INTERVIEWER: We're pleased to welcome DrMartin Merrywhether of the Antarctic Centre inChristchurch,New Zealand who has come along totalk to us today the role of the Centre and theAntarctic Treaty.
INTERVIEWER: Now my first question is about thechoice of location for the centre.Why Christchurch?Was it because of the climate?
DPCTPR: Well actually New Zealand is the secondclosest country to Antarctica and Christchurch isoften used on Antarctic expeditions.
INTERVIEWER: Right,so it's because of where we are...coupled with our historical role.So tellus - what is the main purpose of the centre?
DPCTPR: Well...we have two complementary roles.One is as a scientific base for expeditionsand research and the other is as an information centre.
INTERVIEWER: Tell us something about the role as a scientific base.
DPCTPR: We're able to provide information about what scientists should take with them to theSouth Pole - for example,the centre contains a clothing warehouse where expeditions aresupplied with suitable clothing for the extreme conditions.
INTERVIEWER: I suppose you need a bit more than your normal winter coat!
DPCTPR: Yes,exactly and then there's also the specialist library and mapping services.
INTERVIEWER: Right.And which countries are actually located at the centre?
DPCTPR: Well... the centre houses research programmes for New Zealand,for The UnitedStates as well as for Italy...there's even a US post office at the American air forece base here.
INTERVIEWER: Really?And what does the visitor's centre offer?
DPCTPR: Well,since very few people will ever experience the Antarctic first hand,the visitors'centre aims to recreate the atmosphere of Antarctica.There's a mock camp site where you cansee inside an Antarctic tent and imagine yourself sleeping there.And the centre also acts as ashowcase for the unique international co-operation which exists in Antarctica today.