TVNZ anchor quits amid uproar over Dikshit remark

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Oct 10 (PTI) A controversial New Zealand TV
host, who mocked and mispronounced Delhi Chief Minister Sheila
Dikshit's name prompting India to lodge a diplomatic protest,
Sunday resigned, acknowledging that he had "crossed the line".
"I am astonished and dismayed that my comments have
created a diplomatic incident. My style is conversational and
of course unscripted. I walk the finest of lines and accept
that I have inadvertently crossed it from time to time," Paul
Henry, already under suspension over a race row involving
Indian-origin Governor General Anand Satyanand, said.
In a statement, Henry, who presented 'Breakfast' show on
TVNZ, said it was "no longer practical" for him to do his job
and he did not want to be used as a "lightning rod for racial
disharmony".
"I have apologised twice, and have meant every word. I
again apologise to all those who were genuinely hurt by what I
said."
TVNZ Chief Executive Rick Ellis accepted his resignation,
saying the impact on New Zealand's reputation and the
bilateral relationship had reached a crescendo.
Prime Minister Key said Henry's resignation has brought
"closure" to the matter.
"This episode has been sad and regrettable," he said
through a spokeswoman. "Mr Henry's resignation brings closure
to the matter and we should now put it behind us," he was
quoted as saying by 'New Zealand Herald.
Earlier in the day, he said he did not think the comments
would affect international relations.
"People should recognise that broadcasters and
commentators say things all over the world, and if we took
offence to those comments all the time, we'd cease to have any
diplomatic relations. It's what comes out of the Government's
mouths rather than the broadcasters' mouths that's most
important," he said. PTI KIM
MHM