<p>Breakfast show host Paul Henry released a statement that said: "I sincerely apologise to the Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand, for any offence I may have caused."<br />During the TVNZ programme Monday morning, Henry asked Prime Minister John Key whether Anand was a New Zealander or not.<br /><br />When Key told him that Anand was a New Zealander, Henry asked if he was going to pick someone who looked more like a New Zealander next time, New Zealand Herald reported Monday.<br /><br />Anand is New Zealand's first governor-general of Indian and Pacific ancestry. He had a lengthy career as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman before being appointed to the job in August 2006.<br /><br />He was born and raised in Auckland. His parents were born in Fiji and migrated to New Zealand while his grandparents were born in India and had migrated to Fiji.<br />While apologising, Henry said: "I am aware that Sir Anand has made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand. Anyone who knows anything about me will know I am a royalist, a constant defender of the monarchy and the role the governor-general plays in our society."<br /><br />"If my comments have personally offended Sir Anand, I regret it deeply."<br />Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said Henry's comments were "extremely disrespectful" and "a sad commentary on his state of mind".<br />"The implication of his comments seems to be that anyone of Indian or Asian descent cannot be a New Zealander and should not hold public office unless they 'look or speak like one'," de Bres was quoted for saying.</p>.<p>The official added: "I am intrigued to know what Paul Henry's definition is of looking and speaking like a New Zealander, given that New Zealand's population includes 650,000 people of Asian descent and many people of different ethnicities who speak English with a wide variety of accents."<br /><br />Sir Anand was an honoured guest at the colourful opening ceremony of the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi Sunday evening. </p>
<p>Breakfast show host Paul Henry released a statement that said: "I sincerely apologise to the Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand, for any offence I may have caused."<br />During the TVNZ programme Monday morning, Henry asked Prime Minister John Key whether Anand was a New Zealander or not.<br /><br />When Key told him that Anand was a New Zealander, Henry asked if he was going to pick someone who looked more like a New Zealander next time, New Zealand Herald reported Monday.<br /><br />Anand is New Zealand's first governor-general of Indian and Pacific ancestry. He had a lengthy career as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman before being appointed to the job in August 2006.<br /><br />He was born and raised in Auckland. His parents were born in Fiji and migrated to New Zealand while his grandparents were born in India and had migrated to Fiji.<br />While apologising, Henry said: "I am aware that Sir Anand has made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand. Anyone who knows anything about me will know I am a royalist, a constant defender of the monarchy and the role the governor-general plays in our society."<br /><br />"If my comments have personally offended Sir Anand, I regret it deeply."<br />Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said Henry's comments were "extremely disrespectful" and "a sad commentary on his state of mind".<br />"The implication of his comments seems to be that anyone of Indian or Asian descent cannot be a New Zealander and should not hold public office unless they 'look or speak like one'," de Bres was quoted for saying.</p>.<p>The official added: "I am intrigued to know what Paul Henry's definition is of looking and speaking like a New Zealander, given that New Zealand's population includes 650,000 people of Asian descent and many people of different ethnicities who speak English with a wide variety of accents."<br /><br />Sir Anand was an honoured guest at the colourful opening ceremony of the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi Sunday evening. </p>