by Russel Norman
Paul Henry has expressed his racism on TV. Talking to John Key about the Governor General Anand Satyanand, and Anand’s replacement next year, he said:
“Is he even a New Zealander?” Henry asked. ”Are you going to choose a New Zealander who looks and sounds like a New Zealander this time?’
That is just plain racism. Anand is a great New Zealander. His parents are Fijian-Indian. You don’t have to look and sound European to be a New Zealander. We are migrants from all over the planet of all different backgrounds and that’s one of the things that makes New Zealand a great place to live.
Henry then issued a statement in which he didn’t apologise but instead said:
“I sincerely apologise to the Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand for any offence I may have caused. … If my comments have personally offended Sir Anand, I regret it deeply.”
To say that you are sorry if you offended someone is to say that you are not sorry at all. Henry shouldn’t be sorry for offence caused but sorry because what he said was racist.
You don’t have to look and sound European to be a New Zealander.
If Henry can’t recognise that his comments are racist and actually apologise then he isn’t the right person to front our only morning current affairs TV show. TVNZ is not Fox News, it’s owned by all of us not Murdoch. We shouldn’t have to put up with this crap.
Published in Society & Culture by Russel Norman on Mon, October 4th, 2010
Tags: Paul Henry, Russel Norman
More posts by Russel Norman | more about Russel Norman
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
On a side note, did anybody else think it was funny that even in his apology he couldn’t manage to avoid talking about himself and what a great royalist he is?
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Agreed. That was a total nonpology and this guy needs to get off our taxpayer-funded airwaves.
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What I think is far more offensive (only because I expect so little from Paul Henry himself) is the TVNZ response, which was essentially to say that the comments were fine because he was merely saying what many New Zealanders silently think. It may (sadly) be true, but it must be deeply offensive to people everywhere who face irrational discrimination every day that a state broadcaster, let alone any broadcaster, seems to think it’s acceptable to encourage racially prejudiced judgement of people.
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Key giggled.
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Of even greater concern to me, like Mike, is TVNZ’s stance, not only over this issue but over all of them. They believe he brings them viewers and so tolerate (encourage?) a style of broadcasting that is completely at odds with the supposed ethical standards of their industry or, indeed, of a democracy. On this occasion their defence of the comments as “he’s just saying what a lot of New Zealanders are quietly thinking” is simply embarrassing. It seems they are prepared to peddle any sort of prejudice if they can see a buck in it. That’s our, state-owned, television company.
Anand Satyanand is an outstanding New Zealander. I expect that he will be too classy to respond to Henry’s puerile comments and TVNZ’s craven defence of them. But I’m deeply impressed by all the New Zealanders who have taken the opportunity today to stand up for our values as New Zealanders against this playground racism.
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If you want to complain there are a few ways. Summed up in a post here: http://www.absolutegeni.us/archives/467
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What will it say about integrity in NZ broadcasting when the world knows and Paul Henry stays in his job!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/8040541/New-Zealand-TV-host-sparks-race-row-over-Governor-General.html
Three strikes, surely????
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Henry should be sacked, and so should TVNZ spokesperson Andi Brotherston, who, in response, issued the statement:
Sure, there are people who quietly think the sort of things Paul Henry says – the sort of people who support the likes of Michael Lhaws and David Garrett (thankfully, we appear now to be permanently relieved of the influence of the latter).
But the role of a responsible state broadcaster is to challenge this sort of bigotry, not to give succour to it. Brotherston just doesn’t seem to get it.
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Brotherston gets it, toad. It’s about ratings and Henry gets them with his pandering to our red neck side. It won’t change until people stop watching the damn show.
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And now, in his latest attempt at an apology on Breakfast this morning, Henry manages to use the term “Gypo” – twice!
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Of course not, but beware of giving Key another argument for hocking off state assets!
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Ah, here we go:
And the video here (if you can bear it).
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I bet Henry is loving all this attention he is getting, over this !
He has an obsession with the word “ARSE”.. maybe thats where his head was at the time ?
I guess the real question is : What does a real New Zealander look like ? Maybe Mr. Henry needs to take a good look in the mirror & ask himself that question…. Kia-ora
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People say all kinds of stupid, offensive and repugnant things all the time.
It is always the Listeners prerogative to flick the switch.
No Ratings = no job.
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What New Zealand institutions are left that uphold high standards and common decency? National Radio generally hangs in there but television is a lost cause.
We need journalists with intelligence, integrity, balance and a historical perspective. Something is terribly wrong when the likes of Paul Henry and Paul Holmes are elevated to the pinnacle of journalistic influence and the likes of Finlay Macdonald and Gordon Campbell are pushed to the margins.
It says something about conservative governments when tabloid journalism dominates and the gutter press thrives under their leadership.
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People seem to take offence to everything today, this country is getting way to PC.
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TVNZ seem to finally be taking this serously. Henry has been suspended without pay for 2 weeks. I hope he’s also been given a final warning – he’s had plenty of strikes already.
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@sprout: I’m not sure television is a lost cause if you consider the digital TVNZ 6 & 7. There’s some quality programming there, imho. Still, it’s hard to believe it’ll last.
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Whereas I agree that Henry shouldn’t have said what he said (though I’m not entirely convinced it fits the definition of “racist”), there must be no question whatever of him going. Many folks don’t like him, but many folks do, including me.
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Had he got off scott-free, I’d have been peeved.
As it is, I’m delighted. I don’t care about the details, I’m just pleased to see that sort of person lose face and lose air-time.
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MikeM-You may be right, but we don’t have digital, but I guess Maori Television is often very good too.
“People seem to take offence to everything today, this country is getting way to PC.”
MR@guy-It is healthy to question and laugh at traditions and institutions but there are appropriate ways and forums to do this. I thought Paul Henry has no manners, no class or respect; useful attributes for something I’m sure, but not for his job.
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@catherine — If Pippa stood and walked, somebody would replace her and she’d be out of a job and probably with nothing to show for it. It’s great to take principled stands, but I think it should be up to people to decide themselves if they can afford to and want to. (Also without wanting to suggest I have any idea what goes through Pippa’s head.)
I do think the word ‘racist’ is a very charged term, and almost anyone labelled as a racist will take extreme offence because in their own minds, they’ve rationalised their behaviour some other way. Sometimes (not all the time) it’s justified by definition, but in most circumstances I’m not sure it’s a very helpful word when trying to work through some of the attitudes that’ve developed in NZ over the years.
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Henry’s only been stood down for the two weeks so that Key doesn’t have to make the call on whether to do the regular slot with him. It’ll have blown over in a fortnight.
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Ive heard that Henry’s comments are “what many think, but dont say out loud..” well thats just it. There are enough racial tensions, not only in Aotearoa but around the world.. without going on National TV & stirring it up any further. Kia-ora
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Your a bunch of hypocrytes – why are you the only ones allowed to exercise free speech -loosers
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brilliant there..!..john..!
‘you’re’..’hypocrites’..and ‘loser’…
three in one line…!
you de man..!
are you part of that literate right i have heard so much about…?
just bursting with new political thoughts/ideas…?
care to expound…?
..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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Who is Paul Henry?
Has he actually done anything worthwhile?
Sounds not – anyway good luck to those who give their attention to dislodged garbage (including the PM).
There IS a world waiting, that the blind will not see – unfortunately.
I’m tempted to reduce my assessment to a two word australianism.
The first word begins with an F and ends with a K and is not Fork.
The second is ‘Off’
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People like the PM go to Breakfast specifically because of its ratings. Helen Clark did this too, as do many other ministers. If you’re on a tight schedule and just want to get your message to as many people as possible, it makes sense to go to the forum already seen by as many people as possible, even if those people are drawn to a provocative redneck, and deal with whatever problems that causes at the time. (The alternative is to not be seen and not have your message broadcast to a big group of people.) Paul Henry probably helps things along, but doesn’t have anywhere near as much to do with the ratings as the timeslot.
It’s why Paul Holmes couldn’t rope in all the interviewee friends he thought he had when he switched to a less popular channel. They only liked him for the ratings of the show he’d had before, and would have put up with all kinds of hostility to be seen by so many people. He’d only been able to get those ratings with a lot of help from other resources and circumstances.
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The sad thing with regards to Paul’s suspension is the reason why he was suspended…politics.
PC Gone Mad? – Sure, not madder than it has been for ages tho.
Crossed the Line? – Show me the line and who defines it…TVNZ moved it fairly quickly if they define it.
Racist? – We live in a country that has Racially Prejudiced Laws and where Institutional Racism is the norm and a state of Apartheid is actively encouraged.
Shame on you TVNZ for suspending Paul Henry in the manner you did.
With regards to your comments Russel…well you obviously don’t agree with I have said above…guess you are living in a different country than I….either that or you just like throwing stones.
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Anyone catch Breakfast this morning?
What a yawn-fest.
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Perhaps they should have offered David Garrett the chance to fill in while Henry is suspended. He is looking for work, after all.
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Stop watching Breakfast!
If the ratings drop, then it might send a much stronger message – TVNZ, like virtually every other broadcaster in the world is sensitive to the ratings.
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‘What a yawn-fest.’
That’s an improvement on a ‘puke-fest’.
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“..Anyone catch Breakfast this morning?
What a yawn-fest..”
with qualifications…it wasn’t too/that bad…
he was nervous..(understandable)…
..and the other players were very supportive…
..but i think christie cd carry the show…
..he has the wit/intellect to do it…
..but he dosen’t/shouldn’t need to try to be henry-lite…
..henry can be quick/amusing at times…
…but the bigotry/poor-bashing etc etc is tiresome…
…and the weekly on-air kneck-rub he gives key is..in the main..’puke’-inducing…
it wd be good to see someone exercising some journalism on key…
…and asking him real questions…
…challenging the bullshit henry just lets him trowel on…
..(not just giving him a tongue-job…eh…?)
..and i think christie cd/wd be up for that…
..and i guess we will see that next mon morn…(or not…)
(oh..!..and he needs to sit up straight…that christie…)
worst possible breakfast pairing…?
those two who do the one 6 pm news…
..they are both ad-lib-free….
..and are trainwrecks/watching-between-fingers-telly without their scripts…
..(cute asides/winks and all…)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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and dosen’t rick ellis look like an older/more shopworn version of henry…?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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@robertguyton 2:02 PM
A ‘puke-fest’.
What an amazingly (techni)colourful (yawn) coin of phrase, Robert!
Perfectly describes Paul Henry’s bigoted regurgitations.
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He just heaves them out, doesn’t he!
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Being paid for laughing at the carpet?
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Mark, English aristocrats and wannabes politely refer to it as parking a custard!
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of course
i
could
leave a lot
of
gaps
to
make it look
like
I know
a lot – or perhaps I will leave it to you – you’re obviously right and I am wrong – but you’re the one who proved you’re a hypocrite
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Thanks for the Link Toad; found it worth a bookmark and is a good laugh….yes, parking the tiger – the first aussies were told aboard ship to ‘watchunder’.
I prefer looking for Bill’s Budget (BBBBBiiiiiiLLLL???!!!!)
Or phoning Europe (Uuuurrrrppp!)
But however one says it – it’s an ancient romin classic really.
Lets not enervate or unsettle bulemics – keep the faith, and the contents therewith!
cheers Mark.
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It’s sort of appropriate that Mr Whatsits comments and spewing should come together no?
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(heh..!..rightie-baiting..it can be such fun…!..eh…?)
got any of that ‘new political thoughts/ideas’-stuff for us..?
..no..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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in fact john..your initial (obviously from the heart) strangled/miss-spelled
…cry… (‘loosers!’…indeed..!..)
has echoes of the ‘stella!’-scene by brando in ‘on the waterfront’…
..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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the gaps in your
posts -\.
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john…we are shouting at each other across a great chasm…
..and…you are quite young/unread…
..aren’t you…?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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.. no
just not that old as to remember brando doesnt make me unread
.. or does it?..
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