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).
Strassman. Comedy programme used offensive language. Not upheld (good taste and decency, privacy).
Holmes. Footage of English coach’s half-time speech contained offensive language. Not upheld (good taste and decency, children's interests).
60 Minutes. Item on the black market for the prescription drug Ritalin. Complaint that the item had "irresponsibly" reported the street value of the drug. Not upheld (law and order, good taste and decency, children's interests, causing unnecessary panic, alarm or distress).
Inside New Zealand. Documentary about debtors and debt recovery workers showed a debt recovery worker outside the home of a couple with a number of children, who were said to have a debt of $1600. Upheld (privacy). Order ($500 compensation to complainant).
Dateline. "Safe and natural" plant estrogens were said to offer relief for symptoms of menopause. Complaint that the programme was inaccurate and unbalanced. Not upheld (accuracy, balance).