to highlight New Zealand's leadership in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. This unique Christchurch festival focused the world’s attention to the importance of the mysterious continent and its surrounds. In late 2016, responsibility for the festival transferred to The Antarctic Office which has been established by the Christchurch City Council in recognition of Christchurch and New Zealand’s uniq
ue relationship to the Antarctic. The role of The Antarctic Office is to help join the dots on Antarctic-related activity across New Zealand, with Christchurch as New Zealand’s Antarctic centre of endeavor. The Antarctic Office provides strategic direction and leadership that reaches across all Antarctic-related services, infrastructure and public engagement to create global influence for New Zealand on Antarctic issues. Our core role is to foster relationships and collaborations with local and central government, national Antarctic programmes, business, researchers, and transport, education and tourism providers. Aligned to this is our public engagement programme that runs throughout the year. Within it is Antarctic Season Opening that celebrates the city's gateway role. NZ IceFest is currently being redeveloped and will emerge with a new name in 2019.
