The United Nations has held a special service to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela two weeks after the death of South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid leader.
The Nobel peace laureate led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s after 27 years in prison. The 95-year-old died on 5 December at his home in Johannesburg.
The UN memorial took a fortnight to arrange, but the international body was determined to say a final goodbye, Radio New Zealand's New York correspondent reports.
On Thursday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to a man he said most embodied the values and aspirations of the United Nations.
"He became a father to his country and an inspiration to us all. Now it is our duty to build a better world that he showed is within our grasp."
Former New York mayor David Dinkins, the city's first black leader, also spoke and recalled how Mr Mandela stayed at his house when he visited the American city in 1990 - a few months after being released from jail.
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu made a video speech to the UN. Photo: AFP
