Hot 93FM. Caller twice referred disparagingly to the winner of an on-air competition who was named. Station staff then made two hoax calls in a similar vein. Upheld (good taste and decency). Not upheld (privacy). Order (formal letter of apology).
Lion Red: The Game. More than 20 promotions for Lion Red beer were screened during the game. Not upheld: action taken sufficient (liquor promotion).
Nightline. All Black coach announced some team selections in front of large promotion for Steinlager Beer. Upheld (liquor, one aspect). No order.
Solid Gold FM. In a prank telephone call a woman was called by a man claiming to be her fiance’s boss and was told he was going to be fired because he was sleeping with the boss’s secretary. The woman was distressed but admitted she was having an affair with her fiance’s brother. Complaint that the call was malicious and listeners were not informed at the conclusion that it was a prank. Not upheld (good taste and decency, fairness: the Authority was assured the call was a total fabrication, both parties to the call were in on the "joke", no individual was identified, so no one was hurt by the call).
One Network News. Item discussed new dietary supplement, aimed at men with prostate problems. Complainant argued that the promotion of the product amounted to an advertorial and was irresponsible as it did not alert viewers to its known toxic effects. Furthermore, he questioned the qualifications of the product’s promoter to make medicinal recommendations on a prime time news programme. Not upheld (accuracy).
One Network News. Item reported that the Housing Minister had ordered officials to investigate "serious allegations" that Fletcher Homes Ltd had deliberately duped and deceived customers. Not upheld (accuracy, law and order, balance).
Police. Documentary programme about police work included angry exchanges with offensive language. Not upheld: majority (good taste and decency, programme classification).
Holmes. Item included tributes to a nine-year-old girl who had died from a brain tumour. It was reported that in spite of having had surgery in the United States, she had recently died. Not upheld (avoidance of distress, children's interests).
TV One station identification promos. Promos included the slogan "Together We’re One", and the logo "Celebrating New Zealand". Complaint that they encouraged the denigration of Maori and discrimination against the legitimate expression of Maori cultural and political beliefs, promoting an ideology that was inherently assimilationist. Not upheld (balance, denigration and discrimination).
Crimescene. Item focussed on a case where a man had assumed the identity of a dead child to defraud the student loan scheme. Photographs of a number of people who had been involved in fraudulent schemes in the past accompanied the item. T, whose picture was featured, complained his privacy was breached. Not upheld (privacy).