Police Rescue. Programme focused on a woman who acknowledged that she had a manic depressive illness for which she was receiving treatment. At the beginning of the programme she threatened to commit suicide by jumping from a high building and, at the end of the programme, she successfully committed suicide when she piped exhaust fumes into her closed-up vehicle. Not upheld (law and order).
All Decisions
Radio Pacific breakfast talkback. Host (Hon John Banks MP) advised a caller not to pay the broadcasting fee. Not upheld (law and order).
One Network News. Sports news dealt with selection of a batsman and showed him practising his batting in the nets. Complaint that liquor signage attached to the nets was prominent. Not upheld (liquor)
One Network News. Weather report did not include a forecast for Central Otago. Declined to determine (balance).
One Network News. One item named a young man recently released from custody when it examined the response to his presence in acommunity close to four schools. Second news item some days later named the mother of a three-month-old child who was left alone while her mother went out. Not upheld: first complaint (privacy). Declined to determine: second complaint (privacy).
One Network News. Sports news included excerpts from a cricket game involving the visiting English cricket team. Frequent appearance of a hoarding advertising DB beer during the shots of the game. Not upheld: majority (liquor).
In Touch with New Zealand. Item dealt with the economical use of electricity and the new wholesale electricity pricing system, and included interviews with the chief executive and an employee of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. Not upheld (balance): action taken sufficient.
Morning Report. Presenter's would-be humorous ad-lib comment about British immigration. Not upheld (good taste and decency, fairness, discrimination and denigration).
News items throughout the day and Checkpoint. Items reported on rallies organised by the Disabled Persons' Assembly. Not upheld (accuracy).
Radio Pacific talkback. Host described the staff of the Ministry of Education as "Child molesters of the mind" while talking about a proposed curriculum development and also described one employee who had recently appeared on television as a "silly bitch" and a "half-wit from the Ministry". Upheld (good taste and decency). Order (broadcast of summary of decision).