Progressive Enterprises yesterday said it would review advertising with the state-owned broadcaster after Henry on Monday questioned whether Auckland-born Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand was "even a New Zealander", and whether his successor would "look and sound like a New Zealander".
"Along with many other New Zealanders, we felt offended by Paul Henry's comments about what it is to be a New Zealander," a Progressive spokeswoman said in a statement.
The company, which owns the Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown supermarkets, noted that Henry had been disciplined by TVNZ, which on Tuesday suspended him for two weeks.
It would not pull advertising while he was off the air, but would be "closely monitoring this issue and the placement of our advertising" -- a statement that suggests a similar outburst from Henry could jeopardise future advertising on the show.
The company's stance follows a migrant group's call for people to lobby companies that advertise on Breakfast, asking them to withdraw their advertising if Henry kept his job.
Auckland Regional Migrant Services acting executive director Lawton Hakaraia said Henry's "insensitive and xenophobic comments" would be viewed negatively by many migrants to New Zealand.
The shockwaves from Henry's on-air behaviour have gone beyond New Zealand, with Indian officials today summoning New Zealand High Commissioner Rupert Holborow to voice annoyance at "racial remarks" made by Henry about Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in an earlier broadcast.
Mr Holborow was handed a demarche, a formal protest, after Henry mispronounced and giggled on air at the name Dikshit.
In between laughter, Henry last week referred to the minister as "dickshit", despite having been told her name was pronounced "dixit". He also appeared to make a slur against Indians in general.
Mr Holborow was told that India "strongly and unequivocally denounces the racist remarks of the journalist in question. These remarks are totally unacceptable to India".
Mr Holborow later released a statement saying, "I would like to convey my deep regret for the hurt these comments have caused".
He called them "culturally insensitive, inappropriate and vulgar".
"They reflect the views of only one media commentator, and certainly not the New Zealand Government or people."
Any offence caused by Henry to Indians had yet to impact on the Games athletes, who had not heard any criticism from local people, a team spokeswoman said.
Nor was she aware of any athlete being outraged by what Henry had said, as they were concentrating on their events, and had not commented to her on the comments, she said.
But Ms Dikshit was popular with the New Zealand team.
"The team regards the chief minister of Delhi very highly, she was the saviour of the Games," the spokeswoman said.
Mr Holborow said New Zealand and India had "warm and positive links".
"There is never a case for making remarks of this nature which are hurtful."
