"You gotta know when to hold them and know when to fold them," Mr Finch said.

"I've had a really good run and I think I am going out on the top of my game. Now I can move on to the next stage of my life.

"It's time for some fresh energy and some fresh enthusiasm."

Mr Finch said the highlight of his time in Parliament was his work social issues including same-sex marriage, the relationships bill and working with the transgender community on changes to birth certificates.

"Those social issues have always been very challenging for me and I think in the final analysis I have made good decisions in respect of them," Mr Finch said.

Mr Finch said he hoped whoever filled his seat in Rosevears would be an independent.

"The independents do their proper job of scrutinising legislation on behalf of Tasmanians. That can only be done frankly and fearlessly by independents," he said.

"We have enough party people in there - we have two Liberals and four Labor. That's enough to get the views of the parties."

After he leaves Parliament in May next year, Mr Finch said he would be spending time with his family.

"[My wife] Carole and I are now into our seventies [and] we've got four grandchildren - that's going to take some of our quality time," he said.

Mr Finch said he also planned to oversee a land development and work with his son Brian Finch to expand his gym KFM Fitness and High Performance Centre in Launceston.

"He'd like to expand that to 1000 [members] and I'm looking to work with him to achieve that," Mr Finch said.

City of Launceston councillor Janie Finlay, who confirmed last month she would run in Rosevears, said it was important to acknowledge the contribution Mr Finch had made.

"He's a heart-led leader and he's done a lot of work in that time," Ms Finlay said.

"Incumbency does give a lot of strength to a position and, with all the blessings and gratitude for Kerry and what he is done, I am grateful for a clean road into this and give it the best possible chance of success."

Ms Finlay said she decided months ago she would run no matter who the candidates were.

"As an independent, a genuine independent, I know I have a lot more to offer and the Upper House was a natural progression for me," she said.

"I do consider myself to be dynamic, energetic fresh and open. So if Kerry thinks the next person to represent Rosevears in the Upper House would have those qualities, I have all those qualities in spades."