Queen Elizabeth death: Whanganui reacts

Queen Elizabeth II, 96, died peacefully at Balmoral early on Friday. Photo / Shutterstock

Queen Elizabeth II is being remembered in Whanganui as someone who served until her final day and under whose rule stability prospered.

Queen Elizabeth II, 96, died peacefully at Balmoral early on Friday (NZ time), and was the longest-serving monarch in the history of Britain and the Commonwealth, having acceded the throne in 1952.

Flags around Whanganui have moved to half-mast as people wake to the news the Queen has died.

Monarchy NZ's Whanganui and Manawatū representative, Josh Chandulal-Mackay, said it was a monumental moment in world history.

"We're talking about someone who was the embodiment of strength and stability and continuity over not just 70 years but her entire life.

"For everyone under the age of 70 - they cannot recall a time where she was not in the role she is in as Queen. It's quite phenomenal really the extent of that service and duty."

Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall said the Whanganui District Council would now carry out pre-planned procedures in recognition of the passing of the monarch.

There were flag protocols for the district, and a memorial book would be made available at council for people to come and write messages before it is taken to the Whanganui War Memorial Centre.

"Come and sign it, absolutely," McDouall said.

Mayor Hamish McDouall said the Whanganui District Council would now carry out pre-planned procedures in recognition of the passing of the monarch. Photo / Bevan Conley

Council would also be talking to the Anglican Church about holding a service in Whanganui, McDouall said.

Queen's death sudden

The Queen was an "icon of stability", the mayor said.

"Queen Elizabeth gave such incredible service and there are many people including myself who've only known one monarch, one head on the coin, one head on the stamps.

"[She] also had the stability through all the troubles - that the world and her own family have been through."

McDouall said Whanganui had a special link to the Queen after her son, Prince Edward, spent time in this city in the 1980s as a tutor at Whanganui Collegiate.

"Our sympathies extend to him and his family."

Chandulal-Mackay said the Queen's service was an example of how to put some good into the world from a public service role.

"For someone to have been Queen for all that time - and to have barely put a foot wrong either is an incredible legacy of public service."

He said he expected a lot of sadness in the city today.

"It's a massive day. There's going to be a lot of people feeling their way through this.

"It's something we all knew was coming ... but didn't quite want to believe it would ever actually occur."

Monarchy NZ's Whanganui and Manawatū representative Josh Chandulal-Mackay said it was a monumental moment in world history. Photo / Bevan Conley

Chandulal-Mackay said Her Majesty's death was quite sudden.

"It was only yesterday when she was standing in an audience in Balmoral ... greeting the new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and inviting her to accept a government."

To be able to do that while in a frail state told a story in itself, Chandulal-Mackay said.

"Right up until her last day of life she was still doing her duty."

He had followed the Queen's life very closely since he was young.

"I remember seeing her in Paris when I was about nine years old when I was over there with my parents."

Even then she was an old woman, Chandulal-Mackay said.

"It just goes to show that for a lot of people they have this grandmotherly figure in their life who was always there so the thought of her suddenly not being with us is quite a lot to wrap your head around."

He said King Charles would be following in the footsteps of someone who set the bar "incredibly high" for ruling.

"He will need to embody the nation as a whole, need to represent the Commonwealth and all its diversity as best he can."

It would also be a really sad day for the King because he would take over the throne immediately with no stand-down period, he added.

Chandulal-Mackay said the Queen had visited New Zealand 10 times during her reign.

The Queen also granted the Royal Whanganui Opera House the ability to have the word royal in its title.

"Honestly, I don't think Whanganui is different to anywhere else in the sense we're all going to be reflecting on the loss of someone who had been part of our lives for all of it," Chandulal-Mackay said.

He said people on his Facebook feed - of all ages young and old - were paying tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth on Friday morning.

Local MPs react

Whanganui MP Steph Lewis said she was in shock, but praised the Queen for her "incredible legacy of service".

"The Queen has been such a huge part of people's lives for such a long period of time that in some ways I think a lot of people didn't imagine this day coming, even though we knew, in reality, it would."

Lewis said the Queen had made a promise to dedicate her life to serving the people of Britain and the Commonwealth and she had done that until the day she died.

For Lewis, memories of the Queen came from photos she had seen. She particularly enjoyed the skit between the Queen and Paddington Bear.

"I did really love the playful side we saw of her with Paddington Bear eating the marmalade sandwiches.

"She gave her life to service but she did have a very good sense of humour."

Lewis said she would be paying her respects on behalf of the Whanganui electorate in memorial books set out for the Queen in Wellington.

Rangitīkei MP Ian McKelvie said he remembered meeting the Queen once when he was managing a sports team in England.

He said it was in an environment she was comfortable in and he found her "very impressive".

"It's sort of sad isn't it? [She's] been the one constant in all of our lives," he said of her passing.

"For the whole of my lifetime she's been the Queen."

He said it was fascinating someone who was so dominant in international affairs held her role for so long.

"There's a massive gap being created.

"The world will be a different place without her."

"... a place in a lot of people's hearts here"

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said he remembered seeing the Queen in Taita when he was just 5 years old.

"Her dedication to the Commonwealth has been outstanding.

"She's obviously never wavered in her duty to people."

Cameron, who had been in Taumarunui, said the passing of the monarch was being widely talked about in the town.

"She did have a place in a lot of people's hearts here."

South Taranaki Mayor Phil Nixon expressed his "deep sadness" at news of Queen Elizabeth's death.

"I know that I speak for people across South Taranaki in offering our deepest sympathy to members of the royal family at the passing of the Queen," he said.

"While for us the Queen was a much respected and constant figure in our lives, for them she was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother."

Nixon said Queen Elizabeth was an extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to the service of others.

"As our monarch for 70 years, and typically working to the very end, she was a symbol of strength, stability, reassurance and encouragement."

New Zealanders, like many others throughout the world, would be feeling a great sense of loss at this time, he said.

"We are in the process of organising ways that our community can share their condolences and recognise the service Queen Elizabeth has made to our country over many generations."

Kua hinga atu rā te tōtara i te wao-tapu-nui-ā-Tāne
The great Tōtara tree has fallen in the forest of Tāne

Te Kōtuku rerenga tahi.
The white heron of single flight

Haere atu rā ki te tīpare o Ranginui
Go to the stars in heaven

Ki ngā ringa o ngā tupuna.
To the arms of your ancestors

South Taranaki District Council has condolence books at its LibraryPlus facilities and the administration building and i-Site Visitor Centre in Hāwera for those wanting to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.