Relationship dossier
Antarctica
New Zealand
Relationship assessment
New Zealand administers its Ross Dependency claim and conducts Antarctic science; Antarctica has no independent government.
Antarctica toward New Zealand
Not assessedAntarctica has no independent government or foreign policy capable of directing policy toward New Zealand.
New Zealand toward Antarctica
+35New Zealand maintains its claim to the Ross Dependency, operates Scott Base, and participates in the Antarctic Treaty system governing activities on the continent.
Overall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Antarctica has no independent government conducting foreign policy. New Zealand maintains the Ross Dependency claim and operates a scientific programme from Scott Base, while participating in the Antarctic Treaty system. These activities provide a basis for describing New Zealand’s conduct toward Antarctica, but no independent Antarctic government exists for a reciprocal government-to-government relationship.
Key developments
Scott Base was established by New Zealand on Ross Island to support Antarctic research.
New Zealand signed the Antarctic Treaty, establishing a framework for peaceful use and scientific cooperation in Antarctica.
Major uncertainties
- The practical scope of New Zealand’s administration of the Ross Dependency is distinct from its scientific activities across Antarctica.
- The extent to which New Zealand’s Antarctic activities change over time is not specified.