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).
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).