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Legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary continues

A charitable initiative conducted by Land Rover NZ continues the legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary.
Posted on 15 July, 2019

A new charitable initiative to mark a Sir Edmund Hillary centenary will see his legacy continue - supporting the health and education of the Nepalese people.

July 20, 2019 would have been the 100th birthday of the iconic New Zealander and is also seen as an opportunity to continue his work through the Himalayan Trust - improving education and health for communities in the remote, mountainous regions of Nepal.

Land Rover has designed a limited-edition ‘Sir Edmund Hillary’ Discovery HSE in Carpathian grey with a dynamic off-road pack. 

Proceeds from the sale of the vehicles will be used to provide irrigation systems and residential water supply for 900 villagers; bringing filtered water to each house as well as providing fire-fighting infrastructure to protect their homes.

Land Rover NZ general manager Steve Kenchington says the opportunity to honour a New Zealand legend in this way resonates strongly with his team.

“Many of the residents of Bubsa and Monjo villages are subsistence farmers who rely on seasonal rains to irrigate their crops."

“This limits the type of crops they can grow, reduces their income and has an impact on the health of the villagers.

“This initiative will make a real difference in the lives of many Nepalese, and we are privileged to help continue the work of this legendary New Zealander."

The new SUV will be unveiled at a gala dinner in Auckland this month where Sir Ranulph Fiennes - considered to be the world’s greatest living explorer, will be speaking. 

Sir Edmund’s son Peter Hillary says his family has had a connection to the Land Rover brand for generations and his father would have appreciated its use to raise funds for a cause he was so passionate about.

“In the early seventies, the family Range Rover we adored for many many years was a golden brown coloured two-door aluminium bodied vehicle – we referred to it as the Hillary adventure wagon, it epitomised what my father and our family was all about,” he adds.

Kenchington says just 20 of the vehicles will be produced - each coming with a commemorative, uncirculated $5 note signed by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1993, as well as a $2,000 voucher for the Edmund Hillary clothing line. 

The SUVs, which will retail at $169,900 plus on-road costs, are based on the Discovery Td6 HSE, but will have a wide range of off-road enhancements - including active locking rear differential, all-terrain progress control and wade sensing. 

In addition to all standard features of the discovery; a front recovery winch, customised badging, flared wheel arches, LED light bar and contrast accents will be added to this limited- edition model.

The limited-edition model will be available to purchase through Land Rover authorised retailers around New Zealand from this month. Due to only 20 of these vehicles being available in the world, expressions of interest are being accepted now.