Wellington will host the third Antarctic Parliamentarians Assembly next week, the first time the gathering has been held in the Southern Hemisphere.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the Assembly brings together parliamentarians and experts from around the world to raise awareness of Antarctica’s importance and support the Antarctic Treaty system, which has underpinned peace and science on the continent for nearly seven decades.

“The Treaty has been maintaining peace and promoting scientific collaboration in the Antarctic for close to seven decades, but we know the region is not immune to the impacts of our changing climate or shifts in the geopolitical landscape,” Peters said.

He said the Treaty provides the framework to respond to challenges including sea-level rise, warming oceans and strategic competition for resources. “We must work together to ensure the long-term protection of the Antarctic as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science, which supports our shared security and prosperity.”

The Assembly aims to create a network of Antarctic advocates in parliaments and communities worldwide who will speak up for continued protection and conservation of the continent.

The meeting will run on 8–9 December in Wellington and will be chaired by National MP Andrew Bayly. Organisers have not released a list of attendees or a detailed agenda.