Non-stop daylight, -30C wind chill and a constantly shifting landscape are the realities of Antarctica for Northland firefighter Sapper Laurie, deployed with the Defence Force to support Antarctica New Zealand programmes.

He’s part of the roughly 100-strong Defence Force contingent that heads south each season for stints ranging from two weeks to six months. Emergency crews rotate across locations, from the ice shelf airfield to station duties, responding to fires, medical events and hazardous materials incidents.

“When I’m based out at Williams Airfield, our main role is aviation rescue fire fighting coverage for the United States Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft, which move people, cargo, and conduct scientific missions around the continent,” he said.

The toughest adjustments are the 24-hour sunlight cycle and the cold, with wind chill plummeting to -30C. The summer melt brought a surprise: dust and brown volcanic soil emerging as snow receded, and rapid sea ice break-up around the station.

“There are multiple hiking paths around the station and Ross Island, which provide incredible views,” he said of downtime at McMurdo, where recreation staff organise science tours, local performances, day trips and sports leagues.

Laurie joined the Army in 2023 at age 29, after years travelling and working in firefighting and other jobs, building on an interest kindled in the New Zealand Cadet Forces. The Army’s Emergency Responder trade appealed as a way to combine soldiering with front-line response work.

He’s a believer in an old saying about the continent: “The ice gets in your blood. Once you have stepped foot on the ice, you will never forget it for the rest of your life and will always want to return.”

His advice to those heading south is straightforward: work hard, keep an open mind and do the homework on the environment, history and Antarctic Treaty.

The deployment sits within a long-running Defence Force contribution to New Zealand’s Antarctic programme, supporting logistics, science and station operations alongside international partners.