John Campbell's final night as host of Campbell Live started with a kiss and ended with an emotional sign-off.

The current affairs television show, which ran for 10 years, was axed by Mediaworks and will be replaced by an "evolved" format featuring two presenters in same 7pm time slot.

Campbell was joined by newsreaders Mike McRoberts and Hilary Barry as the show opened, dressed in black, who paid tribute to the broadcaster.

"I know I speak for all of us when I say you couldn't be a more impressive colleague and we're going to miss your prescence here at TV3 greatly," McRoberts said, his voice catching in his throat.

The pair gave Campbell a "big sloppy kiss from everyone out there" before the production team crowded around the host.

A montage played for the rest of the half-hour, including many of their most hard-hitting stories. Campbell's broadcasts from Christchurch after the February 2011 quake featured, as did snippets of his campaign to give voices to many residents hurt by EQC and subsequent flooding.

The Novopay teacher pay saga, the fraudulent Black Sea Salts cosmetics range, and their investigations in to the Gloriavale community had prominent slots.

Lighter stories were seen, including a campaign to get young Evan Hill an operation on his intrusive buck teeth, and Campbell's famous monologue after the All Blacks' World Cup victory in 2011.

In his final words as host, John Campbell reflected on his own journey, and paid tribute to his colleagues.

"I started here aged twenty seven in the suit I borrowed from my dad. I could never have dreamed what would happen in the next twenty four years."

He signed off, teary-eyed, with his trademark: "Thank you so much for watching us, ka kite ano, and very good evening indeed."