New Zealand PM visits Antarctica

NEW Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has visited the Antarctic hut of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton during a rare visit to the continent by a world leader. Ms Ardern is visiting Antarctica to see at first hand the research taking place on global warming and to mark the 65th anniversary of New Zealand’s Scott Base. Her visit comes as delegations from 26 nations and the European Union meet in Australia to decide the future of Antarctica’s waters. Conservationists say new marine protected areas and rules to prevent overfishing there are desperately needed, but that Russia could use its veto-like powers to again block progress.