The life of a lighthouse keeper

Prior to permanent lighthouses being built, there were a range of leading lights, temporary lights and structures around the country. And there were many people who were stationed to keep these lights burning. 

However it wasn't until the establishment of New Zealand's first permanent lighthouse at Pencarrow, which replaced a temporary light and was officially lit for the first time on 01 January 1859, that there was an increased need for skilled lighthouse keepers to live and work in remote sites around the country. 

Sources

• 'New Zealand’s first lighthouse lit ', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/new-zealands-first-lighthouse-lit, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 23-Sep-2020  
• 'Lighthouse keepers – their work and family life', URL: https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/public/lighthouses-of-new-zealand/history-of-new-zealand-lighthouses-and-their-keepers/#keepers, Maritime New Zealand, [n.d] 

A selection of photographs of lighthouse keepers across the country

Transfers to a new lighthouse 

Lighthouse keepers were regularly rotated to new locations, approximately every 2 years, and often swapped between the North & South Islands. 

Transfer announcements were published in the newspapers, and give an indication of the locations of lighthouses, and show that many lighthouse keepers stayed in the profession for a number of years. As more lighthouses were established, the list of transfers grew longer! 

It was also important to have a rotation of relieving (temporary) lighthouse keepers, who could step in to cover absences and illness, as well as giving lighthouse keepers a much-needed break. 

Housing and other services provided 

Regular supplies, including reading materials, mail and school work for children, were delivered. 

Although the lighthouse keepers did much of the day-to-day servicing of equipment, there was also a programme of work by Marine Department staff to ensure lighthouse buildings were regularly maintained and re-painted. 

Journals - an insight into the life of a lighthouse keeper

Archives New Zealand holds a collection of journals kept by lighthouse keepers, which shows the work of lighthouse keepers across the different locations. 

Mary Jane Bennett 

New Zealand's first (and only) female lighthouse keeper 

When the existing light was replaced with New Zealand's first permanent lighthouse in 1859 she was officially appointed as its first keeper. She held the position for a number of years before returning to England. She remains the only woman to have been a lighthouse keeper in New Zealand. 

Source: 

• 'Mary Bennett', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/mary-bennett, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, updated 21-Apr-2022
• 'Keeper of the Light', URL: https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/collections/keeper-of-light-mary-jane-bennett, New Zealand Maritime Museum, [n.d.]

An adventurous life for families 

Although single men could apply to be relieving lighthouse keepers, they needed to be married to apply for permanent positions. 

Source: 

• 'Lighthouse keepers – their work and family life', URL: https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/public/lighthouses-of-new-zealand/history-of-new-zealand-lighthouses-and-their-keepers/#keepers, Maritime New Zealand, [n.d] 

Books, interviews and other resources

The Lighthouse Keeper series by Ronda & David Armitage

Author Ronda Armitage was born in New Zealand, and now lives in the United Kingdom. Ronda wrote, and her husband David illustrated, a series of books featuring Mr Grinling the In 1977, Ronda's first book The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch was published, and it won The Esther Glen Award for Best Book of the Year (New Zealand) in 1978. Following this success, Ronda wrote many other books featuring Mr and Mrs Grinling, the lighthouse keepers. A list of all the titles in The Lighthouse Keeper series is shown on Ronda's website. 

Women in Lighthouses

Barbara Ursini Novelli explored the archives at Maritime New Zealand, and discovered interviews and photos of women who lived in lighthouses, including Elsie Eagle (daughter of a lighthouse keeper), Rosalind Hosking (wife of a lighthouse keeper) and Carol McGregor (wife of a lighthouse keeper).  

This DigitalNZ story was created in June 2023, and updated in January 2025.