BSA Decisions Ngā whakatau a Te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

Summary  

[This summary does not form part of the decision.] 

The Authority has declined to determine a complaint about a 1News broadcast reporting the Government’s announced plan to ‘axe’ the Broadcasting Standards Authority | Te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho (BSA). The complainant said it was inaccurate to say the BSA had been ‘axed’ as it has not, and may never, happen. Noting the nature of the broadcast and conflict presented by determining issues associated with itself, the Authority considered that, in all circumstances of the complaint, it should not be determined.

Declined to determine (section 11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 – in all the circumstances): Accuracy

The broadcast

[1]  The 6 May 2026 broadcast of 1News included a segment on the Government’s announced plan to ‘axe’ the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA).

The complaint

[2]  Tom Frewen complained the broadcast breached the accuracy standard of the Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand for the following reasons:

• The report stated the Government had ‘axed’ the BSA and the Government ‘switches off the organisation that polices the country’s broadcasters’.
• The caption and newsreader’s statement ‘are inaccurate in claiming this is an event that happened when it has not and may never happen’.

The broadcaster’s response

[3]  Television New Zealand Ltd (TVNZ) did not uphold the complaint for the following reasons (broadcaster’s emphasis):

a)  The story was teased at the top of the bulletin with the presenter saying the BSA was ‘axed’ and the comment, ‘The Government switches off the organisation that polices the country’s broadcasters.’ TVNZ ‘does not agree that the viewer would consider that the brief teaser would contain full or complete information about an issue. The viewer would expect that the teaser “teases” the story with the full story coming later.’

b)  ‘It is correct to say the Government has said it will disestablish the BSA, however this will not come into immediate effect.’

c)  ‘Further information is conveyed in the story which adds to the viewers’ understanding of the issue:

i)  the Broadcasting Standards Authority, which investigates complaints about the industry is set to be axed

ii)  the BSA will soon be MIA, the Government’s killing it off.’

d)  ‘We disagree with the contention that this event [the Government de-establishing the BSA] has not happened. Paul Goldsmith’s press release says the Government has agreed to progress with disestablishing the Broadcasting Standards Authority and investigate self-regulation options.’¹

Outcome: Decline to determine

[4]  Section 11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 authorises the Authority to decline to determine a complaint if it considers that, in all the circumstances of the complaint, it should not be determined by the Authority.

[5]  In this case, the Authority considers it appropriate to exercise its s 11(b) discretion on the following grounds:

a)  The broadcast was an early discussion reporting the Government’s announcement that day.

b)  The complaint identifies no potential harms meriting the Authority’s intervention on issues in respect of which it is clearly conflicted.

c)  The broadcaster’s response adequately addressed the complaint. There is no need for the Authority to address the issues further.

For the above reasons the Authority declines to determine the complaint under section 11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989. 

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Susie Staley
Chair
26 August 2026    

Appendix

The correspondence listed below was received and considered by the Authority when it determined this complaint:

1  Frewen’s original complaint – 7 May 2026

2  TVNZ’s decision – 4 June 2026

3  Frewen’s referral to the Authority – 30 June 2026

¹ Citing: Hon Paul Goldsmith “Government to disestablish the BSA” <beehive.govt.nz>