It was out with the old and in with the new on the Ninth Floor of the Beehive today as Prime Minister John Key marked his final day in the job by packing up his office.

With wife Bronagh to supervise, a happy Key was hurling old tomes into wheelie bins. Much of his office had already been packed up - one of the few personal effects that remained was his trusty putter for the times Key spent pondering the state of the nation while honing his putting skills.

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Key said his family was one of the reasons behind his decision to resign now, saying he owed it to them to spend more time at home. Bronagh admitted to some mixed feelings as things wound up, including a touch of sadness. "It's the end of an era," John Key said, and Bronagh agreed.

He will resign from his job tomorrow after a special National caucus meeting at which Bill English is set to be confirmed as his successor.

On Tuesday the Keys will leave for a summer holiday in Hawaii - where Key was hoping to catch up with another outgoing leader - US President Barack Obama. The pair had discussed catching up when Obama rang last week to mark Key's resignation.

For the remainder of his time as a backbench MP, Key will move to the second floor of Parliament House into the office that was Judith Collins during her time in exile.

The same corner office has housed a succession of other former leaders whiling away their last days, including Helen Clark and Jenny Shipley.

As Key packed, incoming deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett was arriving at Parliament for her first meeting with incoming Prime Minister Bill English.