Antarctica is perhaps one of the few places in the world that has never seen a war. Protected by the Antarctic Treaty 1959, activity on the vast white continent is dedicated to scientific discovery and peaceful enterprise. The NZDF has had a close relationship with the ice for more than 50 years.
Partly because of its geographical location, New Zealand has a long term interest in Antarctica, and successive New Zealand governments have affirmed our commitment to keep the continent (all 13 million square kilometres of it), peaceful and protected.
New Zealand has a respected voice in the international community about the future of the continent and we are among the seven countries who, theoretically, have a ‘claim’ on parts of Antarctica. All claims are ‘frozen’ under the Antarctic Treaty in which Treaty nations agreed that “it is in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord.”
The Treaty also states that “Military personnel and equipment may be used in Antarctica but only for scientific support purposes”.
The New Zealand Defence Force’s connection with the ice goes back to 1956 when the Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Endeavour carried personnel, dogs, aircraft and stores to the Antarctic to support the NZ Party of the Commonwealth Trans Antarctic Expedition, which was led by Sir Edmund Hillary.
Since then the NZDF has continued to provide support in terms of air transport and logistics to New Zealand’s Antarctic programme on an annual basis. Lou Sanson of Antarctic NZ recently said: “Since the inception of the New Zealand Antarctic Programme the NZDF has been a valuable partner in our presence in Antarctica. NZDF provides vital support through the provision of a Hercules intercontinental air link, cargo handling services in Christchurch and McMurdo and a number of staff positions at Scott Base. This includes a large contingent of drivers and movement operators, a Light Engineering team and the Scott Base communications and cargo support team. The NZDF team has provided a professional and valuable addition to life on the Ice for over fifty years.”
Personnel who deploy to Antarctica invariably describe it as a very special place. Defence Force personnel are, of course, used to working in severe conditions (such as the heat of Timor-Leste or the Solomon Islands) but the elements are particularly extreme in Antarctica, where one can be operating in either perpetual daylight or perpetual darkness, and temperatures can fall as low as minus 40°c.
Lieutenant Ross Hickey, who recently led a NZDF team over the austral summer season there noted on his return, “Our personnel in Antarctica work in very hostile environmental conditions but the work they do is important for the smooth operation of Scott Base and McMurdo Station.”
Personnel deployed to McMurdo Station assist with air movements and logistics and ship offload operations; while at Scott Base they work in communications, cargo handling, stores, and administration. The Royal New Zealand Air Force makes about 14 flights to Antarctica each year, using a Hercules C-130. An RNZAF P-3 Orion made its first successful landing in Antarctica in 2006, touching down on a glacial runway.
The NZDF also provides personnel for Terminal Operations at Christchurch International Airport to manage flights headed to the ice. Over the 2008/2009 summer the NZDF deployed 74 personnel to Antarctica including: a summer-long Scott Base Support Element, a Rigging Team from 5 Movement Company (Army), a Light Engineering Team and a Ship Offload Team. The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 40 Squadron conducted six re-supply flights from Christchurch to Pegasus Airfield, Ross Ice Shelf and 5 Squadron has supported the Antarctic Monitoring Working Group with fishing vessel surveillance patrols.
As Antarctica continues to be a focus for collaboration and research, the New Zealand Defence Force is proud to continue its supporting role in the fascinating if vulnerable continent. During his speech at the 50th Anniversary of Scott Base in 2007, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae noted “I say without reservation that the New Zealand Defence Force is very satisfied with the contribution it has made, is making and will make to New Zealand’s efforts in Antarctica. We’re proud of the people who have served here – both military and civilian”. Lieutenant General Mateparae and other New Zealand Defence Force personnel had accompanied adventuring legend Sir Edmund Hillary to the Antarctic to mark the 50th anniversary of Scott Base.
Endeavour’s Journey South
In December 1956 HMNZS ENDEAVOUR set sail from Wellington with personnel, Greenland Huskie dogs, Auster and Beaver aircraft and various stores to support the Commonwealth Trans Antarctic Expedition (CTAE). The CTAE expedition’s goal to cross the frozen Continent was supported by government, commercial and public contributions.
Commanded by Captain Harry Kirkwood (an experienced ice navigator) who was contracted to the Royal New Zealand Navy, ENDEAVOUR’s task was to land the New Zealand section of the expedition (under the leadership of Sir Edmund Hillary) and assist with the unloading of cargo and the subsequent construction of Scott Base. The establishment of Scott Base by the New Zealand party would facilitate our country’s long term national commitment to scientific research in Antarctica.
The previous summer Lieutenant Commander Bill Smith, Royal Navy, had gone south with ‘Op Deepfreeze’ to scout for unloading sites for ENDEAVOUR, and the RNZN appointed him the ship’s First Lieutenant. The Royal Navy also loaned Chief Petty Officer Peter Mulgrew to the expedition as one of the two radio operators. The NZ party’s Auster and Beaver aircraft, capable of operating on wheels, floats, or skis – packed aboard ENDEAVOUR – were accompanied by three staff from the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
ENDEAVOUR was escorted to the edge of the ice by two HMNZS frigates PUKAKI and HAWEA. ENDEAVOUR departed Bluff on 21 December and met the two frigates at sea. Christmas Day was bright and sunny but by the 27th off Scott Island the ships were among light pack ice. It was time for the two frigates to depart and conduct oceanographic observations as they returned to New Zealand.
HMNZS ENDEAVOUR reached the ice on 5 January (after assistance from the ice breaker USS GLACIER – in coming years GLACIER, the most powerful US icebreaker, would become a familiar visitor to NZ ports and an icon of the Antarctic programme). Unloading ENDEAVOUR continued until 25 January. She returned to New Zealand on 22 February, bringing the construction party and other summer workers home.
Captain Kirkwood noted that ENDEAVOUR’s journey to the ice in 1956 “was not just a means to an end but an integral and vital factor in establishing the first NZ Antarctic Base.”
Antarctic NZ recognises Navy Lieutenant’s work on the ice
On 2 March 2009 Antarctic New Zealand presented Ross Hickey, a Lieutenant in the Royal New Zealand Navy, with their prestigious ‘Change of Season Pennant’ in acknowledgement of his team’s excellent work at Scott Base over the 2008/2009 season deployment.
Ross had just returned from a summer posting to the Antarctic, where he was the New Zealand Defence Force’s Senior National Officer (SNO) and Logistic Support Coordinator for Antarctic New Zealand.
Antarctic New Zealand’s Programme Manager, Erik Barnes, said, “Every year we perform the raising and lowering of the flag (summer flag to winter pennant). The ceremony indicates the transition from the summer to winter season and the handover of leadership. The flag is traditionally given to star performers as one of our highest recognitions. I wanted to present the Scott Base Winter Flag to Lieutenant Ross Hickey for his outstanding performance this summer in both his roles as Antarctic NZ Logistics Support Coordinator and the Senior National Officer. Ross was a key player in the success of this season and worked hard to provide an appropriate level of awareness about New Zealand Defence Force issues and presence with Antarctic New Zealand.”
As Senior National Officer, Ross’s tasks included overseeing a team of eight NZDF personnel and providing logistic support to the various scientific teams working on the ice. At times this would involve Ross and his team taking fuel and supplies up to 150 miles south of Base to the Darwin Glacier – an area Ross describes as “breathtakingly stunning.” During his ‘watch’, Ross oversaw over sixty ship offloads, but also took time to enjoy some of the sights.
“While every person maintains a high workload throughout the deployment, it didn’t stop us from being able to get out and see some of this beautiful frozen continent. On our one day off each week we’d take trips to Scott’s or Shackleton’s Huts, the ice caves, the ski fields or other local landmarks.”
Ross is the first New Zealand Defence Force serviceperson to receive the award, which was presented to him at a small ceremony at the Antarctic New Zealand Centre in Christchurch. “It was an absolute privilege to accept the pennant and I am keen to note the fantastic work of the rest of my NZDF team during the deployment”, he said.
Summing up the four month deployment, Ross said he and his team were glad to have had the opportunity to continue to strengthen the long term partnership between the New Zealand Defence Force and Antarctic New Zealand. “The NZDF effort in Antarctica can sometimes be overlooked due to its size and location but it offers invaluable resource to the Antarctic programme and international relations.”