It was the last manned light to be built in New Zealand and replaced the Cape Maria Van Diemen Lighthouse, located on nearby Motuopao Island, which had been built in 1879. Accessing that lighthouse was difficult due to the rough seas in the area, so in 1938, it was decided to move the lighthouse to Cape Reinga for safety reasons.
The last manned light tower constructed in New Zealand was the one that replaced the Cape Maria Van Diemen Lighthouse on Motuopao Island, which had been built in 1879. The difficult seas surrounding the island prompted a decision in 1938 to move the lighthouse to Cape Reinga for safety.