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Veteran broadcaster Sir Paul Holmes
died peacefully at home surrounded by family this morning,
just two weeks after his knighthood.
He was 62.
Sir Paul had been in poor health
since having heart surgery earlier in the year.
In recent months he had also been suffering
from a resurgence of prostate cancer.
Today we pay tribute to a colleague, a friend
and a great broadcaster.
A special ceremony brought forward at the request of the family
over concerns for the ailing health of a renowned broadcaster.
Today, he succumbed to prostate cancer and heart disease.
His career started in 1972
at the 3ZM radio station in Christchurch.
11 years on, he took over the 1ZB breakfast show
and eventually rose to number one in the ratings
for the programme's time slot.
He was the host to a new-look revamp of TVNZ's prime-time
current affairs programme called Holmes from 1989-2004.
His first TV segment featured guest skipper, Dennis Conner.
It was during this time
while shooting a story in Anaura Bay, north of Gisborne,
that the helicopter carrying him and a film crew
crashed into the sea.
Cameraman Joe Von Dinklage drowned.
This near-death experience would forge a closer tie
between Sir Paul and East Coast locals,
with him naming his son Reuben Apirana.
There were times when what he said would cause controversy.
In September 2003, he repeatedly referred to the then United Nations
Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a 'cheeky darkie'.
He described Tariana Turia as a 'confused bag of lard',
a bully, and as being 'all talk and no walk'.
Paul Holmes also came under the spotlight
when daughter Millie was convicted of possessing methamphetamine.
Holmes supported his adopted daughter
through her arrest and trial.
He went on to host This Is Your Life and in 2009 Holmes returned to TVNZ
to present the political talk show Q+A
where he would see out the rest of his TV career.
In the past he also caused a stir with his Waitangi Day comments
that Maori lack education; to stop 'bashing their babies'.
He was a man of words and loved to challenge people.
But he always fronted when he or his family came under fire
from the profession he so loved.
Today, he rests.
Tini Molyneux, Te Karere.
It was at the scene of one of Sir Paul Holmes'
lucky escapes where he forged a special relationship
with Apirana Mahuika.
They met after a helicopter carrying him and three crewmembers
plunged into the sea off Anaura Bay.
Unfortunately the cameraman died,
but as a token of his appreciation for the support they received
from the people of Anaura,
he named his son Reuben Apirana and has been a constant guest
of the Holmes whanau.
Our friendship started from the helicopter crash
he was involved in up at Anaura Bay;
it was around the time when Rana Waitai came to be
a policeman for us there.
Sir Paul, go to your ancestors who await you beyond.
We, here, farewell you on your journey.
Rest in peace.