KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark has welcomed a $200,000 grant for the conservation of Scott Base.
The grant, from Los Angeles-based Getty Foundation, was given to The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust in aid of its conservation work in Antarctica.
The funds would be used to install snow deflectors to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The grant was welcomed by Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is also Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
"New Zealand is leading this internationally significant project in the most challenging of climates. I am very pleased the Getty Foundation is continuing its support through this new grant to conserve Scott's expedition base," she said.
This was the trust's third grant from the Getty Foundation.
The New Zealand Government provides $356,000 a year to support the trust's work.
"Last year I visited the Antarctic explorers' bases with the trust patron, the late Sir Edmund Hillary, who cared passionately about their restoration and preservation for all time," Miss Clark said.
Antarctic Heritage Trust executive director Nigel Watson said Captain Scott's last expedition base had been described as the most evocative heritage building in the world.
The base featured in the World's 100 Most Endangered Sites List, he said.
An undisclosed British foundation would match the money dollar for dollar, so the Getty grant was effectively doubled, he said.
"The trust has now commenced work with confidence and is a step closer to saving this site for future generations."
The announcement of the grant coincided with celebrations at Parliament today marking the 50th anniversary of the return of the trans-Antarctic expedition, co-led by Sir Edmund.
- NZPA
