Auckland (New Zealand), Feb. 16: The ashes of Sir Edmund Hillary, one of two men to climb Mt. Everest for the first time in 1953, will be will be scattered across Aucland's Waitemata Harbour, an inlet of the Hauraki Gulf, as per his last wish.

According to The Dominon Post and Stuff. co. nz, the ceremony will be a private family affair aboard the Spirit of New Zealand.

Hillary died last month, aged 88.

The confirmation from Prime Minister Helen Clark's Office came as Sir Ed's widow published an open letter in The Dominion Post, thanking the public for their support in "the last four difficult weeks".

"I have been greatly moved by the compassion, respect and generosity that has been extended to my husband Ed," Lady Hillary wrote, expressly thanking those who had made donations to his Himalayan Trust.

One of his ice axes and other historical possessions had since been given to the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

A spokeswoman for Miss Clark said there would be an announcement once the ceremony had taken place.

In Sir Ed's book View From the Summit, published nearly 10 years ago, he said he wanted to die peacefully with his "ashes 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." (ANI)