East Island / Whangaokeno[1] is a small (13-hectare or 32-acre)[2] island approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) east of East Cape in the North Island of New Zealand. Reaching an elevation of 129 m (423 ft),[2] it was the original location for the East Cape Lighthouse, which was built in 1900. However, the island is prone to earthquakes and its steep cliffs cause numerous landslides. By 1920, the danger to the lighthouse was considered great enough to trigger a decision to move the lighthouse to the mainland. In 1922, the lighthouse was extinguished and relocated to its current position.
East Cape Lighthouse is a lighthouse sited on Otiki Hill[3] above East Cape, the easternmost point on the North Island of New Zealand.[4] It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand. The lighthouse was originally constructed on nearby East Island. However the island was difficult to access (four men died during tower construction when their boat capsized)[4] and proved to be susceptible to earthquakes and subsequent landslips. In 1920 a decision was made to relocate the light to the mainland and in April 1922, the light was extinguished and then relit at its current location in December of that year. Originally manned by three lighthouse keepers, the light's staffing was progressively reduced until it was fully automated in 1985.[4] It is now controlled from the Maritime New Zealand headquarters in Wellington. While the area around the light is accessible by foot, the lighthouse itself is not open to the public.
