Jacinda Ardern is waiting to be rescued by an Italian plane (Picture: AP)
New Zealand’s prime minister is waiting be rescued from Antarctica after the plane due to bring her back broke down on the ice.
Jacinda Ardern made a rare trip for a world leader deep into the icy continent to see at first hand the effects of climate change.
The 42-year-old travelled to Scott Base, a remote station on Ross Island, where temperatures are currently -30 degrees Celsius.
She and her team were meant to arrive back in Christchurch at about 6am New Zealand time but their Airforce plane had a mechanical failure, the NZ Herald reported.
An Italian aircraft has been dispatched to rescue Ms Ardern and her entourage, leaving them stuck until it arrives.
It’s the second piece of bad fortune to befall the trip, which had to be delayed at the last minute due to bad weather.
The plane carrying the PM to the Antarctic island was forced to turn back after being buffeted by powerful winds.
She earlier visited the hut of explorer of Irish-born Sir Ernest Shackleton, which was built more than a century ago.
The PM looks around Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod Expedition hut on Ross Island (Picture: AP)
The PM said she had observed melting glaciers during the visit (Picture: AP)
Speaking at the historic spot, she said: ‘I think when you’re a kid and you read stories about Shackleton, you’d never imagine you’d have the opportunity to come.
‘So, I feel pretty lucky. It’s a cool place.’
New Zealand’s Scott Base is set to be demolished after 65 years in service to make way for a modern replacement.
Ms Adern said scientists and crew had seen clear signs of the climate crisis in effect during their time at the outpost.
She relayed accounts of huge cracks appearing in the melting ice sea and glaciers visibly changing.
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Jacinda Ardern travelled to a remote research base near the South Pole – but an Italian plane is on its way to rescue her.