The South Island settlement of Tekapo could become a centre of astro-tourism if a bid to turn the sky above it into a heritage park goes ahead.
The town wants the wide open spaces above the Mackenzie District town turned into a UNESCO heritage park to preserve its purity for astronomers at the Mt John Observatory.
The move would mean reducing light pollution in an area that is booming as a tourism destination.
Canterbury University Physics and astronomy professor Phil Butler says if the area was acknowledged on the world stage for its clear sky it would be a win-win situation for astronomers and the local tourism sector.
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