KEY POINTS:
The Summits for Ed tribute tour being run by the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre (OPC) was called off today as a mark of respect for the victims of the Tongariro canyoning tragedy.
Six students and their teacher from Auckland's Elim Christian College died yesterday when they were caught out by flash flooding while canyoning in the Mangatepopo Gorge on an OPC course.
OPC Hillary Centre Trust chairman Grant McKenzie said he had spoken to Lady Hillary overnight and it was agreed that just as Sir Ed would not have walked past a fallen comrade on a mountain, it would be inappropriate to continue the summit climbs.
"Our first thoughts are with the grieving families and the school community and we are offering our support and sympathy," Mr McKenzie said.
The Summits for Ed climb team would still attend the meeting points for the remaining tribute ceremonies in Whangarei, Kaikohe, Russell, Kerikeri and Cape Reinga at the designated times, but no climb would take place. Today's Warkworth climb was cancelled.
Instead there would be a short ceremony at the assembly points and a minute's silence. Any rocks or stones brought along to form part of Sir Ed's cairn at Tongariro would be collected by the team.
So far about 8000 people have participated in Sir Ed's tribute tour, climbing 33 of a scheduled 39 local summits from Bluff to North Auckland.
- NZPA
