Recent Events 2006

Ambassador William and Mrs. Gail McCormick Christchurch visit

September 18-20, 2006

Ambassador William McCormick joins representatives from the Pacific Island community during his visit to Christchurch. Larger Photo

From September 18 to 20, Ambassador William and Mrs. Gail McCormick visited Christchurch.  During his visit, Ambassador McCormick attended the board meeting of the Antarctic Heritage Trust.  As an ex officio trustee, Ambassador McCormick is supporting the Trust in its mission to conserve the historic huts of early Antarctic explorers.  (Read more about the Antarctic Heritage Trust at www.heritage-antarctica.org/index.cfm).  Ambassador McCormick also hosted representatives of the Antarctic community in Christchurch in advance of the 2006-2007 Antarctic Season Opening, and thanked them for the 50 years of support that Christchurch has provided to the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Ambassador McCormick also enjoyed a warm Pacific welcome from officials of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and community representatives in Christchurch.  In trying to better understand how New Zealand relates to the Pacific, Ambassador McCormick appreciated the opportunity to hear the Christchurch Pacific community's views on the lives of Pacific Islanders in New Zealand. (photos)

New Zealand is unique among developed countries in that the majority of its greenhouse gases come from the agricultural sector.  At Lincoln University, Ambassador McCormick learned that research conducted by the University's Dairy Farm and Lysimeter Laboratory, together with the South Island Development center,  demonstrate that agriculture practices can be both economically and environmentally sustainable.  Beginning in 2002, the U.S. and New Zealand entered in a bilateral climate change partnership.  With more than three dozen projects completed or underway, the U.S. and New Zealand are cooperating through science to address climate change. (photos)

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