How Kiwis celebrated the Queen's Platinum Jubilee across New Zealand

Half a world away from the Queen's United Kingdom, New Zealanders too marked her Platinum Jubilee. 

Many have followed her journey from the moment she was crowned.

The Queen's coronation at this retirement village was a cheeky affair, but it still came with all the fanfare. A rousing anthem in her name and "this" family was straight into royal duties.

Residents curtseying as low as they dared, because here there's a lot of love and respect for Her Royal Highness.

"I think she's wonderful," one person told Newshub.

"We're never going to see this again, are we?" said another.

"I think she's a wonderful example," added a third.

And across New Zealand, that day began in the capital, a lighting of the beacon heralding in formal celebrations.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the Queen at a service at St Paul's Cathedral.

"This is the first time a British monarch has reached the milestone of 70 years, a Platinum Jubilee," Jacinda Ardern said.

Back in Auckland, Gaylene Cheeseman has followed those seven decades from day one.

"In the papers in those days, they used to put beautiful pictures, so I've cut them out and put them in my scrapbooks and I've had those since 1953," she said.

She's passed on the royal fever to her daughter and granddaughter, who have strict instructions to look after the books.

"It's a thing that we do together, which is really special," daughter Michelle Barlette said.

As people tucked into their corgi cupcakes, resident George Boff reflected on his time working at Windsor Castle.

"They had what they called the Windsor Gardens, where the Queen used to walk her corgis, and I had many a time driven past her and had a little nod... I've seen all the Royal Family," he said.

Today he had a message for the Queen in her 70th year as monarch: "Hang in there, ma'am."

And here's to her majesty.