Foreign Minister Winston Peters with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Photo: Supplied / MFAT
New Zealand said on Saturday that its Antarctic agency signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute to foster cooperation between the two polar science bodies, amid China's growing presence in Antarctica.
"Antarctica is of increasing geostrategic and scientific interest, and this arrangement will broaden connections between our marine and polar science institutes," New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a press release.
Peters and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in Auckland on an official visit to New Zealand, witnessed the MOU's signing, according to the release. The pair also discussed events in Gaza.
The Antarctic deal comes after New Zealand in February said it was reassessing a proposed overhaul of its decades-old Antarctica base after talks with a construction firm stalled.
In 2019, New Zealand announced plans to revamp the base but since then projected costs have surged by more than 50 percent.
The Antarctic, due south of New Zealand and Australia, is increasingly crowded, with China opening its fifth research base there in February. Western governments are worried China's increased presence in the Antarctic and Arctic could provide the People's Liberation Army (PLA) better surveillance capabilities.
The Alfred Wegener Institute is the largest scientific organisation in Germany and coordinates German polar research efforts, according to its website.
Conversation on Gaza
Peters and Baerbock also took the opportunity to discuss the conflict in Gaza during the visit.
The two talked about an urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In April, Peters addressed the UN general assembly, accusing the Security Council of failing to act to its full potential in response to the conflict in Gaza, and calling on all parties for a ceasefire.
New Zealand opposes the use of veto powers in the Security Council, which have been used multiple times during the current Gazan conflict to restrict the agency from acting more "decisively", Peters said at the time.
Baerbock's state visit was a good opportunity to share New Zealand's views on international security threats, including efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Peters said.
Baerbock is also scheduled to speak with other government ministers about space, science and climate change.
- Reuters/RNZ