Sir Ed's daughter: He would have been appalled 

Source: Sarah and Peter Hillary

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Sixteen months after the death of our greatest adventurer, a row's broken out over his will.

The children of Sir Edmund Hillary, Peter and Sarah, are taking the executors of their father's will to court, arguing that the museum is ignoring their ownership of Sir Ed's belongings.

However the museum says it's doing nothing wrong.

The move comes as the relationship between the family and the Auckland War Memorial Museum has reportedly deteriorated.

In his will, Sir Ed bequeathed his personal papers to the museum with the proviso that his children would have access to the material as they saw fit.

Peter Hillary spoke on Friday of a "clear breakdown" in the family's relationship with museum director Vanda Vitali. He and his sister Sarah have not been consulted on the museum's plans for the material, he says.

Sarah and Peter Hillary say they are in no doubt what they think their father would do if he were still alive.

"He would have been appalled," says Sarah Hillary.

However Museum Director Dr Vanda Vitali says they've never prevented the Hillary family from accessing the records.

She says they want to honour Sir Edmund's request that his family can access the documents, alongside all of New Zealand, but Peter and Sarah Hillary are seeking exclusivity in terms of access.

Vitali says everything is available any time to Sir Edmund's son and daughter and to everyone else via the internet if the museum goes ahead with a plan to put it all online, a plan in peril from impending court action.

"The physical embodiment of these materials ends up with the museum, one would probably interpret that to mean that the intellectual property rights also pass but that's subject to some qualifications and in particular the family's continued right to access," Says Patrick Carey of Simpson Grierson.

And that's the nub of the dispute, who has what say over a public figures private records in the public domain.

"It needs to come through Sarah and I and why not...what if they want to publish a letter my younger sister wrote  not long before she was killed in the air crash," says Peter.

The family court will have the last word.

Do Sarah and Peter Hillary have a point? How do you feel about this issue? Share your opinion on our messagebaord below.

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turny013 ; 2009-05-16 @ 13:57 NZDT  

Oh my, how could the Musueum folk get it so wrong and out of step with a nation. Just back up guys, apologise to tthe Hillary family and all New Zealanders. This is our Sir Ed - show respect Just apologise please

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Chris01 ; 2009-05-16 @ 07:23 NZDT  

Who does Vanda Vitali think she is? She is grossly insensitive and clearly less than adept at managing. Where is her ability to collaborate and negotiate? Why isn't she showing some leadership here? One has to question whether she is suitable for the job she has? This is a storm in a teacup which should have been easily resolved and will forever be a black mark against Miss Vitali's name regardless of the legal outcome.

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sandman ; 2009-05-15 @ 23:21 NZDT  

I agree, Sir Edmund would be appalled, he would be appalled with the behaviour of his children not accepting the provisions of his last will & testament.

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