2009 marks the 30th anniversary of the Erebus tragedy, one of NZ's darkest days. But NZ and Antarctica share a much older and richer history. From Tuati in 1839 to Edmund Hillary in the 1950s and more recent scientists, Kiwis have explored, examined and endured the frozen continent.
The legendary mountaineer, adventurer and philanthropist – whose familiar, craggy face beams out from the $5 note – is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived. His ascent of Mt Everest with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on 29 May 1953 brought him worldwide fame – literally overnight.
On 28 November 1979, 237 passengers and 20 crew were killed when Air New Zealand Flight TE901 crashed into the side of Mt Erebus, Antarctica. The tragedy was followed by a demanding recovery operation and a raging debate over who or what was to blame
On 29 May – four days before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II – Hillary and the experienced Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mt Everest and became the first men to stand on the ‘roof of the world’.
New Zealanders were actively or passively involved in a number of significant Antarctic firsts - notably the first landing on the continent proper in 1895 and the first overland crossing between 1955 and 1958. For some this ‘first' marked the beginning of a long relationship with the continent, for others it was but a fleeting moment that nevertheless saw their name live on in history.
In 1987 Ed Hillary was among the first 20 people selected as members of
the Order of New Zealand (ONZ), this country’s highest honour. He has been the recipient of numerous honours during his lifetime.
The New Zealand Antarctic Society (NZAS) was established in 1933 with the aim of bringing together people interested in Antarctica. It continues along much the same lines today.
The New Zealand section of the British Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by Sir Edmund Hillary, sails in the Endeavour from N.Z. to the Ross Sea.
The International Geophysical Year (1957-1958) was an international scientific effort that intended to allow scientists from around the world to take part in coordinated earth science studies.
A cottage at Ferrymead Heritage Park in Christchurch was owned by Joseph Kinsey, who was involved in aspects of Scott and Shackleton's Antarctic expeditions.
The 29th of November 1979 was meant to be a day of celebration in Antarctica. It was the 50th anniversary of American explorer and aviator Richard Byrd's historic flight over the South Pole.
New Zealander Frank Worsley captained the Endurance during Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. But he is best remembered for navigating the expedition party to safety after the Endurance was crushed by ice floes in the Weddell Sea.
In this page from Air New Zealand's The Antarctic experience brochure, Mt Erebus – the 'sentinel of McMurdo' – is clearly visible from the DC-10's cockpit.
The bodies of the victims of Air New Zealand Flight TE901 were flown by Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules aircraft to Whenuapai Air Base in Auckland.
By the time the second flight carrying bodies from the Erebus disaster crash site arrived on 10 December 1979 the pathology teams tasked with determining cause of death had completed post mortem examinations on the first 114 bodies
