Channel Z. Chief Executive of a company which had placed an advertisement that there wasn't a single benefit in going bald was phoned at work by an unidentified caller who wished to put forward the benefits he saw in going bald. The resulting conversation, without the CE's knowledge, was recorded, edited and then broadcast. Not upheld (fairness).
Award of costs re Decision No: 1997-015 : $2,000 costs to Auckland Trotting Club Inc.
Film True Romance. Film which screened at 8.35pm follows the fortunes of a couple who inadvertently come into possession of a suitcase filled with drugs and try to profit from selling the drugs while the drug dealers try to recover their suitcase. Upheld (violence ). Order ($3,000 costs to Crown).
Radio Pacific talkback. Extracts from the diary of a woman who had been in a Bosnian rape death camp were read out by the journalist who held the diary. The extracts were broadcast between 10:30 and 11:00am. Upheld (programme containing material sensitive to children). No order.
One Network News, Holmes. News item reported that a rash of prison breakouts was causing concern to residents living near Paparua Prison, and follow-up story on Holmes. Complaint that item unbalanced because it didn't investigate the prison conditions there. Declined to determine (balance, fairness, discrimination and denigration): the topic of the items – the security review – did not require an investigation into prison conditions.
Hip Hop Show. Complaint that lyrics of two rap songs were offensive. Not upheld (good taste and decency).
National Radio news item. News item on the 6 people shot dead at Raurimu included comments from a known gun control lobbyist, calling for tighter controls on guns. Complaint that item was unbalanced. Not upheld (balance).
Midday sports news. Rugby Sevens competition in Hong Kong. Shot of an incident where a New Zealand player punched a South African. Not upheld (violence).
Paul McKenna's Secrets of Hypnosis promo and programme. Wedding ceremony officiated at by the Rev. and Mrs Moon of the Unification Church featured as part of a promo for the programme Paul McKenna's Secrets of Hypnosis. The accompanying commentary to the clip reported that the programme went "...undercover to reveal the brainwashing of bizarre religious cults". Upheld: promo only (fairness). No order.
Radio Pacific's "Politically Incorrect" show: "Sieg Heil Awards". Not upheld (good taste and decency).