One Network News. Item reported on Nursing Council's investigation into a midwife’s management of the delivery of a baby who subsequently died and six adverse findings. There was a further broadcast in which the broadcaster failed to acknowledge the error it had made in its earlier broadcast. Upheld (accuracy, fairness: action taken insufficient). Order ($500 costs to Crown).
Fair Go. The Authority declined to accept the complaint as the referral did not comply with the statutory time limits.
Water Rats. Scene depicted a man seizing a policewoman and threatening her with a knife. Not upheld (violence).
One Network News and Tonight. Item reported that the Act Members of Parliament had been requested by TVNZ to provide particulars of their assets and business interests. Not upheld (fairness, balance).
Midday. Comment referred to relationship between mortgage rates and wholesale interest rates. Complaint that because New Zealand banks operated under a fractional reserve system, the comment was inaccurate and misleading. Not upheld (accuracy, deceptive programme practice).
Ansett Time of Your Life: "Bluffer's Guide". Programme focused on cigar smoking. Complaint that TV3 had employed a deceptive programme practice because it encouraged young people to smoke cigars, and that it had failed to be mindful of the effect of the programme on children. Upheld (children's interests). No order.
The Politically Incorrect Show. Host stated that he was shocked to have been told that a named lecturer at the University of Auckland had forbidden her graduate economics class to invite Sir Roger Douglas or anyone from the Business Roundtable to speak to the class. Considered under good taste and decency, accuracy, fairness. Upheld (fairness). Order (broadcast of statement).
Holmes and Tonight. The result of a Holmes viewer poll was reported on Tonight. Complainant said that the extensive coverage of the poll results on both Holmes and Tonight contrasted with the very brief report of the results of another poll two weeks previously. He noted that the earlier poll had only been reported on Holmes and not on Tonight, and argued this demonstrated that the broadcaster was not impartial. Not upheld (balance).
The New Zealand Wars. Complaint that the series presented "beliefs" as fact, and that it was biased and racist in suggesting that the "innocent" Maori was butchered by "an evil white man". Not upheld (accuracy, balance, fairness).
One Network News and Tonight. Item showed amateur video footage of four fishermen in rough seas in New South Wales after their boat had capsized; two of the men drowned in the incident. Complaint that the loss of the two men would not have been newsworthy had their deaths not been captured on "amcam", and the broadcast capitalised on the horror of the drowning and that was callous and unwarranted. Not upheld (violence). The Authority noted that the newsworthiness of the footage (which wsa the essence of the complaint) was an editoral decision and so outside the Authority's jurisdiction.