The Antarctic ice sheet is disappearing at twice the speed of when it was last surveyed, losing 159 billion tonnes of ice to the ocean every year.

Scientists have discovered a pre-historic mainland species of sea lion thought to have been wiped out by Polynesian settlers and replaced by the modern NZ sea lion.

Parts of the vast ice sheet of east Antarctica - which holds enough water to raise global sea levels by 53m - could slide into the sea this century.

Experts have gathered in Queenstown to discuss Antarctic ice sheets and how a fast-increasing human population may change the frozen continent's pristine wilderness.

Adventurer Ben Saunders reveals how he completed his dangerous and difficult mission to retrace the steps of Captain Scott's doomed expedition to the South Pole.

Twelve Kiwi youngsters have taken up the baton from the late Sir Peter Blake in his quest to preserve the Antarctic.

New Zealand scientists have spent six years updating a seminal map of Antarctica completed by colleagues 50 years ago, and they hope it will help to unlock the degree and impacts of climate change.

The leader of the ill-fated Australasian Antarctic Expedition has apologised for the inconvenience caused to rescuers, while authorities estimate the bill could reach $2.6m.

A Chinese ship that helped rescue passengers from a Russian vessel trapped in Antarctica only to get stuck in the ice itself has broken free.

The US Coast Guard has sent a heavy polar ice breaker to assist a trapped Russian research ship - and the vessel that attempted a rescue and got stuck in ice itself.

A US Coast Guard vessel will attempt to bash through the Antarctic ice trapping Russian research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy and the ship which had tried to rescue it.

All 52 passengers, including six Kiwis, from a ship trapped in thick Antarctic ice, have been helicoptered off.

Passengers aboard the Akademik Shokalskiy are now being evacuated from the research ship that has been stuck in Antarctic sea ice for more than a week.

Passengers on board a research ship that has been trapped in Antarctic ice for a week are expected to be rescued by helicopter, officials say.

A rescue icebreaker sent to retrieve more than 70 people on a marooned research ship in the Antarctic sea ice has been forced to turn around after coming within 19km of the vessel.

A ship trapped by heavy sea ice in Antarctica with 74 people on board, including six Kiwis, will not be rescued until tomorrow night at the earliest.

An icebreaker is expected to reach a stranded Antarctic research ship with six Kiwis on board late tonight.

A New Zealand scientist stranded on board a ship stuck in thick pack ice in Antarctica has reassured family back home that all is well.

Four Kiwis are on a stricken ship that spent most of Christmas Day trapped in thick ice in Antarctica.

Prince Harry has been praised by his brave band of wounded soldiers as they received a heroes' welcome after returning from a "crazy" South Pole adventure.

No New Zealanders were on board a helicopter which crash landed in Antarctica early yesterday morning, it has been revealed.

A New Zealand-US bid to establish the world's largest marine reserve in Antarctica is understood to have been blocked by China, Russia and Ukraine.