21 January 2008

Media Statement

Foreign guests attending State Funeral for Sir Edmund Hillary

Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today that many representatives of other nations and associates of Sir Edmund Hillary from around the world will be attending the State Funeral tomorrow.

“Special guests are arriving in Auckland to represent the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Nepal, Russia and Tonga, Helen Clark said.

“In addition, there will be very strong representation from diplomatic missions to New Zealand based in Wellington, and also representation from Canberra. As well, representatives of the Sherpa community of Nepal, international members and supporters of the Himalayan Trust, and members of the 1953 Everest Expedition will attend the funeral service in Auckland tomorrow.

“Sir Ed’s achievements, and his humanity, impressed and touched so many people around the globe. It is an honour for New Zealand to host the representatives of foreign governments, alongside those of the Sherpa community, the 1953 Expedition, and of the philanthropists who have long supported the Himalayan Trust,” Helen Clark said.

ATTACHED: List of official overseas representatives.

Britain The Rt Hon Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC (former Lord Chancellor)

Ireland Mr Michael Ahern TD, Minister of State
and Mrs Margaret Ahern
Mr Fergal Cullen (Private Secretary)
HE Mr Mairtin O’Fainin (Ambassador to NZ)

Australia Senator the Hon John Faulkner, Minister of State
HE Mr John Dauth (High Commissioner to NZ)

Canada Senator Raynell Andreychuk (she is a former Judge, and former Canadian Ambassador to Portugal, Kenya and Uganda. Chair of the Senate Human Rights Committee and Deputy Chair of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.)
Mr William (Zeke) O’Connor( Founder, Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation of Canada, and a friend of the Hillary family) and his daughter Ms Karen O’Connor
HE Ms Penny Reedie (High Commissioner to NZ)

Nepal Mr Gyan Chandra Acharya, Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister
Mr Shanker Bairagi (Charge d’Affaires, Canberra)

India Honourable Namo Narain Meena, Minister of State for Environment & Forestry
Mr Rajeev Kumar (Private Secretary to the Minister)

Russia HE Mr Sergey Mironov, Chairman of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
HE Mr Mikhail Lysenko (Ambassador to NZ)

USA Honourable Mary A Bomar, Director of US National Park Service and Mr Milton T Bomar (In her role in charge of US National Parks, she leads a team of 20,000 staff and 140,000 volunteers and looks after 390 sites across the United States.)
HE Mr William McCormick (Ambassador to NZ)
Mr Jim Whittaker (1st American to climb Mt Everest – May ‘63)

Tonga Honourable Tuita, Minister of Lands, Survey & Natural Resources

Sherpa reps Mr Ang Rita Tshering Sherpa (CEO, Himalayan Trust)
Dr Kami Temba Sherpa
Mr Ang Thukten Sherpa
Mr Ang Rita Sherpa
Ms Elizabeth Hawley (NZ Hon Consul in Nepal)
Ms Lisa Choegyl

Himalayan Trust reps Mr Richard Blum (Chairman, Himalayan Trust USA) Mr Norbu Tenzing (eldest son of Tenzing Norgay)

Representatives of the 1953 Everest expedition:
George & Susan Band (UK)
Mike & Sally Westmacott (UK) Alfred &Sue Gregory (Australia)
George & Mary Lowe (Christchurch)
Jan & Elizabeth Morris (UK)

ENDS

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