Considering planning activities in Antarctica

You must firstly complete the Advance Notification Form and email it to us as soon as possible. Please fill in as much detail within the form as possible at this stage of your planning. This will include information about your planned activities, contingency plans and insurance. We will then contact you to discuss the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) you are required to submit, and if approved, the Notification of approval and various Permits that may be required.

We recommend you complete the Advance Notification Form at least five months before you plan to leave.

Please note normal timeframes:-

Normally activities to be considered will need to submit the EIA application at the latest by the beginning of July. This can be for activities at times throughout the whole season, but is particularly necessary for early season potential activities (October-December). But please contact earlier with your Advanced Notification and we can advise you.

If you are not able to complete the early approvals timeline then the last availability for activities to be considered for the later part of the season (January-March), you will need to submit the EIA application at the latest by the beginning of October. But please contact earlier with your Advanced Notification and we can advise you.

Download the New Zealand Advanced Notification Form

The EIA is a formal document you need to supply in advance that identifies and predicts the environmental impacts of your planned activity. Your activity must be planned and conducted in a way which limits adverse effects on the Antarctic environment, including its ecosystems as well as areas of scientific, historic, aesthetic or wilderness significance. The EIA includes how to avoid or minimise these impacts, and how they will be monitored during and after activities, which verifies the expected impacts and detects unforeseen impacts.

Once thoroughly evaluated by expert review, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will consider approving the activities or not. If approved you will be issued with a Notification of approval document which may also have specific ministerial directions applied as to how to minimise or avoid impacts. 

Some activities may also require a special Permit, for example, for entry into Antarctic specially protected areas (ASPA) including Historic Huts, removing or introducing any flora and fauna, collecting samples, and other activities. These are also applied for as part of the EIA to MFAT. Any permits granted will be included as a section within the Notification of approval of activities, and may be subject to certain conditions set to protect the environment. 

We recommend you use: 

• The full details of the EIA application summarised here: New Zealand Procedures for Non-Governmental Activities to Antarctica [PDF, 4.7 MB]
• Antarctic Treaty Revised Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment in Antarctica 2016(external link) 

Please note normal timeframes:-

Normally activities to be considered will need to submit the EIA application at the latest by the beginning of July. This can be for activities at times throughout the whole season, but is particularly necessary for early season potential activities (October-December). But please contact earlier with your Advanced Notification and we can advise you.

If you are not able to complete the early approvals timeline then the last availability for activities to be considered for the later part of the season (January-March), you will need to submit the EIA application at the latest by the beginning of October. But please contact earlier with your Advanced Notification and we can advise you.

Exemption

If you already have a Notification of approval (e.g. permission / approval / permit documentation) from another country (or are planning to submit an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) to another country). You may need an exemption from the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, and depending of the activity, you may be required to have a New Zealand National Representative accompany you. Therefore, please start at step 1 by sending us an Advanced Notification Form.

If the proposed activities described in your EIA are approved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs under the Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act, then you will receive a Notification of approval of activities document. This notification will include specific ministerial directions, and any special permits granted with possible specific permit conditions applied. 

In addition to this, depending on the specific activities proposed you may need to apply for separate permits or permissions through other government agencies, or other countries:

• Other Permits required under separate New Zealand legislation
• Visiting Antarctic Bases and field stations
• Visiting New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands
• Visiting Australia's Macquarie Island

Other Permits required under separate New Zealand legislation. 

Depending on the proposed activities, you may have to apply for other Permits covered by other New Zealand legislation. You will have to approach the relevant government agencies. This is separate from your EIA application to MFAT. Please see further explanation in New Zealand Procedures for Non-Governmental Activities to Antarctica.

Visiting Antarctic Bases and Field Stations

If you wish to visit any Antarctic Bases, you must get permission from the relevant Base. Please be aware that visits cannot always be accommodated.

Scott Base and New Zealand field stations.

If you wish to visit Scott Base, you must get permission from Antarctica New Zealand’s General Manager for Operations, Simon Trotter before you depart:

Tel: +64 3 358 0200

Email: s.trotter@antarcticanz.govt.nz 

Your visit details must be confirmed with the Scott Base Leadership Team 24-72 hours in advance of your arrival.

Tel: +64 2 409 9700

Email: comms@scott.aq 

You also need permission from the Scott Base Leadership Team before visiting any other New Zealand field stations.

Visiting New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands

The Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Island, Campbell Island and the Snares Islands are protected national reserves, and sometimes visited on voyages to the Antarctic. If you wish to land at any of these islands you’ll need a Department of Conservation (DOC) permit. A DOC representative may be on board the vessels to share their knowledge and enhance the trip. They will also assist the expedition leader to ensure all permit requirements are complied with.

For more information, contact the Southern Islands Area Manager:

Tel:  +64 3 211 2400

Email: invercargill@doc.govt.nz at the DOC Murihiku / Invercargill Office

• Visiting the Sub-Antarctic Islands-DOC

Visiting Australia’s Macquarie Island

This island is part of the Australian state of Tasmania. The island and surrounding waters are a nature reserve and part of a World Heritage Area. Access requires written permission from the Director of National Parks and Wildlife.

• Guidelines for Tourist Visits to Macquarie Island (Australian National Parks and Recreation

As part of the application process and prior to the proposed activities occurring, you must send us evidence that you have:

• contingency plans and sufficient arrangements for health and safety, search and rescue, and medical care and evacuation
• adequate insurance or other arrangements to cover the costs of search and rescue, and medical care and evacuation.

If these arrangements rely on other operators or national Antarctic programmes, you must have their written agreement. If you don’t have the support of other operators or a national programme there are extra requirements you need to meet. You will have to provide proof of these requirements, which include:

• equipment in good working order with back-ups
• participants who are prepared medically, physically and psychologically
• participants who can use equipment properly
• first-aid equipment and experience.

Please use:

• Antarctic Treaty Guidelines on Contingency planning, insurance and other matters for tourist and other non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area

Depending on the proposed activity you may be required to have a National Representative accompany you. The National Representative’s role is to observe and report in relation to the Act, the EIA, and any special Ministerial directions, and permits. You’re required to cover the representative's costs including travel, accommodation and food.

If you are planning to leave from New Zealand as your last point of departure for Antarctica this may apply. If you already have a Notification of approval (e.g. permission / approval / permit documentation) from another country (or are planning to submit an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) to another country). You may need an exemption from the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, and depending on the activity, you may be required to have a New Zealand National Representative on board. Therefore, please start at step 1 by sending us an Advanced Notification Form.

You must complete the post activity reports and email them to us within one month of your return (or by the date specified in the Notification of Approval). This is required under the Act and will be described within ministerial directions in the Notification of approval. 

1. The Post visit report form provides mostly quantitative data information for the ATS to contribute to analysis of the scope, frequency and intensity of tourism and non-governmental activities.
2. The Final Post Activity Environmental Performance Report provides qualitative data, describing the activities that actually occurred and their actual impacts, measured against the approved EIA and any ministerial directions and permit conditions that were set.

This also includes giving any other information required as part of the permit conditions or forms you’re required to submit as directed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. You may also be required to provide reports to other government agencies including DOC.

• ATS Post –Visit Report Form