In March 2025, Joshua De Guzman left the classroom behind, bound for the Sub-Antarctic Islands. Aboard the HMNZS Canterbury, he embarked on a rare expedition grounded in science, service, and guardianship. Over twelve days, from 1- 12 March, he joined a select cohort supported by BLAKE Expeditions, the New Zealand Defence Force, and the Department of Conservation, representing Sancta Maria College as both a student leader and an emerging voice in youth conservation. Joshua entered a landscape where isolation amplifies fragility, and where every action taken—every sample logged, every footprint considered—carried meaning far beyond the moment.
The journey began in Bluff, where Joshua and the expedition team boarded the Navy vessel bound for the remote Sub-Antarctic Islands, a region defined by fierce winds, rare biodiversity, and deep scientific mystery. For twelve days, the ship was both shelter and staging ground, navigating the swells of the Southern Ocean to reach Enderby Island, Motu Ihupuku (Campbell Island), and the rugged cliffs of the Auckland Islands. Each landing brought with it an awe-inspiring collision of raw nature and scientific inquiry. It was on Campbell Island where Joshua’s experience deepened from observation to participation.
At Mount Lyall, he was privileged to assist Dr. Greer Gilmer, a renowned palaeoclimatologist, in peat-coring research, analysing ancient layers of sediment to reconstruct past climate patterns and glacial movements in the region. He then joined Dr. Amy Liu from Monash University and SAEF (Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future) in observing the iconic megaherb Pleurophyllum hookeri, mapping chloroplast counts and plant locations around Mount Honey to investigate how these resilient species optimise photosynthesis under low light and high wind conditions.
Later, Joshua collaborated with Dr. Gary Wilson, professor of marine geology and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Waikato, on high-altitude rock sampling along the ridges of Mount Lyall. These rock samples would later be carbon dated and examined for cosmogenic isotopes – traces of galactic radiation exposure – to determine when the region last emerged from glacial cover, contributing to a broader understanding of Southern Hemisphere glacier retreat. Though he was unable to join Dr. Phoebe Chapman from the University of Otago on marine kelp monitoring, Joshua gained valuable insight into the interconnectedness of these projects: a collective scientific effort aimed at better understanding climate systems and guiding global responses to environmental change.
This scientific expedition was further enriched by interdisciplinary collaboration. The Defence Science and Technology Group worked alongside the University of Auckland to test synthetic aperture radar (SAR4SAR) for search and rescue applications, deploying reflectors and collecting oceanographic data to assess their effectiveness in one of the most challenging maritime environments on Earth. Meteorologists from MetService contributed atmospheric modelling, while members of Ngāi Tahu shared their deep ancestral connections to the land—offering insight into traditional knowledge systems, ecological stewardship, and the selective breeding of native plants for medicinal and commercial use. Sailing ashore aboard ZODIACs and RHIBs, surrounded by albatross, sea lions, and resilient megaherbs, Joshua found himself immersed in a world far removed from the streets of Auckland. The stark contrast between urban routine and the isolated intensity of these islands left a lasting impression. On his final day on Campbell Island, he completed his first-ever 6.33km hike to Northwest Bay, battling relentless sub-Antarctic winds—a moment of both physical challenge and quiet reflection, surrounded by ancient landscapes shaped by rain, sea, and time.
A distinctive aspect of the expedition was the opportunity to work alongside the New Zealand Defence Force – an experience that offered a powerful lesson in unity and discipline. Their commitment to Kotahitanga, a collective approach rooted in solidarity (combined with their logistical precision) created a unique perspective on environmental action. Through their support in navigating harsh terrain, launching ZODIACs, and ensuring the safety of all personnel, Joshua witnessed how military coordination can be harnessed for peaceful, purposeful missions that uphold environmental protection. It was a reminder that conservation is not confined to one profession or ideology, it thrives when diverse groups come together in pursuit of a shared goal.
Yet the expedition was not without reminders of the work still to be done. Despite their remoteness, the Sub-Antarctic Islands are not immune to the scars of human impact—particularly the legacy of invasive species. Many of the ecosystems Joshua encountered, though remarkably intact, remain vulnerable to pests that can devastate native flora and fauna already under pressure from climate change. Efforts to eradicate these threats are ongoing, but the fight is far from over. As he saw the care and urgency behind pest monitoring on the islands, Joshua was reminded of the parallels with his own efforts back home. At Sancta Maria College, he helps lead the Kaitiaki Network, a student-led environmental team committed to pest plant removal and trapline maintenance in local reserves. That shared sense of vigilance—whether in the windswept ridges of Motu Ihupuku or the bush corridors of Auckland—reinforced for him that environmental stewardship is a continuous, collective effort, grounded in both global awareness and local action.
For Joshua, this journey was more than an expedition – it was a lived expression of kaitiakitanga, the Māori principle of guardianship over the natural world. Immersed in the raw and remote beauty of the Sub-Antarctic, he came to understand that environmental protection is not merely a scientific duty, but a moral one, rooted in respect, humility, and intergenerational responsibility. The opportunity to walk alongside leading researchers, iwi representatives, and defence personnel instilled a deeper awareness of how science, culture, and community intertwine in the fight against climate change. It reaffirmed his belief that young people have a vital role to play as learners, leaders, and protectors. He will use what he has learnt on the expedition to formulate a plan to enhance environmental education in Sancta Maria College classrooms. Joshua’s experience also highlights how few New Zealanders truly realise that these Sub-Antarctic Islands exist, and how crucial they are as global ecological strongholds. Their untouched ecosystems are living indicators of climate resilience and fragility, and they call upon us to protect not just what is seen, but what is forgotten. He urges fellow students to embrace curiosity, persevere through challenge, and engage with environmental initiatives in their own communities. Because real change begins not at the edge of the world, but at home, with the choices we make and the voices we choose to raise.
Special thanks to: Sir Peter Blake Foundation, NZDF, Department of Conservation, teachers Dr. Laux, Ms. Bracey and Mrs. Al-Rubaie, Auckland Council and the HMNZS Canterbury.
An additional special credit to BLAKE Expeditions and Josh Chapman @joshchaps_snaps for all the photography (simply amazing) and Joshua De Guzman for sharing his journey with us.
Here is a short video, curtesy of BLAKE Expeditions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzADouo83KY
