This morning was Matty McLean's last day hosting Breakfast after seven years presenting the show.
Emotions ran high as he bid farewell to his co-hosts, other TVNZ staff, and viewers.
And his parents - Tracy and Steve - made a surprise appearance at the leaving party.
Wearing a special outfit for the show's Christmas episode, Matty gave his parents a huge hug when they arrived.
He wiped away tears: "This is such a surprise."
Tracy revealed how she felt when Matty famously jumped the fence of Premier House early in his career.
"I said to him, 'Did I not teach you not to bow to peer pressure?'" she joked.
Surrounded by people at his "other home", Matty said his goodbyes after Jenny-May Clarkson presented him with pounamu, her voice wavering. Matty spoke about joining TVNZ when he was 20.
"I'd just come out when I first started here and I was still figuring myself out," he said.
"And I'm still doing that to this day.
"But you, our wonderful audience have just been so beautiful in the way that you've embrace me and let me be me on TV.
"I will truly cherish this for the rest of my life, this job has been beyond my wildest dreams and I'm so grateful to everyone that's been a part of it," he added, thanking the viewers and crew.
McLean also thanked his husband Ryan Teece, who stood behind him.
"Thank you to this guy, my husband, who I can't believe they've put on live TV," he said. "Who I think is very excited not to have my alarm go off at 3.30 every morning.
"And thank you to you, merry Christmas. I will miss you terribly."
The show ended with a choir performing Hallelujah.
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