As the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates collide, they push up mountains — including the Southern Alps, one of the world’s fastest-growing ranges. These dramatic South Island peaks are home to the cheeky kea parrot and native alpine flowers. They attract sightseers, skiers and climbers — including Everest conqueror Edmund Hillary, who learnt his mountaineering skills on their slopes. Mountains, Mountaineering, Edmund Percival Hillary, On top of the world: Ed Hillary, The Southern Alps and other axial ranges, Aoraki/Mt Cook, Skiing, Kea plumage, Archival audio sourced from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives, Sound fil