Still the Greatest

Adventurer Sir Edmund Hillary is the “greatest living New Zealander” according to the results of a recent Research New Zealand poll. Despite his death in January 2008, Sir Ed was named by 15 per cent of the 500 respondents. Research New Zealand director Emanuel Kalafatelis said it showed how beloved Sir Edmund was. Sir Edmund conquered Everest in 1953 and so many of us either remember the historic day or grew up with tales of his amazing achievements and the good work he did for the Nepalese people. To find a new hero to match his legendary status is tough. While just over a third said they couldn’t name one, former Prime Minister Helen Clark, now at the UN was second with 9 per cent, bucking the trend of sports people dominating our list of icons, Kalafatelis said. Others on the list included Prime Minister John Key on 2 per cent, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Willie Apiata and Peter Jackson.