zealand’s lighthouses between 1990 and 1999, travelling widely by land, sea and air to do so.

Sadly, Captain Nicol passed away while his book was in the process of being published. This is his legacy.

The story of New Zealand’s navigational aids goes right back to the early days when shipping was the international and coastwise commercial transport for the new colony, the earliest legislation being the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act in 1840 under British sovereignty.

This fascinating history of all of New Zealand’s lighthouses, as well as stories of hardship and perseverance endured by stout-hearted keepers and their families, will captivate the reader and give insight into a bygone age when men and women strove against the elements to preserve the safety of mariners, as well as maintaining these magnificent structures.

Together with historical details, this beautifully presented book commemorates the tales of hardship and endurance scarcely believable in today’s world and showcases the history of structures familiar to sailors throughout the country.

Original photography and current maps are included to capture the lighthouses that still play such an important part in New Zealand’s maritime story.