Pacific Island Media Association

Resignation of a Samoan journalist from TVNZ's Holmes Show has been applauded by the NZ based Pacific Island Media Association.

Paul Yandall, a producer for the Holmes Show, resigned after Holmes comments on his radio show on Wednesday, called United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Anan, a "cheeky darkie".

Pacific Island Media Association Chairman, Kalafi Moala, says Holmes comments must have made it a difficult enviroment for Yandall to continue to work in.

"As a Pacific Island journalist, it would have been very hard for Paul Yandall to work closely with a man who'd made such racist comments," said Moala. "There is no place in public broadcasting for such a remark."

Yandall is one of a handful of Pacific Island journalists working in TVNZ's newsroom including Barbara Dreaver and Samoans Tati Urale and Kris Fa'afoi.

The Pacific Island Media Association understands Dreaver is also considering resigning from TVNZ's newsroom following Holmes comments. She has made a formal complaint to TVNZ as well as the Human Rights Commission and will take a week's break to consider her options. The journalists' contracts with TVNZ forbid them to publicly comment on the situation.

"Paul Holmes has apologised for his comments, and his apology should be accepted. The Pacific Islands Media Association however continues to take a strong stand against any words or actions by media personalities or organisations that reflect racism or discrimination," Moala said.

The Pacific Island Media Association will be holding it's annual conference next week at Auckland University of Technology. Moala said the issues surrounding the impact of Holmes' comments will be discussed during a TV panel discussion next Friday, 3 October.

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