A TELEVISION HOST in New Zealand has quit after instigating a diplomatic row between New Zealand and India, Reuters reports.

Hundreds of complaints were received about television station TVNZ after its “Breakfast” show host Paul Henry mispronounced the name of the chief minister of New Delhi, Sheila Dikshit.

Despite being told by the lead anchor that Dikshit’s name was pronounced “Dixit”, Henry mispronounced the name.

He also questioned whether the nation’s Governor-General Sir Anand Satyan and, who is of Indian descent, was “even a New Zealander.”

New Zealand’s high commissioner was summoned to India on Thursday in a formal protest against what the nation said were “racial remarks”.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Monday that Henry had resigned:

“He has made that decision and I guess over the last week he’s had some time to reflect on the comments,” Key said.

Dikshit was called in to take control of the disastrous Commonwealth Games last month.