Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ 2026 Team Announced

The Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ team who will be heading to the Antarctic Peninsula. L-R: Josiah, Meleki, Eliza, Margot, Sam, Libby, Matthew, and Precious. © AHT/Brittany Fox

The Trust is excited to announce the team for the 2026 Inspiring Explorers Expedition™, set to sail to one of the most remote places on Earth, the Antarctic Peninsula, early next year.

In January, eight young Kiwis will take part in an expedition to one of the most remote places on Earth with Antarctic Heritage Trust’s Inspiring Explorers™ programme.

They will sail a century-old tall ship to the Antarctic Peninsula, giving them a taste of what life was like for Antarctica’s early explorers, and be mentored on the journey by world-record-breaking solo sailor Lisa Blair – the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica.

Our diverse team come from all around Aotearoa New Zealand and ranges in age from Precious, 18, who is currently finishing her last year of high school, to Josiah, 30, a mental health, youth and community wellbeing leader.

Margot from Auckland brings her public health experience and passion for the outdoors. Matthew from Wellington contributes an engineer’s perspective shaped by his work in green technology. Sam, an award-winning musician and producer from Christchurch, brings a creative viewpoint, while Libby, a guide and educator at the Royal Albatross Centre in Dunedin, brings a strong commitment to wildlife and conservation.

The team also bring a wide range of experience. Meleki, a student at Vic Uni, has only touched snow once before. Eliza, meanwhile, is a full-time crew member who helps rangatahi explore the outdoors on sailing voyages with our expedition partner, Spirit of Adventure Trust.

The group met one another for the first time over the weekend at our team building weekend in Ōtautahi Christchurch. They learned about the Trust and our work conserving Antarctica’s remarkable cultural heritage and spent time on the water in Lyttleton gaining some hands-on sailing experience as preparation for the expedition.

Inspiring Explorers™ meet for the first time over a weekend of team building and sailing. © AHT/Brittany Fox

This is a rare opportunity to step into the world of heroic-era exploration, and for the team to develop their ‘Explorer Mindset’, challenge themselves, learn about Antarctica’s fascinating history of exploration, and the Trust’s work to conserve that legacy.

They will take the helm, handle sails, stand watch, and learn about navigation as part of a rotating watch system with 4 hours on, then 8 hours off, as they cross the Drake Passage travelling to and from Antarctica.

Read the full team bios at inspiringexplorers.co.nz

The Trust thanks our generous donors to our Inspiring Explorers™ Fund and expedition partner Spirit of Adventure Trust for making this extraordinary Antarctic expedition possible.

Inspiring Explorers™ Team Building Weekend.

Lisa Blair talks to the Inspiring Explorers™.

Expedition Partner

The Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ team who will be heading to the Antarctic Peninsula. L-R: Josiah, Mike, Meleki, Eliza, Margot, Sam, Lisa, Matthew, Libby, and Precious. © AHT/Brittany Fox

The Trust is delighted to introduce the eight young Kiwi explorers who will join our next Inspiring Explorers Expedition™. Together they will be active participants, sailing the historic tall ship Bark EUROPA across the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Antarctic Peninsula in January 2026, alongside expedition mentor and world-record-breaking sailor Lisa Blair.

The team includes Margot Martin-Babin (28), Precious Tupou (18), and Eliza McCracken (23) from Auckland. They are joined by Josiah Tualamali’i (30) and Sam Dunlay (28) from Christchurch, Matthew Lynch (26) and Meleki Schuster (21) from Wellington, and Libby Manning (24) from Dunedin.

Precious Tupou is currently finishing her last year of high school at Tangaroa College, and will be the first in her family to attend university when she begins her studies to become a nurse. Precious says she is always seeking opportunities to push beyond her comfort zone.

“I see this expedition as an opportunity to grow, and to continue developing my leadership skills. This expedition is just beginning. Every step I take is rooted in gratitude for where I’ve come from, and excitement for where I’m going next.”

Libby Manning, a guide and educator who advocates for historical and ecological conservation, sees the expedition as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put herself in the shoes of early Antarctic explorers.

“We will be sailing to unknown locations while completely immersed in the raw, natural world. I hope to use this experience to further my advocacy and inspire future conservationists.”

Meleki Schuster, a passionate musician originally from Rotorua, is working towards a degree in Global Studies in Wellington. He believes that his most meaningful learning has come from experiences outside the classroom.

“During this expedition, I will be fascinated to see how challenges can uncover who people really are and how pressure can turn moments of uncertainty into something brave and meaningful.”

Spirit of Adventure alumna, and crew member, Eliza McCracken, brings her passion for exploration and the environment as well as her sailing experience to the team in a new partnership the Trust has formed with Spirit of Adventure Trust. Eliza is excited to sail the path of early Antarctic explorers.

“I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences and those of my fellow explorers with rangatahi (youth) onboard Spirit of New Zealand, inspiring others to stay curious and explore the amazing world around them.”

The team recently gathered in Christchurch for a weekend of team building, where they learned about the Trust’s work and the significant legacy it cares for. As part of the weekend, they took to the water with the Naval Point Club Lyttleton, getting hands-on sailing experience as preparation for the expedition.

As they sail aboard the Bark EUROPA, the team will draw connections between the tall ships of the heroic era of Antarctic exploration and today’s expeditions, sharing these insights as part of their outreach project.

Record-Breaking Solo-Sailor Lisa Blair to Join Expedition.

World-record-breaking solo sailor and environmental advocate Lisa Blair will join the expedition in a mentorship role.

The holder of eight world records, including being the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around Antarctica, Lisa brings a wealth of experience in resilience, exploration, and science-at-sea to the next generation of explorers.

Her achievements in endurance, survival, and scientific discovery connect the legacy of past explorers to the spirit of exploration today. Just as the ships of Scott and Shackleton were central to the heroic era of Antarctic exploration, supporting vital scientific work and witnessing extraordinary tales of survival, Lisa’s voyages continue this tradition of pushing boundaries in the pursuit of discovery and exploration.

She will challenge and motivate the team to step outside their comfort zones and develop their own ‘Explorer Mindset’.

“I am a big believer that people don’t protect what they aren’t connected to, which is why I am proud to be joining this expedition as a mentor for these young explorers. They will face discomfort and challenging conditions, and I look forward to guiding them as they build resilience, strengthen teamwork, and deepen their connection to Antarctica’s extraordinary environment. I am excited to see them take their experiences home to their communities, sharing their passion for the polar regions and inspiring others to protect them,” says Lisa.

Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ 2026 Team Announced

The Trust is excited to announce the team for the 2026 Inspiring Explorers Expedition™, set to sail to one of the most remote places on Earth, the Antarctic Peninsula, early next year.

Thank you to our expedition partner Spirit of Adventure Trust, sponsor Burnsco, supporter Bark EUROPA, and our generous Inspiring Explorers™ Fund donors for making this extraordinary Antarctic expedition possible.

The Trust also thanks Naval Point Club Lyttelton for giving our Inspiring Explorers™ a chance to gain sailing skills ahead of their expedition.

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