Kermadec Expedition a fitting tribute to Sir Peter Blake

The announcement of ‘The Young Blake Expedition’ voyage to New Zealand’s remote northern Kermadec Islands on HMNZS Canterbury was the highlight of a moving tribute ceremony for Sir Peter Blake, who was tragically killed 10 years ago today.

Beside Sir Peter’s beloved Waitemata Harbour, the Governor-General Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae and Pippa, Lady Blake announced an 11-day environmental expedition to the Kermadec Islands next August for 30 New Zealand secondary school students.

“While our hearts are touched with sadness today, I am sure Sir Peter would be proud of the living legacy that his family and the Sir Peter Blake Trust have created during the past decade,” Sir Jerry said.

“The Young Blake Expedition is a perfect example of this work, with its focus on two things that were dear to Sir Peter – increasing understanding of our fragile marine environment, and providing a chance for young people to reach their potential.

“I’m envious of the 30 young Kiwis taking part in this life-changing adventure. I’m sure Sir Peter would approve, and if he was here today he would probably want to take the Canterbury’s helm as well.”

The expedition will be led by The Sir Peter Blake Trust in association with the Ministry for the Environment, the Royal New Zealand Navy, Department of Conservation, Pew Environment Group, Experiencing Marine Reserves and LEARNZ.

Sir Peter Blake Trust chief executive Shelley Campbell praised the hard work of all who had contributed to bringing the expedition to fruition, and said it would be one of the most memorable milestones since the Trust’s inception in 2004.

“We are proud to honour Sir Peter’s memory today by being able to announce a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to one of the most unique and special places on the planet.

“The expedition aims to inspire an understanding of the global significance of the Kermadec Islands and to encourage stewardship of the Kermadec Marine Reserve. In the latter part of his life, the plight of the planet’s oceans was a huge concern to Sir Peter.”

The lucky 30 students will be chosen from 50 attendees at next year’s Sir Peter Blake Youth EnviroLeaders’ Forum, an event run in partnership with the Ministry for the Environment for the last eight years. They will be accompanied by a crew of subject experts, scientists, artists, educators, communicators and leaders.

The Kermadec Islands are 800-1,000km north-east of New Zealand. The 13 volcanic islands are a nature reserve managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Four DOC staff and up to five volunteers are based on Raoul, the largest island. The 745,000ha of ocean surrounding the Kermadecs are protected as New Zealand’s largest marine reserve.

The expedition crew will have the opportunity to snorkel and gain an understanding of the rich marine life of the Kermadecs. They will experience life on Raoul Island and gain an insight into the work of the DOC personnel, the Kermadecs' history, and the group’s wildlife and plants – many unique to the islands.

Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Tony Parr said the Royal New Zealand Navy is proud to support the Sir Peter Blake Trust in the development of our future leaders.

“The protection and defence of our maritime environment is a significant part of the RNZN Mission, which has been enhanced with the introduction of our Protector Fleet.
The trip to the Kermadec Islands displays the capabilities provided by ships such as HMNZS Canterbury, and the versatility of our fleet when co-operating with Government agencies.”

Chris Mace, advisor to Sir Peter Blake Trust and founding trustee, was on hand to unveil The Legacy, a special publication which features the Trust’s work to date, in front of many of Sir Peter’s closest friends and former crew mates.

“Peter touched so many people’s lives, in so many places around the world. We know they will be thinking about him today. I’m proud to publically release The Legacy, which encapsulates in just a few pages the impact he still has on all of us.”

ENDS

FACTS ABOUT THE KERMADECS

The Sir Peter Blake Trust tonight announced an 11-day environmental expedition to the Kermadec Islands next August for 30 New Zealand secondary school students.

The Pew Environment Group, which is supporting the expedition, has provided the below information for media on the remote wilderness area.

“We are honoured to work alongside the Sir Peter Blake Trust in support of the youth voyage to the Kermadecs,” said Bronwen Golder, director of the Pew Environment Group’s Kermadec Initiative. “This visit to one of the last great ocean wilderness areas on the planet will both inspire and challenge the next generation of New Zealand leaders.”

For more information or images of the Kermadec region, go to www.TheKermadecs.org or contact Emily Watt on 027 436 4336

DIVERSITY

The Kermadec region is home to
• a third of all known New Zealand fish, sharks and rays, who live among a ridge of underwater volcanoes and the deepest ocean trench in the Southern Hemisphere.

• as many as 35 species of dolphin and whale - including the blue whale, fin and sei whales, which migrate through the region on their seasonal journeys. A survey in 2009 recorded more than 100 humpback whales off Raoul Island in a single day.

• three of the world’s seven sea turtle species: hawksbill, leatherback and green. All are considered endangered or critically endangered.

• 32% of fish species known in the New Zealand EEZ (431 of 1339 known species), occur along the Kermadec Ridge and Trench. But large areas of the Kermadecs– particularly those below depths of 600 metres – are virtually unexplored and it is highly likely that future surveys will reveal new and rare species.

• 39 of about 350 species of seabirds worldwide, ranging from tiny storm petrels to large wandering albatrosses. Some are found only in the this region, while others – many from mainland New Zealand and our subantarctic islands – forage for food or migrate through. Up to 6 million seabirds breed on the Kermadec Islands each year.

• an unusual mix of tropical and temperate species of crustaceans (crayfish, crabs, prawns and shrimps). Altogether, 88 species of crustacean are known here, of which 17 are known only in the Kermadecs.

• a unique population of tiny sea anemone-like animals known as bryozoans. Of 256 species identified so far, at least 38 are endemic and many are new to science. Some are ‘living fossils’, present in the oceans since the time of the dinosaurs tens of millions of years ago.

GEOGRAPHY
• The islands are 800-1,000km north-east of New Zealand and the Kermadec region makes up 15% of New Zealands’s EEZ. The seabed around the islands is extremely deep. Almost all of it descends to over 1,000 metres and more than a third of it to over 5,000 metres.

• The Kermadec Arc is the longest under water volcanic arc on the planet. More than 50 submarine volcanoes extend along the 2,500 km collision zone between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates.

• With a total marine area of 4,300,000 square kilometres, New Zealand has one of the world’s largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) – 15 times the New Zealand land mass. The Kermadec region represents around 15% of this marine environment.

Notes on The Young Blake Expedition:

The Young Blake Expedition will send 30 New Zealand high school students to the Kermadecs, accompanied by a crew of subject experts, scientists, artists, educators, communicators and leaders. The expedition will be led by The Sir Peter Blake Trust in association with the Ministry for the Environment, the Royal New Zealand Navy, Department of Conservation, Pew Environment Group, Experiencing Marine Reserves and LEARNZ.

© Scoop Media