Top bosses of New Zealand's state-owned TV channel, whose former host Paul Henry had made racial remarks against Indian-origin governor general Anand Satyanand, have apologised to the leader in person.
TVNZ’s chairman John Anderson and CEO Rick Ellis called on Satyanand at the Government House in Auckland and apologised over the Henry episode, the channel said on Thursday.
Satyanand "very graciously" accepted the apology they offered to him, it said. Henry resigned as Breakfast show's presenter on Sunday amid an uproar over comments he made on air about the governor-general and his mocking of the name of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.
During an interview, Henry had asked Prime Minister John Key whether Satyanand was "even a New Zealander". The situation escalated when footage emerged of Henry laughing at and mispronouncing the name of Ms Dikshit prompting India to lodge a diplomatic protest.
In a statement, the governor general said he now considered the matter closed. While resigning, Henry, who was already under suspension over the race slur involving Satyanand, had acknowledged that he had "crossed the line" and said he did not want to be used as a "lightning rod for racial disharmony". Prime Minister Key had said Henry's resignation had brought "closure" to the matter.