BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

Timebomb, a documentary broadcast on TV One at 8pm on 29 July 1997, examined

the present state of the social welfare system in New Zealand. Interviews were

conducted with a wide range of people, including a young couple in receipt of a

benefit. In the course of the interview the man said: "We should give our baby a

better chance but we can't because New Zealand is fucked up".

Mr Green complained to the broadcaster, Television New Zealand Limited, about the

use of the four letter word on the programme. He wrote that he and his wife were

deeply shocked and outraged at its blatant use.

In response, TVNZ advised that in the context of the statement by the young man,

the use of the language was not unacceptable. To portray the couple otherwise would

be dishonest – both to the couple and the viewing public – and TVNZ declined to

uphold the complaint.

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's response, Mr Green referred his complaint to the

Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

For the reasons below, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read

the correspondence (summarised in the Appendix). In this instance, the Authority

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

The documentary Timebomb examined the present state of the social welfare system

in New Zealand. Participants from many walks of life commented on its alleged

inadequacies, and a young man whose partner was soon to give birth stated:

We should give our baby a better chance but we can't because New Zealand is

fucked up.

Noting that he and his wife were deeply shocked at the broadcast of an offensive four

letter word, Mr Green complained that the standards were breached.

TVNZ assessed the complaint under G2 of the Television Code of Broadcasting

Practice, which requires broadcasters:

G2  To take into consideration currently accepted norms of decency and taste

in language and behaviour bearing in mind the context in which any

language or behaviour occurs.

On the basis that the young man was expressing despair in a manner which was

natural for him, TVNZ did not accept that the standard had been contravened.

Focussing on the reference to context in the standard, TVNZ argued that it would have

been dishonest both to the couple portrayed and to viewers to use language which

masked the couple's desperation.

When he referred his complaint to the Authority, Mr Green maintained that that

particular offensive word was not acceptable regardless of context.

In its assessment of the complaint, the Authority notes first that Timebomb reviewed

the current state of the social welfare system in New Zealand. It was a system about

which some of the people who were interviewed expressed grave disquiet. In the case

of the young couple, that sentiment was expressed in the manner which provoked the

current complaint.

The Authority considers that the complaint must take context into account and, in

this case within a documentary clearly aimed at a more mature audience, it accepts

that the language was not inappropriate. It accepts that the phrase was not used

aggressively. Rather, it was advanced as a description of the situation which the

couple faced. In these circumstances, the Authority does not accept that standard G2

was breached.

For the above reasons, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Sam Maling
Chairperson
20 November 1997

Appendix

Robert Green's Complaint to Television New Zealand Ltd - 30 July 1997

Robert Green of Feilding complained to Television New Zealand Ltd via the

Broadcasting Standards Authority, about the Tuesday Documentary, Timebomb,

broadcast at about 8.00pm on TV One on 29 July 1997. He said that both he and his

wife were deeply shocked and outraged at the blatant use of the four letter word

which he considered should have been cut out.

TVNZ's Response to the Formal Complaint - 1 September 1997

TVNZ considered the complaint under standard G2 of the Television Code of

Broadcasting Practice.

As Mr Green had not specified the particular language in the programme which he

found offensive, TVNZ surmised that it was the words spoken by a young man on a

benefit:

We should give our baby a better chance but we can't because New Zealand is

fucked up.

TVNZ stated that the young man was expressing genuine despair about his life and

circumstances in a manner which came naturally to him. To have cut out the

"offensive" language, TVNZ said would have been dishonest to him and viewers. It

considered that the phrase quoted was an accepted norm within the context of the

couple, their lives and circumstances. While it was sorry that Mr Green had been

offended by the language, it declined to uphold his complaint as a breach of standards.

Mr Green's Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - 10 September

1997

Dissatisfied with TVNZ's response, Mr Green referred his complaint to the

Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

Mr Green considered that the four letter word was totally unacceptable, writing:

The use of that four letter word was offensive to a large number of people -

when piped into the sanctity of the home. Many of these people would feel

shocked but are not the sort to do much about it; but no it is not necessary.

TVNZ's Response to the Authority Ð 18 September 1997

TVNZ advised it nothing further to add.