Today in History

1958 Hillary leads NZ party to Pole

Sir Edmund Hillary and his New Zealand party reached the South Pole. They were the first to do so overland since Scott in 1912, and the first to reach it in motor vehicles. The party set out for the Pole after laying food and fuel depots for the British crossing party of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (TAE). It was an arduous journey - long hours were spent battling through sastrugi (wind-eroded snow ridges), soft snow and dangerous crevasses. But what is often remembered is Hillary's determination to proceed with the journey without the express permission of the TAE, and against the instructions of the committee coordinating New Zealand's contribution. 

Read more about Hillary and his party's journey to the south pole 

Image: Ed Hillary on trans-Antarctic expedition (detail from stamp)

1869 Te Kooti defeated at Nga Tapa

Pursued by kupapa and Pakeha troops to Nga Tapa, an ancient hilltop pa inland from Poverty Bay, Te Kooti narrowly avoided capture. The following day Ngati Porou captured and killed 120 people who had been captives of Te Kooti.