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Haurongo: Davidson, Mavis Melville

The first all-woman ascent of Aoraki/Mount Cook

Three women, holding ropes and ice-axes, climbing up a snowy alpine ridge.

Mavis Davidson (right), with Sheila MacMurray (left) and Doreen Pickens (centre), near the summit of Aoraki/Mount Cook during the first all-women ascent on 6 January 1953.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: Ashley Cunningham papers, New Zealand Alpine Club Collection. MS-1164-2/025/04/001

Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Rebekah White. 'Davidson, Mavis Melville', Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau, i tāngia tuatahitia ki 2022. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/47693/the-first-all-woman-ascent-of-aorakimount-cook (accessed 4 June 2026).