KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark has promised to review the support the Government gives to Sir Edmund Hillary's Himalayan Trust in line with his own wishes, but refuses to be drawn on a public holiday to commemorate him.
Debate has been growing about a lasting memorial to Sir Edmund,
with suggestions including a public holiday or naming a mountain or part of a mountain after him.
The Prime Minister told Radio NZ the Government would review the $290,000 annual aid grant given to the Himalayan Trust set up in 1965 to build and run schools and hospitals and help development among the Sherpa in Nepal.
"Everyone knows Ed himself was very dismissive of formal memorials. He didn't want great statues", she said. "What he wanted was his work to live on."
In 2003, the Government increased the grants from about $40,000 to $290,000 a year to mark the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent of Mt Everest.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said she would not be drawn into debate over memorials so soon after his death.
"It's not appropriate to discuss such proposals at this time. The first priority is to work with the family to prepare a fitting funeral for next week."
Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said she supported help for the trust, but New Zealanders needed something to remember Sir Edmund by.
"Sir Ed would have really appreciated it ... but it does not provide a means for ordinary Kiwis to commemorate this great New Zealander," she said.
She called for an extra public holiday - Sir Edmund Hillary Day - either on Sir Ed's birthday, July 20, or the nearest Monday.
"New Zealand has no public holidays between Queen's Birthday and Labour Day. It makes a long winter."
Others - including former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves and National leader John Key - have backed the idea of naming a mountain after Sir Edmund.
A spokesman for Mr Key said he liked the idea of naming a mountain, or part of a mountain, after Sir Edmund, such as the summit of Mt Cook-Aoraki. There are also growing calls for the day of the funeral to be a one-off public holiday or for employers to give workers the day off.
The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union has joined the call, saying it was a landmark event that everyone should be able to share.
Independent MP Gordon Copeland also said it was a fitting way to mark the death and has written to the Prime Minister recommending it.
Officials and the family are continuing to work on plans for the funeral which Helen Clark said was expected to be "a very, very big Kiwi occasion". It will be held next Tuesday at St Mary's in Parnell, near the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.
Sir Edmund will lie in state at the cathedral in the 24 hours before the funeral.
There is wide speculation over whether a member of the Royal family will attend.
The Queen expressed her sadness at Sir Edmund's death and said she intended to send a message to the family. Most senior Royals, including the Queen and Prince Charles, have engagements around the time of the funeral.
* CALLS FOR PUBLIC HOLIDAY GROW
There are increasing calls for the public to be able to remember Sir Edmund Hillary through a public holiday.
The Green Party is proposing an annual public holiday on the day Sir Edmund was born. Others have suggested a one-off public holiday on the day of his state funeral, or a public holiday on February 29 of a leap year.
A Herald online poll yesterday found that 53 per cent of people wanted continued support of his charity work, while 34 per cent supported the establishment of a public holiday and 13 per cent were in favour of naming a mountain after Sir Edmund.
* WHERE TO PAY YOUR RESPECTS
* Book of condolence for Sir Edmund Hillary
* Parliament buildings, Molesworth St, Wellington.
* Wellington Town Hall, 111 Wakefield St.
* Auckland Town Hall reception, Queen St, between 9.30am and 4pm weekdays until Tuesday January 22.
* Franklin District Council, Pukekohe office, 82 Manukau Rd, 8am-4.30pm weekdays until January 22.
* Tuakau Library, 72 George St, 9.30am-5pm weekdays until January 22.
* Hamilton City Council chambers, Garden Pl, 8am-4.30pm until January 22.
* Holy Trinity Cathedral, 448 Parnell Rd until January 22.
* Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at the Hermitage Hotel at Aoraki Mount Cook, 10am till late.
* Takapuna Library, the Strand Takapuna, from 9am until January 21.
* Rodney District Council Orewa office, 50 Centreway Rd, 8am-5pm, until January 16 and then at the Orewa Library from January 17 to 19.
* Rodney District Council Warkworth Baxter St, and Kumeu office, 200 Main Rd.
* DONATIONS
Anyone wanting to donate to the Himalayan Trust can do so at any BNZ branch.
For more information about the work of the trust visit:
www.himalayan-trust.org.np/index.html
