More than 700 lower-temperature lights will be used in sensitive areas of Dunedin as part of the city's street light upgrade, the Dunedin City Council says.
The council is just beginning a $15million project to replace the city's ageing network of amber high-pressure sodium lamps with new 3000-Kelvin LEDs, which critics have argued could be harmful to humans and animals alike.
This week, the council announced about 765 lights with a lower Kelvin rating would be included in the rollout, which is expected to be completed by mid-2021.
The 2200K LEDs would be installed on the Otago Peninsula, as well as Waikouaiti, Waitati, Mihiwaka and near Purakaunui, council asset and commercial manager Merrin Dougherty said.
The 2200K lights would have a colour like the city's amber lights, and would help protect night sky viewing, she said.
The decision was made in consultation with the NZ Transport Agency, which is funding 85% of the cost.
The 2200K LEDs would be less energy efficient and cost more to maintain than 3000K LEDs, although the price difference was considered "negligible", a spokesman added.
Both types of lights could be brightened or dimmed as needed, she said.