TVNZ suspends presenter

Television New Zealand has suspended its presenter, Paul Henry after his comments about the Governor General of NZ.

TVNZ chief executive Rick Ellis said Henry is a provocative host who speaks his mind, but these latest remarks were inappropriate for anyone in the company to make.

During an interview on Monday's Breakfast programme, Henry asked NZ Prime Minister John Key if the Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand is even a New Zealander.

Sir Anand was born and raised in NZ by his Fijian parents.

When John Key replied to Paul Henry that Sir Anand is a New Zealander, Henry asked: "Are we going to go for someone who's more like a New Zealander this time?"

Henry also implied that Sir Anand did not look or sound likes a New Zealander.

Ellis said Henry will be suspended without pay effective immediately and return on air on Monday 18th October.

On the TVNZ programme yesterday, Henry offered an apology for causing offence or hurt, saying he has the highest respect for Sir Anand Satyanand.

He said that he is sincerely sorry if he seemed disrespectful to him and that it was not his intention to sound like a racist.

However, he said he would never apologise for causing outrage.

Earlier, Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres spoke to Radio NZ and had called for action from TVNZ's management over the controversial comments.