Governor-General to attend Saudi King's funeral

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saudi. Photo / AFP / Brendan Pool

The Governor-General will represent New Zealand at the funeral of the Saudi King Abdullah.

Sir Jerry Mateparae will travel to Saudi Arabia for the ceremony of condolences for King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who died on Friday local time, aged 90.

"[Sir Jerry] will join Heads of State and dignitaries from many countries at the ceremony, and expects to tender condolences on New Zealand's behalf on Tuesday," the Governor-General's office said.

World leaders have already begun arriving in the country to give their condolences to the nation on the death of King Abdullah, who ruled Saudi Arabia for 20 years.

Despite deep tensions and rivalries between the nations, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was among the first to arrive to the kingdom on Saturday, where he was greeted at the airport by the late king's son, Prince Turki, the Associated Press said.

King Abdullah was a powerful US ally, who fought against al Qaeda and sought to modernise the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom.

His successor - his 79-year-old half-brother Salman - was King Abdullah's crown prince and had recently taken on some of the ailing king's responsibilities.

In the coming days US President Barack Obama, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, Spain's King Felipe VI, Jordan's King Abdullah, Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik, Dutch King Willem-Alexander, and the UK's Prince Charles are among those expected to visit the country to pay their condolence to the newly enthroned King Salman.

On Friday, Sir Jerry, who met members of the Saudi royal family in 2011, said it was "sad news" to hear of King Abdullah's death.

"Under his leadership, Saudi Arabia has forged closer ties with New Zealand and we have welcomed an increasing number of young people to study under the auspices of the King Abdullah Scholarship programme," he said on Friday.

"I extend our best wishes to HM King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as he assumes the responsibilities of the throne and as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques."

King Abdullah had more than 30 children from about a dozen wives.