District wide glow up cuts costs and improves efficiency
Selwuyn District Council media release: 4th November 2025
All 10,000 streetlights across the Waikirikiri Selwyn district have now been converted to energy-efficient LED technology, delivering major savings and sustainability benefits.
The five-year project by the Selwyn District Council and majority funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, saw around 5,000 traditional sodium lamps upgraded to LEDs.
These modern lights use significantly less power, are cheaper to maintain, and boast a lifespan of up to 20 years - five times longer than the old bulbs, Council Executive Director Infrastructure and Property Tim Mason says
“This is a great example of how smart infrastructure investments can deliver long-term financial and environmental benefits for our community.
"About 10 percent of our energy use is from streetlighting, so this change has a big impact. We’ve saved about $536,000 on power bills over the past four years and that doesn’t include the savings on maintenance costs. That helps keep our costs down and frees up funds for other road maintenance,” Mr Mason says.
The savings so far have helped the Council upgrade lighting around Whitecliffs and carry out more road maintenance.
Energy used has decreased too, falling by 21 percent since 2019, despite more lights being added each year across the district.
The initiative has also contributed to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, with analysis showing a drop of approximately 125 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent between the 2021/22 and 2023/24 financial years.