On the last day of his show, Paul Henry told viewers he had "one regret" that had been troubling him over the past few weeks.

It wasn't commenting on a woman's breasts in an interview, or on Hilary Barry's gaping blouse, or hitting on Kim Catrall on national television.

"I feel a little bit bad about an interview I conducted about camping - because camping is horrible," he told viewers.

MEDIA WORKS Tears, cheers, and a fond farewell as Paul Henry literally drops his mic for the last time.

"I've tried to rid my mind of it, but I can't. I just feel so terrible about it. You know what, camping is so hideous. I just didn't want to leave you, before I leave my career, with the view that I, in any way, endorse camping."

"That's your one regret, when you look back at your career, having the one interview that might suggest you like camping?" asked Hipkiss.

"It is my one regret - and I've rectified it."

MEDIAWORKS Jim Kayes and Ingrid Hipkiss get emotional as Paul Henry bids them farewell.

As Henry signed off for the final time on Friday, TV3 crew, reporters, producers and staff formed a guard of honour to farewell the veteran broadcaster.

"This week I lost my most important audience member," Henry told viewers. "Which has probably confirmed to me, that this is the perfect time to end my career.

"I'd like to dedicate today's programme to you - the most important component in all this nonsense. Make everyday, a brilliant day in paradise, goodbye."

MEDIAWORKS Verity Johnson and Paul Herny say Farewell on his last show.

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Presenters Jim Kayes and Ingrid Hipkiss farewelled the host in a flood of emotions, as Henry took his final walk out of the TV3 studio, accompanied by Gerry Raferty's hit song Baker Street.

"Mark Weldon presented me with the idea for this programme, it had never been done before. I recognised it was a brilliant idea, but there was only one person who would be capable of pulling this all together - our executive producer Sarah Bristow, there was no blueprint," he told viewers.

MEDIAWORKS Paul Henry's victory lap and farewell for his team.

Bristow then thanked management, the board and the show's "number one" supporters.

"Some of them have been a bit shit, but they've still done it," Henry interjected.

"We went to the boardroom at AMP, and said 'look, this is the concept, it's going to cost you hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars, and they said 'it does sound interesting, when do we have to make a decision by?' and we looked at our watches and said 'ah by the end of today.'"

MEDIAWORKS He's almost out the door....

Henry thanked the newsrooms around the country, sales, make-up, live crews, engineers, the IT people.

"I do curse you, because I don't understand what you do - but I do understand that it's vital."

He then thanked the people "who stay in our houses that we have sex with" for putting up with the early starts.

MEDIAWORKS The end. Lights off on Paul Henry's final show.

"I just want to finish with the words of a special and amazing woman," said Bristow. "'Go on Paul, have the time of your life.'"

"Thank you very much," Henry said through tears.

"Alrighty, just a couple of very quick words from me. Ingrid, thank you very much, you've been here for the past year, I wish you were here from the very begining."

LAWRENCE SMITH/FAIRFAX NZ Paul Henry is signing off for the final time.

"You have been absolutely stunning, you've really embraced this, it's been a pleasure."

"Jim, you've been here since day one. I couldn't have thought of any better person to have doing the job you've done, I thank you so much, for watching my back and always being there when I had a question about bloody sport."

"Verity, I've just enjoyed you so much, in so many ways. Obviously, to the team, we've already thanked you."

CHRIS SKELTON/FAIRFAX NZ "I'm not stopping this because I want to go to another job," he said. "I'm stopping this because I like to think I've got my life in perspective."

Early on Friday morning, Henry began by rehashing 2016's best interviews, most memorable moments and the year that was in social media.

"I'm calling it quits. I'm semi-retiring with emphasis on the 'semi,'" he told viewers, shortly after 6am.

Henry has reportedly purchased a property in Palm Springs, California, where he plans to spend "the majority" of next year.

OLIVIA HEMUS Henry's final show marks the end of a difficult week for the presenter, who farewelled his 86-year-old mother and 'best friend' Olive Hopes on Monday afternoon.

"I've just sent a picture of my departure card, just to prove it."

Prior to the broadcast, The Paul Henry Show's official Twitter account tweeted a final message to viewers.

It's nearly time for NZ's best broadcaster to check out... join us for one final Paul Henry... with Paul Henry! https://t.co/c3Qzzskucv — Paul Henry (@PaulHenryShow) December 15, 2016

To kick off the show, Henry read aloud feedback from viewers of the show around the country, with several Kiwis thanking the broadcaster for his frank delivery while others took the opportunity to urge Henry to "try and stop drinking Pinot before 9am."

"To everyone whose feedback I haven't read out, because you can't spend a whole show reading out feedback about yourself, thank you for your kind words, I will remember them.

"People are writing in to say they don't know what they're going to do in the future," he added. "I'm so pleased about that. We cover serious stuff but at the end of the day we're actually living. If you can find room to put a smile in the day it's probably better than actually not."

Thank you for all your lovely tributes, words, tweets & wishes today. We're truly thankful & enjoy reading each & every one! — Paul Henry (@PaulHenryShow) December 15, 2016



Some viewers chose to farewell their favourite TV3 broadcaster Paul Henry style - in the nude, while drinking a glass of pinot noir.

Fans of the show began sending in their 'tribute selfies' toasting to Henry's final broadcast alongside the hashtag #nakedpinot.

TV personality and socialite Colin Mathura-Jeffree rallied behind the social media trend, sharing his own naked pinot selfie.

Others chose to share their final goodbye messages and well wishes for Henry via Twitter.

Corrections minister Judith Collins joined Henry as the first guest on Friday morning's show and presented the departing host with a gift - a paper mache man with a dummy in his mouth named 'Henry'.

"Judith, it's been a very interesting year for you - I look forward, well from a distance, to watching your rise and rise," he said.

"Now, what am I going to do with a paper mache me?"

The host then shared his five biggest lessons from 2016. From potentially "jinxing" Collins' chances in the race to be the next New Zealand prime minister, to feeling blindsided by Brexit, Henry finished by commending John Key for his ability to "orchestrate his own departure".

Going to miss @PaulHenryShow so much. I treasure the memories I made and the amazing people I met while working on the show. — James Ireland (@JamesIrelandNZ) December 15, 2016

"Lesson number five, start living. The time to live is now," Henry said. "Make that your new years resolution - don't wait to live."

Fellow Paul Henry staffers then revealed their plans after the show wraps, with sports presenter Kayes adding that he "won't be getting up at stupid o'clock" anymore.

@PaulHenryShow will miss your unique and irreverent outlook on the world whilst on my long commute across the Canterbury Plains! Good luck! pic.twitter.com/KGNJc68AnT — Roger Harper (@Harpersfive) December 15, 2016

"I wont be disappearing though, sorry folks," he added.

News presenter Hipkiss joked that she'd been "flooded with offers from management."

"It's going to take me a while to collate them and alphabetise them," Hipkiss joked.

"So, I am going to be back in some form, just not in this timeslot."

Going to miss the team on @PaulHenryShow ESP Paul but also @JimKayes and @ingridhipkiss. Fantastic team. 😥😥😥 — Heather (@pukeko65) December 15, 2016

However social media presenter Verity Johnson gave little away about her plans for the future.

"Verity, what about you?" Henry asked. "I'm going to take that bloody bunker with me."

"Well, I am looking for a more considered role in journalism and media so I'm going to be going on The Bachelor," Johnson joked, before adding that Henry will "see her around."

Okay... we're inside the final 30... If you haven't already, you might want to tune in now! — Paul Henry (@PaulHenryShow) December 15, 2016

"(I like) your ability to take sports story to a direction that no-one else goes to, because you don't really care about sport, I really enjoyed that," sports presenter Kayes said, when asked about his highlights over the past year.

"Look at a lot of the people that I've brought in - look at your love affair with Joseph Parker? You hate sport, but you turn sports interviews into something gold."

"Boxing, I mean seriously, is there anyone on the planet interested in that?" Henry responded. "Hate is a harsh word - and I must say, that you have an almost obsessive interest in rugby?"

@PaulHenryShow Why do good things always have to come to an end? Will miss my live stream from the Tron to Auckland 😢Thanks for the laughs! — Daryne Begbie (@Daryne_Nicole) December 15, 2016

Henry's final show marks the end of a difficult week for the presenter, who farewelled his 86-year-old mother and 'best friend' Olive Hopes on Monday afternoon.

Hopes, who has appeared on Henry's show in the past, died after a lengthy health battle.

The controversial broadcaster announced in November that his early morning, multi-platform news broadcast was coming to an end.

During MediaWorks' annual launch event in Auckland, Henry announced that he will be pursuing "very brilliant opportunities, that will take me very little time to do" after confirming he would quit TV3's breakfast show but stay with the broadcaster.

Boohoohoo 30 mins of @PaulHenryShow left what will I do on Monday ??? I'm going to miss you peeps — Geoff Simmons (@geoffsimmons) December 15, 2016

"I'm not stopping this because I want to go to another job," he said. "I'm stopping this because I like to think I've got my life in perspective. You are a long time dead and work is by no means everything. What I want to do is what I would advise you to do as early as possible.

"Don't wait to live, it's time to live today."

Henry added: "I'm really proud of what we've done, but it's time for me to enjoy a life without the nightmare of 2.30am alarms."

The Paul Henry Show will be replaced by a new-look early morning broadcast, The AM Show in 2017, with former Story host Duncan Garner at its helm.

.@PaulHenryShow I will genuinely miss the way you invested yourself whoeheartedly into your show & for championing #keepourflag Good luck! — David Broome (@Brooooome) December 15, 2016

Couldn't miss the last ever @PaulHenryShow @JimKayes - so I'm in Germany, watching it with a little dinner and of course.. wine 🍷 🚩✌️ — TADS (@_thisistads) December 15, 2016

Love him or hate him the NZ broadcasting scene will be greatly impoverished by the departure of @PaulHenryShow Energy, passion, wit, humour. — Miles Davis (@MilesDavisLive) December 15, 2016

Last show @PaulHenryShow better not go to the gym! Thanks for the challenging, thought provoking entertainment. You will be missed x — Sara Tetro (@sara_mail) December 15, 2016

Only in this country: Corrections Minister @JudithCollinsMP visits Invercargill prison & comes away with a papier mâché Paul Henry... pic.twitter.com/5JcTFqHueG — Paul Henry (@PaulHenryShow) December 15, 2016

It's true that @ingridhipkiss has TWO tissues boxes on standby for the final day of @PaulHenryShow — Jim Kayes (@JimKayes) December 15, 2016

I presume @Alisonmau will host @PaulHenryShow for the remainder of the week? Apart from Friday, maybe. #PaulHenry — Ben Sokimi (@paulhenry_jr) December 12, 2016