Media release

McGillicuddy launches ‘Hillary Hill’ project

The Laird McGillicuddy, Graeme Cairns, today joined the debate over which mountain is to be renamed as a lasting tribute to the late Sir Edmund Hillary, with the lodging of his official proposal to the New Zealand Geographic Board.

Whilst others are suggesting various peaks in the South Island, the Laird contends that these are inappropriate.

“A physical, environmental memorial to such an internationally respected multi-facetted hero as Sir Ed ought to be easy for everyone to visit.  By definition, remote mountain peaks are not; they may be grand and lofty, but they're inaccessible to all but trampers and mountaineers”, says The Laird.

Cairns also believes that the process of creating such a memorial ought to be a much more significant ritual than the simple attachment of the name ‘Hillary’ to some existing topographical feature.

Instead he proposes that New Zealanders build a hill for Hillary, from scratch.

Each household would contribute, say, 20 litres of earth (in special, courier-able, mass-produced biodegradable crates), with the bulk being provided by philanthropists, large corporations, overseas subscribers and the Crown, who would act as Project Managers.

The model for this monumental national project is the famous Silbury Hill, on the Salisbury Plains in southern England. Constructed several thousand years ago, this remarkable structure was built with only the most rudimentary of hand-tools.

Cairns suggests the Hauraki Plains would be the ideal location for Hillary Hill, and has suggested a site near Netherton to the NZ Geographic Board - on a promontory in a bend on the Waihou River (see attached picture and Google Earth file).  Advantages include:

* Situated on flat terrain, the new peak would be visible from afar and would feature excellent views of the Hauraki Basin and Kamais from the summit

* SH2 passes nearby and it is close to most of the country’s population and an international airport, making for easy access for all

* The site is a lot closer to Ed Hillary’s birthplace than the Southern Alps

* Vast reserves of spare movable earth are nearby in the form of Waihi gold mine tailings.

 It should be noted, however, that the Netherton site has only been suggested by The Laird as an example of where such a monument could be constructed and to illustrate the project’s overall viability, although, clearly the location is quite suitable. The site is about the right size and is vaguely circular, gives excellent views across the Waihou River, and the land seems relatively unproductive.

“If the ancient Brits could build one, so long ago, for no discernable reason, armed only with deer antlers and woven baskets, think what we could do for such a worthwhile and universally popular cause, with the help of heavy earth-moving equipment,” enthuses The Laird.

ends

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