All Blacks great Jonah Lomu will be honoured in a public memorial, which could be held at New Zealand's Eden Park.

Lomu died on Wednesday at the age of 40 after suffering a heart attack.

Former New Zealand rugby coach, and a close friend of the legendary wing, John Hart was appointed the Lomu family's spokesman, and revealed that local and national government were determined to honour one of the country's greatest sporting heroes in a manner befitting his status.

Speaking in front of Lomu's mother and wife, Hart paid tribute to the man he coached at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

"I'm delighted with the tremendous support were getting from government to celebrate Jonah's life," Hart said. "On a personal note I was one of those very fortunate to have a long relationship with Jonah as a coach and a friend.

"He was a freak. He was the most special rugby player that the world has ever seen.

"He did things that no person has ever done and when we recognise that he probably operated at a maximum efficiency of 80 per cent any time he played that game then what does it say about this person?

"He is a freak in the world,there will never be another Jonah Lomu and we want to make sure that we give him respect in terms of celebrating his life.

"The fact that government wanted to support this funeral means it will be a substantial event, we want an event where people can come.

"We want a service that is a celebration but gives the public the opportunity to come because we know and we see the expressions of love that are out there and we want people to be able to share that."