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New Zealand sovereignty over the Ross Dependency was established in 1923, its boundaries defined as all the islands and territories in Antarctica between the 160th degree of east longitude and the 150th degree of west longitude and south of 60 degrees south latitude. This means the Ross Dependency comprises the Ross Ice Shelf, the Balleny Islands, Scott Island and adjacent islands and the landmass within these longitudes to the point of their convergence at the South Pole.
New Zealand annually appoints Officers of the Government of the Ross Dependency to represent the executive government. The officers are senior staff at Scott Base. They are empowered, among other things, to take all steps necessary or expedient to enforce the laws and regulations in force in the Ross Dependency.
New Zealand legislation may apply in the Ross Dependency. For example, New Zealand criminal law specifically extends to criminal acts committed in the Ross Dependency (Antarctica Act 1960). Another example is the New Zealand Citizenship Act 1977. Any person born in the Ross Dependency is a New Zealand citizen. There is also specific provision in New Zealand legislation for the establishment of an Exclusive Economic Zone beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of the Ross Dependency (Territorial Sea, Contiguous zone and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977).
