8 May to 7 August 2005

On the 29 May 1953, a humble 33 year-old New Zealander from Auckland reached the summit of the world's highest mountain, accompanied by renowned Sherpa climber, Tenzing Norgay.

Fifty-two years later Sir Edmund Hillary will open the stunning exhibition Sir Edmund Hillary: Everest and Beyond at Puke Ariki, New Plymouth - under the shadow of Mount Taranaki which he climbed many times, perfecting the remarkable skills that would take him to the roof of the world and onwards to countless adventures and some of the greatest human achievements of the 20th Century.

 Puke Ariki, New Plymouth District Council and Reeves Middleton Young, in association with Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira and the National Geographic Society present this very special exhibition celebrating the life of Sir Edmund Hillary.

Acting manager Puke Ariki Maria Ramsay is proud of the effort and commitment behind the staging of a show of this stature.  "This exhibition is amazing as it shows the breadth of achievement by one person, and for Puke Ariki to host such a huge and definitive story is a milestone in our history."  

Sir Edmund Hillary: Everest and Beyond maps the accomplishments of an extraordinary New Zealander.  Curator of the show, Alexa Johnston, says the exhibition explores all aspects of Sir Edmund's life, from his early days as a novice climber and beekeeper, to his celebrated Everest ascent and humanitarian work for the people of the Himalayas.

"For many people," says Alexa, "climbing the world's highest mountain would have been the pinnacle of their career, but for Sir Edmund, it was just the beginning. His most challenging and personally satisfying achievements were yet to come."

In 1961, Sir Edmund asked the Sherpas who had helped him scale the roof of the world, what he could do for their community.  Their reply - 'we need a school for our children' - was the catalyst for the next 40 years of Sir Edmund's life in which he established the Himalayan Trust, an organisation devoted to the health and education of the Sherpa people and the protection of the Himalayas.

Told through breathtaking panoramic landscapes, replica Sherpa buildings and never-before-seen objects from the 1953 expedition, Sir Edmund Hillary: Everest and Beyond, also charts Sir Edmund's other journeys, from his South Pole tractor journey to his jet boat pilgrimage up India's River Ganges following the tragic death of his wife and daughter in 1975. This personal show develops not only Sir Edmund's achievements as a mountaineer and adventurer, but as an environmentalist, humanitarian, and extraordinary, ordinary man. 

Sir Edmund Hillary: Everest and Beyond, is generously supported by sponsors New Plymouth District Council, Reeves Middleton Young Lawyers and Notary Public, Macfarlanes Catering and Grace Removals Group.  The exhibition is curated by Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira in association with the National Geographic Society.



Sir Edmund Hillary looks at the poster advertising the definitive exhibition of his life 'Sir Edmund Hillary Everest and Beyond' on the marae atea at Puke Ariki on 9 May 2005




Exhibition highlights

From Everest:

• His Everest ice axe, his Kodak Retina camera which recorded the legendary summit photos, the down-filled and windproof clothing he wore to the summit, his high-altitude assault boots, the nylon climbing rope, oxygen frame, pack and mask and Hillary's famous home-made blue and white sunhat and his personal diary.

From Nepal:

• A selection of religious and domestic Sherpa aretfacts including ceremonial horns, yak butter tea-churns, gold-lettered Buddhist prayer books, carpets, cooking bowls and paintings.

From Sir Edmund's many awards and decorations:

• An intriguing selection of scrolls, plaques, vestments and medals from all over the world, from the Kathmandu Taxi-drivers Association award, to the Order of the Garter.

Replica spaces/objects:

• The Silver Hut constructed to enable a party to winter over in the Himalayas at 19,000ft
• Thami schoolhouse with drawings and messages sent from Sherpa school children
• The Sherpa kitchen in Kunde where Hillary planned many of his projects