Photos of today's state funeralKEY POINTS:
Media around the world were firmly focused on Sir Edmund Hillary's final journey as he was laid to rest in Auckland today.
Thousands of people gathered in parks, halls and churches around New Zealand to farewell the adventurer and humanitarian, who died from a heart attack earlier this month, aged 88.
Under the headline "Final farewell for Edmund Hillary" the funeral was the lead story on
CNN's website, while a number of other news organisations displayed coverage of the funeral prominently on their homepages.
"Everest hero laid to rest" was one of the BBC's top stories of the day, while Britain's Telegraph led with "Sir Edmund Hillary farewelled" on their homepage.
"Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered Mount Everest in one of the twentieth century's defining moments, was given a fond and emotional farewell in New Zealand," said Telegraph reporter Paul Chapman.
"With a live satellite feed of his funeral beamed to ceremonies in Antarctica and Nepal, where his great adventures took place, he was hailed as a great but humble explorer and humanitarian.," he wrote.
In Australia, Melbourne newspaper The Age described Sir Edmund as New Zealand's greatest son.
"His state funeral in Auckland was televised live across New Zealand and in Australia and Nepal, but in keeping with the man himself, the service was modest."
Sir Edmund's funeral concluded the singing of the National Anthem of New Zealand and a haka performed by students from the Auckland high school named after the great explorer.
Sir Edmund's casket was then driven through the streets of inner city Auckland before being cremated at a private ceremony.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
