Nine to Noon. Representative of a beneficiaries’ organisation was interviewed in the context of controversy surrounding the operation of Work and Income New Zealand. Complaint that interviewee not treated fairly because he was not named in the introduction to the item and discriminated against because of his status as a beneficiary. Declined to determine (did not raise an issue of broadcasting standards).
Nine to Noon. Joke with host about an IRD employee offering to forego an audit of some prostitutes in exchange for free sex. Complaint that it was inappropriate. Declined to determine (no standards nominated; Authority did not consider that the complaint raised issues of broadcasting standards).
TV One news. Report on man who emulated the lifestyle of the fictional Austin Powers character mentioned the recently released Austin Powers film "The Spy Who Shagged Me". Complaint that the word "shagged" was an offensive macho term which degraded women and was not acceptable during a family hour broadcast. Not upheld (good taste and decency, children's interests).
Holmes. Programme dealt with the case of a defaulting taxpayer who was said to have committed suicide over non-payment of a small tax bill. Items on subsequent nights highlighted other cases where tax bills were said to have escalated to become huge debts; reported the IRD's response to the first programme (saying it had admitted it was in the wrong in its treatment of the taxpayer); and also read out a further statement from the IRD summarising some previously unreported facts relating to one of the other cases referred to. Upheld (balance, fairness). Subsumed (accuracy, law and order, responsible programming). No order.
Holmes. Items on subsequent days in December examined dissatisfaction expressed by students at the New Zealand Film and Television School in Christchurch. A follow-up item was broadcast in April. Not upheld (balance, accuracy, fairness): action taken.
One Network News. Item dealt with recapture of escaped prisoner who was a convicted murderer and included an interview with his father and his ten-year-old son. The mother of the boy complained that this breached his privacy. Upheld (privacy). Order ($500 costs to complainant).
Fair Go. Item reported on a dart-throwing competition where the promoter had arranged insurance for the event with his United States principal but after the competition had been won, the principal refused to accept the claim, asserting the winner’s throw had been wind-assisted. Not upheld (balance, fairness).
Super Liquor Sportsnight. Item included twenty-four references to liquor. Upheld (liquor: action taken insufficient). Order ($500 costs to Crown).
3 News sports item. Phrase used in report on the New Zealand cricket team’s visit to Buckingham Palace allegedly disrespectful. Not upheld (good taste and decency).
Inside New Zealand: Nude Zealand. Documentary about the naturist movement in New Zealand, commencing at 8.30 pm, contained footage of naked men and women, including breasts and male genitalia. Not upheld (good taste and decency, children's interests).