Tributes flow for David Lange 

The Prime Minister, politicians and friends have been honouring David Lange as one of New Zealand's great leaders, following his death on Saturday night.

Lange had been battling serious illness for years and died in Middlemore Hospital after complications of renal failure.

Prime Minister Helen Clark says she was greatly saddened to learn of his death.

She told The Herald on Sunday her thoughts are with his family and friends.

Clark said Lange's lasting contribution will be his advocacy for a nuclear-free New Zealand, which remains as relevant today as it was in the 1980s when his government adopted it.

The former Prime Minister died surrounded by his family and friends, following complications of renal failure.

Lange will remain one of New Zealand's most controversial prime ministers.

He will be remembered for being flamboyant, witty, and both praised and damned for his foreign and domestic policies.

He was awarded the Order of New Zealand, the country's highest honour, in 2003.

Clark says she is deeply saddened by his death.

A friend of Lange's, Finlay McDonald, says he was a clever man and a very good advocate.

McDonald helped Lange write his autobiography, which was released last week.

Parliament will adjourn for a day after the election in memory of Lange.

Clerk of the House David McGee says this is an invariable practice after the death of any former Prime Minister.

He says this will not be possible immediately because the former parliament was dissolved last Thursday.

McGee says it will now be up to the parliament which comes in after the election to pay its respects to Lange and then adjourn in his memory.

That is expected to be for a day.

Sir Geoffrey Palmer was Deputy Prime Minister to Lange and succeeded him in the leadership.

He says Lange was the most gifted man in cabinet at the time. Palmer says he was a great man who led this country on big issues like the anti-nuclear policy and following the Rainbow Warrior attack.

And he says Lange was the great salesman of the Labour Party.