With only 5 days left in the life of TVNZ 7, supporters are planning a funeral march down Lambton Quay in Wellington this Thursday (June 28).

The march will leave Civic Square at 12.15pm and proceed down the quay and into Parliament grounds, lead by a coffin-carrying hearse.

At Parliament, the Save TVNZ 7 petition, signed by more than 31,000 people, will be presented to Labour Broadcasting spokesperson, Clare Curran.

Save TVNZ campaign organiser Myles Thomas said the funeral procession was appropriate as the demise of TVNZ 7 was the death knell to public service television.

"There's the myth that NZ on Air will provide public service television but in fact NZ On Air only funds programmes the networks want to screen. Increasingly, it's funding commercial ratings-winners such as The GC which networks should pay for themselves. This leaves less funding for any arts, science and current affairs shows that won't be touched by One and 2 anyway, as they battle for ratings to improve the TVNZ profit demanded by this Government."

Meetings around the country have been standing room only with 400 people attending the Wellington meeting last month so march organisers are hoping for a good turnout at this Thursday's protest.