BBC host 'just having a laugh'

BBC radio host Toby Foster. Photo / Supplied

A BBC radio host said he was "just having a bit of a laugh" when he slagged Kiwis as "crazy" and "boring" and said that New Zealand had "sod all" except for earthquakes on his breakfast radio programme on Monday.

BBC Radio Sheffield's Toby Foster had a rant after wrongly reporting that an Australian woman, who survived a plunge into Africa's crocodile-infested Zambezi River when her bungy cord snapped, was Kiwi.

He said yesterday: "It was quarter to nine on a Monday morning, I was just having a bit of a laugh."

Foster said on his programme that Kiwis turned to extreme sports to spice up their boring lives.

"Of course New Zealand people do a lot of bungy jumping and we're told it's because they've got such wonderful scenery and such great bungy.

"But it's not, what New Zealand has got is sod all. Nothing there, there's nothing there."

Foster said the best the country had to offer was Christchurch. "And even that had an earthquake."

He identified the Australian, Erin Langworthy, who suffered cuts and bruises from the fall, as a New Zealander, and said she deserved everything that was coming to her.

Foster's comments caused a stir here, with many hitting back over his rant.

David Way commented on nzherald.co.nz: "I only live 40 miles from Sheffield, and believe me it is one of the worst places to go in England."

While Alan Carter, from Yorkshire but who now lives in Tauranga, said the New Zealand Ambassador should demand an apology from the Sheffield radio host.

"Another saddo comedian trying to be controversial and funny at the same time. I am a proud Kiwi, Yorkshireman and this fool is not fit to be one of us."

Yesterday the broadcaster admitted that he has never been to New Zealand and knew little about the country.

"I understand you have a very vibrant comedy show in your main village, but apart from that I know nothing about it."

Foster claims he has been misunderstood, and has been overwhelmed by online and email criticisms over his comments. "Several people have mentioned that I was making light of what happened in Christchurch, which nothing could have been further from my mind."

And he joked on Twitter that given New Zealand's "great comedy heritage" like Paul Hogan, Adam Hills - both from Australia - and Jimeoin, from Northern Ireland: "You'd think they'd realise I was joking."

Foster's fellow Britons have apologised for his behaviour.

"I would like to apologise for my fellow countryman's rant and can assure you that his point of view is held by a very small minority indeed," Anthony Pringle emailed.

"Not only is New Zealand the most beautiful country I have ever visited, its people are very friendly, and quite frankly, I never have enough time to do everything I want when I am there. I would much rather visit New Zealand than Sheffield."