Satyanand accepts apology from TVNZ

Governor-General Anand Satyanand. Photo / Herald on Sunday.

The Governor-General has accepted an apology from TVNZ bosses but there has still been no personal apology from broadcaster Paul Henry.

TVNZ chairman Sir John Anderson and chief executive Rick Ellis went to Government House in Auckland yesterday to deliver the written apology to Sir Anand Satyanand and his wife, Lady Susan.

The apology was for Henry's questioning on Breakfast whether Sir Anand sounded and looked like a real New Zealander. The incident occurred on October 4, during his regular interview with the Prime Minister.

A spokesman for Sir Anand said he had accepted the apology. He said as far as he was aware no personal apology had come from Henry himself.

In the days following his remark, Henry apologised to the Governor-General on air. He apologised again in a press statement announcing his resignation to "all those who were genuinely hurt by what I said".

Henry resigned over the comments and for mocking the name of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman said it was "entirely appropriate" for TVNZ to apologise and he was pleased Sir Anand had accepted it.

Earlier, Prime Minister John Key said TVNZ should take some of the blame.