Antarctica New Zealand

Antarctica New Zealand Government agency responsible for carrying out Aotearoa New Zealand's activities in Antarctica.

Antarctica New Zealand is the Crown Entity responsible for developing, managing and executing New Zealand’s activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, in particular the Ross Dependency. Antarctica New Zealand manages Scott Base, New Zealand’s Antarctic research station. It maintains New Zealand’s operational presence in the Ross Dependency for the benefit of present and future generations of New Zealanders. Key activities include supporting scientific research, conserving the intrinsic values of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and raising public awareness (in part through arts, media and youth programmes) of the international significance of the continent.

She comes across as a natural researcher, but Olivia Truax has felt a pull between policy and science for most of her ca...
15/09/2026

She comes across as a natural researcher, but Olivia Truax has felt a pull between policy and science for most of her career.

“I was actually a geology and political philosophy major in undergrad, back in Massachusetts,” she says, “I wrote my senior thesis on Brown vs Board of Education and the history of race law in the States."

Find out how she became co-lead of the Antarctic Science Platform's 'Tiaki Whenua' programme here: https://www.antarcticscienceplatform.org.nz/updates/the-freedom-to-be-curious-meet-tiaki-whenua-co-lead-olivia-truax

UC Science Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury University of Canterbury The Fulbright Program

Antarctica is more than a remote continent of ice and snow?It helps regulate our climate, influences the movement of h...
08/09/2026

Antarctica is more than a remote continent of ice and snow?

It helps regulate our climate, influences the movement of heat and nutrients around the globe, and supports natural systems that affect life far beyond the Southern Ocean. From reflecting sunlight back into space to storing vast reserves of freshwater, Antarctica plays a critical role in keeping our planet in balance.

Protecting Antarctica is a shared responsibility. Every action we take on the ice contributes to safeguarding a place with global importance.

What happens at the bottom of the world matters everywhere.

📷1 Anthony Powell / Antarctica New Zealand
📷2 Lana Young
📷3 Leigh Tait / Earth Sciences New Zealand
📷4 Jean Christophe Varnier

03/09/2026

It’s ANZAP week here at Antarctica New Zealand, and no, that’s not a typo!

It’s short for ‘Antarctica New Zealand Awareness Programme’ and is basically bootcamp for our summer staff. They get taught EVERYTHING from what a ‘P’ bottle is, to how close you can get to a penguin and what to do if there’s a fire on base.

It’s also the first chance they have to get acquainted with the team they’ll be living and working with for five months.

After a couple more weeks' specialised training, they'll be off to the ice ✈️

📷 Anthony Powell
🎵 Viacheslav Starostin

✨Let the season begin ✨On Friday last week we had our first flight of the 2026/2027 season touch down at Phoenix Airfiel...
23/08/2026

✨Let the season begin ✨

On Friday last week we had our first flight of the 2026/2027 season touch down at Phoenix Airfield in Antarctica. It carried the first two Antarctica New Zealand staff who are helping to set up Scott Base for the busy season ahead.

Bring on the summer!

Pictures: Jean Christophe Varnier
Video: Jamie McGaw
Music: Music by Viacheslav Starostin

🥳 It's official! 🥳Antarctica New Zealand and the Antarctic Science Platform are excited to announce the New Zealand Anta...
11/08/2026

🥳 It's official! 🥳

Antarctica New Zealand and the Antarctic Science Platform are excited to announce the New Zealand Antarctic Science Conference will be held in Ōtautahi Christchurch from the 28 June - 2 July 2027. Make sure you save the date!

A huge thanks to our host University of Canterbury.

More info to come soon.

📷1-2: Anthony Powell
📷3: Waynne Williams
Video: Antarctica New Zealand
Music: Andrii Groza
Gateway to Antarctica: Ōtautahi Christchurch University of Otago University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau The University of Waikato Earth Sciences New Zealand NZDF Defence Careers New Zealand Antarctic Society Antarctic Heritage Trust Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Bioeconomy Science Institute

Winters in Antarctica's Ross Sea have become stormier in recent decades, which has made the 'fast ice' thinner that form...
05/08/2026

Winters in Antarctica's Ross Sea have become stormier in recent decades, which has made the 'fast ice' thinner that forms in spring and early summer.

This isn't good news for our researchers trying to do field work or set up camp!

Read more here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/antarctica-storms-becoming-more-frequent-and-intense

📷1: Lead author Antonia Radlwimmer uses a magnaprobe to measure snow depths on the sea ice in McMurdo Sound in November 2024. Credit Inga Smith.
📷2: Antarctica New Zealand
📷3: Anthony Powell
Video: Steve Fairie
University of Otago

How do you keep an eye on Antarctic penguins during winter – when it’s dark 24/7? University of Canterbury researchers h...
02/08/2026

How do you keep an eye on Antarctic penguins during winter – when it’s dark 24/7?

University of Canterbury researchers have found that satellites can help them ‘see’ individual emperor penguins while mums are away feeding and dads are incubating the eggs.

This will let them get a much better idea of total population numbers, compared to trying to count all the birds when the sun comes up in spring.

Read the full article here: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news-and-events/news/2026/new-tech-enables-scientists-to-see-emperor-penguins-in-darkness-

📸1: Photo was taken from a safe distance to avoid disturbance and under requisite permits provided to Michelle LaRue.
📸2-3: Umbra Space
Video: Anthony Powell

Big news for Scott Base! 🎉We've officially entered the delivery phase of the Scott Base redevelopment, with the signing ...
29/07/2026

Big news for Scott Base! 🎉

We've officially entered the delivery phase of the Scott Base redevelopment, with the signing of the main construction contract with LT McGuinness Ltd

This is an exciting next step towards creating a modern, resilient Antarctic research station that will support science, operations and New Zealand's presence in Antarctica for decades to come.

Find out more here: https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/media/news/contract-signed-for-scott-base-redevelopment

Address

38 Orchard Road
Christchurch
8053

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+6433580200

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