20/20: "Top Gun". Item profiled an Inspector on his retirement, whose service had included being head of the Armed Offenders Squad. The item referred to the Schlaepfer family tragedy and showed some footage, including an aerial shot of some bodies near the house and a shot of the child who survived. TV3 upheld the complaint about the aerial shot and the footage was replaced when the item was re-screened; the appropriate staff were also reminded of the standards. Not upheld (fairness: unnecessary intrusion into grief, action taken sufficient).
The Simpsons. The episode, which screened at 6.00pm, featured an unlikeable character who had manipulated the results of a local government election, and described the good characters as "You smarmy little bastards". Not upheld (good taste and decency, children's interests).
Newstalk ZB talkback. Discussion of the reasons behind a journalist's request to the Attorney General to reopen the Christchurch Civic Creche case. Complaint by the mother of one of the child witnesses. Not upheld (privacy).
Soundwave FM. Personal remarks were made about a rival broadcaster and related to a personnel matter. Upheld (good taste and decency, fairness, privacy; subsequent action taken by the station, having upheld the standards complaint, was inappropriate). Orders ($250 costs to Crown, $250 compensation to complainant).
92.2XS Palmerston North. Station broadcast an obscene phone call referring to the complainant. Upheld (privacy; inadequacy of action taken by broadcaster in relation to the complaints re good taste and decency, fairness, deceptive programme practice). Orders ($750 costs to Crown, $250 compensation to complainant).
This is Your Life: Billy T Awards promo. The promo referred to masturbation. Not upheld: action taken sufficient (good taste and decency, children's interests).
91ZM (Wellington). Publicity stunt organised by station required male volunteers to stand naked on the street for 90 minutes with a goldfish bowl appropriately positioned to avoid embarrassment. It was broadcast on 3 National News. Complaint based upon domplainant's assumption that the promotion of the stunt involved a broadcast which breached the good taste standard. But he didn't hear the broadcasts complained about. TRN advised that there was no pre-promotion of the stunt and no invitation to listeners to turn up to see naked men on a street. Declined to determine (good taste and decency).
Sunday Theatre: "Highwater". Joke referred to simulated sex between a cat lover and her pet. Complaint referral was out of time. Declined to determine (good taste and decency, law and order: the Authority had no discretion to receive a complaint which is out of time).
Havoc. Live broadcast of Guy Fawkes Day party held on the roof of the TVNZ building in Auckland. Complainant said the combination of fireworks, alcohol and young people was unsafe and a poor example for the young people at whom the channel is targeted, and she questioned the propriety of having people who appeared to be under the legal age drinking alcohol in public. Not upheld (liquor, anti-social behaviour).
National Radio's Focus on Politics. Programme reported on the Ngai Tahu settlement with the Crown and included interviews with several people, representing different viewpoints. Not upheld (action taken sufficient).