KEY POINTS:
Wanted: Five wealthy New Zealanders with $2.5 million each to spare for a good cause - creating an "equivalent to the Nobel Prize" for international leadership.
Jan Cameron, founder of the Kathmandu clothing business, has given the first $2.5 million and is urging her fellow NBR Rich List members to step forward and support the Hillary Institute, a charitable foundation that will give a $1 million prize every four years to outstanding mid-career leaders.
"You can only use so much money yourself, so you've then got to decide what to do with it. I'm in a privileged position to be able to do that, and [the institute] is a great idea," said Ms Cameron at an official launch by Helen Clark and Sir Edmund Hillary, after whom the foundation is named, at Scott Base yesterday.
"The institute is looking for a total of $15 million. I've put in $2.5 million, so there are five other Kiwis to go, if they want to match this," she said.
Joining in the Scott Base 50th anniversary celebrations at the weekend "has really brought into focus the achievements of Sir Ed", she said.
Last year, Ms Cameron was approached by Chris Doig, chairman of the Arts Council, to ask if she would like to get involved with the institute - an idea created by a group of Christchurch-based business and political figures, including Mayor Garry Moore, Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend and Mark Solomon and Tahu Potiki of Ngai Tahu.
Australian-born Ms Cameron, who moved to Tasmania with $200 million from the sale of Kathmandu in 2006, agreed immediately.
Yesterday, she said more New Zealanders might give to philanthropic causes if laws relating to charity were reformed.
"The tax laws around donations in New Zealand could be improved upon and I think that's being looked at," she said, glancing at the Prime Minister, who said the Government was examining the whole gift regime through the Charities Commission.
Garry Moore, also at Scott Base, said the idea was inspired by Sir Ed's contributions to health and education in Nepal, and would focus on mid-career people from any country who had shown a commitment to environmentally and socially sustainable projects.
"Ed climbed the highest peak in the world but in fact the work he did in the valleys was his significant work.
"It took significant leadership to get to the top, but greater leadership to do that work in the valleys. Imagine if he'd had a million dollars to work with. He helped the local people help themselves - they ran the schools and hospitals, but he got the resources to them. He made systemic change to those people, and those are the kind of leaders we want to find."
Helen Clark said the prize could become "a New Zealand equivalent to the Nobel Prize for leadership".
Ms Cameron said she was getting more involved in philanthropy in Tasmania.
"I'm starting with a lot of work in the Australian animal welfare sector. [As a philanthropist] you'd hope to be making some sort of difference.
"That's the reward. I've been thinking about philanthropy in general maybe for five years, but it's only recently that I've been able to do that financially.
"I've got quite a few projects in Tasmania with native animals, farmed animals, and I'm working with the RSPCA."
She bought some ex-battery hens and said she was enjoying the semi-retired life as a chook farmer.
"The days aren't long enough; I've been busier than I've ever been. I was looking for a bit of a sea change and this has launched me on a new path."
