Ban Ki-moon has bid farewell to the United Nations - saying he feels like Cinderella as "everything changes" at midnight.

After 10 years as Secretary-General of the body, Mr Ban wraps up in the office today.

Before taking up his role as leader of the UN on January 2007, Mr Ban had served as a diplomat and South Korea's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

He served two terms as UN Secretary-General, having been unanimously re-elected in 2011.

The outgoing UN chief will take part in the New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square in New York tonight, leading the countdown to 2017 a cording to NT.

Mr Ban thanked staff as he left his New York office.

"I feel a bit like Cinderella - tomorrow at midnight, everything changes," he joked. "On the eve of New Year, I'll be in Times Square for the New Year ball drop. Billions of people will be watching as I lose my job."

He added: "I will always be the child of the United Nations. And my heart will always be with you and with the United Nations.

"It has been a privilege to serve the world's people."

He is being succeeded by former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guterres.