Mountaineering forged enduring New Zealand-India ties
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In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of India climbed Mount Everest, an achievement that strengthened the relationship between their two countries.
The ascent built upon existing connections between New Zealand mountaineers and India’s Himalayan climbing community around Darjeeling. Before the historic summit, a New Zealand team climbed Mukut Parbat in northern India with support from the Himalayan Club in 1951, developing skills for larger challenges.
Following their success on Everest, Hillary continued to return to the Himalayas, founding the Himalayan Trust in 1960. This organisation worked to improve education, healthcare, and infrastructure in remote mountain communities across Nepal and northern India. In 1977, Hillary and his son Peter journeyed up the Ganges River in a jet boat, a symbolic trip linking the mountain with India’s most sacred river and gaining immense popularity with the Indian people.
Later, Sir Edmund Hillary formally served as New Zealand’s high commissioner to India between 1985 and 1989, rebuilding diplomatic ties after a period of strain. This appointment signaled New Zealand’s commitment to the relationship, and Indian climbers continue to visit New Zealand while New Zealanders explore Indian peaks, sustaining the cross-cultural connection begun decades ago.
