An item on One News, broadcast on TV One, reported on Prime Minister John Key referring the matter of the “tea tapes” to the police. It included Mr Key’s comment that because the crime rate had been lowered the police “do have a little bit of spare time”. At the end, the reporter said, “John Key may face criticism . . . for saying that police have too much time on their hands.” The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to controversial issues, accuracy and fairness. Viewers heard Mr Key’s original comment so they would not have been misled; politicians should expect robust commentary on their views during an election period; and the item presented alternative views on the involvement of police in the matter.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness
A promo for 3 News broadcast on TV3 at 5.55pm contained a brief shot of a man head-butting another man during the ‘Occupy Dunedin’ protest movement. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, law and order, children’s interests, and violence. The footage was fleeting and inexplicit and no visible injury was shown; it did not encourage viewers to break the law or glamorise criminal activity; it screened immediately before the news within the host programme Home and Away which is not targeted at or likely to appeal to younger child viewers; and the voiceover signposted the footage as a “violent protest” against the occupiers.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Law and Order, Children’s Interests, Violence
An episode of the cartoon comedy Family Guy, broadcast on FOUR at 7.30pm, contained sexual content and innuendo. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, responsible programming and children’s interests. The sexual content was subtle and inexplicit and the sexual innuendo would have gone over the heads of younger viewers; the content was not unsuitable for supervised child viewers; and the episode was correctly rated PGR, preceded by a visual and verbal warning, and screened in an appropriate time-band.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Responsible Programming, Children’s Interests
Items broadcast on Campbell Live on TV3 asked viewers for their opinions on changing the New Zealand flag and gave a brief visual overview of the history of New Zealand flags. The Authority declined to determine the complaint that this breached standards relating to controversial issues, accuracy, fairness, discrimination and denigration, and responsible programming: the complainant’s concerns were matters of personal preference and editorial discretion and the complaint was frivolous and trivial.
Declined to Determine: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness, Discrimination and Denigration, Responsible Programming
An item on 3 News, broadcast on TV3 at 6pm, reported on a single bluefin tuna being sold at auction in Japan for nearly one million dollars. Footage was shown of the fish’s head being removed and the fish being sliced in half; there was also brief footage of other fish being sliced or filleted. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached the good taste and decency and violence standards. The images were not gratuitous and would not have offended most viewers in the context of a news item, and filleting fish did not amount to “violence” for the purposes of that standard.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Violence
A documentary Real Crime: Broken Promises, Broken Brides, broadcast on TV One, investigated the abuse of foreign brides in New Zealand. It profiled a Malaysian woman who had died of a methadone overdose nine years earlier and interviewed her New Zealand husband, the complainant, who was convicted of her manslaughter. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the programme breached the accuracy and fairness standards. The programme did not create a misleading impression that the complainant had intended to murder his wife, the reporter clearly stating that the complainant was convicted of manslaughter; the complainant’s perspective was included; the programme was accurate and would not have misled viewers; and the complainant was provided with a sufficient opportunity to give his perspective in two interviews and the interviews were not unfairly edited.
Not Upheld: Accuracy, Fairness
One News election coverage showed a graphic “Election 2011” logo which included a blue box with a white tick mark. The Authority declined to uphold a complaint that the colour of the logo influenced people to vote for the National Party, in breach of the controversial issues standard. Use of the logo did not amount to a discussion of a controversial issue and the broadcaster was entitled to editorial discretion in the use of standard graphics.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues
Afternoons with Jim Mora, broadcast on Radio New Zealand National, included a panel discussion about the National Party’s welfare reform policy. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached the controversial issues and accuracy standards. The New Zealand welfare system, including welfare reform, amounted to a controversial issue of public importance, the broadcaster had made reasonable efforts to present significant viewpoints, and as the issue was ongoing listeners could reasonably be expected to be aware of alternative viewpoints. The panellist’s statements were his personal comment and opinion and therefore exempt from standards of accuracy under guideline 5a.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Accuracy
An item on TV3’s Nightline reported on controversial comments made by British television presenter Jeremy Clarkson that striking workers should be shot. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to law and order, discrimination and denigration, and violence. The item was a straightforward news report about Mr Clarkson’s comments, and broadcasting the comments did not encourage viewers to break the law; nor did it encourage denigration of or discrimination against a section of the community; and the item contained no violence.
Not Upheld: Law and Order, Discrimination and Denigration, Violence
An item on One News reported on the private funeral of prominent New Zealand businessman Allan Hubbard. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the footage filmed outside the private church ceremony, and the footage of Mrs Hubbard in particular, breached standards relating to privacy, good taste and decency, fairness, and responsible programming. While Mrs Hubbard and the other people shown were identifiable, no private facts were disclosed, they were filmed in a public place, and those shown were not particularly vulnerable. The footage formed part of an unclassified news programme, and filming was non-intrusive and respectful and would not have offended or distressed viewers.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Privacy, Fairness, Responsible Programming