KEY POINTS:
As news filtered out that Sir Ed had conquered the planet's highest peak, Sue Clearwater was being born in a New Zealand hospital.
"When my mum rang dad to say he had a daughter, no one was very interested," Ms Clearwater said yesterday.
"Everyone was glued to the radio hearing the news about this great man and this great achievement."
Ms Clearwater was one of almost 3000 people at Auckland's Domain to farewell Sir Ed.
Most had never met him - but all knew him and wanted to say goodbye.
"I was 13 when he climbed that mountain and he's been in my life ever since," said Helen Maxwell. "How could we not be here?"
A giant screen projected live coverage of the ceremony. Many had brought brollies to shelter from the forecast rain, but ended up using them as sun umbrellas.
Robert Howlett had driven up from Hamilton with his granddaughters Monique, 11, and Madalaine, 6.
Monique said she had been taught about Sir Ed at school and learned about the importance of his "determination and persistence that we must all have in life".
The mood was sombre, but not sad. People told and re-told Sir Ed stories and laughed.
A hush fell over the crowd as the service began. Small pockets of people stood for the hymns and prayers. Each tribute was applauded. Some people wept quietly.
Eve Mann, 77, wiped tears from her eyes she remembered "one of us who has gone".
Paul Dixon remembered a ferry crossing of Cook Strait in the late 1950s when he found himself next to "this tall man standing on the deck".
"He had the gung ho attitude and he wasn't stupid."
All ages were there - from babies in pushchairs to those looking forward to their centenaries.
Helena Ataya's reason for wanting to be there was simple: "At 97 I didn't want to miss it."
Lee Fowler wore a New Zealand flag draped over her shoulders to show her pride in being a New Zealander.
"When I was travelling in Nepal, Hillary was everywhere. He was New Zealand in Nepal," she said. "Days like this, you've just got to be a part of." As the tributes ended, the heavens opened and the promised rain appeared. Umbrellas came out while some darted for the shelter of the trees.
But it stopped and a small blue patch of sky appeared for the National Anthem. Everyone stood and most sang.
It was a scene repeated throughout the country. Large screens were also at the Viaduct Harbour, in Hamilton, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Masterton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
In Christchurch it was a balmy day for the 2000 people watching in Cathedral Square.
In Wellington, about 250 people watched the funeral inside at the Town Hall, as showers fell and a strong wind gusted outside.
Meanwhile, about 200 people gathered at Mt Cook Village under thick rainclouds for a service in the mountains.
The rain was "tears from heaven", said Archdeacon of South Canterbury Philip Robinson, who led the gathering of tourists, local families, and many of New Zealand's mountaineering community with their own special connection with the mountains and Sir Edmund.
Local Nepalese couple Phurenje and Tshering Sherpa, who credit Sir Edmund with changing their lives for the better, lit candles and offered a Buddhist prayer, while singer Becky Murray delivered a powerful version of You Raise Me Up.
Back at the Domain, Margaret and Alistair Andrews, aged 79 and 81, said it was a "wonderful send-off", though they weren't sure Sir Ed would have approved.
"He probably wouldn't have enjoyed all this fuss, but I think we - and the country - have done him proud."
