Sir Ed's ashes reach final resting place

The man many Kiwis call the 'greatest New Zealander who ever lived' has reached his final resting place.

Sir Edmund Hillary's ashes have been scattered on the waters of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf in a private ceremony that included Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Famous worldwide as the first man to conquer Mount Everest in 1953, Hillary also led several successful expeditions to the North and South Pole.

The man fondly known as "Sir Ed",died on January 11 and was farewelled in a state funeral in Auckland. Tributes flowed in from around the world for the 88 year old who had achieved so much, but remained so humble.

Following his ascent of Everest, 'Sir Ed established the Himalayan Trust and devoted much of his life to helping the Sherpa people of Nepal.

In his 1999 autobiography View from the Summit, Sir Ed wrote of a desire for his ashes to be spread in Auckland's harbour.

"I should even like my ashes to be spread on the beautiful waters of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, to be washed gently ashore maybe on the many pleasant beaches near the place where I was born. Then the full circle of my life will be complete," he wrote.

In his last will and testament, a typically modest affair, Sir Ed asked New Zealanders to continue his legacy of support for the Himalayans.

"If...some people in New Zealand feel I have made some contribution to the prestige of my country then they could best demonstrate this by continuing modest support to the Himalayan people I have worked with."

Hillary's widow and children were among family members who took part in the ceremony onboard the Spirit of Adventure, a youth training ship that teaches hundreds of young New Zealanders every year leadership, independence and a sense of community through sailing.

When the Spirit of Adventure continued its journey, a troop of uniformed trainees created an informal guard of honour for the family. A gesture in keeping with the modesty of a remarkable man.