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Paul Henry - Source: ONE News -
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TVNZ has today suspended Breakfast host Paul Henry over remarks he made about Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand.
Henry has been under fire since the comments on TVNZ's Breakfast programme yesterday, and TVNZ has received around 600 formal complaints.
In an interview with Prime Minister John Key, Henry asked if Sir Anand was "even a New Zealander".
Henry then asked Key about his next choice of Governor-General: "Are you going to choose a New Zealander who looks and sounds like a New Zealander this time? Are we going to go for someone who is more like a New Zealander this time?"
TVNZ CEO Rick Ellis said today that Henry's remarks were inappropriate for anyone in the company to make.
"I have met with Paul and told him that while his apologies were the right thing to do and that I believe he is sincere in his regret, I still consider his remarks unacceptable for any employee of TVNZ to make.
"We give Paul a lot of freedom with the Breakfast programme and he does a magnificent job. But as we have said before, with that freedom comes responsibility.
"Paul is one of New Zealand's best broadcasters. He is a provocative host who speaks his mind and that is what many New Zealanders like about him.
"But I consider his latest remarks to have well and truly crossed the line."
Ellis said he has suspended Henry without pay, effective immediately. He will return to air on Monday, October 18.
Ellis said he would also be personally apologising to Sir Anand when he returns from the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Apology
Henry issued a written apology yesterday, in which he said: "I sincerely apologise to the Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand, for any offence I may have caused. I am aware that Sir Anand has made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand."
Today he gave a further apology live on Breakfast. He said: "I certainly didn't intend to sound racist. It was wrong for me to ask the questions that I did.
"Sir Anand was born in New Zealand. His lineage, as far as I can ascertain, is far more dignified than mine, which makes him a better candidate for Governor-General than me."
Sir Anand, New Zealand's first Governor-General of Indian and Pacific descent, was born and brought up in Auckland. His grandparents were born in India and had migrated to Fiji, from where his parents later moved to New Zealand.
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres was among those to criticise Henry's comments. He said yesterday that the implication of Henry's comments seemed to be that "anyone of Indian or Asian descent cannot be a New Zealander and should not hold public office unless they look or speak like one".
Henry's public popularity was underlined last month when he was presented with the People's Choice award at the Qantas Film and TV Awards.
However, he has faced previous criticism for some of his on-air comments.
In July, TVNZ was ordered to broadcast an apology after Henry referred to British singer Susan Boyle as "retarded".
What do you think about Paul Henry's suspension? Have your say on our messageboard below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentanuchai said on 2010-10-13 @ 20:36 NZDT: Report abusive post
wow great news. nobody has the right to insult a person. p***** hnry. u f*************
dema58 said on 2010-10-11 @ 11:41 NZDT: Report abusive post
three things I can't beleive .1) that in 2010 free speech no longer excists. 2) That once again the minority takes this country by the proverbial b*lls. 3) that NZ is so cowardly it allows itself to be dictated to by the most racist country since Hitlers Germany.....Shame Shame Shame
bronnie5 said on 2010-10-11 @ 07:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
Sad to see Paul Henry has left the show, shame on TVNZ for letting this get out of control. Im embarrassed to be Kiwi When did we all become sheep!!
deshilt said on 2010-10-10 @ 21:55 NZDT: Report abusive post
i'm glad r-smith is not comeing to nz, we don't need over sensitive people visiting a beautiful and very friendly country, stay in the u.s with all your neuclear weapons and hill billy's.......it is very sad that paul henry has resigned, i'm sure he will get work with another tv or radio station and i shall be one of his biggest viewers/listeners.......maybe a double act with
Jordain said on 2010-10-10 @ 16:53 NZDT: Report abusive post
The real problem here is that TVNZ bosses have created a monster to try and make money and they are too afraid to put it down. Roman emperors faced the same problem - creating nasty spectacles may be popular in the short term but has a way of getting out of control.