LINZ formalises Antarctica NZ relationship

Land information New Zealand (LINZ) and Antarctica New Zealand have today signed a historic Record of Understanding – formalising their longstanding relationship and strengthening their ongoing commitment to collaborative projects on the world’s coldest continent.

“LINZ and Antarctica NZ have had a long association, and have worked together in Antarctica for more than 60 years,” LINZ Chief Executive Peter Mersi said.

“As our relationship has continued to evolve, we identified a need to formalise it for the first time. In doing so, our agencies are strengthening our commitment to working together, and allowing for long-term planning and logistic support planning.”

LINZ has direct responsibility – for mapping, charting and geodetic survey, and place naming – that extends to the Ross Dependency of Antarctica.

“Under the agreement signed today, LINZ will provide professional services to undertake key activities in these areas of responsibility. Antarctica NZ will continue to provide logistical support for LINZ to undertake key activities, and will continue to provide administrative support to the New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) in respect to geographic naming.

“Collaboration forms an important strand of Antarctica New Zealand’s strategic objectives to support the delivery of science in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean,” said Peter Beggs, Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand.

“LINZ has been a long-term partner in that endeavour and we are delighted to formalise that relationship in this Record of Understanding,” he said.

Key collaborative activities over the next five years include topographic mapping in the Ross Dependency; contributing to an international programme to establish gravity measurements in Antarctica; and hydrographic charting in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica.

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