A white light source employing a III-nitride based laser diode pumping one or more phosphors. The III-nitride laser diode emits light in a first wavelength range that is down-converted to light in a second wavelength range by the phosphors, wherein the light in the first wavelength range is combined with the light in the second wavelength range to create highly directional white light. The light in the first wavelength range comprises ultraviolet, violet, blue and/or green light, while the light in the second wavelength range comprises green, yellow and/or red light.