Kylie Wakelin

Exhibition at the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre 

The Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition would see 7 women from the Commonwealth countries of Cyprus, India, Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom brave blizzards, crevasses and temperatures below -30C as they ski over 900 kilometres across Antarctica to the Geographic South Pole.

Marking the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth, the expedition aimed to demonstrate the potential of greater intercultural understanding and exchange, while at the same time highlighting the achievements of women across the world.

Representing New Zealand was 36-year old Kylie Wakelin from Twizel of the South Island. Kylie was the first woman from New Zealand to ski to the South Pole.