Producer Quits Over Annan "Darkie" Comments

A producer of Television New Zealand's Holmes show has resigned over Paul Holmes' "darkie" comments, and other staff are also believed to want out.

Paul Yandall, aged 30, was line-up producer for the past two years on the TV One evening current affairs show.

Mr Yandall, a Samoan, is believed to have discussed the comments with his family before telling his boss, executive producer Pip Keane, he could no longer work with Holmes and maintain his self-respect.

He said yesterday that he was still a TVNZ employee and could not comment without clearance from management.

"I'm still on the payroll; I'm still covered by their guidelines."

Holmes caused outrage during his radio breakfast show on NewstalkZB on Wednesday by calling United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan a "cheeky darkie" and saying, "We are not going to be told how to live by a Ghanaian."

He later apologised and repeated that apology yesterday, insisting he was not a racist, merely stupid on that occasion.

The Herald understands two other permanent staff asked to be redeployed after the "darkie" comments.

TVNZ spokeswoman Di Schnauer said: "Any matters pertaining to staff are internal staff matters ... "Asked if other staff had also wanted to leave the show, she said: "Not to the best of my knowledge."

She refused Mr Yandall clearance to be interviewed.

Mr Yandall, a former Herald reporter, was one of two Polynesian journalists working permanently for Holmes.

A colleague said of Mr Yandall: "He was the nicest, nicest guy on the programme. How can you win New Zealanders' respect when you can't respect the New Zealanders working for you?"

More than 50 "informal" complaints about Holmes' remarks have been received by the Broadcasting Standards Authority. The media watchdog is unlikely to consider the matter until its January meeting.

Holmes apologised for his comments on his NewstalkZB show yesterday.

NewstalkZB general manager Bill Francis said the station would take no further action and was following up complaints.

Holmes had "self-flagellated" himself.

"A lot of his comments are heavily laced with satire, and on this occasion he pushed it too far - far too far."

On his breakfast show, Holmes said he was not a racist and he was very upset his comments had offended people.

"I should not have said what I did. It was tongue-in-cheek. It was the shock end of the spectrum; it was a bit mad probably.

"You pour it out on a show like this, year after year, month after month, day after day. You work close to the line because people like you to work close to the line and sometimes you might cross the line.

"I am not like that, you know that. If you listen to this programme for years, looked at my work for years you will know that."

The broadcaster, who four months ago was made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, was also criticised by different groups for his comments on women journalists and a joke about Hitler.

Independent business editor Jenni McManus said she could not imagine female journalists taking Holmes' comments too seriously.

"I'd like to see the evidence and the causation between getting the curse and producing bitchy copy. But I can forgive Paul because he's not a journalist, he's an entertainer and a broadcaster.

"I think he must have forgotten his microphone was on."

Jewish immigration lawyer Geoff Levy said Holmes' comments about Hitler were "totally unacceptable", but he accepted his apology.

Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey said Holmes' comments would probably have international repercussions.

"It's important for the media to be careful about reporting modern New Zealand."

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said the unreserved apology from Holmes and the radio station would have mitigated his remarks and was an important part of the resolution.

Complaints about Holmes

152 Broadcasting Standards Authority decisions have named Paul Holmes.

May 2003: On his radio show, Holmes relays a barrage of jokes about the French and German military, including: Why did the French plant trees on the Champs Elysees? So the Germans could march in the shade. Complaint not upheld.

September 2002: On his radio show, Holmes called the Catholic Church "rotten to the core", and the Pope "a pathetic old man". Complaint not upheld.

May 2001: On his radio show, Holmes described Ariel Sharon as a "dreadful beast" and as "mad, cynical [and] Arab hating". Complaint not upheld.

A 'sorry' record

Previous apologies

June 2001: Holmes says sorry to to Sir Tipene O'Regan for remarks on his radio show about the allocation of fishing resources.

February 2001: Holmes apologises for accusing former TVNZ chairman Ross Armstrong of discussing his salary with the media.

September 2000: Holmes says sorry to Solomon Islanders for swearing repeatedly during a commercial break in his TV show, unaware that he was being beamed live into the Christian nation's homes.