Lady Hillary to receive award at Government House Auckland

The Governor-General, Hon Anand Satyanand, will host the posthumous presentation of one of Indias' highest awards, the Padma Vibhushan, to Sir Edmund Hillary, on Thursday 22 May 2008, at Government House Auckland.

Because Sir Edmund died on 11 January 2008, just before the announcement of the award, it will be presented to Lady Hillary by the Minister of Commerce & Industry for the Government of India, Mr Kamal Nath, who is visiting New Zealand on 22 May 2008. The Governor-General has agreed to host the ceremony at Government House Auckland.

The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian awards in India . There are three categories, with Padma Vibhushan being the highest. It is given for exceptional and distinguished service in any field, including art, literature and education, science and technology, sports, medicine, and service rendered by civil servants. They are announced on the eve of Indias' Republic Day (26 January) and are conferred by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace).

The medal is a circular burnished bronze badge with geometrical patterns. The centre has a lotus flower with four major petals embossed in white gold. Above and below this flower, the name of the decoration, Padma Vibhushan, is embossed in silver gilt.

Since the establishment of the Padma Awards in 1954, the Padma Vibhushan was conferred on 239 people, mostly Indian citizens or people of Indian origin. Earlier recipients of the award that have not been people of Indian origin have included Canadian-American economist Dr John Kenneth Galbraith and South African ANC leader, Walter Sisulu.