Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award

May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.   Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon (Sign)

May I then specifically greet you: Andrew Meehan, Chair of the Young New Zealander's Challenge;  Hon Paula Bennett, Minister of Youth Affairs; June, Lady Hillary and members of the Hillary Family; Sue Walker, Director Asia Pacific of the International Duke of Edinburgh's Award; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen. 

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to this gathering to announce the new name for the Young New Zealander's Challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

In October last year, the then Prime Minister, Helen Clark, announced a range of initiatives to remember Sir Edmund Hillary.  One of them was to include his name in that of this Award.

As President of the Award, I have been asked to announce its new name, and just before I do I would like to speak briefly about the significance of the achievements of the man the award celebrates.

Sir Edmund Hillary was without doubt, one of the greatest New Zealanders of the 20th Century.   Whereas some might achieve success in one field, Sir Ed achieved in many.

As the 1953 conqueror of Mt Everest with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, he could have easily retired to a comfortable life as an author and guest speaker, trading off his name and achievement.

But he didn't rest on his laurels.  A consummate adventurer, he continued climbing mountains and exploring, including his role in leading the New Zealand component of the 1957 Trans-Antarctic Expedition.  Reaching the South Pole on converted Massey Fergusson tractors with the famous line that his team were "hell-bent for the Pole - God willing and crevasses permitting"-and arriving before the team from a certain other nation has become the stuff of Kiwi legend.

But he was more than an adventurer, he was also a humanitarian.  He recognised the role of the sherpas in his own Everest success, and worked assiduously to support them, establishing the Himalayan Trust and helping to build bridges, school and hospitals.  Quite rightly, the sherpa people named him: Burra Sahib or "The big man."  As he said: "My most worthwhile things have been the building of schools and clinics. That has given me more satisfaction than a footprint on a mountain."

His funeral at Holy Trinity Cathedral included Nepali and Sherpa attendees.

He was also a promoter of New Zealand and New Zealanders.   He combined his love of his country and his love of the Indian subcontinent when he accepted the Government's offer to be New Zealand's High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal.  It was a role he held with distinction from 1985 till 1989.

The honours he received in his life time are lengthy.  They included being made a member of New Zealand's highest honour, the Order of New Zealand, as well as Britain's oldest and highest order of chivalry, that of a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. 

Sir Ed was a role model, not just for his generation, but for those that followed.  He imbued the quality of truly great people in that he made those around him feel that they too could do great things.  As author Jan Morris, who was part of the Everest expedition wrote of Hillary and Tenzing:  "I thought their brand of heroism - the heroism of example, the heroism of debts repaid and causes sustained - far more inspiring than the gung-ho kind."
 
These heroic qualities are also symbolised in these Awards, where young people set themselves physical, mental and intellectual goals to achieve.    One of Sir Edmund's great passions was for young people and he willingly gave his name to schools and organisations that continue to proudly bear his name.

There will now, however, be one more. It gives me great pleasure to announce that in future the awards will be known as "The Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award."

And on that note I will close in New Zealand's first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.   No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.

To view an image from the ceremony, click here