KEY POINTS:
The Herald library file on Paul Holmes is yellowing, the dusty manila folder bulges with press clippings that go back to the 1980s.
There are reports of ratings successes year after year, stories on Broadcasting Standards Authority decisions, on Holmes' personal life, his passion for flying, his battle
with prostate cancer and his support for disabled athletes.
All of them piece together a picture of the broadcaster who started out as the presenter of 1970s music show Grunt Machine, complete with an afro and moustache, and signed off as breakfast host at Newstalk ZB today.
The following is a compilation of Paul Holmes moments over the years.
March, 1987
Merv Smith is replaced by the young Paul Holmes at Auckland's then 1 ZB.
According to the Herald, Holmes carried an "enormous weight on his shoulders" as the "new star" charged with winning back the ratings from Radio i.
January, 1989
Holmes moves into television with Midweek with Holmes. He tells the Herald that: "The personality will be there. It'll just be slightly different - not clinical but wary. I've learned to be subtle". He said his goal is to be "a damned good current affairs performer".
The Herald described the show as having a "disturbing effect on the status quo" of television. Holmes was soon to get his own show.
Later in April of the same year, US yachtie Dennis Connor storms off Holmes' show in the middle of an interview. In her Herald column the following day, Wendyl Nissen wrote: "The Holmes Show abused its role as a current affairs vehicle by allowing itself to sway towards sensationalism". In a separate article the Herald reported that 600 calls "flooded" TVNZ and the Herald with "all but two disgusted" with the interview.
June, 1989
The Herald reports that Holmes has launched Newstalk 1ZB to the top of the radio breakfast ratings. The first of many stories in the file that proclaim Holmes as the winner in the war for breakfast radio ratings.
October, 1992
Days of Glory - The Forgotten Athletes screens on TV One and is the start of Holmes' connection to the paralympics. Holmes tells the Herald: "I admire them tremendously, and think they are deserving of more recognition."
August, 1996
Holmes is heaped with criticism after trying to meet John Fagan at the Auckland Airport. Fagan was on the run after discharging a shotgun in the grounds of Auckland's Northcote College.
Fagan phoned Holmes and talked to him for 15 minutes on air before arranging to meet the broadcaster at the airport later that day.
Just as Holmes arrived at the airport, Fagan gave himself up to police.
But police were not happy with Holmes' actions and said Holmes should have called police first.
Senior Sergeant Dave Pearson said Holmes "didn't know the man, whether the man was violent and if he had turned violent he had no ability or responsibility to deal with the situation."
Holmes said he was doing his job as a citizen.
Fagan was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud, sex and firearms in February of 1997.
March, 1997
Ten years of Holmes on Auckland's 1ZB was commemorated in the Herald with a look back in time of how 1ZB manager Brent Harman came up with the new format.
The mix of news, talkback and information from Holmes was initially received by an "unprepared and unwelcoming audience", reported the Herald.
Holmes said: "I used to sit there, just before we went on air and say: You've got to make this work."
In two year's time however, Auckland 1ZB was at the top of the ratings.
March, 1998
Holmes is tipped for Auckland's mayoralty race.
Judith Tizzard is quoted as saying she urged Holmes to run for the mayoralty. Holmes said it would be "an extraordinary challenge and perhaps I need new challenges" but said he did not plan to stand "at this point in time".
He was reported to have spoken with his bosses at TVNZ and Newstalk ZB but it didn't go any further.
January, 2000
Holmes begins radiotherapy to fight off prostate cancer. He was to be off work for two months.
He made little mention of the cancer on his first show back on air in late March, other than saying it's "good to be back" and "thanks for all the faxes".
February, 2000
Prime Minister Helen Clark criticises TVNZ salaries so Holmes threatens to leave New Zealand and take "a whole lot of talented people" with him.
The then former Prime Minister David Lange said he would "dance naked on a table" for Holmes' pay packet, while New Zealand First leader Winston Peters offered to drive Holmes to the airport.
November, 2000
Homes releases his self-titled CD. Two months later the Herald reported that it was keeping the "record store bins full". The album did go platinum but as the Herald reported: "The Recording Industry Association (Rianz) said it awarded platinum status for the number of albums Warners sent to music stores - not for how many were actually sold to the public."
September, 2003
Holmes infamously describes the then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a "cheeky darkie" on his breakfast show.
Holmes apologised after a public outcry and the then sponsor of the show - Mitsubishi - pulled-out. Holmes said he was "tired".
April, 2004
Holmes calls the then Associated Maori Affairs Minister Tariana Turia a "bag of lard" and a "complete fool" for her changing stance on the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
Mrs Turia described the comments as "hurtful".
December, 2004
Holmes survives a second plane crash in his vintage Boeing Stearman biplane at the Bridge Pa Aerodrome near Hastings.
Holmes had been practising his take-offs and landings when his plane appeared to drift sideways, clip a wire fence and cartwheel over the corner of a vineyard, collapsing in a clearing.
Senior Sergeant Mike O'Leary said Holmes told police a gust of wind caught the aircraft and he clipped a grapevine.
January, 2005
Holmes begins a new contract with Prime TV.
The broadcaster left TVNZ because of a pay dispute, said the then head of current affairs Bill Ralston.
The Herald reported in November, 2004, that Holmes said it was "time to move on".
He signed a three year contract with Prime but his show only lasted a matter of months - from February to August to be precise.
December, 2008
Holmes makes his last sign-off as breakfast host of Newstalk ZB. At a breakfast overlooking Auckland's Westhaven Marina, Holmes paid tribute to his family, colleagues and his listeners.
Tributes flowed in from his mother to sports stars and politicians.
Prime Minister John Key said Holmes had "entertained the nation". Labour leader Phil Goff and former Prime Minister Helen Clark also turned out to farewell Holmes who received a standing ovation from his guests by the time 9am rolled around.
