17 January 2007
The Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae will accompany the Prime Minister Helen Clark, Sir Edmund Hillary, other dignitaries and media to the Antarctic to mark the 50th anniversary of Scott Base on Saturday 20 January.
As part of the official commemoration ceremony, Lieutenant General Mateparae will give a speech on New Zealand Defence – 50 years support of the Antarctic programme.
NZDF personnel were part of a team that helped to erect the first hut at Scott Base, officially opened on 20 January 1957.
The Antarctic/NZDF relationship goes back to1956 when the HMNZS Endeavour carried personnel, dogs, aircraft and stores to the Antarctic to set up Scott Base and assist the NZ Support Party of the Commonwealth Trans Antarctic Expedition, led by Sir Edmund Hillary.
The relationship continues today with NZDF transporting people and equipment to the ice each year. The NZDF also provides a number of staff in support of the New Zealand and United States Antarctic programme for the summer season. These personnel divide their time between McMurdo Station, where they look after air movements and logistics, and Scott Base, where they undertake communications, cargo handling, stores, administration and base management functions.
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ENDS
For further information please contact Ally Clelland, Defence Public Relations
04 496 0273 or 021 569 130
New Zealand Defence Force’s involvement in the Antarctic programme
Each year Antarctica New Zealand requests New Zealand Defence Force support for the forthcoming Antarctic summer season. Tasks include search and rescue support, air transport, Terminal Operations at Harewood (Christchurch International Airport) and McMurdo Station, ship offload operations and Scott Base support personnel.