2017-2018 ANTARCTICA NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL REPORT STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND VALUES VISION | Antarctica and the Southern Ocean: Valued, Protected, Understood. PURPOSE | Inspiring people to connect with Antarctica, through knowledge and collaboration. VALUES | People are the key to Antarctica New Zealand’s success. This includes permanent staff, fixed-term and contract staff, seconded staff from the New Zealand Defence Force and our many strategic partners in Government, the science community and other national Antarctic programmes. We seek to create a high-performance organisation underpinned by a culture of shared beliefs: We are passionate about what we do We care for each other and the environment We work together We aspire to the highest standards We act with integrity Antarctica New Zealand is the crown entity responsible for developing, managing and executing New Zealand government activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. We also manage Scott Base, New Zealand’s Antarctic research station which supports science in the Ross Sea region. VALUED. PROTECTED. UNDERSTOOD. VALUED. PROTECTED. UNDERSTOOD. STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ANNUAL REPORT The Board of Antarctica New Zealand is pleased to present, in compliance with Section 151 of the Crown Entities Act 2004, the annual report for the Antarctica New Zealand Group for the year ended 30 June 2018. Sir Brian Roche Dame Therese Walsh Board Chair Finance & Audit Committee Chair 25 October 2018 25 October 2018 © Copyright Antarctica New Zealand 2018. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence. In essence, you are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work to the Crown and abide by the other licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/3.0/nz/. Please note that no departmental or governmental emblem, logo or Coat of Arms may be used in any way which infringes any provision of the Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981. Attribution to the Crown should be in written form and not by reproduction of any such emblem, logo or Coat of Arms. ISSN 1174-3948 (Print) ISSN 1177-9462 (Online) Photo Anthony Powell © Antarctica New Zealand (2018) CONTENTS Statement of Responsibility 2 Contents 3 Chairman’s Report 4-5 Year in Review 6-7 Antarctic Science Platform 8-9 Our Committment to Health, Safety and the Environment 10 Scott Base Redevelopment 11 2017/18 Science 12-13 Antarctic Heritage Trust (AHT) 14-15 Gateway City 16-17 Being a good employer 18-19 Antarctica New Zealand Staff 20 Statement of Responsibility 21 Audit Report 22-23 Statement of Service Performance 24-30 Financial Statements 31-54 Directory – Office details, Environment Stats 56 THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Antarctica New Zealand has enjoyed some outstanding achievements over the past year in support of New Zealand’s world-leading scientists. We have enabled scientists to explore new areas of Antarctica in the pursuit of knowledge that is becoming increasingly relevant in a changing world. We continue to engage New Zealanders with our important vision - Antarctica and the Southern Ocean: valued, protected, understood. Under Budget 2017, the Government announced funding of $21 million over three years, and the expectation of funding $7 million per annum for a further four years, for new Antarctic research. In September, Antarctica New Zealand was invited to develop a plan to host this new Antarctic Strategic Science Platform. After a period of consultation and dedicated work, we have submitted this plan to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Research conducted as part of the fund will focus on understanding Antarctica’s impact on the global earth system and how this might change in a +2°C (Paris Agreement) world. Once established, the new platform will be a significant focus of New Zealand’s Antarctic research, enabling Antarctica New Zealand to plan for and support Antarctic science well into the future. December 2017 brought with it the launch of the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA), covering more than 1.55 million square kilometres. Antarctica New Zealand’s support of scientific research on the MPA will begin next season, contributing to international efforts to research and monitor this newly protected area. This season, we mounted our largest Antarctic traverse since the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic expedition. Using German Aerospace satellite data, our team of four safely proved a route across an uncharted section of the Ross Ice Shelf to the GOVERNANCE Siple Coast – 1100 kilometres from Scott Base. Here, scientists 4 Antarctica New Zealand will investigate the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in operations on the southern continent could not be met without previously warmer climates and aim to reduce the uncertainty NZDF’s dedicated logistics support. surrounding the projections of future rises in the sea level. Partnerships are critical to successful outcomes, especially Some 350 kilometres along that traverse, we supported the in a hostile and unforgiving environment such as Antarctica. Ross Ice Shelf Hot Water Drill project, drilling 370 metres New Zealand continues to collaborate closely with our through the ice shelf to the ocean below for the first time in neighbours in the Ross Sea, the United States, Italy and Korea. 40 years. A multidisciplinary team of scientists are producing a Our international relationships span operational and scientific collaborative analysis of what role the Ross Ice Shelf plays and endeavours and provide additional opportunities to support how this may change in the future. the needs of New Zealand’s Antarctic science community. This year, that collaboration included China whose crew, on their Field science nights, where scientists work off base, have Polar research vessel the RV Xue Long, helped Antarctica New increased steadily over the past four years, reaching more Zealand install a hard-shell field camp at Cape Adare for the than 1815 nights in the 2017/18 season. These rising figures New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust. The Trust will conserve highlight scientists’ desire to push further afield in their quest Carsten Borchgrevink’s historic huts over the next few years. for knowledge and information. I would like to make special mention of The United States Scott Base officially opened in January 1957 and has served New Antarctic Program and Christchurch City Council, with whom Zealand well. The current base is more than 40 years old and is we work closely on a variety of collaborative projects in both nearing the end of its useful life. The Scott Base Redevelopment Antarctica and Christchurch. The positive economic benefit for project will provide a safe, resilient and efficient, fit-for-purpose Christchurch from all Antarctica related operations increases facility that will better support New Zealand’s scientific and each year while the US/NZ Joint Logistics Pool provides strategic interests in Antarctica. This investment in infrastructure significant benefits for both partners. will continue to deliver significant benefits and further reinforce the high international regard for our science and operating Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Antarctica New Zealand experience in Antarctica. I look forward to Antarctica New team in both Christchurch and Antarctica for their passion and Zealand presenting the Detailed Business Case to Government commitment in delivering another successful and safe season. in December 2018 to support the redevelopment. While the science presses further afield, their commitment to a sustainable operation with a focus on health, safety and I wish to acknowledge the commitment the New Zealand environmental stewardship is uncompromising. Defence Force has to supporting Antarctica New Zealand . Operation Antarctica is the largest mission for NZDF – this season, 175 personnel including flight crew, ground crew and NZDF secondees were deployed to Antarctic duties. Scott Base had the privilege of hosting Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Sir Brian Roche Defence for his first visit to Scott Base. Antarctica New Zealand’s Board Chair Erebus - Photo Anthony Powell © Antarctica New Zealand (2018) Annual Report 2017-2018 5 27 Preliminary Environmental Antarctica New Zealand Design team from the Evaluations submitted to the Awareness Programme Redevelopment project visit Scott Base Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covering Photo Megan Martin, 2017 all science events supported in Photo Megan Martin, 2017 2017/18 Photo Jacob Anderson 2017 The Ross Ice Shelf Drilling team successfully drill through 350m of the Ross Ice Shelf to reach the ocean below Photo Neil Silverwood, 2017 JULY 17 AUGUST 17 SEPTEMBER 17 OCTOBER 17 NOVEMBER 17 DECEMBER 17 Scott Base staff begin four weeks of training, before deploying to the ice All staff Dale Carnegie 3000 people turn out to view Antarctic training aircraft at Air Day Photo Megan Martin, 2017 Photo Antarctic Office, 2017 YEARIN REVIEW 6 Antarctica New Zealand Air NZ Video release Antarctic Winter School held in the Catlins for excellent communicators from around New Zealand Photo Bailey Jeffery-Butler, 2018 72 New Zealanders attended the SCAR Open Science Conference; presenting 47 posters, giving 46 oral presentations and chairing 11 sessions JANUARY 18 FEBRUARY 18 MARCH 18 APRIL 18 MAY 18 JUNE 18 410 containers offloaded RV Xue Long with the help of 55 NZDF Personnel Photo Ross Hickey, 2018 Infrastructure into Cape Adare installed, a collaborative project with the