Story: Antarctica and New Zealand

International Antarctic Centre, Christchurch (3rd of 3)

International Antarctic Centre, Christchurch

Christchurch has become a centre of activity related to Antarctica, with an international Antarctic campus at the city's airport. In the 2000s the New Zealand, United States and Italian Antarctic programmes were based there, and about three-quarters of scientists working in Antarctica departed from Christchurch. The University of Canterbury and Canterbury Museum have substantial Antarctic collections. In 1992 national, scientific and academic interest in the southern continent were supplemented by the International Antarctic Centre (IAC), a tourist attraction. The IAC, shown here, is based at the Antarctic campus at Christchurch airport. The vehicles parked outside are Hagglunds, often used for travel in Antarctica.

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International Antarctic Centre

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How to cite this page:

Nigel Roberts, 'Antarctica and New Zealand - Science and tourism', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/37219/international-antarctic-centre-christchurch (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Nigel Roberts, published 20 Jun 2012