10 Dec 2013

Mandela services in NZ mostly confirmed

9:42 pm on 10 December 2013

The South African High Commission has confirmed most of the details of the New Zealand memorial services for Nelson Mandela.

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Photo: RNZ

Official services will be held at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington and at the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral also known as the Cardboard Cathedral on Thursday at 5.30pm.

Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel will join the South African High Commissioner to New Zealand and other members of the South African community at the public memorial.

Ms Dalziel says the memorial service will be an opportunity to honour and reflect upon Mr Mandela's struggle for peace and harmony in South Africa.

A condolence book will be made available for the public to sign in the Christchurch City Council civic office foyer from lunchtime on Tuesday and will be presented to the High Commissioner.

On Friday, memorials will be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland and at Turangawaewae marae in Ngaruawahia.

A condolence book will be open for signing at the High Commission in Wellington this week between 10am and 2pm. It will be at St Mary's Church in Auckland next week.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Key and one other of his five-strong will attend the main memorial service at a Soweto stadium near Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Mr Key has ordered that all flags on government buildings be lowered to half mast for the day.