Nationality New Zealander Spouse(s) Jessie Christie Grant Parents Thomas Henry Wigley | Occupation Businessman Name Rodolph Wigley Children Henry Wigley | |
Born 21 October 1881 South Canterbury, New Zealand Died April 27, 1946, Dunedin, New Zealand Education Christ's College, Christchurch | ||
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 Henry Wigley. He was a son of Thomas Henry Wigley, MLC and sheep-farmer.
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 ascent of Mount Cook in mid-winter with two guides, on 11–12 August 1923.