Mountaineers, outdoor enthusiasts and community members gathered in Christchurch on Friday to celebrate Mt Everest Day, commemorating the first successful ascent of the world’s highest peak by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on 29 May 1953 as part of the British expedition led by John Hunt.
The event, organised by the Friends of the Commonwealth, was held at the National New Zealand Alpine Club historical library in Waltham, a fitting venue given Hillary’s long association with the club.
Attendees lit a blue Mt Everest candle in remembrance of mountaineers who have died and took part in readings from books, poems and expedition accounts, including Jacks Hut, Seven Years in Tibet, The Ascent of Rum Doodle and works by Sugra Morley.
Celebrations continued at a Nepalese restaurant in New Brighton, while separate Mt Everest Day events were also held in Wellington, including a gathering organised by the Nepalese community at Parliament, reflecting the growing recognition of the annual occasion across New Zealand.
