19 Sep 2022

Minute of silence for Queen's death planned for NZ memorial service

3:50 pm on 19 September 2022
The Crown of Scotland sits atop the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II inside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh on 12 September 2022, during a service of Thanksgiving for her life.

The Crown of Scotland sits atop the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II inside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh during a service of thanksgiving for her life. Photo: AFP / Pool / Jane Barlow

The prime minister's office has confirmed a minute of silence will be held at 2pm next Monday for the Queen's memorial service in New Zealand.

The one-hour service will be held at Wellington's St Paul's Cathedral at 2pm on 26 September, which will be a one-off public holiday to mark the Queen's death.

The service will be restricted to invited guests only, but it will be livestreamed and broadcast on two large screens at Parliament grounds.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro will both speak at the memorial, which will be led by the cathedral's acting dean, Reverend Katie Lawrence.

"During her reign, the Queen came to New Zealand on 10 occasions and visited 46 cities and towns. We know in communities across the country, people will want to show their respects to a monarch who dedicated her life to service," Ardern said in a statement.

"She will continue to hold a special place in the hearts of many."

There will be other events in centres around Aotearoa, including at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland, and the ChristChurch Transitional Cathedral in Christchurch.

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