Antarctica New Zealand Stakeholder Function

Good evening.  I would like to start by acknowledging Rob Fenwick, the Chair, and Lou Sanson, Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand. I also acknowledge the Argentinean Ambassador, His Excellency Pedro Raul Herrera, and the Chief Executive of Air New Zealand, Rob Fyfe.

The attendees here highlight that not only does Antarctica have a unique physical environment, it also offers a unique environment for international collaboration, particularly scientific collaboration.

For decades, Antarctica has remained a place of warm relationships and co-operation in an icy environment. The Antarctica Treaty has provided the basis for these relationships.   In addition New Zealand has been fortunate to have had close science and logistics links to Antarctica with the US and other countries.  The levels of co-operation and good will have exemplified the positive relationships that countries can have when they share common goals.

Science in Antarctica is important for New Zealand.  Science helps us answer some of the big questions about climate, land-based ecosystems and the Southern Ocean. New Zealand's science and science leadership underpins New Zealand's broader interests in the Ross Dependency and our support for the Antarctica Treaty system.

When I spoke to Antarctica New Zealand's stakeholder function in June last year, International Polar Year had just finished.   For New Zealand researchers, International Polar Year provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in international science collaborations.  It assisted them to contribute to world-leading science programmes such as ANDRILL and the Census of Antarctic Marine Life. It reinforced New Zealand's contribution and leadership in areas of Antarctic science. Perhaps the best evidence of this was the publication of ANDRILL results in Nature in 2009.

The ANDRILL programme has now been recast as the Past Antarctic Climates and Future Implications programme (PACAFI). This programme showcases the ability of New Zealand's research organisations - in this case, CRIs GNS and NIWA, and Victoria, Canterbury and Otago Universities - to join together for big science projects. PACAFI now has funding from FoRST and Antarctica New Zealand of $1.4 million for up to eight years.

Another high-profile science expedition was the voyage of the Southern Ocean Research Partnership, aboard the Tangaroa. Led by the Australian Antarctic Division, this was a highly successful journey to Antarctic waters, to study whale species using non-lethal scientific methods. As well as developing New Zealand's relationship with our Australian counterparts, it also showcased the abilities of NIWA and the Tangaroa research vessel.

Since my speech at last year's function, I have been busy reforming the science system. The Government is making the most significant changes to the science system seen in the past 20 years.  We appointed Professor Sir Peter Gluckman as the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor and made significant new investment in science through last year's Budget.

We are making changes to the role and operation of CRIs on the back of the CRI Taskforce Report and merging the Ministry of and Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.  The Prime Minister has also signalled that science and particularly business innovation will be recognised in the upcoming May Budget. 

I am lucky to have two Ministerial portfolios which have very strong links to Antarctica.  The have been successes in both these in the past year.

As well as the routine C130 Hercules flights from Christchurch as part of the joint logistics pool with the US, the Air Force undertook an emergency medical evacuation at short notice early in the season.

For the first time, the Air Force undertook two trial flights to the ice with Boeing 757s.  These went very well and the second flight returned with passengers.  I am hopeful that a review of the success of the first flights will result in the inclusion of some Boeing flights in the joint logistics pool with the US Antarctic programme.

The third Air Force platform to visit the ice last season were three P3 Orion flights, which landed and overnighted as part of the fisheries surveillance. The Navy's new Offshore Patrol Vessels, the Otago and Wellington, will also be able to contribute to New Zealand's presence in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. 

Another major contribution to the US/New Zealand effort in Antarctica has of course been the three wind turbines which are providing power to Scott Base and McMurdo Station.  I know we will hear more about the turbines later.

I began my speech with reference to International Polar Year and the focus on Antarctic science that this provided.  International Polar Year lifted the bar on the quality and quantity of New Zealand Antarctic research.  It has left an enduring legacy from the additional focus and funding. It has also improved relationships between New Zealand's research organisations.  My challenge to you all is to build on this legacy and continue to provide leadership in Antarctic science in the years ahead.