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Complaints

Making a Complaint

You wish to make a formal complaint about something you have seen or heard on radio or TV. These are the steps you take:

  1. Put your complaint in writing or use our online complaint form.
  2. Address it to the Chief Executive of the broadcaster concerned
    • Include a heading or the words ‘Formal Complaint’
    • State the name of the programme, the station it was on, and the time and date you saw or heard it
    • Say which broadcasting standard/s you think were breached, and why
  3. Lodge in writing with the broadcaster within 20 working days (see broadcaster contacts)
  4. If you are dissatisfied with the response, refer it to the Broadcasting Standards Authority within 20 working days

Exception: If you are making a privacy complaint, send it to: The Complaints Manager, BSA, PO Box 9213, Wellington. Complaint Form (optional - PDF 12k).

For a printed guide to making a complaint, download "Television and Radio Complaints: A Guide for Viewers and Listeners" (PDF - 56k)

We also have a Māori version (PDF-57k) of the same document.