ICE TV. Repeat broadcast of programme aimed at teenagers and containing some humorous and informative material. Not upheld (good taste and decency).
Assignment. Documentary examined a theory which linked those who abused animals in their youth to violent offences in later years and included video footage of teenage boys tormenting a dog. It was explained that they had filmed the video themselves. Not upheld (violence). Subsumed (good taste and decency).
91 ZM Christchurch. Competition which invited listeners to relate how and at what age they had lost their virginity was broadcast at about 4.30pm. Not upheld (good taste and decency, responsible programming: children's interests).
Scared Straight – 20 Years On. American documentary examined a rehabilitation programme for youthful offenders which was based on behaviour modification; the programme was trialled in the 1970s, and 20 years later some of those participants were asked about their experiences on the course and how they had lived their lives since then. Declined to determine (complaint focussed on viewer’s preference and did not raise an issue of broadcasting standards).
One Network News and Breakfast. Item reported that an 18-month-old girl was rescued from a fiercely burning home as a result of the heroism of a fire officer. Item was screened between 6.00-7.00 pm and repeated on a programme beginning at 7.00 am the following morning. Complaint that footage showing the young unconscious girl receiving medical treatment was an invasion of her dignity and privacy. Not upheld (privacy).
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.