In a venture to understand global climate dynamics, the 2025 BLAKE Expedition is set to depart on a research mission to the Auckland and Campbell islands next month.
Departing March 1st aboard HMNZS Canterbury, this two-week voyage will bring together a 23-strong crew including scientists, students, and teachers in a trip to what is regarded as one of Earth’s most pristine natural laboratories.
The sub-Antarctic islands house some of the most unique wildlife globally, with many of the birds, invertebrates, and plants found nowhere else in the world.
This trip will be the programme’s ninth voyage and the fourth to the Sub-Antarctic, in partnership with the Royal New Zealand Navy, and will see field work carried out across four projects which hope to develop an understanding of climate change and biodiversity in the Southern Ocean region.
The expedition features a new project lead by Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF) and Monash University, and will focus on springtails – minuscule, wingless land-dwelling invertebrates found throughout the sub-Antarctic islands.
This research will provide the first comprehensive update to springtail biodiversity data since the 1960s, as well as any recently introduced species. Using modern genetic techniques, researchers will explore the evolutionary relationships between these island populations and their Southern Hemisphere relatives.
The team will also conduct rock sampling for Chlorine-36 surface exposure dating, led by Professor Gary Wilson from the University of Waikato. The analysis will aim to reveal crucial data about historical glacier movements and climate patterns in the sub-Antarctic region.
“Understanding how climate change will impact various parts of the Earth requires us to refine global climate models and one of the more sensitive areas to climate change is the subantarctic – understanding how and when ice retreated from this part of the world will be key to those models,” Wilson explains.
The expedition will also advance two critical ongoing research streams; peat coring investigations led by GNS Scientist and Climate Researcher Greer Gilmer, which will investigate historical climate changes using preserved organic matter, and intertidal kelp surveys directed by the University of Otago’s Phoebe Chapman, monitoring marine ecosystem health in response to warming seas.
This mission continues the legacy of Sir Peter Blake, whose pioneering expeditions to Antarctica, Tierra Del Fuego, and the Amazon inspired global environmental awareness.
BLAKE Head of Programmes Alice Ward-Allen will lead the 2025 Expedition, and says the trip provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for teachers and students.
“During the voyage they’ll encounter wildlife most people will never see in their lifetime. They’ll work alongside scientists from GNS, University of Waikato, University of Otago and SAEF/Monash University, while gaining hands-on experience in scientific research and developing valuable leadership skills,” she says.
She emphasizes the importance of continuing Sir Peter Blakes legacy which is at the core of all BLAKE’s programmes, to experience the environment through adventure and participation.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our rangatahi. There is always a sense of adventure and excitement in the air as these expeditions take place, as we know firsthand how lifechanging the experience will be for many,” she continues.
Since its establishment in 2012, BLAKE Expeditions has carried forward this vision through voyages to New Zealand’s most remote territories: Rangitāhua Kermadec Islands, Maungahuka Auckland Islands, Motu Ihupuku Campbell Island, and Te Rua-o-te-moko Fiordland.
The timing of this expedition is crucial, as the Southern Ocean emerges as a critical factor in global climate regulation. This vast marine ecosystem serves as Earth’s primary heat and carbon exchange system between atmosphere and ocean, making the research findings vital for understanding and addressing climate change impacts.
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EDITORS NOTES
High-resolution images and B-roll footage available on request following the Expedition.
Media contact during the Expedition: [email protected]
About BLAKE Expeditions;
BLAKE Expeditions offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for alumni of BLAKE Inspire, BLAKE Inspire for Sailors and BLAKE Inspire for Teachers to join a team exploring remote and environmentally significant areas across Aotearoa. Participants engage in real-life scientific research and learn from world-class scientists and environmental leaders.
Exploration leads to revelation. Through BLAKE Expeditions, participants not only gain the rare chance to venture into hard-to-reach landscapes but also contribute to scientific understanding and conservation efforts, helping to uncover and protect our planet’s environmental pulse points. These experiences are then brought back to communities across Aotearoa, where participants share their knowledge and inspire others to take action in preserving our environment.
