Antarctica’s heritage under the Trust’s care for current and future generations globally
The world’s greatest polar exploration stories
Young people to explore the physical world to educate and inspire them
Sustain and grow the Trust’s programmes, while caring for people and the planet
Thanks to supporters like you, we are celebrating 10 years of the Inspiring Explorers™ programme.
From the classroom to polar expeditions, over 15,000 young people have directly participated in this programme. They’ve grown their ‘Explorer Mindset’ and stepped out of their comfort zone. Through outreach initiatives they have created a ripple effect in their communities, connecting with hundreds of thousands of people to share their experiences and the stories of the Antarctic explorers you admire. We need your help to fund the next five years of this programme.
By giving to our annual appeal you help bring this programme to thousands more young people across New Zealand and the world!
Zack and Johan making repairs to the flue rigging atop Shackleton’s hut. © AHT/Jeremy Moyle
For conservation experts, working in Antarctica is a career and life highlight. We have engaged with over 100 specialists from around the world to work in Antarctica and New Zealand on our heritage conservation projects.
We are currently looking for experienced heritage professionals for the summer 2025-26 Antarctic season. We are looking for people who are excited by the prospect of working on a leading international heritage project, able to work as part of a close knit team and comfortable with the challenges of working in an extreme environment.
Learn more and apply today!
During April and May, charities New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust (NZAHT) and UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) joined forces to tour England and Scotland for the first time with two exciting immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences that use cutting-edge digital technologies to transform how the British public can learn about Antarctica’s rich history of science and exploration.
British expeditions played a significant role in shaping the course of Antarctic history from the heroic age through to the more recent scientific age on the continent.
Participants were able to take a unique step back in time by donning a VR headset and controllers, which will instantly transport them to Antarctica. They also had the chance to step inside and explore historic huts, come face to face with penguins, ride in a hydrogen balloon, feed huskies, meet early explorers and scientists and hear incredible tales of resilience, teamwork and innovation on the ice.
Watch the new short film about the Trust’s ninth Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ which journeyed to South Georgia Island.
Across the Atlantic, directed by Inspiring Explorer Te Aroha Devon, follows climber Sam West as he prepares for a guided attempt to climb Mount Worsley with a small team of Inspiring Explorers™, and data scientist Jenny Sahng, part of the science outreach team tasked with capturing weather and ocean data and observations using both historic-era methods and MetSevice’s world-leading technology.
Donors and supporters across the world answered our call to enable an important conservation project which is now getting underway in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Ross Sea Party tent, an invaluable artefact from Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-17, is under scrutiny as three specialist conservators develop the most appropriate processes to conserve it.
In September 2024, metal conservator Emily Fryer and textile conservators Kate Blair and Sarah Clayton met to carefully look over this evocative piece of history. They are considering its current state, what conservation processes it needs and can withstand, and have taken samples for analysis to inform what happens next.
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Antarctic Heritage Trust
7 Ron Guthrey Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Private Bag 4745, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Antarctic Heritage Trust
7 Ron Guthrey Road, Christchurch 8053, New Zealand
Private Bag 4745, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
