ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
Auckland: Labour Leader Phil Goff has condemned the Government’s failure to deal with the fallout from Breakfast host Paul Henry’s recent racially offensive attacks.
“This has been a complete fiasco. There is a real risk of damage to the relationship between India and New Zealand but the Prime Minister seems to be missing in action.
“John Key’s handling of this issue has been weak from the very beginning. First, he sat back and let Paul Henry attack the ethnic background of Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand right in front of him on live television. Now he’s failing to stamp on comments by the same Breakfast TV host who, while mocking the name of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, made offensive comments about Indians.
“The comments are making headlines in the Indian media and have the potential to damage New Zealand’s relationship with India. Our trade negotiations are at a crucial stage and it would be of deep concern if the Government’s poor handling of this issue undermines the goal of bringing our two countries together in a mutually beneficial economic relationship.
“There are more than 100,000 New Zealanders of Indian origin. Their contribution to society is valued by all Kiwis. The fallout from this incident will have caused deep hurt and offence and it’s time the Government came out of hiding and showed leadership by addressing the concerns.”
Auckland: Labour Leader Phil Goff has condemned the Government’s failure to deal with the fallout from Breakfast host Paul Henry’s recent racially offensive attacks. “This has been a complete fiasco. There is a real risk of damage to the relationship between India and New Zealand but the Prime...
Auckland: Labour Leader Phil Goff has condemned the Government’s failure to deal with the fallout from Breakfast host Paul Henry’s recent racially offensive attacks.
“This has been a complete fiasco. There is a real risk of damage to the relationship between India and New Zealand but the Prime Minister seems to be missing in action.
“John Key’s handling of this issue has been weak from the very beginning. First, he sat back and let Paul Henry attack the ethnic background of Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand right in front of him on live television. Now he’s failing to stamp on comments by the same Breakfast TV host who, while mocking the name of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, made offensive comments about Indians.
“The comments are making headlines in the Indian media and have the potential to damage New Zealand’s relationship with India. Our trade negotiations are at a crucial stage and it would be of deep concern if the Government’s poor handling of this issue undermines the goal of bringing our two countries together in a mutually beneficial economic relationship.
“There are more than 100,000 New Zealanders of Indian origin. Their contribution to society is valued by all Kiwis. The fallout from this incident will have caused deep hurt and offence and it’s time the Government came out of hiding and showed leadership by addressing the concerns.”
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