Antarctic Society Dinner

I greet all you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening and the sun has gone down (Sign)

May I specifically greet you: Minister of the Crown Hon Clayton Cosgrove; Former Minister of the Crown Rt Hon Paul East; Your Excellency, William McCormick, Ambassador of the United States; Air Vice Marshal David Bamfield, Vice Chief of the NZ Defence Force; Lt Gen Loyd Utterback, of the United States Air Force; Sir Edmund Hillary and Norm McPherson, Patron and President respectively of the New Zealand Antarctic Society; Paul Hargreaves and Lou Sanson, Chairman and Chief Executive respectively of Antarctica New Zealand; David Harrowfield, Chairman, Jubilee Organising Committee; Will Steger, our Guest speaker this evening; Richard Benton, our Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and me to this New Zealand Antarctic Society Dinner in Christchurch.

Tonight I would like to reflect on New Zealand's long and significant connection with Antarctica and its desire to build on the collaborative spirit that has marked international efforts on the continent for the last half century.

Antarctica has long held a fascinating appeal for New Zealanders.  Its beauty on the one hand, and hostility on the other, have been a constant source of attraction.  As an American writer once said:

"First you fall in love with Antarctica, and then it breaks your heart."

New Zealand was the last staging post of some of the first explorations of the southern continent.  Those pioneering expeditions by explorers such as Amundsen, Scott, Shackleton, Byrd, Mawson, Fuchs and Hillary, were a mixture of both success and tragedy.  But all were marked a sense of adventure, heroic deeds and the triumph of the human spirit.

In 1933, the New Zealand Antarctic Society was formed and for the next 20 years lobbied for this country to have a permanent presence on the ice. The society brings together those with an interest in Antarctica so that they may share knowledge in the fields of science, exploration and discovery while working to protect the continent's environment and promoting this nation's in Antarctica. 

The International Geophysical Year in 1957-58 marks the beginning of a new era.  The success of the research initiatives by scientists and nations throughout the world saw the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959.

New Zealand was an original signatory to the Treaty, which came into force two years later. Since that time, the signatories, of which there are now 46, committed themselves to protecting Antarctica's special environment and ecosystems.

The Treaty also made the continent a place of peace.  Despite being signed in the middle of the Cold War, the Treaty banned military activity, the testing of nuclear weapons and the disposal of radioactive waste.

This unique agreement—which has served to set aside disputes around sovereignty in Antarctica—remains a living testament to what humanity can achieve when international co-operation rather than international competition is a guiding principle. 

As an original signatory, New Zealand played a crucial role in the Treaty negotiations and can be rightfully proud of its achievements.  New Zealand shares a desire that Antarctica continue to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and is committed to working collaboratively with other Treaty nations to that end.  On that note, I acknowledge again the Ambassador of one of the Treaty Nations—the United States—is here tonight.

New Zealand scientists, in collaboration with those from throughout the world, are undertaking leading edge research into Antarctica's flora and fauna and geological and climatic history. 

The $43 million Project ANDRILL, for example, involving 200 scientists from five nations—Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Britain and the United States—is piecing together the past climate and glacier movements in Antarctica.  New Zealand scientists and technical staff are playing a leading role in this research.  By examining the geological record of past climate changes, scientists will be better able understand changes in the future.

Peaceful collaboration and co-operation have delivered much in 50 years since the IGY in 1957.  By building on that spirit and the Antarctic Treaty System, even more will be achieved in the next 50 years.

On that note I will close in Maori by issuing greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa