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The state funeral for Sir Edmund Hillary is expected to be held in Auckland on January 22, Prime Minister Helen Clark said after meeting with the mountaineer's family for two hours today.
Sir Ed, the New Zealander who conquered Mt Everest, died in Auckland on Friday, aged 88.
His widow Lady June Hillary came out of the couple's Remuera home around 2pm today to greet and embrace Miss Clark, who had returned from an overseas trip.
Officials from the Anglican Church in New Zealand and Department of Internal Affairs also went into the house to discuss funeral arrangements.
Miss Clark emerged to say it was likely that the funeral will be held a week on Tuesday at St Mary's Church, to allow time for family members to return, and to allow for a period of lying in state at the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Sir Ed's son Peter, who is understood to be in Europe, was not due in New Zealand until next week, which was one of the reasons for the timing of the funeral, Miss Clark said.
The church and cathedral are situated on the same ridge in the suburb of Parnell, a few kilometres from the centre of Auckland. St Mary's is a gothic wooden church noted for its beauty.
Miss Clark paid tribute to Lady Hillary, calling her a remarkable person.
"Lady Hillary really wanted to do the right thing by the Hillary family and by the New Zealand public who admired Sir Edmund so much.
"I have great admiration with how she is dealing with this."
Miss Clark said Lady Hillary was very conscious that while there were protocols for a state funeral, the funeral should be as inclusive as possible.
The family had been overwhelmed by the love and respect that had been shown for Sir Ed since his death.
Miss Clark said the decision to offer the family a state funeral was made because Sir Ed was an extraordinary New Zealander.
Sir Ed had an extraordinary status here and an extraordinary status internationally, and the state funeral was in keeping with that, Miss Clark said.
Officials were now formalising the arrangements for the funeral.
Tributes from around the world have flowed from the mountaineering and diplomatic communities and from ordinary people whom Sir Ed inspired.
A book of condolences had been placed at Parliament in Wellington for the public to write down messages of love, respect and affection.
Another book would be at the Auckland Town Hall on Monday.
A clue as to what funeral arrangements may be appropriate has come from family friend and journalist Mark Sainsbury, who talked with Sir Ed about his death when they were in Nepal together.
"He said 'when I kick the bucket, I don't want statues. I just want my work to continue in Nepal'."
Mr Sainsbury says Sir Ed was a humble man, who lived to serve others.
Tributes are continuing to pour in for Sir Ed.
Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand, Lou Sanson, remembers the explorer as someone who loved nothing more than getting back to basics.
Mr Sanson says Sir Ed was even uncomfortable at Scott Base, because it has generators and a variety of prepared food.
He says what the legend enjoyed most was going to a tiny little A-frame tent called the love shack.
"You know, typical kiwi style, no power, cooking on a primus and just sitting there in the complete silence of Antarctica. That's probably his favourite memory of Antarctica."
Mr Sanson says staff at Scott Base used to sit outside with Sir Ed drinking whiskey and telling stories.
When Sir Ed visited Antarctica last year to mark 50 years of New Zealand's involvement on the continent, he asked to go back to the A-frame.
- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB
