"Apart from a couple of years reading the commercial news, I've been with the report programme all the way through."
Veteran radio reviewer Clark Isaacs described Robinson on the programme today as a consistent performer who had been "affable [and] even-handed" throughout his broadcasting career.
Tributes
Robinson's co-host Simon Mercep said RNZ had received hundreds of emails commemorating Robinson since he announced his retirement.
"Dear Geoff Robinson, for thousands of hours of enlightenment, entertainment and above all, an even-handed approach to everything, we are very grateful," an email from listened Gordon Cooper read.
"Best wishes for your retirement Geoff, I don't know what I shall do in the mornings now. Thank you for the best mornings a person could have, you will certainly be sorely missed by a multitude of listeners, all the best," Joanne Jenkin wrote.
"Thank you Geoff for setting the highest benchmark of New Zealand journalism, your professionalism, equanimity, and the high regard shown to all of those you speak with or report on is a privilege for listeners to share," another email read.
Geoff and Simon's last show! pic.twitter.com/lW8kVmUBCJ
Robinson described the tributes as "very humbling" and a tribute to receive.
Major stories
Mercep said Robinson had been "the voice of Morning Report".
The programme has been looking back at major stories covered by the broadcaster, including the September 11, 2001 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Centre.
The programme started an hour earlier than usual, at 5am, with Robinson interviewing a Radio New Zealand reporter who was in the United States at the time and New Zealand's ambassador there.
He said of all the big stories, that had been one of the "most important stories I've ever been involved in".
"The horror of it came through to us as the morning went on."
The adrenaline rush had kept him, Sean Plunket and Kim Hill, who presented the show, going through the morning.
"But you do come down quite hard."
They also played interviews in the aftermath of the September 2011 earthquake.
Robinson was taken to Christchurch's Red Zone after the quake and reported from the scene.
At the memorial service for those killed in the quake, a clearly emotional Robinson reported the details.
"With a disaster like that, you have to do those awful `How do you feel stories', you have to interview the survivors,'' he said.
The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in 1985 was also a major story during Robinson's time on air.
It was difficult to report on because of a "security lockdown", so they had to speak with Greenpeace spokespeople overseas, he said.
The Aramoana shootings and the Air New Zealand plane crash on Mt Erebus were other major stories recalled by Robinson.
Prime Minister Robert Muldoon's snap election was another major story.
Robinson said that on election night he interviewed Muldoon when the news came through that David Lange had won the general election.
Muldoon was sometimes a "difficult person to interview", he said.
Black Tuesday, when the sharemarket plunged also happened on Robinson's watch.
Bob Jones, who had lost about $400 million in the crash, came in for an interview - but was "surprisingly chipper" about the situation, Robinson said.
In the 1970s, Robinson took his tape recorder and taped himself riding a rollercoaster for the show.
"I saw this and I thought, I just want to go on this with my tape recorder."
The machine was jammed between his knees, he said.
Larger shake-up
Robinson's retirement was part of a larger shake-up of the national broadcaster.
Mercep is also due to step down from the show, moving to a revamped afternoon show and current host Jim Mora joins Mary Wilson on evening show Checkpoint.
Auckland-based Guyon Espiner will Robinson on Morning Report and will be joined by Wellington journalist Susie Ferguson.
Espiner and Ferguson joined Robinson in the studio today and announced that while the bird call would remain, the programme's theme tune would change tomorrow.
In 2005 Robinson was awarded an honorary doctorate in literature by Victoria University of Wellington.
He was also was given a special award for outstanding contribution to radio in New Zealand at the 2007 New Zealand Radio Awards.
- Additional reporting Rebecca Quilliam
