Collegiate Story
About Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate was established by its namesake in 2001 and officially opened by Sir Edmund Hillary in 2004.
Our unique campus offers the complete education experience, with three distinct levels of schooling operating under one Board of Trustees. This seamless pathway allows students to progress from Year 1 through to Year 13 within the same educational community, making it easier for whānau with children across different age groups.
“Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate students are nurtured by a culture of respect, inspired by teaching, and empowered by learning to become global lifelong achievers.”
At Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, our values guide everything we do and provide a consistent foundation throughout each student’s educational journey.
Our Values
Excellence
Having high expectations and persevering in the face of difficulty.
- Perseverance
- Reliability
- Courage
- Responsibility
- Patience
Whanaungatanga
Working together for the common good of cultures, languages, and the environment.
- Love
- Kindness
- Friendship
- Caring
- Generosity
- Unity
- Cooperation
Respect
Respecting learners, teachers, and ourselves.
- Encouragement
- Trustworthiness
- Helpfulness
- Confidence
- Humility
- Honesty
- Tolerance
At Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, we endeavour to challenge ourselves just as Sir Edmund Hillary did throughout his life. His determination to overcome challenges reminds us that growth comes through perseverance and resilience.
Words of Wisdom from Sir Edmund Hillary
“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”
“People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”
“You don’t have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things — to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.”
The Life of Sir Edmund Hillary
- 20 July 1919: Edmund Percival Hillary was born in Auckland to Percival and Gertrude Hillary.
- Education: Attended Auckland University for two years.
- 1935: A school trip to Mt Ruapehu sparked his interest in mountaineering.
- 1936–1943: Worked as a beekeeper.
- 1939: Completed his first major climb, Mt Olivier in the Southern Alps.
- 1944–1945: Served as a navigator in the RNZAF during World War II.
- 1949: Climbed in the Austrian and Swiss Alps.
- 1951: Joined the New Zealand Gawhal Expedition and British Everest Reconnaissance Expedition.
- 1952: Participated in the British Cho Oyu Expedition.
- 29 May 1953: Reached the summit of Mt Everest with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
- 1953: Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
- 1953: Married Louise Rose. They had three children: Peter, Sarah, and Belinda.
- 1958: Completed the first overland journey to the South Pole since Robert Scott, using tractors.
- 1961: Established the Himalaya Trust.
- 1967: Achieved the first ascent of Mt Herschel in Antarctica.
- March 1975: His wife Louise and daughter Belinda died in a plane accident in Kathmandu.
- April 1985: Travelled to the North Pole with Neil Armstrong, becoming the first person to stand at both poles and on the summit of Mt Everest.
- 1985–1989: Served as New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
- 1987: Inducted into the Order of New Zealand.
- 1989: Married June Mulgrew.
- 1995: Appointed Knight of the Order of the Garter.
- 2003: Returned to Nepal to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Everest ascent.
- 2004: Officially opened Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate.
- January 2007: Returned to Antarctica for the 50th anniversary of Scott Base.
- April 2007: Made his final trip to the Himalayas.
- May 2007: Ranked New Zealand’s most trusted person in a national survey.
- 11 January 2008: Passed away in Auckland from a heart attack at the age of 88.