A study of the technique used by the Ross Sea Committee to raise funds for NZ's part in the Trans-Antarctic expedition, with selected comparisons of other expeditions

• Main Author: Talbot, Peter
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Antarctic; Ross Sea; New Zealand; Christchurch; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10092/14151

This study has used original material from the New Zealand Archives in Christchurch, to examine how funds were raised for the New Zealand component of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1955-58). The decision to divide the £100,000 required by the public appeal, over a number of centres across New Zealand appears to have been central to the success of the fundraising effort. The archived material describes the complexities of the task and shows how a number of issues (such as a view held by some, that the Government should fund the expedition) were handled. The written correspondence shows how the Ross Sea Committee (RSC) and the different appeal committees interacted on a working basis. The network of committees was keen to adopt ideas which worked well when tried in one area. The monthly RSC Newsletter allowed committees to keep in touch. The list of donations and gifts in kind shows a cross section of individuals and companies all played their part in the fundraising. A range of ideas were used, from an idea of sell Antarctic rock samples, to the tried and tested lecture tours.