Auckland Access Radio: Tamil Thendral. Programme prepared by the NZ Tamil Society announced that a nomination to the Executive Committee of the NZ Tamil Society had been rejected until some receipt books returned. Not upheld (discrimination and denigration): subsequent action taken by the broadcaster was sufficient.
Holmes. Two Items about the New Zealand Film and Television School. The first item suggested that some students had been expelled because they complained about aspects of the school’s programme. It also included an interview with the School’s Managing Director. The second item included comments from other dissatisfied past and present students and their families, and an interview with a spokesperson from NZQA. Upheld (second item: balance). Not upheld (first item: balance, accuracy, fairness; second item: accuracy, fairness). Not relevant (responsible programming). No order.
Newstalk ZB. Presenter’s comment on wedding dress of Sophie Rhys Jones who was about to marry Prince Edward. Not upheld (good taste and decency).
Inside New Zealand: "Six Days in a Leaky Boat". Documentary featured six people in their twenties who were sailing a yacht in the Bay of Islands, who had never met before and were required to perform a number of objectives in difficult circumstances. Complaint about the language used and behaviour. Not upheld: majority (good taste and decency). Not upheld (responsible programming, children's interests).
Nine to Noon. Television reviewer's comments that TVNZ "now feels" that it need not carry the leaders’ opening and closing addresses for the elections, and "That’s how far it’s moved away from the idea of public broadcasting". Upheld (accuracy). Not upheld (correction of factual errors). No order.
Police. Episode showed two police officers in Rotorua questioning two girls (said to be aged 14 and 16) one of whom had been caught trying to shoplift some clothing. The faces of the girls were deliberately blurred and their names were not given. The commentary reported that the girls were warned and taken home. Mother of both girls complained. Not upheld (privacy, fairness).
Shortland Street. Two consecutive episodes contained a story-line about a nine-year-old boy, previously diagnosed with leukaemia, suffering a relapse and needing further medical treatment. Not upheld: majority (good taste and decency, children's interests).
You be the Judge. Item on dispute between neighbours included footage, filmed by the aggrieved neighbour, of two people leaving his neighbour’s home at 4.31am. C, one of those filmed complained that he and his wife considered that the broadcast had invaded their privacy. Not upheld (privacy).
One Network News. News item containing a broad description of events then occurring in the Middle East described Hizbollah fighters as "terrorists". Not upheld (accuracy: item prepared by an overseas reporter, editorial judgement).
1XX birthday calls. Whakatane radio station broadcast call to BB who, it said, was 50 on Saturday. The call included the comment that she was to be reunited on that day with her son whom she had given up for adoption 30 years ago. Upheld (privacy). Not upheld (inadequacy of broadcaster's action). Subsequent action by broadcaster sufficient.