Sports presenter censured for racist remarks

TVNZ sports presenter Tony Veitch has been censured by the state broadcaster after making racist remarks on radio about United States tennis champ Serena Williams.

Speaking on Radio Sport yesterday, Veitch scandalised listeners when he said of Williams: "Do you know where the apes come from?

"She is a reminder."

Race relations conciliator Joris de Bres said the comments did not "bear a lot of analysis in terms of his attitudes to what seems to be African women".

Mr de Bres said that after Paul Holmes' "cheeky darkie" comment about United Nations head Kofi Annan, which was reported around the world, the Radio Network did adopt some new guidelines for staff which included a clear statement that judgements made solely on the basis of race, gender or colour "would not be tolerated".

TVNZ's head of public affairs, Avon Adams, said TVNZ management were "extremely disappointed" in Veitch's comments but there were no plans to suspend him.

"We've spoken to Tony about his comments, we were extremely disappointed in the comments, whether they were made in jest or not, and we have made this abundantly clear to him," she told NZPA today.

"We've also made it clear to him that these sort of comments were totally inappropriate and would have no place on television."

- NZPA