Murihiku ki te Tonga – 2025 Summer Season Ross Sea Expeditions Underway
The first of three Southern Ocean Murihiku ki Te Tonga (MKTT) expeditions focused on the Southern Ocean, NZ Subantarctics, Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Antarctica departed
Photo taken by Elijah Shatford from the Bluff on the Heritage Expeditions ship the Heritage Adventurer on 7 January 2025.
MKTT is the Murihiku Regeneration marine programme focused on research, science and innovation opportunities in Te Moana tāpokopoko a Tāwhaki (the Ross Sea Sector).
The January 2025 team– Anthony Fowler (Awarua) -Expedition Leader, and Elijah Shatford (Makaawhio)-Expedition Member, deployed on 7 January and expect to be back in Bluff on 3 February after having visited a number of significant destinations. These include Rakiura, Tini Heke (the Snares), Maukahuka (Auckland Islands), Macquarie Island, Motu Ihupuku (Campbell Island) and Antarctica. The pair are undertaking a number of research and scientific activities that contribute to the MKTT Programme.
Photo taken by Elijah Shatford
The team had already undertaken a number of visits and activities.
“Our language is void of description of this place, this wonderful place,”
“We would like to thank Heritage Expeditions for enabling this trip,” said Anthony Fowler of his time in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
“This is an incredible once in a life time opportunity, that I will always value”, reiterated Elijah Shatford on his time on the Heritage Adventurer.
Photo taken by Elijah Shatford
At the time of writing, the MKTT team were at sea in McMurdo Sound and in close proximity of Scott Base. A request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Antarctica NZ to get support to be able to visit the Pou Whenua at Scott Base and pay their respects on behalf of Ngāi Tahu was denied. Health and safety issues cited as a reason.
“This raises the challenges that MKTT has faced in being able to have reasonable access to sites of cultural significance”, confirmed Riki Nicholas, the MKTT Programme Director.
“We will continue to push for access for future expeditions, and an opportunity for both our programme and Ngāi Tahu to have reasonable access to the Scott Base Pou Whenua”, he confirmed.
Photo taken by Elijah Shatford
MKTT will also deploy a team of two in February 2025 aboard the Heritage Adventurer -Kara Edwards (Makaawhio) and Rachael Forsyth (Makaawhio/ Waewae), to continue with the research programme. A team of six is preparing to deploy to Maukahuka (Auckland Islands) on the HMNZS Canterbury in March.
Posted: 24 January 2025