Hillary fellowship brings visitors to NZ
10 Sep 2008
A new fellowship commemorating the work of Sir Edmund Hillary will offer the people of India and Nepal a chance to visit the legendary explorer’s home country, New Zealand.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has just announced the Sir Edmund Hillary fellowship as a legacy to the years of work Sir Ed spent building ties between New Zealand, India and Nepal.
Miss Clark said the fellowship would enable people from India or Nepal, who had the potential to become leaders or have influence in parliamentary, academic, business, cultural or other fields, to visit New Zealand.
One fellow per year
"We believe Sir Edmund would be honoured that this new fellowship will allow people from India and Nepal to get to know New Zealand better," she said.
"One visit under the fellowship will take place to New Zealand each year and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will oversee the selection of the fellows."
Miss Clark said Sir Edmund was an important figure in the history of New Zealand's relationship with India and Nepal.
"He served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to India in the 1980s. Earlier this year, India posthumously awarded Sir Edmund Hillary the Padma Vibhushan award, one of its highest civilian honours."
State visit
Miss Clark's announcement of the fellowship coincided with the first state visit to India by Governor-General Anand Satyanand.
Mr Satyanand was to convey the news of the fellowship when he met the president and prime minister of India in New Delhi.
Miss Clark said Lady Hillary had been consulted about the fellowship and agreed to it being in Sir Edmund's name.
The legendary mountaineer died in Auckland hospital on January 11 2008. He was 88.
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