WELLINGTON,Oct 27,2022: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited scientists at New Zealand’s Scott Base in Antarctica on Thursday, as part of a trip aimed at highlighting climate change challenges, her country’s commitment to the continent and the need for regional cooperation.
Having arrived on Wednesday at the start of her 72-hour trip, Ardern said in a recording sent overnight that New Zealand’s presence in Antarctica was at a “critical juncture” as the base comes to the end of its life.
“The role that we play, and our scientists play here, is incredibly important for our present and our future,” she said during a visit marking Scott Base’s 65th anniversary.
Last year, New Zealand announced it was allocating NZ$344 million($200.72 million) for a rebuild of the base, to support New Zealand’s presence there for the next 50 years.
