The Manukau Heads Lighthouse Trust is a non-profit organisation dependent on donations. Please consider making a donation of whatever you can to protect and sustain our beautiful lighthouse. CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW 
The present-day lighthouse is a replica of the original John Blackett designed lighthouse built in 1874. It is built on land behind the signal station on South Head and is open daily from 9am to 5pm. It is the only lighthouse in New Zealand where you will get a close-up opportunity to view the prisms of the 3rd order dioptic drum lens that was fitted to the original lighthouse in 1929.
The Manukau Heads Lighthouse Trust was formed in 2000 to organise the reconstruction of the original John Blackett designed lighthouse built in 1874. Progress was slow until local identity Bruce Russell was appointed project manager in 2005. Bruce rallied the local community to get behind his dream to build the replica of the lighthouse and much help was forthcoming. The first sod of the new site was turned on 23 March 2006. The rebuilt lighthouse was dedicated by New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark on 23 September 2006.
The worst shipwreck disaster in New Zealand history happened on 7 February 1863. On a fine summer’s day, the HMS Orpheus approached Manukau Harbour. The onshore signalman seeing the ship was off course to cross the bar, signalled to change direction but the warning was too late. Of the 259 people on board 189 perished. The Huia Settlers Museum has a dedicated gallery to the sinking of the Orpheus at 1251 Huia Road, Huia, Waitakere, Auckland 0604.
www.huiamuseum.org.nz
