(L-R) Inspiring Explorers Porohu Hagai Noa, Destiny Martin, Lawrence Rothwell and Kaitlyn Martin visit Shackleton’s grave. © AHT/Anna Clare
Diversity and Inclusion
Antarctic Heritage Trust’s vision is Inspiring Explorers. In our mission to conserve, share and encourage the spirit of exploration we aim to recognise individuals’ unique stories and ancestry. Balancing their thoughts, ideas and perspectives to guide our journey. We aim to represent the diverse range of identities across the world in the work we do to preserve the legacy of Antarctic exploration, and to inspire the next generation of explorers.
Eligibility Criteria & Expedition Member Obligations
Antarctic Heritage Trust is offering a team of young people a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to walk in the footsteps of the early Antarctic explorers by stepping inside the historic explorer bases the Trust cares for in Antarctica. The Inspiring Explorers™ will join us between 7 January and 4 February 2025 on a ship-based expedition with Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ Partner Heritage Expeditions that will share what it takes to conserve Antarctica’s cultural heritage directly from our expert team, and grow their Explorer Mindset.
The Inspiring Explorers™ team will convene in Queenstown, New Zealand, spending one night before departing for the Port of Bluff the following day. There they will board the Heritage Adventurer and make their way to Antarctica’s Ross Sea region, with stops at New Zealand and Australian Subantarctic Islands along the way.
Eligibility Criteria
A key component in selection will be the applicant’s desire to inspire others to explore through their participation in this expedition and to complete an agreed outreach programme.
Successful applicants will:
- Be aged between 18-35.
- Be in good health with a reasonable level of fitness.
- Be willing to be part of a small team led by the Expedition Leader.
- Be willing to be part of any filming, photography, or audio recording taken during the expedition.
- Be willing to engage with Trust supporters and other passengers on board the vessel.
- Possess an adventurous spirit.
- Have the desire and ability to inspire others.
- Be excited to share their experience with the public and media.
- If applying for a general or podcast outreach role in the team, be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, or an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is living in New Zealand.
- If applying for a heritage conservation role in the team, be a New Zealand or Australian permanent resident or citizen.
Note: Citizens of countries elsewhere in the world are eligible to apply if they are residing long term in New Zealand or Australia, and are studying or working within the heritage conservation field. If this is the case, please make this obvious within your application, and provide proof, such as a record of your enrolment in a heritage related course of study at a New Zealand or Australian academic institution, or a letter from your New Zealand or Australian based employer.
Obligations on Successful Applicants
- To participate in a team building weekend prior to the expedition to be held 22–25 November 2025, in Christchurch, New Zealand, and a post-expedition programme from 11–13 April 2025, in New Zealand.
- To comply with all Health & Safety regulations and requirements; both from Antarctic Heritage Trust and/or any third parties, such as Heritage Expeditions or airlines.
- To not make public your involvement in the expedition (outside your immediate whanau/family) until advised by Antarctic Heritage Trust;
- To participate in media and profiling activities arranged by Antarctic Heritage Trust;
- To contribute content (for example photographs) before, during and after the expedition;
- To consent for Antarctic Heritage Trust to use content for promotions (including web and social media channels);
- To act in a responsible manner as a representative of Antarctic Heritage Trust while on the expedition;
- To travel to Queenstown, New Zealand on, or before, 7 January 2025 and depart Queenstown on 4 February 2025 as part of the expedition team on flights booked by Antarctic Heritage Trust;
- To Travel to Christchurch, New Zealand on, or before 22 November 2025 and depart Christchurch on 25 November 2025 for the team building weekend, on flights booked by Antarctic Heritage Trust;
- To Travel to the post-expedition programme at a location in New Zealand on, or before 11 April 2026 and depart on 13 April 2026 on flights booked by Antarctic Heritage Trust;
- To act as an ambassador for Antarctic Heritage Trust, including engaging with future Inspiring Explorers™ programmes, if requested
Expedition Costs
Antarctic Heritage Trust will meet the costs for the expedition cruise, guides, and return economy class air-travel from your place of residence to the team building weekend (Christchurch, NZ), expedition departure point (Queenstown, NZ), and post-expedition programme (Christchurch, NZ) on an airline of the Trust’s choosing, plus accommodation and meals (within agreed limits) while in transit. Individual changes to itinerary are not permitted.
International flights from Australia will be covered for ‘Heritage Conservation’ team members residing there. Any successful ‘General’ or ‘Podcast Outreach’ applicants who are outside of New Zealand during the travel dates must purchase their own flights to return to New Zealand for all three events (team building in November 2024, the expedition in January 2025, and the post-expedition programme in April 2025).
Selected Inspiring Explorers™ will:
- Make a financial contribution of NZD$2000 towards the significant cost to deliver this expedition, with NZD$1000 to be paid upon acceptance, with balance to be paid by 20 December 2024. The financial contribution should not be a barrier to applying, if you are unsure if you can meet this cost, please contact Mike Barber on inspiring@nzaht.org to discuss and continue with your application.
- Agree not to have any personal sponsors/gear sponsors for participation in the expedition;
- Be prepared to wear/use sponsored gear supplied by Antarctic Heritage Trust, if asked;
- Supply all appropriate personal outdoor equipment and clothing for the trip. A list of required gear will be provided in due course. If you are concerned about the cost of this it should not be a barrier to your application. Please contact Mike Barber on inspiring@nzaht.org in this instance and continue your application;
- Cover the costs for securing any visas and taxes required for travel under your travelling passport;
- Cover costs (if any) for your excess baggage;
- Cover costs for any other incidentals;
- Undertake a medical, if required.
The Trust reserves the right to cancel the expedition or not take a participant(s) for any reason and without recourse, including circumstances beyond the Trust’s control. In that unlikely event, the Trust will only be responsible for refunding the expedition contribution (if paid), incurred by a participant(s) at the time of written notification provided by the Trust. If a selected Inspiring Explorer is unable or unwilling for any reason to partake in the expedition the Trust will endeavour to find a replacement but will not guarantee refund of the participant’s contribution.
