The former UN secretary general Kofi Annan was a man of "enormous humility and a lot dedication", former Prime Minster Helen Clark says.
Kofi Annan Photo: AFP
Miss Clark met Mr Annan, who died on Saturday aged 80, 18 years ago when he visited New Zealand.
"I'm very saddened by the news - for me he was the greatest Secretary-General since Dag Hammarskjöld.
"He devoted his life to the service of the UN," she said.
Mr Annan, who was from Ghana, was the first black African to hold the top UN post, serving two terms between 1997 and 2006.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
Mr Annan consistently dedicated his life to facilitating reconciliation between people and countries, Miss Clark said.
"He was able to speak with authority on many appalling and tragic events and call for reason and peace."
Following his role with the UN, he spent time addressing issues in Zimbabwe and Myanmar.
"His life has really been one of trying to get people to stop fighting and start talking to resolve their differences."
Miss Clark attributes his drive towards enabling peace to his value systems and lived experience in Ghana before it gained independence.
She credited his involvement with the Millennial Summit in 2000, which she attended as Prime Minister, as one of his greatest achievements.
"Out of that came the millennium development goals, which were probably the biggest step forward in internationally agreed goals for development. Out of that came the global fund to fight HIV, TB and malaria and a tremendous lot of movement for education and health for all."
His time dealing with the US invasion of Iraq was a low point in his career, she said.
"He announced to the world that he believed that invasion was illegal and he was punished for that - the US stopped paying its money to the UN and it was a very tough time.
"I think he was deeply depressed by the situation he found himself in, speaking up for what he believed were the values of the UN and international law but having two members of the Security Council going against him."
But he always had a loyal support network, she said.
"One of his strengths was his ability to put a good team together to support him."
His kindness, humility and composure singled him out as a great leader, she said.
"He would not have had a bad bone in his body, he wouldn't have had a bad word to say about anyone, he was always softly spoken, he was measured and he was a very humble man."
"Those, I think, mark him out as a leader who was very special."
