Latest fromIn memory of Nelson Mandela
![Mandela's body arrives in Qunu](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Mandela's body arrives in Qunu
Nelson Mandela made one final trip home to the little village of Qunu in Transkei, South Africa when his body was transported in a military procession.
![Matt McCarten: Insult to send tour supporters](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Matt McCarten: Insult to send tour supporters
What an insult that John Key appointed Jim Bolger and Don McKinnon as part of a five-person New Zealand delegation to Nelson Mandela's memorial services.
![Crowds pay respects](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Crowds pay respects
An estimated 100,000 South Africans lined up in Pretoria to view Nelson Mandela in his casket but about a third of the overwhelming crowd was sent away without being able to file past the bier.
![Poor lament betrayal of Mandela's great vision](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Poor lament betrayal of Mandela's great vision
"They have turned Soweto into a Disneyland for Mandela," says Andile Bongani, waving his hands in derision outside his home in another, lesser known, South African township.
![Paul Thomas: Saintly message, but some haven't heard it](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paul Thomas: Saintly message, but some haven't heard it
You start to wonder if it's all got slightly out of hand when cricket commentators call for instant canonisation.
![Andrew Austin: Still a long walk to freedom](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Andrew Austin: Still a long walk to freedom
For many years, the cry was: "What will happen to South Africa after Mandela?" That time has come.
![John Roughan: Mandela made us wait a while](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Roughan: Mandela made us wait a while
When Nelson Mandela walked to freedom I fondly expected we in this country would see him somewhat sooner than we did.
![Mourners undeterred by hours of queueing](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Mourners undeterred by hours of queueing
After about 3.5 hours of zigging and zagging, twisting and turning, police realised things were not going to plan. There were too many people and not enough buses.
![Sharples' serendipitous superstar sit-down](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Sharples' serendipitous superstar sit-down
On a sombre day when he viewed Nelson Mandela's body lying in state, Dr Pita Sharples also had an encounter with two superstars.
![NZ delegation pays respects to Mandela](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
NZ delegation pays respects to Mandela
"It was very sad. I took a moment." John Key and the NZ delegation have paid their respects to Nelson Mandela as he lay in state in Pretoria.
![Andrew Austin: Politics mixed up with mourning](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Andrew Austin: Politics mixed up with mourning
This has been a difficult task for the South African Government as it had to follow protocols and ensure that the various dignitaries were given the proper welcome, writes Andrew Austin.
![John Key an 'unidentified guest'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
John Key an 'unidentified guest'
He may be well known at home but according to major US paper, John Key was just an "unidentified guest" at Nelson Mandela's memorial service.
![Charlotte McDonald: Forgiveness based on truth a path we all should follow](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Charlotte McDonald: Forgiveness based on truth a path we all should follow
Telling the truth was the path to reconciliation, to forgiveness; an essential step towards a future together, writes Charlotte McDonald. Nelson Mandela exemplified that in the way he lived his life.
![Bryan Gould: Mandela is dead and still we sleep](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Bryan Gould: Mandela is dead and still we sleep
Nelson Mandela at least had the satisfaction of living long enough to see his life's work vindicated, even by many of those who opposed him, writes Bryan Gould.
![Memorial service farewells Madiba](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Memorial service farewells Madiba
Nelson Mandela the peacemaker has achieved something in his death that had not been seen before. A US President shook hands with a President of Cuba.
![Obama shakes hands with Cuba's Raul Castro](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Obama shakes hands with Cuba's Raul Castro
US President Barack Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at a memorial service for Nelson Mandela, a simple gesture that signalled possible thawing between the leaders of two Cold War foes.