Assignment. Programme featured disputes between medical specialists and midwives about maternity care. It concentrated on a couple whose child had died, and their midwife. Upheld: majority (fairness). Not upheld (privacy). No order.
All Decisions
60 Minutes. Term 'moron' used to describe Mayor of Auckland and Deputy Mayor of Auckland for declining to contribute Auckland council funds to assist the annual Hero Parade. Not upheld (denigration and discrimination).
Checkpoint item reported on a rally was held in Wellington protesting against some of the government's policies. The speakers included Maxine Gay of the NZ Trade Union Federation. Comments from the speeches of the three other speakers were included in the item. Complaint that the omission of any reference to Ms Gay, and the omission of her significant contribution, breached the balance and accuracy standards. Not upheld (balance, accuracy).
"Talking for the Animals". Title of opinion piece from the director of the SPCA in Auckland, regularly broadcast on Radio Pacific. Topic addressed lifting of the embargo on the export of live lambs to the Middle East, for what was described as the "barbaric" Hajj Festival. Not upheld (discrimination and denigration).
60 Minutes. Item dealt with the issue of the use of animals in research, and the rise in the level of activism of animal rights protesters. Not upheld (balance, accuracy, fairness, discrimination and denigration). Not relevant (violence, editing).
Radio Pacific breakfast programme. Host's comments about dumping carcases at the Department's offices in Wanganui and at the home of the Conservator. Upheld (fairness, balance). Not upheld (law and order, accuracy). No order.
Channel Z. Announcer alleged a bomb scare in downtown Wellington, involving a grenade, could have been the work of Manu Caddie, Convenor of "Buy Nothing Day", a promotion set for the following day. Upheld (fairness). Not upheld (privacy). No order.
Police Stop! Item showed police arresting a woman on suspected drug offences. Her voice was audible and the house where she was arrested was shown. Not upheld (law and order, privacy, fairness).
Morning Report and Checkpoint. Programmes discussed aspects of "green" politics. The former discussion included interviews with representatives of the Alliance and Progressive Greens, and they were also represented on the Checkpoint item which, in addition, included a spokesperson from the Labour Party. Not upheld (balance).
20/20. Item examined the response by the Wellington Free Ambulance to the fatal collapse of a woman in Wainuiomata and raised serious questions about the competence of some aspects of the Wellington Free Ambulance service. Not upheld (privacy).