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Some dabbed their eyes and others threw white roses at the hearse as Sir Edmund Hillary made his final journey through Auckland's streets.
They were there in their thousands as the funeral cortege slowly passed from Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, through Auckland Domain, via Newmarket to Remuera Rd.
At the Domain, most of the around 3000 people who had gathered to watch the service on a big screen moved to line the streets before the funeral cortege passed.
Spontaneous applause broke out as the slow-moving motorcade drove by - first a hearse carrying floral tributes, then one with Sir Ed's coffin, followed by silver cars and a bus carrying Lady Hillary, family and friends - as Dave Dobbyn's Loyal sounded from loudspeakers.
As it rounded the corner, dozens of people ran across the field to catch a second glimpse of the procession, many throwing flowers onto the bonnet of the hearse.
In Newmarket, shops shut as a mark of respect.
The Carlton Bar on Khyber Pass called "last drinks" at 1.45pm. Bar manager David Turner said Sir Ed had time for other people, so he was happy to stop serving drinks.
Patron Charles Reynolds said the procession was a poignant send-off.
"I'm a little overcome by the occasion," he said with tears welling.
"I remember listening to the wireless when he climbed Everest. He was a hero back then and still is."
The cortege turned from Broadway into Remuera Rd and the sombre crowd of about 1500 burst into applause.
Graham Harris was one of the many New Zealanders paying his respects, just months after a chance meeting with Sir Ed.
"I was sitting in Mission Bay on one of the seats and had my eyes closed. I could hear the footsteps coming towards me and I opened them and there was Sir Ed, walking with June.I said 'Hi' and he acknowledgedme."
On Remuera Rd, where Sir Ed lived for 50 years, small groups gathered.
"We grew up in the area and Sir Edmund has always been a figure around Remuera," said Sarah Buchanan, who threw white roses as the motorcade passed.
"We would see him and Lady Hillary at the supermarket. He's an inspiration to all of us."
Resident Patsy Agnew said of seeing Sir Ed in Remuera: "When he walked, he lifted his feet like he was on the mountain."
At the Viaduct, more than 400 watched the service on the screen including Mary Arnold, who arrived from the United States yesterday morning and went straight there.
"When a great man ends his life you have to celebrate it," she said. "We don't really see Hillary as a Kiwi. He was a man of the world. It is not just New Zealand that will mourn his death."
About 60 police officers, supported by the Eagle helicopter, were involved in the state funeral.
Operation commander Inspector Derek Davison said the day ran smoothly, with no arrests and no traffic or crowd control problems.
* ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ISAAC DAVISON
