Rodolph Lysaght Wigley (21 October 1881 – 27 April 1946), known as "Wigs" to his friends, was a New Zealand businessman from Fairlie in South Canterbury, and pioneer of the New Zealand tourism industry. He founded the Mount Cook Group of tourism and transport companies, which were taken over by his son Harry Wigley. He was a son of Annie Caroline Lysaght and Thomas Wigley, MLC and sheep-farmer.[1]
His first business in 1904 was "Wigley and Thornton" which transported wool from South Canterbury sheep stations to Timaru using steam traction engines. In 1906 he purchased a 6 hp De Dion car and drove it to The Hermitage hotel near Mount Cook; and subsequently dissolved his first firm and formed the "Mount Cook Motor Co Ltd" with four Darraq cars to provide transport for tourists to The Hermitage and from 1912 Queenstown also. When the Lakes County Council tried to stop motor cars on the Queenstown route by banning any vehicle propelled by its own power from a critical two mile stretch, he hired men with horses to pull the cars with passengers over the section. After the Great War he purchased five war surplus British aircraft and formed "The New Zealand Aero Transport Co" in 1921, the precursor to Mount Cook Airline.
He was also a notable mountaineer, making the first mid-winter ascent of Mount Cook with two guides, on 11–12 August 1923.
He formed the Tongariro Tourist Company to build the Chateau Tongariro which was opened in 1929.
In 1999, Wigley was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.[2]
^Ogilvie, Gordon. "Wigley, Rodolph Lysaght". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
^"Past laureates". Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
Rodolph Lysaght Wigley (21 October 1881 – 27 April 1946), known as "Wigs" to his friends, was a New Zealand businessman from Fairlie in South Canterbury...
Henry RodolphWigley KBE (2 February 1913 – 15 September 1980) was a pilot, entrepreneur, and pioneer of the New Zealand tourism industry. Wigley was born...
William RodolphWigley (c. 1826 – 6 May 1890) was a lawyer and politician in the British colony of South Australia. W. R. Wigley was born in England to...
(1918–1998), American farmer and politician RodolphWigley (1881–1946), New Zealand tourism pioneer Steve Wigley (born 1961), English (soccer) football coach...
Zealand tourism and transport operator founded on 2 April 1912 by Rodolph Lysaght Wigley. Originally a road transport business, the Mount Cook Tourist Company...
revisited it. In January 1861 he married Maria Cordelia Wigley, a sister of William RodolphWigley (c. 1826–1890), and was survived by a daughter. "Henry...
any private company that would build and operate a hotel on the site. RodolphWigley (1881–1946), the managing director of the Mount Cook Tourist Company...
Stevens Textiles and manufacturing Ron Trotter Business leadership RodolphWigley Tourism 2000 Francis Carter Sawmilling and timber merchandising Edward...
established in 1920 at Timaru by RodolphWigley, who in 1906 had driven the first motor car to The Hermitage. Wigley leased five surplus Royal Air Force...
married again, to Josephine Lucie Cordelia "Jo" Wigley (1877–1961), daughter of Glenelg mayor Henry RodolphWigley, on 18 May 1904. They lived at Blakiston,...
1997/98–2009/10 Bob Masefield, 1984/85 Harold Mathias, 1883/84–1887/88 Rodolph Mathias, 1887/88–1893/94 Neil Maxwell, 1996/97–1997/98 John Medlow, 1894/95...
Arthur Wiggin, of Oak Hill, Uphampton, Ombersley 1959: Lieut.-Colonel Henry Rodolph Hugh Davies of The Steward's House, Elmley Castle, Pershore 1960: Eliot...
Dungdung, Matron, British High Commission Hospital, New Delhi. Daniel Rodolph Valentine Edwards. For public and community services in Montserrat. Jacqueline...