Story: Death and dying

Thousands of people lined Wellington's streets, leaned from windows and crowded onto the balconies of buildings along the route to watch the funeral cortège of Peter Fraser, prime minister of New Zealand from 1940 to 1949. At the head of the procession was a pipe band, followed by an armoured personnel carrier hauling a gun carriage with his coffin, which was covered by a feather cloak. Walking slowly behind the coffin were his former Parliamentary colleagues led by Walter Nash (leader of the Labour opposition), Arnold Nordmeyer and Eruera Tirikatene. Parliamentarians of both parties were followed by black limousines carrying mourners, then trucks filled with floral tributes and, finally, representatives of the trade union movement. The funeral service was held in St John's Presbyterian church, Willis Street.