In photos: State memorial service for the Queen

Hundreds of people including the prime minister, cabinet ministers and former prime ministers gathered at St Paul's Cathedral in Wellington this afternoon for a state memorial service for the Queen.

The hour-long ceremony began with a parade of the Queen's colours and a mihi whakatau.

Bouquets of pink cherry blossoms, and white, pink and yellow lilies adorned the cathedral. The cathedral's foundation stone was laid by a young Queen Elizabeth II on 13 January 1954 on her first visit to New Zealand. Construction began the following year and the cathedral was opened in 1964.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, partner Clarke Gayford and daughter Neve were among the last to arrive.

Ardern and Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro joined the procession, while Gayford and Neve entered through a side door.

A karanga was performed as the processional cross and lights were carried to the front of the cathedral.

People inside were quiet as the service began.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered outside Parliament grounds to watch the service on one of eight large screens. Children used trees and the slide as vantage points to watch.

Some people travelled from outside Wellington to attend the service, including Maggie, Anika, Flounna and other students from Our Lady of Victories School in Christchurch who flew to the capital to watch the ceremony.

A national minute of silence was observed at 2pm to remember the Queen and acknowledge her 70 years of service. Those inside the cathedral and the public gathered outside stood to observe the minute's silence.

The Right Reverend Justin Duckworth then performed a karakia, followed by the congregation singing the national anthem.

The reverends then read excerpts from the Bible and bid farewell to the Queen.

The crowd remained silent as people paid their respects to the late monarch privately.

Representatives of various community groups lit candles near the Queen's portrait.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern then read an extract from a souvenir book published after the Queen's first visit to New Zealand.

"Today, we have gathered to acknowledge the deep connection New Zealand has had to her late majesty the Queen for more than 70 years, a connection grounded on her first visit in 1953," Ardern said.

"As the great white ship moved slowly through the channel, crowds ran along marine parade keeping abreast of her, everyone cheering, many weeping, reluctant to give up their waving until the answering white-gloved hand could be seen no longer," she read from the book about the late queen's departure in 1954.

Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro then read her tribute to the Queen. She said New Zealanders saw a Queen who would always keep them in her heart following her 1953 Christmas address from Auckland following the Tangiwai disaster.

The Queen carried out her duties with unwavering loyalty and care and gave us a lifetime of dedicated service, Dame Cindy said.

She showed that small acts of service and generosity mattered the most, she said.

The New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary to the King then proclaimed the late Queen's New Zealand styles and titles have now devolved to King Charles III. The congregation declared 'God Save the King'.

Outside, people stood as the declaration was made.

The declaration signalled the end of the service. Dignitaries, MPs, former MPs and others left the service in the reverse order as when they arrived. Among them was National Party leader Christopher Luxon, former party leader Bill English, former Labour leader Helen Clark and Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata.