New Zealand will hold a moment of silence to honour Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed.
Buckingham Palace announced the Queen had died at her Balmoral home on Thursday (local time). She was 96 years old and was the longest-reigning British monarch and the longest-serving female head of state in history.
Speaking with media on Friday (NZ time), Ardern said her death has started a period of mourning for the country.
"The Official State Service for New Zealand will not happen until the official service for the Queen in the United Kingdom and that's what protocol would dictate," Ardern said.
"We would expect that once we have arrangements or are aware of arrangements in the UK then we set down the plan for New Zealand. In the meantime, we will have condolence books available here in the Capital. I imagine many may wish to leave tributes."
The Prime Minister said the country will also observe a minute of silence to honour the monarch.
"The NZ Defence Force will be issuing details soon of a likely gun salute, we will be scheduling a moment of silence as well [but we are just] just working through the most appropriate time for New Zealanders to join in that moment," Ardern said.
Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro told reporters on Friday she and Ardern will travel to the United Kingdom for the Queen's funeral. They expect to travel during the middle of next week.
Following the Queen's funeral in the UK, there will be a state memorial service in New Zealand, Dame Cindy said.
The Governor-General also paid tribute to the Queen, thanking her for her service.
The Queen's death has put Operation London Bridge - the plan for what happens following the Queen's death - into motion.
Her son Charles succeeds to the throne immediately and the Accession Council convenes as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours.
While New Zealand's official services will not take place until after the official service in the United Kingdom, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has already ordered New Zealand flags to be flown at half-mast.
"As a mark of New Zealand’s deepest mourning and respect, the New Zealand Flag is to be flown at half-mast on all Government and public buildings with immediate effect to mark the death of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand," The Ministry said in a statement on Friday (NZ time).
The flag should continue to be flown at half-mast up to and including the day of the Queen's State Memorial in New Zealand, except on Proclamation Day (being the day when the new Sovereign is announced officially) when the New Zealand Flag is to be flown from the top of the mast, the Ministry instructed.
"The flag is half-masted by first raising it to the top of the mast and then immediately lowering it slowly to the half-mast position. The half-mast position will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagpole. The flag must be lowered to a position recognisably "half-mast" to avoid the appearance of a flag which has accidentally fallen away from the top of the flagpole," the Ministry said.
Newshub senior political reporter Amelia Wade told AM flags are flying at half-mast at Parliament already as a sign of respect for the Queen. Flags were also flying at half-mast on Auckland's Harbour Bridge.
