Story: Antarctica and New Zealand

Scott's party at the Norwegian tent

Scott's party at the Norwegian tent

Robert Falcon Scott's South Pole party is shown in January 1912 at the tent left at the pole by the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen little more than a month earlier. In the tent was a letter from Amundsen to the king of Norway, with a covering note to Scott. The collection and delivery of the letter by Amundsen's rival would guarantee the validity of his claim to have reached the pole. Scott's party would die on the return journey. New Zealanders' identification with Scott was strong and remained so; when a New Zealand Antarctic base was established in 1957, it was named after Scott. From left are Scott, Lawrence Oates, E. A. Wilson and Edgar Evans. The photograph was taken by Henry Bowers.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PA1-f-066-11-4
Photograph by Henry Robertson Bowers

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nigel Roberts, 'Antarctica and New Zealand - The heroic age of Antarctic exploration', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/37192/scotts-party-at-the-norwegian-tent (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Nigel Roberts, published 20 Jun 2012