Leaning Christchurch lighthouse guided to its own safe waters
A symbol of safety in Christchurch's port for 130 years has returned to its rightful home after close to a decade in storage.
The region's September 2010 earthquake left the Lyttelton Lighthouse leaning over precariously after the foundations of the harbour’s eastern mole on which it stood subsided almost two metres.
It rested that way for eight months, tilting at an angle of 15 degrees – four times that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa – until it was rescued in May 2011. It was then carried by barge across the harbour to safe land, stored carefully near the entrance to the Lyttelton Tunnel.
With the mole, or breakwater, repaired as part of the project to build a cruise-ship berth in Lyttelton, the lighthouse was last week returned to its original spot and affixed to new foundations.
International shipping regulations mean the lighthouse will be off-limits to the public, although people will have a good view of it from nearby Naval Point – and of course from the sea.
And while its days as a navigation necessity came to an end in the early 1990s, the glow of its paraffin lamp replaced by modern lights, the Lyttelton Lighthouse will still shine out across the harbour.
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
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Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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41.5% Yes
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33.6% Maybe?
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24.9% No
2025 has been massive. The Luxon-led Government's attacks on workers, on Te Tiriti, on pay equity, on educators, on health workers, and on the public service, have been relentless.
But despite everything thrown at working people, we've also seen some massive wins. We've fought back together with strike action. We've unified with days of action. We have focused on what matters. Make no mistake, 2026 will be wild, and we are ready for it! Source - New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
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