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In December 2009 New Zealand and the 46 other Parties to the Antarctic Treaty celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Treaty is a unique model for international cooperation that ensures Antarctica is used only for peaceful purposes.
New Zealand was among the 12 original countries which signed the Treaty in Washington D.C. on 1 December 1959. New Zealand played a prominent role in the negotiations which led to the Treaty’s signature.
New Zealand has a strong interest in peace and stability in Antarctica because it is our southern neighbour, covering 10 percent of the earth’s surface.
The Treaty has served to set aside potential disputes about sovereignty and the continent is effectively demilitarised, although military equipment and personnel can be used in support of science and other peaceful purposes.
The Treaty also upholds freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and promotes international cooperation.
For example, scientists from the United States, New Zealand, Germany and Italy recently collaborated on the internationally acclaimed ANDRILL drilling project on the Ross Ice Shelf, which provides further understanding into the impacts of Climate Change on Antarctica.
The Treaty has been added to since 1959. The Antarctic Treaty’s Protocol on Environmental Protection designates Antarctica as “a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science”. It also prohibits the commercial exploitation of mineral resources in Antarctica.
The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), signed in 1980, provides for the conservation of Antarctic Marine living resources, like toothfish and krill.
New Zealand plays an important role in the protection of marine resources in Antarctica. RNZAF Orions patrol the Southern Ocean in support of CCAMLR in an effort to track down illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishers in the Southern Ocean.
Another growing challenge for treaty partners is managing Antarctic tourism numbers, which have grown unchecked from 12,000 to 46,000 in seven years.
New Zealand hosted an Antarctic Treaty Meeting of Experts on the management of ship-borne tourism, to look at ways to prevent a humanitarian and environmental disaster in the waters around Antarctica which could occur if a tourist vessel sinks or runs aground. The sinking of the tourist vessel Explorer in Antarctica in 2007 was seen as a “wake-up call” by New Zealand and other Treaty Parties. The meeting ran 9 – 11 December 2009 in Wellington.
