It has been 18 months since the death of Sir Edmund Hillary who was widely considered the greatest Kiwi for 50 years. So who holds the title of greatest living New Zealander now?
ONE News asked Research New Zealand to poll 500 Kiwis and find out who could fill the giant-sized hole left by Sir Ed's passing.
Sir Peter Snell won gold on the track but has to settle for bronze in this race behind All Black legend Sir Colin Meads.
The winner is former Prime Minister Helen Clark who was delighted with the news.
"I've put my life into New Zealand politics and always felt that New Zealand was part of me and I wanted to serve, so it's incredibly humbling" says Clark.
One person actually got more votes than Clark - but could not be declared the winner.
Even though people were clearly asked, who is the greatest living New Zealander, the person with by far the most votes was still Sir Edmund Hillary.
It's almost impossible to believe those voters didn't know Sir Ed had died and it appears the answer is psychological.
Matt Crawford, a psychology lecturer at Victoria University, says it is engrained thinking.
Crawford says so many Kiwis are still so used to thinking of Sir Ed as the greatest living Kiwi that his name comes to mind very quickly and dominates the responses.
So it appears that while Clark may have taken the title, she has not taken Sir Ed's place in the hearts and minds of Kiwis.
Who do you think is the greatest living New Zealander? Share on our messageboard below:
Provocative, unflinching, Thursday 9:30pm
Back Benches - giving politics back to the people
The way New Zealand wakes up weekdays, 6:30am
No one gets you closer, weeknights 7pm
Looking out for the little guy, Wednesday 7:30pm
Meet the people that bring you the news
TV ONE weekdays, 6am
The home of NZ politics - Sunday, 9am TV ONE
Where there's a story, we'll find it, Sunday 7:30pm
Te Karere, Maori News - 4pm weekdays, TV ONE
News on digital channel TVNZ 7
Advertising
post new comment
add to this thread
