title: Castle Point Lighthouse
text: # Castle Point Lighthouse
  
  Castle Point Lighthouse, located near the village of Castlepoint in the Wellington Region of the North Island of New Zealand, is the North Island's tallest lighthouse standing 52 metres above sea level and is one of only two left in New Zealand with a rotating beam. It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand.
  
  ## History
  
  The light was built in 1913 and was originally fueled by oil. It was officially lit for the first time on Sunday 12 January 1913, sending out a triple flash every 45 seconds that could be seen for 35 kilometres. In 1954 the oil lamp was replaced with an electric one powered by a local diesel generator. This was subsequently replaced by a connection to the mains grid in 1961. The nearby Castlepoint beach is popular with holiday makers and the lighthouse itself became a popular tourist attraction, acquiring the nickname "The Holiday Light".
  
  The light was fully automated in 1988 and is now managed from a central control room in Wellington.
  
  