Antarctica’s ‘McPhail Turrets’ Officially Named

Distinctive rock turrets atop Nichols Ridge on Ross Island in Antarctica have been officially named ‘McPhail Turrets’ in honour of New Zealand helicopter pilot Rob McPhail.

Mr McPhail has been operating on the ice in Antarctica for the past 20 field seasons. He has made a significant contribution to Antarctic science programmes through his services to science groups in the field, participation in search and rescue efforts, and sharing his extensive knowledge of both New Zealand’s and Australia’s areas of interest in Antarctica.

McPhail Turrets was formalised after the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (NZGB) approved the proposal by a member of the public at its meeting in March. The name was published in the New Zealand Gazette in June.

The NZGB's policy on ‘personal’ names in Antarctica allows for geographic features to be named after living people in “recognition of significant contribution to New Zealand’s Antarctic activities”.

Wendy Shaw, Secretary to the New Zealand Geographic Board, said, “the NZGB had no hesitation in accepting McPhail Turrets as an official geographic name because it is clear Rob McPhail has made a significant contribution to New Zealand’s Antarctic activities”.

This view is supported by the United States Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names, which commented that the naming was “appropriate and warranted”. Similarly, the New Zealand Antarctic Names Committee (established under the NZGB) fully supported McPhail Turrets, saying “it’s features such as these that continually draw Rob back down to Antarctica and this feature in particular, is one of his favourites”.

The name was acknowledged at a special presentation for Mr McPhail on 5 July at the Annual Antarctic Conference in Christchurch.

Read more about the NZGB, finding and proposing names, and read previous NZGB decisions.