For a man whose fighting spirit in battling cancer has captivated the nation in the last 12 months, it was perhaps fitting that Blair Vining was the one who had the final word at his own memorial service.

In front of hundreds of mourners at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill this afternoon, the Winton cancer care advocate spoke in a pre-recorded message and thanked everyone who had attended his service and paid tribute to his friends and family for helping him achieve his goal of a national cancer system, as well as initial plans to start a charity hospital in Southland.

A pre-recorded message from Mr Vining playing during the service. PHOTO: Ben Waterworth

"It's been a pleasure knowing all you people and jumping on board with the cancer plan," he said. "These are going to save lives and it's really important. It's not going to save my life but it will save my friends'' life and my daughters life and somebody else's life. If everyone is in that same situation I'm sure they'll stand up and fight for it too."

"It's been a pleasure. I love you all."

Prior to the final video message, a variety of friends and family, hand picked by Mr Vining himself, spoke throughout the two hour-long service.

They paid tribute to his selfless nature in fighting for better care since his own cancer diagnosis in October last year, as well as his larger than life personality and his loving and caring nature with his wife Melissa and daughters Lilly and Della-May.

Both Lilly and Della-May spoke about their favourite memories with their dad, with Della-May saying she would be working hard to achieve her dream of playing netball for New Zealand so she could proudly wear the Vining name on the back of her uniform and showcase it to the world.

Lilly shared memories of riding tractors with her dad and singing loudly along to Running Down A Dream by Tom Petty.

"As Dad sung it he was looking at me with a big smile. I will never forget that moment. Dad was always there for me no matter what...he was the reason we are what we are today. I love you to the moon and back, Daddy Bear. I will never forget you."

Mourners at the service comfort each other. PHOTO: Ben Waterworth

Mrs Vining joked about having many arguments with her husband about the dress code at his service, but eventually accepted that her husband wanted to see people wearing their favourite rugby jerseys as a tribute.

She also spoke highly of his commitment for the cancer care plan in the last year and spoke about his biggest achievement being father to his two daughters.

"Blair had a really special way of being a good, hard Kiwi man. He was an incredibly loving husband [and] loving friend. His biggest achievement, and there was many, was being the best dad... you role-modeled kindness, you role-modeled passion, romance, strength for our girls and most of all you've showed them, and others, how you should be loved. You loved big Blair Vining. You were loud, and you loved big."

Mrs Vining thanked everyone in attendance, as well as the thousands of New Zealanders who had reached out to her since her husband's passing last Friday.

Oncologist Chris Jackson, who served as Mr Vining's doctor, said it was the first time he had ever attended a funeral of one of his patients and was taken aback when initially asked to speak at the service.

He said it was "the privilege of a lifetime" to be part of Mr Vining's journey.

Mr Vining's oncologist Chris Jackson speaks during the service. PHOTO: Ben Waterworth

"Blair has been the most special patient, cancer campaign collaborator and will always be my mate. And Blair, you kicked cancer's ass."

Mr Vining was carried out of the service by family and friends to the sounds of Just Breathe by Pearl Jam, with a haka performed outside the stadium by the Central Southland College's First XV, the team that Mr Vining coached.

A private burial and wake is being held in Winton for Mr Vining's family and friends this afternoon.

Central Southland College's First XV perform a haka in tribute of their late coach. PHOTO: Ben Waterworth