Former prime minister Sir John Key will be joining an expedition ship south to Antarctica as a guest expert on New Zealand's relation with the frozen continent.
As a longtime advocate for Antarctica, this will be Key's third visit to Antarctica. He first visited Scott Base in 2007 and again in 2013 as PM.
Although bad conditions meant he was unable to get as far as the South Pole, like his predecessor PM Helen Clark, the continent is a place that captivated him.
His premiership saw a major commitment towards investing in science in the region.
"I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to revisit a place I love, a place I never thought I would get a chance to see again in my lifetime," said Key.