More than 100 people attended the City Impact Church, in Queenstown, to remember Mr Whiting (61), who died suddenly last Thursday.
Members of the legal fraternity, including Judge Kevin Phillips and barrister and close friend Rhona Daysh, Ministry of Justice staff and Queenstown police sat alongside former elected representatives, members of various churches, Salvation Army members, residents and musicians to acknowledge Mr Whiting.
Judge Phillips spoke during the service and apologised on behalf of fellow judges Michael Crosbie, Dominic Flatley, Michael Turner and others, as well as Mr Whiting's former employer Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, none of whom could attend.
An hour before the funeral, Queenstown Lakes district councillor Scott Stevens opened a meeting of the community and services committee with a tribute to Mr Whiting.
The meeting was adjourned last Thursday after Mr Whiting collapsed and died, minutes before he intended to address its public forum.
Cr Stevens said councillors would miss Mr Whiting's ''insightful'' contributions.
''Bryce was a man who had the Queenstown community's best interests at heart.
''A healthy community needs healthy debate, and I hope others will continue to challenge our thinking for the betterment of our democracy.''
Mr Whiting was also honoured in the Alexandra District Court yesterday, where Judge Michael Crosbie started proceedings by reading a short tribute before hearing the cases for the day.
All members of the court then stood for a minute's silence.
-Additonal reporting by Tracey Roxburgh
