The programme aired at 7 pm weeknights (straight after One News) on TV ONE and was presented in its final years by Mark Sainsbury.

Close Up was hosted by Susan Wood from its first show in 2004 until 4 December 2006, when she resigned from TVNZ, citing health problems.

[2] Close Up competed with the TV3 current affairs show Campbell Live, and shared the same time slot with TV2 drama Shortland Street.

In the 1980s, Close Up was a weekly, hour-long current affairs' programme, looking more in depth into domestic news topics of the day, much in the mould of 60 Minutes.

On 28 September 2012, TVNZ decided to cancel Close Up at the end of the year taking a new stance at the 7pm time slot.