A US zoo that was under fire for offering an interactive encounter with a kiwi is being praised after it gave a sincere apology.
Zoo Miami received intense backlash after a video emerged of the kiwi, called Paora, being manhandled.
But in a turn of events, the zoo received praise from AM's Wednesday panel after a representative appeared on the show and completely apologised off the bat.
"I think [it was] one of the best apologies I have heard in decades, quite frankly," former National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett told the panel.
"We all started out before [the apology] incessant and angry and now we just trust that actually, they will change what they're doing."
Zoo Miami's goodwill ambassador Ron Magill apologised earlier in the programme, saying the zoo should've known better.
"I can tell you that we have listened... effective immediately, this morning, the entire encounter has been eliminated - there will be no access to the kiwi by the public in that manner any longer," he said.
"It is a spiritual animal to the people of New Zealand. If you put the shoe on the other foot, if we're going to watch a Kiwi go out there and grab a bald eagle and do things that are unnatural... I don't know how many Americans would sit back."
Bennett said Magill showed respect for New Zealand and our culture.
"He's the man," she said.
Newshub senior journalist Nick Truebridge agreed, noting Zoo Miami is privately owned, therefore, he didn't have to come on the show.
"I think our agencies can learn something from this guy, like just the way he came out and owned it… He's turned what was a pretty bad situation on its head," Truebridge told the panel.
"Credit to Zoo Miami."
Watch the full video above.
