BSA Decisions Ngā whakatau a Te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

An item on Campbell Live, reporting on Pike River Mine, included radio transmission audio between those in the mine and those in the office on the morning of the disaster. The audio contained the complainant’s full name which he considered to be a breach of his privacy. The Authority did not uphold the complaint, as Mr Scott’s employment at the mine was not a private fact, and the disclosure of his name was not associated with any blame or disclosed for the purpose of encouraging harassment.

Not Upheld: Privacy

Two items on Fair Go investigated claims about a wooden gate manufacturer. Customers were interviewed about their experiences with the company and its director, and the item contained footage, filmed from a public footpath, of the company director at his workshop. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the item breached standards relating to privacy, law and order, controversial issues, fairness, accuracy, discrimination and denigration, and responsible programming: no private facts were disclosed about the director, and footage taken on his property was not broadcast; the impression created about him and his company was based on the opinions of customers, which were exempt from standards of accuracy; the director was provided with a fair and adequate opportunity to respond and the item included comprehensive summaries of his statement; and the broadcast was accurate in all material respects and would not have misled viewers on the essential issues.

Not Upheld: Good taste and Decency, Law and Order, Privacy, Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness, Discrimination and Denigration, Responsible Programming

More FM. Radio competition, disclosure of work-place. Upheld (privacy). Action taken sufficient (fairness). No order (apology to complainant sufficient).

More FM news bulletin. Item about firearms included comment from a spokesperson from Gunsafe but nothing from a representative of the Sporting Shooters Association. Declined to determine (balance): no tape or transcript of the item complained about.

20/20: "A Mother's Journey". Allegations of professional incompetence, and past sexual misconduct, were made against a psychologist in a programme investigating the events surrounding the suicide of a 16 year old boy. The programme showed extracts from an interview with the psychologist that had been filmed with a hidden camera. The Authority upheld the complaint that the psychologist's privacy had been breached and that aspects of the programme had breached the standards relating to fairness, balance, deceptive programme practice, and distortion. Order ($1500 compensation to the psychologist and broadcast of a brief summary of the decision).