Midday. News item reported on increasing lawlessness and the use of vigilante justice amongst black communities in South Africa. It focused on a group of vigilantes avenging the alleged pack rape of a young woman, and included footage of the accused men being beaten by the woman and some vigilantes. Not upheld (violence, children's interests).
Holmes. Item featured the Alpha Club which, it reported, represented itself as a travel club; the item suggested the club was involved in pyramid selling activities. Not upheld (balance, accuracy).
TV3 news. Item summarised matters raised in a 20/20 programme broadcast the previous evening relating to the dismissal of the choirmaster at St Paul’s Cathedral in Dunedin. It was reported that the choir had returned to the Cathedral to demand the resignation of their Dean. Complaint that the item was unbalanced, unfair and inaccurate. Upheld (fairness, balance). Not upheld (law and order, discrimination and denigration). Subsumed (accuracy). Orders (broadcast of summary of decision, $5,000 costs to Crown).
20/20: "Sex, Lies and Videotape". Item concerned matters surrounding the dismissal of the Director of Music at Dunedin Cathedral. Upheld (accuracy, fairness, balance, responsible programming, and privacy). Orders (broadcast approved statement; refrain from broadcasting advertising programmes between 6pm and 8.30pm on one day; $5,000 each to Canon Somers-Edgar and Mr Rothel for breaches of privacy; costs of $45,000 to the Diocese and Dean, of $17,500 to Canon Somers-Edgar, and $12,500 to Mr Rothel; costs to the Crown of $5,000 re their complaints, a total of $15,000).
Super Liquor Sportsnight. Episode broadcast on three occasions contained 17 visual and six verbal sponsorship credits for Super Liquor, plus screening a further three liquor advertisements. Upheld (breach of liquor standard and subsequent action insufficient). Order ($500 costs to Crown for each breach).
Weddings. Final episode in the series reported that a marriage featured in an earlier episode had broken up after two month; it contained footage of the wedding shown in the earlier programme and included comment from the bride about the reasons for the break-up. Not upheld (privacy).
20/20: "A Position of Power". Interlocutory decision re request to defer determination of complaint until defamation proceedings dealt with.
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).