Please note that some of the links in this news archive will no longer be active

13 December 2007

NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR WEBSITE

Today we have launched a new website to profile the various science and outreach activities that New Zealand is involved in during International Polar Year.  For more information go to the website.

30 November 2007

SCOUTS TO THE ICE

It has been 100 years since the Scouting movement began. As part of the wider centenary celebrations New Zealand Scouts Matt O'Sullivan, Tim Johns, Tom Williams and Andy Bartle accompanied by scout leader John Dale have departed for Antarctica hosted by Antarctica New Zealand. For more information go to the press release.

28 November 2007

ANDRILL'S SECOND ANTARCTIC DRILLING SEASON EXCEEEDS ALL EXPECTATIONS

A second season in Antarctica for the Antarctic Geological Drilling (ANDRILL) Programme has exceeded all expectations, according to the co-chief scientists of the program's Southern McMurdo Sound Project. One week ago (21 November), the drilling team passed the 1,000-metre mark in rock core pulled from beneath the sea floor in McMurdo Sound, and with a remarkable recovery rate of more than 98 percent. The end of drilling is scheduled for this weekend and only a few tens of metres of core remain to be recovered for an expected final total of more than 1,100 metres. For more information go to the press release.

20 November 2007

ANTARCTIC YOUTH AMBASSADOR GOES TO THE ICE

Jeremy "Jay" Piggott, the inaugural Antarctica Youth Ambassor travelled to Christchurch last week in preparation for his big trip south. He will be keeping a blog for the duration of his travels, with video clips, photos - and his impressions. More information about the Antarctic Youth Ambassador programme can be found here.

13 November 2007

ANTARCTICA NEW ZEALAND BOARD

Paul Hargreaves has been reappointed as Chair of Antarctica New Zealand's Management Board, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. Living Earth director Robert Fenwick, a climate change and sustainable development consultant, has been appointed to the Board to replace retiring Board member Francis Small. Mr Fenwick's appointment runs until June 2010.

7 November 2007

2006/07 ANNUAL REPORT NOW AVAILABLE

The annual report has now been released and can be downloaded here.

31 October 2007

ICESHEET OCTOBER 2007

The latest issue of Icesheet has now been published and can be downloaded.

28 September 2007

ANTARCTIC PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE SURVIVED ICE AGES

A paper just released in Science suggests that the current thinking that plant and animal life in Antarctica can't have survived the maximal ice age extents, may be wrong. Mark Stevens of Massey University and co-author Pete Convey from the British Antarctic Survey have evidence to suggest that plant and aminal life did infact survive these ice ages. For more information go to the press release.

20 September 2007

INAUGURAL ANTARCTIC YOUTH YOUTH AMBASSADOR ANNOUNCED

The inaugural winner of the Antarctic Youth Ambassador award is Jeremy Piggott from Dunedin. The award, developed by Antarctica New Zealand in partnership with the Sir Peter Blake Trust, was launched by the Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Peter Blake's son, James Blake, as part the 50th anniversary celebrations at Scott Base in January 2007.  For more information go to the press release.

17 September 2007

CHRISTCHURCH ANTARCTIC FESTIVAL

The Christchurch Antarctic Festival will run from 24 to 30 September. It coincides with the opening of the Antarctic summer season, and will comprise a number of events for adults and children. The full programme and other information can be viewed and downloaded at the festival website.