A public memorial service will be held for New Zealand great Jonah Lomu at Auckland's Eden Park.

Lomu died unexpectedly on Wednesday at the age of 40, having battled a kidney disease for 20 years.

The All Blacks great represented his country 63 times during a career when he became the game's most feared winger.

New Zealand prime minister John Key announced the details of the memorial for Lomu, to be held at Eden Park on November 30.

"Jonah touched people’s lives across the country and around the world," he said in a statement.

"This service will be open to all members of the public who want to remember the significant contribution Jonah made, not only to rugby here and overseas, but also to the wider community through his work with charities such as UNICEF and Kidney Kids NZ.

"The service will be a celebration of Jonah’s life and I expect a large number of people will want to be there."

A special Aho Faka Famili (Day of the Family) event allowing Pacific Islanders to pay respects to Lomu will be held on Saturday, three days before a private funeral.