History vanishing on NZ's neglected southern Pluto

Campbell Island. Photo / Getty Images

Neglected Campbell Island seems to me like New Zealand's planet Pluto.

The Unesco World Heritage site, 700km south of Invercargill, gets little credit for providing a profitable bulge in our exclusive economic zone.

Pristine flora and fauna delight eco-tourists, as do occasionally magnificent views of the Aurora Australis (southern lights).

But the island's history is disappearing. Sealer hut sites, farm buildings, coast watcher accommodation and a whaler base are overgrown and there's talk of demolishing the weather station.

Built by the MetService in 1956, Beeman Base once accommodated 20 staff, but its usefulness waned after automation in 1998. Buildings remain sound and scientific parties still camp there, but the MetService has stripped out power, plumbing and hot water and partially demolished the base wharf. It has told DoC that if it wants to preserve the base long-term, it must assume ownership.

The two agencies have agreed to remove unwanted buildings and equipment, and eventually the whole base could go.

Outgoing DoC conservation services manager for southern islands Brent Beaven said DoC had made no decision on the future of the base.

"Lots of ideas have been raised, from total demolition through to total protection and restoration."

Ironically, one sub-Antarctic base is facing the chop just as the Sir Peter Blake Trust seeks to establish another, on Auckland Island 300km to the northwest.