Largest ever NZDF Antarctic team returns

The largest ever deployment to Antarctica by the New Zealand Defence Force has come to an end, with 57 personnel returning to Christchurch today.

The team, comprising of mainly Linton and some Burnham personnel, were split into a 22 person driver support team, 25 person ship offload team and 10 person engineering team.

The driver support personnel and members of the ship offload team worked around the clock in the 24-hour daylight alongside their US counterparts to offload the MV AMERICAN TERN and move 29,000 tonnes of fresh supplies that sustain the scientists and support staff at McMurdo and Scott Bases.

The Kiwi engineers worked through thick snow and sub-zero temperatures to build, demolish, reseal, paint, plumb and re-clad a number of buildings, and also constructed a retaining wall and a footbridge at the US base.

Commander Joint Forces Major General Rhys Jones will greet the team when they arrive at 3.45pm today.