Japanese climbers given certificates

Press, 10 January 1984, Page 2

Japanese climbers given certificates

Wellington, reporter

The party of Japanese deaf and mute climbers ordered off Mount Cook by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, over Christmas, have been presented with specially prepared certificates recording the climb of Mount Egmont.

The certificates were signed by the Director-Gen-eral of Lands, Mr P. H. C. Lucas. The Deputy DirectorGeneral of Lands, Mr G. McMillan, said the certificates were received “with great enthusiasm” by the Japanese party. The group’s leader, Mr Makoto Shimada, asked that Sir Robert be personally thanked “for his kindness and thoughtfulness throughout their visit.”

He said that, although the party had been very disappointed over the request to come off Mount Cook, and initially did not understand the reasons, they now appreciated the problems which could have arisen, and accepted the situation. They had been proud to climb Mount Egmont and hoped to return one day.

the Minister of Lands and Forests, Mr Elworthy, has put off plans to scale Mount Cook because of bad weather.

Mr Elworthy’s plans were disrupted by the same bad weather which led Sir Robert Muldoon to order the Japanese climbers off the mountain.

Although no firm date had been set for Mr Elworthy’s climb, he had

intended making the attempt in the week before Christmas, weather permitting. He had been prepared to delay the attempt until late this month or February if weather ruled out climbing over Christmas. Mr Elworthy was to have been accompanied by a small party of local mountaineering staff. A route had still to be finalised before Christmas, though the Mount Cook chief ranger, Mr Bert Youngman, was reported at the time as suggesting an ascent via the Hooker Valley was the best bet.

In the end, Mr Elworthy spent his Christmas vacation in the warmer climes of Paihia, in the Bay of Islands, and Minginui, near Rotorua.