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Story: South Canterbury region

Landing on the snow

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Landing on the snow

Entrepreneur Rodolph Wigley’s son, Harry, pioneered the use of skiplanes with retractable skis. These aircraft could take off from the ground and land on snow, making the mountains more accessible. Harry (right) was in the Auster skiplane that made the first landing on the Tasman Glacier in 1955.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AAKB 7711 W3035 14AE

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, South Canterbury region – Transport and towns, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11398/landing-on-the-snow (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 February 2017.