About a dozen members of the New Zealand Society UK have shared waiata in London's Hyde Park, and laid floral tributes to the Queen.
The familiar sound of Te Aroha rang out yesterday before the group, one by one, placed hydrangeas and Lizzie flowers around a tree.
Among them was Ankita Sharma who moved to London from Auckland three months ago.
She said the royal family was one of the things she loved most about the city, and she was deeply saddened by the Queen's death.
"I wish I could have met her. I was really deeply gutted. I was hoping she would cross 100 [years] ... I would call it an untimely demise."
Other members, had come close to the Queen during their time living in the UK, including Londoner of 20 years, Trish Jackson.
"She was just a very caring, humble beautiful woman. I actually got the privilege to go to the Buckingham Palace garden party about four years ago, I think it was. And to see her there was just such a privilege. And recently I was celebrating her 70th jubilee as well, which was really exciting," she said.
New Zealand Society UK president Clarence Tan arrives with his floral tribute. Photo: Katie Todd/RNZ
New Zealand Society UK president Clarence Tan was quite familiar with Queen Elizabeth - having met her "several times".
He said she must have met "millions" of people, but still had a way of making each person feel special.
"She always seemed to recognise you. It was the smile with the finger. She was really good at smiling and pointing at you."
Tan said the flower-laying was a simple gesture to recognise the impact that the Queen had on all their lives.
The group had originally planned to go and see the Queen lying in state, but the queue was up to 30 hours.
However, Tan will be among about 2000 people inside Westminster Abbey on Monday, for the Queen's funeral, alongside world leaders and other royals.
He said it was a huge privilege and a "once in a lifetime moment".
Other members of the group, including Jackson, plan to return to Hyde Park for the occasion.
"Definitely I will be back here on Monday... lining the streets, just to pay more respect to her, and celebrate her fabulous life."
King Charles III recalls 'fond memories' of New Zealand
New Zealand's Acting High Commissioner in London Shannon Austin had been in the position for just a week when the Queen died and she was thrust into representing New Zealand at a number of historic events.
Austin was posted to London in November 2020 but had been Acting High Commissioner for just a week before last Friday.
Shannon Austin. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro
Speaking to reporters this morning, she said it had been a busy time.
Austin met with King Charles III earlier this week, alongside representatives from other realm countries.
He asked how New Zealand was coping with the Omicron wave and recent flooding, Austin said.
He also recalled "fond memories" of his and Queen Elizabeth's visits here.
Austin also represented New Zealand at the Accession Council at Lancaster House, where King Charles III was proclaimed as the new monarch.
The event was attended by realm High Commissioners, the UK prime minster and Cabinet, members of the House of Lords, the six living former UK prime ministers, the Prince of Wales and Queen Consort among others as witnesses to the proclamation.
Today, Austin was at Westminster Hall for the commencement of the Queen's lying in state when her coffin was brought in.
"When you join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a diplomat, you maybe don't expect this, but you expect to be put in these kind of positions, it goes with the job, got a great team around me so we're just doing our best."
It was an honour and a privilege to be representing New Zealand, she said.
However, Austin also said it was "nerve-wracking".
She said it was set to be busy again, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, Kiingi Tūheitia and about 50 other important New Zealanders heading for the funeral.
RNZ reporter in London Jake McKee told Morning Report that founder of the Ngāti Rānana - the London Māori Culture Club - Whaea Esther Kerr Jessop would also be representing that country at the funeral.
"For her, it is quite a special occasion. She actually does have quite a unique relationship with the Queen, having met her on multiple occasions.
"She actually told us about her first memory, not of meeting the Queen, but as a child in Rotorua.
"The Queen was visiting on a tour and she remembers the Queen passed in her vehicle and Esther was able to give her a wave and [it is] something she carried with her and then managed to be in the UK for much of her life and she ended up forming a relationship with her [the Queen]."
