Holmes 'feeling great' about investiture

Sir Paul Holmes says he is feeling great about his special investiture ceremony at his Hawkes Bay home today.

One hundred guests and a large media contingent are expected to gather, as the broadcaster, journalist and author is knighted at 1.30pm in a marquee set up at his Poukawa home.

Sir Paul was made a knight in the New Year's honours for his services to broadcasting and the community.

The rare early investiture comes after family and friends requested the ceremony be moved forward because they are concerned about Sir Paul's health.

Sir Paul has been battling prostate cancer and a heart ailment, and underwent operations for both conditions last year.

He told Newstalk ZB this morning he was "feeling great about today".

"I'm looking forward to the celebration of the investiture. I mean, you know, that really is something special - it doesn't happen more than probably once in your life ... this is wonderful."

Sir Paul said it was "very nice" of Governor General Lieutenant-General Sir Jerry Mateparae to travel to his home to hold the ceremony.

But he added there were extenuating circumstances.

"I have been a bit poorly," he said.

"It's sometimes a bit of a battle. Getting up and down those stairs takes it out of me - I might have to buy a little bungalow on a beach."

Sir Paul's Hawkes Bay property - a sprawling farm with olive trees grown for his olive oil business - was looking fabulous, he said.

"It's going to be a heck of a day. And the place, I must say, the farm is looking divine. We've spent all week on it, a couple of weeks on it, really, building up to this day."

Sir Paul said his family were all proud - and were already addressing him by his new title.

Asked if it was at his insistence, Sir Paul joked: "Of course it is - I'm a dictator, a rogue."