Opening of the Hillary Trail

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 afternoon [sign].

I then specifically greet members of the Hillary family: June, Lady Hillary; Peter and Sarah Hillary; Local Government leaders, Mike Lee, Chairman and Sandra Coney, Councillor, of the Auckland Regional Council; Your Worship Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere City and fellow councillors; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to be part of the opening of the Hillary Trail in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park this afternoon.

I have been given the privilege of officially opening this new trail, as Governor-General, and just before I do, I wish to speak a little of this afternoon’s more general significance.

This trail represents a living legacy to one of our country’s icons and coincidentally one of the greatest New Zealanders of the 20th century - the late Sir Edmund Hillary.

Sir Edmund was a consummate adventurer, who continued climbing mountains and exploration throughout his life. His passion for adventure and personal achievement was the central driving force for his many great accomplishments, not least of which was to have been the first (with Nepali Sherpa Tensing Norgay) to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.

Sir Edmund spoke of his adventures as something that gave him great happiness in his life. He said:

“I have had the world lie beneath my clumsy boots and saw the red sun slip over the horizon after the dark Antarctic winter. I have been given more than my share of excitement, beauty, laughter and friendship."

The honours he received in his life time were many including being made a member of New Zealand's highest honour, the Order of New Zealand, along with membership of the United Kingdom’s oldest and highest order of chivalry, the Order of the Garter.

Sir Edmund was a truly remarkable New Zealander who in typically humble fashion once said 50 years after his Everest climb:

“I like to think that I am a very ordinary New Zealander, not terribly bright perhaps, but determined and practical in what I do.”

Hillary’s brightness had been for others to see clearly,  rather than for him to proclaim and practicality and determination are trademarks of all New Zealanders whom the Hillary Trail is dedicated to. The 70 kilometres of rugged west coast that it covers, set out a challenge for all adventurers.

Mentioning adventurers, it is appropriate to link with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award of which the Governor-General of the day is traditionally the President. In that capacity I had the pleasure of announcing the new name in August last year and since then, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, on his visit to New Zealand in November, presented the first series of gold awards under the new name to a number of young New Zealanders from many parts of the country.

Completing the Award introduces young people to a number of exciting, positive, challenging and enjoyable things to do in their free time – something of which Sir Edmund was a lifelong champion.

In pursuit of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Gold Award, participants must complete what is officially described as an “adventurous journey” . The requirements of this expedition include a walk of between 65 and 80 kilometres. The Hillary trail is thus a very fitting one for young New Zealanders to have access to and complete as part of the work towards fulfilling the Gold Award requirements.

I know that a group of young people from Auckland, who are participants in the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award programme, are today the first group to walk the trail as part of the Gold Award requirements and with the benefit of listening to the item on Radio New Zealand this morning, I wish them well in their journey.

May all New Zealander adventurers embarking on the Hillary trail in the future enjoy the journey as much as Sir Edmund enjoyed exploring this area and so many other places.

As my predecessor in office as Governor-General,  Archbishop Sir Paul Reeves, said of Sir Edmund Hillary:

“He is the archetypal New Zealander. He never got away from us and I think it is that sense of being able to relate to this man, which we all have, is wonderful.”

In a sense I have developed, this Hillary Trail relates very directly to all New Zealanders and is a living legacy to Sir Edmund’s spirit of adventure. 

It thus gives me great pleasure to declare the Hillary Trail officially open.

And on that note, I will close in New Zealand’s first language 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.

For more photos of the opening, click here.