Ross Dependency

The Ross Dependency is a specific sector of Antarctica. It is defined by its location relative to the South Pole and specific lines of longitude. The region starts at the South Pole and follows the 160° east and 150° west longitudes. It extends outward until it reaches the latitude of 60° south. New Zealand claims this territory as its own. However, this claim is only mutually accepted by Australia, the United Kingdom, France, and Norway. These are countries that also hold territorial claims in Antarctica.

Under the Antarctic Treaty of 1961, the status of these claims changed. All signatory nations, including New Zealand, agreed to hold their claims in abeyance. This means the claims are legally suspended. Article IV of the treaty is very specific about this. It states that no activities occurring while the treaty is in force can be used to support or deny a claim. It also prevents any new rights of sovereignty from being created in Antarctica. This ensures the continent remains a place for peace and science.

The region is named after the explorer Sir James Clark Ross. He discovered the Ross Sea during his travels. The Dependency includes part of Victoria Land and most of the Ross Ice Shelf. It also contains several islands, such as Ross, Balleny, Scott, and Roosevelt Islands. Most of the area defined in the claim is actually water. It consists of the Ross Sea or the Antarctic Ocean. Because of this, it is the second-smallest of the claims made before the treaty system began.

The history of the claim involves several legal steps. In 1841, James Clark Ross discovered Victoria Land. He took possession of the land and sea for Britain. On July 30, 1923, the British Government passed an Order in Council. This order defined the current borders of the Ross Dependency. It also appointed the governor-general of New Zealand as the governor of the territory. In 1931, the Statute of Westminster was passed. This eventually led to the United Kingdom relinquishing control over the government of New Zealand. However, this did not change the governor-general's duties regarding the Ross Dependency.

Human habitation in the Ross Dependency is very limited. There are no permanent cities, only scientific research stations. The only permanently occupied habitations are Scott Base for New Zealand and McMurdo Station for the United States. Other stations include Zucchelli Station from Italy and Jang Bogo Station from South Korea. China is also establishing a year-round station at Inexpressible Island. The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station is partially within the territory. It relies on logistics operations based in New Zealand.

Logistics and transport are vital for survival in this frozen environment. The region has access to snow runways at Williams Field and Phoenix Airfield. These are maintained by the United States Antarctic Program. They allow wheeled and ski-equipped aircraft to land year-round. New Zealand provides support through the Royal New Zealand Air Force. They use C-130J and Boeing 757 aircraft for these tasks. In 2020, the Royal New Zealand Navy commissioned a new logistics ship. This is a Polar-class Level 6 vessel. It is designed to operate in medium first-year ice.

Environmental protection is another major part of managing the region. About 1.12 million square kilometres of the Ross Sea region is a Marine Protected Area. This is an MPA, which is a zone set aside to protect marine life. The New Zealand Navy conducts patrols in the Southern Ocean during fishing seasons. Their job is to enforce international rules and stop illegal, unregulated, or unreported fishing. This helps protect the delicate ecosystem of the Antarctic waters.

Life in the dependency has seen difficult moments. In 1979, an Air New Zealand flight crashed on the slopes of Mount Erebus. This was the deadliest air crash in the history of Antarctica and New Zealand. In 1985, the British vessel Southern Quest sank in the Ross Sea. The United States Coast Guard used helicopters to rescue the crew. There have also been legal challenges regarding jurisdiction. In 2006, New Zealand police faced issues issuing warrants to American witnesses. This happened during an investigation into a death at the South Pole base.