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Breakfast team in tears as Daniel Faitaua says goodbye and pays tribute to his dying brother

Daniel revealed that it's been a whole week of tears because he also has to say goodbye to his brother, who has days to live.
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There wasn’t a dry eye in the studio as TVNZ’s Breakfast team said an emotional goodbye to their good friend and colleague, Daniel Faitaua, whose final day on the show was today.

Daniel is moving to London to take up the role of Europe correspondent. It’s a role he’s dreamed of having since he graduated from journalism school 11 years ago, and he was open this morning about the fact that he applied for it several times before he got it.

Fellow presenter Matty McLean was the first to break down, telling Daniel, “I was there at broadcasting school when you had your boy, your first boy – there’s three of them now and they’re big boys. We worked together in Wellington, we worked together on Breakfast as junior reporters…

“It’s so exciting to be able to work with your mates every morning and, Daniel, you’re one of the best,” he continued. “I’m going to miss you, it’s not going to be the same [not] sitting next to you every morning but I’m so excited for you.”

The Breakfast ‘family’ – Daniel Faitaua, Hayley Holt, John Campbell and Matty McLean

Wiping away tears of his own and looking to John Campbell for support, Daniel revealed that he has “cried a lot this week” because he has also had to come to terms with saying goodbye to his dying brother, who has days to live.

“It’s been a bittersweet farewell because you guys have always been there for me, but my brother is dying of cancer at the moment and for the last week we’ve been spending time with him.”

Daniel thanked the nurses and doctors that have been caring for his brother in Christchurch before continuing: “He’s home now and that will be where he spends his last few days.

“He’s the one that said to me, ‘Go back and finish your last show with your family, with your friends, with your colleagues and say goodbye to everyone’, including him. So Anthony, if you’re watching, I love you so much.”

In an Instagram post later today, Daniel also dedicated his final show to his brother , saying, “My last day on Breakfast dedicated to you bro. I love you.”

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John Campbell told Daniel, “It’s been a treat working with you.”

He said he loved Daniel’s “heart, your energy, your decency”.

The fourth member of the Breakfast team, Hayley Holt, is away on holiday at the moment but Hayley broke down in tears on the show, too, when she said goodbye to Daniel last week.

“I’ve been holding back tears all morning because this is the very last time I get to work with you, Daniel,” she said.

“And I can’t believe I’m totally tearing up but I love you and I really wish you the best… Thank you for making me feel so safe.”

She revealed to Now To Love that she also cried the day she found out Daniel was leaving the show, and in a heartfelt Instagram post last week Hayley shared a photo of the team, with the caption:

“This photo was taken about 10 mins before I completely lost my sh*t on live telly… what I meant to say Daniel is that you have been a such rock to me.

“I feel slightly untethered knowing you won’t be there when I get back, but I know you are going to have an amazing experience and do such a fabulous job in Europe. See you when we cross live to outside Downing Street! And remember… e tangata, e tangata, e tangata…”

This morning Daniel also thanked and acknowledged the wider Breakfast team, saying, “I’m just a small dot, rather a big dot really.”

He also thanked the public for their messages of support, concluding with, “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”

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