Tractors roll to save hut

Tractors are going full steam ahead toward the South Pole to save a slice of history.

Expedition South is a month-long journey launched by the Antarctic Trust to raise funds to save Sir Edmund Hillary’s hut in Antarctica.

Sir Edmund’s son Peter kicked off the adventure at west Auckland’s Piha Beach on Tuesday. Three tractors will travel the 2012km from the beach to Aoraki Mt Cook - the same distance that Sir Edmund and his team travelled from Scott Base to the South Pole in 1957.

The drive aims to raise $1 million to save Hillary’s Hut, which was the first building constructed at Scott Base, and preserve it for the next 25 years.

‘‘[The hut] is surrounded by ice, the winters are brutal, temperatures are very low so like any building it needs work. and if you want this important piece of our New Zealand Antarctic history to survive we’ve got to do the work and we will do it,’’ Peter Hillary says.

‘‘Dad’s time in Antarctica and trip to the South Pole were one of his major achievements. He spent a lot of time in that hut – I know he’d be delighted if New Zealand saves it.’’

Expedition South will collect donations at schools and events along the route.

If all goes to plan, the team will arrive at Aoraki Mt Cook to finish the journey in sight of the Hillary Ridge on September 20.