Holmes. Interview of witness to the shooting of a young man by a policeman in Waitara; item recorded that there was some discrepancy between what the eyewitness had told the police immediately after the incident and his statement to a private investigator some days later. Complaint that the item was "emotive"and would have incited the public to be biased against the police, as well as being unbalanced; the matter was also sub judice. Not upheld (balance, fairness).
A Target programme used a hidden camera to assess whether a car’s wheel alignment had been properly carried out. The footage included pictures of the outside of the business premises, and members of the staff dealing with the customer. Complaint that this was unauthorised filming on private premises and therefore a breach of privacy. Not upheld (privacy).
Items on One News and Tonight examined what was described as new evidence relating to the William Sutch trial, in the context of an Assignment programme that same evening which reviewed the historic charges against Dr Sutch. Upheld (fairness: extracts used must be 'a true reflection and not a distortion': action taken insufficient). Not upheld (accuracy: evidence was 'new'). Order (broadcast of statement).
Going Straight. Documentary about gay men who were attempting to change their sexual orientation through a Christian programme rin Kansas. Not upheld: majority (balance). Not upheld (discrimination and denigration). Subsumed (under balance): (accuracy). Not relevant (responsible programming).
Private Investigators. Unauthorised filming and broadcast. Upheld: majority (fairness). Not upheld (privacy). No order.
Ally McBeal. Episode featured two women interviewing male applicants for a position in a legal practice; applicants were asked to remove their shirts during the interview process. Complaint that this was sexual harassment in the workplace, showing discrimination against men, and inconsistent with maintenance of law and order. Not upheld (law and order, discrimination and denigration).
Private Investigators. Item on pirated computer games showed a private investigator recovering software from a house occupied by PW. PW had told the programme-makers she wished not to be identified due to her background (she had been recently released from the police witness protection scheme). Not upheld (privacy: no identification, her face pixellated).
Strassman. Ventriloquist used allegedly offensive language. Not upheld (good taste and decency).
Target. Episode featured footage of employees of four Hamilton house cleaning services who had been secretly filmed as part of a hidden camera trial; one of the male cleaners had been filmed engaging in improper sexual behaviour. Complaint that the programme was unfair, inaccurate and denigrated tradespeople. Not upheld (good taste and decency, accuracy, fairness, discrimination and denigration). Not applicable (responsible programming).
Assignment. Programme re-examined allegations that Dr William Sutch had engaged in espionage. Not upheld (accuracy, fairness, balance, impartiality).