Motions — Sir Edmund Hillary—50th Anniversary of Ascent of Mount Everest

I move, That this House acknowledge the 50th anniversary on 29 May of the first ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, and congratulate Sir Edmund on this significant achievement and the unique contribution he has made in both New Zealand and Nepal. In speaking briefly to the motion, I want to say that at the weekend Sir Edmund and Lady Hillary left for Nepal for celebration of this 50th anniversary of the historic climb. A few weeks ago we honoured Sir Edmund here in this Parliament with a State luncheon.

For the last 50 years he has been the most famous living New Zealander and has brought great honour to this country through his alpine and other physical achievements, and his humanity and practical work in Nepal. Above all, he is a great New Zealander. As the House will not be sitting next week on the date of the anniversary it is appropriate to recognise this significant anniversary now, and to wish Sir Edmund and Lady Hillary well in their journey to, and stay in, Nepal.

The National Party warmly supports the motion moved by the Prime Minister. We appreciate that even in their advanced years Sir Edmund and Lady Hillary have been so willing to share again with New Zealand that magic moment of 50 years ago. They have every best wish of this party and this Parliament through this celebration.

On behalf of New Zealand First I am very proud and very privileged to stand here to endorse the Prime Minister’s motion. In 1953 when the climb on Everest was being envisaged, I was a young boy back in the UK. I can remember the leader of that party, John Hunt, coming on television and displaying the equipment that would be used for the ascent of Everest. When Ed Hillary returned, I realised just how great an achievement the ascent was, knowing the limitations of that equipment. If that was one great achievement, probably Sir Edmund’s greatest achievement is being a man of genuine sincerity and humbleness. He is a very great New Zealander, and New Zealand First endorses exactly what the Prime Minister said.

It is appropriate that Parliament take some minutes to mark what is probably the most famous achievement by a person who is definitely the most famous New Zealander. Sir Edmund Hillary is also beloved because his own personal qualities personify what we would like to think are the characteristics of a New Zealander—someone who is humble, but is also a doer who has let his deeds rather than his words speak for him.

I can confirm that Sir Edmund has always been a fearless person. He went to my old school, Auckland Grammar. When I was a third former at that school I decided to climb to the top of the rafters of the third form bike shed, which for a third former was an “Everest” climb. It took me some time. I worked my way along the rafters; it was a perilous ascent. When I got to the middle I felt a great sense of achievement. I then thought, as we are thinking today, that I should mark this occasion. I pulled out my pocket knife thinking I would carve my name into the rafters to show I had been the first to climb to the top of the third form bike shelter. I blew away the dust and realised that someone had carved his name before me. I blew more carefully, and read “E. Hillary”. So I am not sure whether Sir Edmund climbed Everest first, but he certainly climbed first to the top of the third form bike shed. I thought that that action should be marked today, as well.

The Greens are pleased to support the motion. Without doubt Sir Edmund is a great New Zealander. He is respected by all and is an inspiration to us all. I was pleased to have worked with Sir Edmund and Lady June when I was employed by Volunteer Service Abroad, and his commitment to the work of the service was appreciated by everyone. He is, indeed, a man of great humility and strong compassion, and a man who has a compelling sense of what humanity should mean to everyone on this planet.

United Future also wishes to support, with pleasure, the motion that has been moved by the Prime Minister. During the 20th century just about every possible achievement that a human being could make was made, yet amongst all of those achievements the conquest of Everest stands out as probably the greatest—be it scientific, literary, or whatever. Getting to the top of that mountain said so much. It was highly appropriate that it was a New Zealander who was first to achieve it. It is doubly appropriate that a man of rugged features, simple sincerity, a bluff but amiable nature, and genuine affection for his fellow human beings in this country and elsewhere, in the form of Sir Edmund Hillary, was the person to make that climb.

The Prime Minister made reference to the greatest living New Zealander. I do not think we can ever begin to imagine the inestimable value of Sir Edmund and his contribution to our country. It is certainly appropriate that this Parliament celebrates and recognises this achievement, and it is certainly appropriate that all New Zealanders join in the commemorations on 29 May to recognise this seminal event in the foundation and history of our country.

Motion agreed to.