Hillary dispute: Museum slams 'screaming' public

The email to the <i>Herald</i> from the museum's spokesman.

Auckland Museum will not speak further about the Hillary dispute until it can do so "without getting screamed at by the public".

Communications chief Russell Briggs yesterday turned down a Herald request for an interview with director Vanda Vitali, saying the museum was "waiting for some of the emotionally charged aspects of this issue to calm down".

Sir Edmund Hillary's children are taking legal action in a bid to regain control of his diaries, writings and family photographs.

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

But Peter and Sarah Hillary have spoken of a breakdown in the family's relationship with Dr Vitali.

They say the family had not been consulted on the museum's plans for the memorabilia and were disturbed that the museum intended to claim intellectual property rights.

Prime Minister John Key yesterday confirmed that Government staff were working with the museum and the Hillary family to stop the dispute going to court.

"There is goodwill on both sides and I am hopeful that we can reach a sensible solution and outcome without the need for a court case," he said.

Peter Hillary did not want to comment last night on the museum's statement but said he was "somewhat embarrassed, definitely humbled but very grateful nonetheless" that the Prime Minister had stepped in to help the family to resolve the issue.

"I actually do feel quite humbled that the Prime Minister - who is the leader of the nation, who does have far more important things to do - has made available some of his and his staff's time to try to deal with a situation that, frankly, shouldn't have gone to this level, and we really appreciate it," he said.

Over the past few days the Hillarys have been contacted by members of the public, collectors and museum curators showing their support.

"It's not just the Hillary issue, it's what it's representative of, both in terms of what my father represents and in terms of the whole idea of giving to an institution," Mr Hillary said.

"I mean, would anyone trust giving to an institution? These things need to be very carefully handled so we don't erode public confidence, basically."

He said the Government's involvement would be "an incredible signal" for the museum and New Zealand as a whole.