A 3 News item on the Conservative Party leader and apparent party practices commented on the party’s “distinctly Christian streak”. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the item breached the discrimination and denigration standard: the item was a legitimate and straightforward news report which did not encourage the denigration of, or discrimination against, any section of the community.
Not Upheld: Discrimination and Denigration
All Decisions
During Michael Laws Talkback, broadcast two days running on Radio Live, the host discussed the results of a study conducted by Women’s Refuge and the SPCA which showed a link between domestic violence and animal abuse. The host made a number of comments critical of the women who took part in the study and of women who stayed in violent relationships because of their pets. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the host’s comments breached standards relating to good taste and decency, accuracy, and discrimination and denigration: talkback is a robust and opinionated environment; the comments amounted to the host’s personal opinion and the two programmes were balanced overall; the comments were limited to women who took part in the study and to those who stayed in violent relationships because of their pets, and the comments did not reach the necessary threshold for encouraging discrimination or denigration against any section of the community.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Accuracy, Discrimination and Denigration
A promo for Two and a Half Men screened at 2.10pm during Anderson, a chat show rated G (General), as part of a montage of promos for ‘Comedy Wednesday’; it contained sexual innuendo and the word “penis”. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the promo breached standards relating to good taste and decency, responsible programming, and children’s interests: the promo screened during a chat show targeted at adults and in an AO timeslot; the promo was light-hearted and intended to be humorous; the sexual content was sufficiently inexplicit, and the broadcaster adequately considered children’s interests.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Responsible Programming, Children’s Interests
A Close Up report profiled Māori activists and their views on the Government’s sale of state assets and proposed mining activities. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the item breached standards relating to good taste and decency, controversial issues, and discrimination and denigration: the views expressed by the activist represented one end of a political spectrum – they were described as radical and the audience would have understood that they were not representative of all Māori or young Māori; the item did not encourage the denigration of, or discrimination against, any section of the community; the interview focused on the activist and his brother and their political views; the reporter took a “devil’s advocate” approach, and the programme included viewer feedback.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Controversial Issues, Discrimination and Denigration
During a discussion about gay marriage on Newstalk ZB’s Overnight Talkback, the host described the complainant, a caller, as “incredibly rude”. The host read out a fax from the complainant and repeated the word “homophobic” while spelling out “faggot”. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the host’s comments breached the fairness and discrimination and denigration standards: while it was clear that the host disagreed with the complainant’s views, he did allow the complainant an opportunity to present his perspective and he was not abusive towards him; and the host’s use of the word “homophobic” and spelling out of “faggot” did not encourage the denigration of, or discrimination against, any section of the community.
Not Upheld: Fairness, Discrimination and Denigration
In a One News report on the Australian Open Tennis Championships, Serena Williams’ performance was described as “almost schizophrenic”. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that this breached the discrimination and denigration and accuracy standards: the term “schizophrenic” was being used colloquially, the comment did not carry any invective or malice and was not used to encourage discrimination against, or denigration of, people with mental illness as a section of the community; the use of the term “schizophrenic” was not a statement of fact – it amounted to commentary and was therefore exempt from the standards of accuracy.
Not Upheld: Accuracy, Discrimination and Denigration
A 3 News report on the Government’s asset sales policy included excerpts from interviews with opposition MPs, including Hone Harawira, who used the word “bullshit”. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that this breached the good taste and decency and children’s interests standards: the comment would not have surprised or distressed most viewers in the context of a political story screened during an unclassified news programme targeted at adults.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Children’s Interests
During an episode of the reality TV series Dog Squad, a dog handler carried out routine checks of vehicles as they entered prison grounds, including a car which had apparently taken a wrong turn near the prison. The occupants of the car (a couple) were questioned, and following the search the dog handler stated that “there was something in the car, or drugs had been used in the car” and “We are going to confiscate that, okay?” The Authority upheld the complaint that this breached the privacy standard: the complainant was identifiable and the footage disclosed private facts suggesting drug use, which was a highly offensive disclosure. The Authority ordered $750 compensation to the complainant for breach of privacy.
Upheld: Privacy
Order: $750 compensation to complainant
A song entitled “Our Love Suicide” by rap artist Tinie Tempah was broadcast during Mid-Mornings with K-Lee on MaiFM at approximately 11.15am. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that this breached the standards relating to good taste and decency and responsible programming: the song lyric “love suicide” was used metaphorically to refer to the ending of a relationship and not in its literal sense, and the song did not promote or glorify suicide.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Responsible Programming
A One News item report on the Pike River Inquiry quoted a miner’s mother as saying “Jesus Christ” when she heard new evidence that the mine manager had sent emails about a new job minutes after the explosion. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that this breached the good taste and decency, and discrimination and denigration standards: “Jesus Christ” when used as a colloquial expression of shock and dismay did not amount to coarse language and would not offend or distress most viewers; the phrase was a verbatim quote from a miner’s mother in relation to her personal tragedy; as an expression of dismay, it was not an attack against Christians as a section of the community.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Discrimination and Denigration