The Russian ship that became stuck in Antarctic ice for two weeks has sailed into a New Zealand harbour.

A Chinese ship that helped rescue passengers from a Russian vessel trapped in Antarctica only to get stuck in the ice itself has broken free.

The US Coast Guard has sent a heavy polar ice breaker to assist a trapped Russian research ship - and the vessel that attempted a rescue and got stuck in ice itself.

A US Coast Guard vessel will attempt to bash through the Antarctic ice trapping Russian research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy and the ship which had tried to rescue it.

All 52 passengers, including six Kiwis, from a ship trapped in thick Antarctic ice, have been helicoptered off.

Passengers aboard the Akademik Shokalskiy are now being evacuated from the research ship that has been stuck in Antarctic sea ice for more than a week.

Passengers on board a research ship that has been trapped in Antarctic ice for a week are expected to be rescued by helicopter, officials say.

A rescue icebreaker is making steady progress zig-zagging through ice to rescue an ice-trapped ship in Antarctica with 74 people on board, including six New Zealanders.

A ship trapped by heavy sea ice in Antarctica with 74 people on board, including six Kiwis, will not be rescued until tomorrow night at the earliest.

An icebreaker is expected to reach a stranded Antarctic research ship with six Kiwis on board late tonight.

A New Zealand scientist stranded on board a ship stuck in thick pack ice in Antarctica has reassured family back home that all is well.

Four Kiwis are on a stricken ship that spent most of Christmas Day trapped in thick ice in Antarctica.

Prince Harry has been praised by his brave band of wounded soldiers as they received a heroes' welcome after returning from a "crazy" South Pole adventure.

A New Zealand-US bid to establish the world's largest marine reserve in Antarctica is understood to have been blocked by China, Russia and Ukraine.

For decades, scientists have observed how giant ice streams have flowed out of West Antarctica, eventually feeding the frozen continent's largest ice shelf.

The world's biggest marine reserve in Antarctica may have to be given an expiry date to get countries with interests in the prized waters to agree to it.

New Zealand has reiterated calls to protect waters south of the country from overfishing ahead of an anticipated setback next week.

Murray McCully says an inquiry is expected after a flight to Antarctica carrying 117 passengers was forced to land in a whiteout after being cleared for landing.

New Zealand scientists will take over research operations in Antarctica as the United States withdraws its teams during the government shut-down.

Antarctica New Zealand is confident the US shutdown won't affect its vital air link between NZ and Antarctica when operations are reduced.

Kiwis at Scott Base are offering support to neighbouring McMurdo base as it runs out of money because of the US government shutdown.

The US federal government shutdown is reaching all the way down to the South Pole.

An Air Force plane carrying 117 passengers, including Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, had to circle for two and a half hours before landing at Antarctica in bad weather tonight.