Christchurch radio personality Simon Barnett has aired his final show on local radio and is set to join The More FM Breakfast Club in early 2025.

Barnett, who previously worked at More FM for over two decades, will co-host the nationwide show alongside Lana Cochrane-Searle, Adam Percival, and Paul Ego.

During his emotional farewell broadcast, Barnett thanked his colleagues, including long-time producer Andrew Topping. “Andrew hates being on air, but he’s one of life’s good men. He’s a very, very decent soul. Andrew texted me when life was pretty crap, and he’s been through a lot. Bless you, mate.”

Barnett also praised Christchurch-based award-winning producer Tyler Adams for being “the glue that held the show together.”

Co-host James Daniels, who also left the station after 47 years in radio, expressed his gratitude to Barnett. “Thank you, Simon, because I presume you made the decision to give me a call and get me into this gig. I wasn’t thinking I’d be doing this. I’ve had a great career—47 years in radio—and this is a beautiful way to say goodbye.”

In May, Cochrane-Searle said the team was “so stoked to have our mate Si back on board with us. His infectious laugh and boyish charm will really brighten up our mornings. We have so many fond memories of working with Si in the past and can’t wait to create more magic with him soon.”