Hillary honoured at Mt Cook

Fifty years after he stood on top of Mt Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary will feature in jubilee celebrations at Mt Cook.

A statue of Sir Edmund has been commissioned by The Hermitage to stand in front of the peaks where he learned the skills that took him to the top of the world.

This year is also the 50th anniversary of Mt Cook National Park and the construction of the Mueller Hut.

The replacement for the hut will be opened by Sir Edmund in July. It stands below Mt Ollivier, a 1933m peak that was the first he climbed when he visited The Hermitage on a holiday in his 20s.

Department of Conservation spokeswoman Cheryl Colley said the Mueller Hut opening would be the first in a series of events to mark the national park's jubilee. A new visitor centre would open next year.

- NZPA