Sir Henry Rodolph Wigley (2 February 1913 – 15 September 1980) was a pilot, entrepreneur, and pioneer of the New Zealand tourism industry. Wigley was born at Fairlie in 1913. In the 1930s, Wigley entered the family firm, the Mount Cook Tourist Company of New Zealand which his father

Rodolph Wigley Rodolph Lysaght Wigley (21 October 1881 – 27 April 1946), known as "Wigs" to his friends, was a New Zealand businessman from Fairlie, New Zealand, Fairlie in South Canterbury, and pioneer of the New Zealand tourism industry. He founded the Moun ...

had founded, but he had begun pilot training while in his teens, and at the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

joined the

Royal New Zealand Air Force The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF; ) is the aerial warfare, aerial military service, service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed initially in 1923 as a branch of the New Zealand Army, being known as the New Zealand Perm ...

, first as a flying instructor, then as a fighter pilot in the Pacific — leaving with the rank of

wing commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr or W/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Wing commander is immediately se ...

Wigley had been captain of the New Zealand ski team in 1936–37, and after the war led his company in establishing new ski-fields and facilities at

Coronet Peak Coronet Peak is a commercial skifield in Queenstown, New Zealand located seven kilometres west of Arrowtown, on the southern slopes of the 1,649-metre peak which shares its name. A popular ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere, Coronet Peak ...

and

Lake Ōhau Lake Ōhau is a lake in the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand. The Hopkins River, New Zealand, Hopkins and Dobson River, New Zealand, Dobson rivers fed into the northern end of Lake Ōhau. These rivers have their headwaters in ...

. In the early 1950s, Wigley also encouraged the company to involve itself in the

aerial topdressing Aerial topdressing is the aerial application of fertilisers over farmland using agricultural aircraft. It was developed in New Zealand in the 1940s and rapidly adopted elsewhere in the 1950s. Origins Previous aerial applications The first k ...

businesses, and on 22 September 1955 he successfully landed on the snowfield of the

Tasman Glacier Tasman Glacier (officially Haupapa / Tasman Glacier) is the largest glacier in New Zealand, and one of several large glaciers which flow south and east towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps in New Zealand's South Island. Geography ...

with an Auster Aiglet aircraft fitted with retractable wooden skis of his own design. After that flight, which was reputed to be the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, ski-plane trips to Tasman Glacier became a key part of the Mt Cook tourism. On 11 January 1946, Wigley was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Miliatary Division), in recognition of conspicuous service in operations against the Japanese. In the 1969 Queen's Birthday Honours, Wigley was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Division), for services to the tourist industry. His appointment was elevated to

Knight Commander Knight Commander (or Dame Commander) is the second most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are dormant (and one of them continues as a German house order). The rank entails admission into knighthood, allowing the rec ...

in the

1976 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1976 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 1 January 1976 to celebra ...

, for services to the tourist, travel and aviation industries. Wigley died of a heart attack on a golf course in

Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...

on 15 September 1980.

References

External links

Teara.govt.nz

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wigley, Harry 1913 births 1980 deaths 20th-century New Zealand businesspeople New Zealand World War II pilots People educated at Christ's College, Christchurch People educated at Timaru Boys' High School New Zealand male skiers New Zealand Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire People from Fairlie, New Zealand Businesspeople awarded knighthoods Moorhouse–Rhodes family 20th-century New Zealand sportsmen

See also

References

External links