Sir Howard apologises to Rosita - but he's not sorry

Rosita Vai or Nik Carlson will be named NZ Idol tonight.

Sir Howard Morrison says he apologises to Rosita Vai and her family for any hurt he has caused, but he is unwilling to back down for raising the issue of Maori and Pacific Island obesity.

Sir Howard's comments about finalist Vai's weight are the latest NZ Idol sideshow.

The winner of the singing contest will be announced tonight, but the build-up was sidelined at the weekend as Sir Howard labelled Vai "overweight".

Sir Howard's comments outraged fans of the Auckland debt collector. Vai's family weren't commenting, as contractual obligations meant contestants and family members could not give unscheduled media interviews.

It is understood the comments have upset the family, although Vai herself is believed to be taking it well. She has told her family to not worry and to try to forgive.

Sir Howard told the Herald that he took exception to the "editorial licence" of Sunday publications that used the word "fat".

At the weekend NZ Idol judge Paul Ellis called Sir Howard's comments insensitive and promised he would "make" Sir Howard apologise.

Sir Howard said Mr Ellis himself had a track record of making insensitive comments throughout the Idol contest.

To survive in showbusiness you needed a thick skin, but an entertainer's career would be limited if he or she remained obese, said Sir Howard.

"You've got to accept the stage is a sacred area, and you're judged by your charisma, personality, and image. You're going to have a problem if you're overweight."

Sir Howard said his comments had been taken out of context and that he merely wished to raise the obesity issue.

Yesterday Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister, Misa Telefoni Retzlaff, wrote an open letter to the 50-year veteran of the New Zealand music industry, calling the outburst "mean-spirited and negative".

"I think the timing is very unfortunate," Mr Retzlaff told the Herald. "One way or another they are going to influence the result [of the NZ Idol final]."

The final showdown went off without a hitch last night and without reference to Vai's weight.

Vai and Nik Carlson sent Idol fans into a frenzy in the final sing-off. After Vai's first song - How Come You Don't Call Me? by Alicia Keys, judges Frankie Stevens and Paul Ellis tip-toed around the issue saying Vai looked "stunning" and "fantastic".

Judge Jackie Clarke went a step further: "New Zealanders are ready for a new Polynesian goddess, and you are so the girl".

- additional reporting by Errol Kiong and Derek Cheng