One News. Stated that supernova was “240 light years from Earth”. Declined to determine (accuracy) on grounds that complaint frivolous and trivial. Order ($50 costs awarded to broadcaster, complainant previously warned about lodging complaints of this nature).
All Decisions
One News reported on legal aid lawyer Charl Hirschfeld’s resignation, with the statements that his “resignation comes within days of the Law Society launching an investigation into his legal aid work”, that he “topped the legal aid rich list”, that the LSA had “completed an investigation into payments to Mr Hirschfeld” and that “in the last year Charl Hirschfeld netted $3.2 million in legal aid money”. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the item breached the accuracy and fairness standards. Mr Hirschfeld’s arguments were primarily issues of semantics and the statements were not inaccurate or misleading; the broadcaster had treated him fairly since the item simply reported the facts and did not make any allegations of wrongdoing; and One News had also gone to his offices but he had been unavailable for comment.
Not Upheld: Accuracy, Fairness
Apna 990 “radio-thon”. Allegedly broadcast statement that eight Fijian nationals had died in Christchurch earthquake. Not upheld (accuracy, responsible programming, and good taste and decency).
3 News. Image allegedly showing Osama Bin Laden following his death. Not upheld (good taste and decency, violence, children’s interests, responsible programming, and controversial issues).
One News. Item about arming police officers referred to police “force”. Declined to determine on the grounds that the complaint was frivolous (accuracy).
Not Going Out. Scene showed character dancing with baby and moving him from side to side. Not upheld (good taste and decency, violence, children’s interests, fairness, and discrimination and denigration).
Fair Go. Investigated sales techniques employed by Wenatex and showed sales consultant stating colleague was “in front of a wheelchair” before purchasing a Wenatex bed. Upheld (fairness). Not upheld (privacy). Declined to determine (accuracy). Orders ($8,740 costs to complainants).
Campbell Live. Montage of footage from earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Not upheld (good taste and decency).
3 News. Live news bulletin reporting on Christchurch earthquake included close-up footage and interviews with victims. Not upheld (good taste and decency, privacy, responsible programming, discrimination and denigration).
Campbell Live and promos. Inaccurately reported that striking workers from recycling company Paper Reclaim worked in “dirty, unsanitary conditions” and that there was a rat problem at Paper Reclaim’s plant. Upheld (accuracy and fairness). Not upheld (privacy). Orders (broadcast statement, $13,742.20 costs to complainant, $3,000 costs to Crown).