BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

Summary  

Warning — This decision contains content some readers may find distressing.

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

The Authority has not upheld a complaint that an episode of Wild Kai Legends breached the promotion of illegal or antisocial behaviour standard. The complainant submitted the pig-hunting techniques shown in the programme were not in line with good practice and may have constituted mistreatment under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. They considered showing such techniques to a likely viewership of hunting enthusiasts would encourage them to hunt in a similar way. The Authority considered, from the footage shown, there was nothing to indicate the techniques were a significant departure from generally recommended practice, nor that the pigs were subjected to undue cruelty. In any event, the broadcast could not be said to be actively encouraging or promoting the particular techniques or style of hunting.

Not Upheld: Promotion of Illegal or Antisocial Behaviour.

The broadcast

[1]  An episode of Wild Kai Legends aired on 16 October 2025 at 3pm. Wild Kai Legends is a programme where host Tāmati Rimene-Sproat travels to remote areas of the country, meeting local legends and braving the elements, learning the lay of the land in NZ's unique hunting environments.’¹ Rimene-Sproat introduced this episode in a voiceover as follows:

Kia ora, I’m Tāmati Rimene-Sproat. I’m passionate about my Māoritanga, my moustache, and hunting. At 16 I got a taste for hunting that grew into an obsession. I love getting out into the wild terrain and waters of Aotearoa, sourcing kai in its natural environment. Now I’m travelling the motu, catching up with some of the finest hunters in the land. Nō reira, join me in the hunt with the wild kai legends.

[2]  In this episode, Rimene-Sproat travelled to the Chatham Islands to hunt pigs with a locally renowned pig hunter, “Z”. Z did not use a gun when hunting pigs, preferring to use the method of ‘pig-sticking’. This is where trained dogs find the pig, ‘bail’ it (keep it in place by barking at it) and ‘hold’ it (grab hold of it by biting) until the hunter comes to ‘dispatch’ it with a specialised pig-sticking knife.² Rimene-Sproat noted:

[Translated from te reo Māori] Not using a gun is a personal choice … For Z, it’s about honouring the work of her dogs.

[3]  They went out on quadbikes to hunt pigs in farmland, with Z’s three dogs. It was noted pigs were considered pests on the land:

[Translated] Fishing and farming are the island’s main industries, and pigs are a farmer’s worst nightmare.

[4]  Z used a tracking device to monitor where the dogs were. Once they heard barking to indicate the dogs had bailed a pig, they went to the location.

[5]  The first pig caught was shown surrounded by dogs, with one dog biting part of its head. Z came to grab the pig, saying ‘that’ll do, that’ll do’ to her dogs which were continuing to bite it. She turned it on its back, and stabbed, or ‘stuck’ it in the upper chest area.

[6]  The dogs were shown bailing and holding the second pig caught, which was squealing. Rimene-Sproat grabbed the pig by its hind legs and flipped it over before stabbing it in the upper chest area. The pig’s head was bloody from a wound where the dog had bitten it.

[7]  Four more pigs were killed in a similar fashion. In each case, the dogs were shown biting at the pig’s head, the pig was squealing, and Z stabbed the pig in the upper chest area.

[8  The following day, they went hunting on ‘sacred land’ where there were restrictions on what you could hunt.

[9]  The first pig caught was squealing. No footage was shown of the dogs bailing or holding it. They let the pig go as it was not the desired species.

[10]  The next pig, a large boar, was caught in an area of dense bush. Squealing could be heard, along with growling and barking, and some indistinct footage was shown from a camera attached to the holding dog inside the bush. The boar became visible as Z and Rimene-Sproat pulled it from the bush, and the dogs could be seen biting at its head. Z stabbed the boar by reaching under it. The dogs continued to bite at the boar.

[11]  One of the dogs had been gouged by the boar on its rear. Z cleaned the dog’s wound and used a skin stapler to close it up.

The complaint

[12]  Dr Hemal Kodikara complained the broadcast breached the promotion of illegal or antisocial behaviour standard of the Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand for the following reasons:

a)  The programme showed the ‘inexpert, prolonged and inhumane’ killing of pigs on at least three occasions. ‘It is clear from the broadcast that the pigs demonstrate signs of distress for a lengthy period prior to the hunters arriving and that the dogs are biting the pig in multiple places rather than having the pig in a clean hold.’

b)  ‘The pig is being bitten multiple times and in multiple locations and the pig continues to vocalise, move and demonstrate respiratory effort well after the attempted kill in spite of efforts to edit the footage to conceal this.’

c)  They were not killed with one stab to the heart as Television New Zealand Ltd (TVNZ) asserted. ‘The heart of a large boar is deeply located within the chest cavity. Basic pig anatomy necessitates that a stab wound to the pig’s heart would have to be behind the shoulder or through an intercostal space (chest wall), certainly posterior to the front legs. It is clear from the footage that the wounds inflicted to the pigs are to the neck with a small knife. Therefore, it is likely that the pigs exsanguinated from injury to the great vessels of the neck which often leads to a prolonged death/suffering.’

d)  The pigs’ suffering was both shown and could be inferred from the editing and commentary from the participants.

e)  The Animal Welfare Act 1999 makes it an offence to recklessly ill-treat a wild animal. Killing pigs in the way shown in the broadcast constitutes ill-treatment and is a clear departure from accepted hunting norms. The New Zealand Pig Hunting Association has said hunters ‘should get there as quickly as possible, and dispatch them as quickly and humanely as possible … good hunting dogs trained to hold a pig would latch onto the ears or lower front leg and not let go, known as a “clean hold”.’³

f)  While hunting is an accepted part of New Zealand culture, it is likely that a large sector of society would find the graphic footage of pigs being killed in this particular way to be ‘offensive, antisocial and potentially unlawful’.

g)  The programme appears to be targeted at members of the hunting and fishing community, to ‘stimulate interest and learn techniques when practising these activities’. Showing pigs being killed in such a way would encourage these viewers to use similar techniques.

h)  ‘None of the content described is justified by the context (as it is outside established hunting norms and best practices). Neither is it justified in the public interest given the low numbers of hunters/people interested in viewing this graphic material.’

The broadcaster’s response

[13]  TVNZ did not uphold the complaint for the following reasons:

a)  It did not agree that illegal or seriously antisocial behaviour was promoted in the episode. It considered the pigs were killed quickly and humanely in the programme, and the footage depicting this was brief without graphic detail.

b)  ‘[I]t is not clear that the pigs are in distress for a lengthy period ... As [Z] and the Presenter move towards the dogs in most cases the pig is not heard squealing, [Z] is following her dogs’ barking and the transponder signal from their collars. The pigs are shown in the programme only being held for the briefest of time before they are killed.’

c)  ‘During the first kills [Z] explains that the dogs she is using are bailing dogs not holding ones and that they will not hold the pig until she arrives. [Z] explains these are bailers so they’re not really going to hold until we get in there, … Later her holding dog is also deployed [and] is seen holding the pig’s ear.’ (TVNZ’s emphasis)

d)  In response to the complainant’s submission regarding the New Zealand Pig Hunting Association’s best practice advice: ‘[TVNZ] can confirm that the dogs are shown holding the multiple pigs by the ears and the hind legs and that [Z] calls them off the animal once she has hands on it, saying “that will do.” In the programme [Z] and the Presenter are seen hurrying towards the dogs when they have bailed a pig.’

e)  ‘[Z] kills the pigs quickly with one strike to the heart with her knife. [TVNZ] does not agree that this footage promotes animal cruelty.’

f)  ‘When her dog is gored by a pig, [Z] is also shown cleaning the wound and joining it so that it will mend. This demonstrates proper care of her animals.’

g)  ‘[TVNZ] disagrees that the depiction of the killing of the pigs in the programme is graphic or prolonged. It involves one knife blow to the animal and then it is dead. The footage is consistent with viewer expectations of hunting programmes.’

h)  The complainant ‘has made assumptions and is complaining in part, about what he believes happened outside of the footage which was shown’. ‘However it is the function of the Broadcasting Act to consider what is broadcast.’

i)  Wild Kai Legends is not promoted as a teaching resource for hunters. It played at 3pm on TVNZ DUKE, a channel which is aimed at older viewers, and was part of a line-up of programmes aimed at older viewers, in between Hunting Aotearoa and Country Calendar.

j)  ‘We understand that the footage shown will not be to everyone’s taste and that it may not be textbook perfect on occasion. We consider this is part of the reality of hunting strong and often dangerous wild animals, and that viewers would understand this. However, [TVNZ] does not agree that the episode can be said to realistically promote illegal practices or to endorse animal cruelty.’

The standard

[14]  The purpose of the promotion of illegal or antisocial behaviour standard (standard 3) is to prevent broadcasts that encourage audiences to break the law, or are otherwise likely to promote criminal or serious antisocial activity.⁴ The standard states:⁵

Broadcast content should not be likely to promote illegal or serious antisocial behaviour taking into account the context and the audience’s ability to exercise choice and control.

Our analysis

[15]  We have watched the broadcast and read the correspondence listed in the Appendix.

[16]  As a starting point, we considered the right to freedom of expression. It is our role to weigh up the right to freedom of expression and the value and public interest in the broadcast, against any harm potentially caused by the broadcast. We may only intervene where the level of harm means that placing a limit on the right to freedom of expression is reasonable and justified.⁶

[17]  With regard to illegal behaviour, the standard is concerned with broadcasts that actively undermine or promote disobedience of the law or legal processes. Direct incitement to break the law is likely to breach this standard, if there is a real likelihood the audience will act on it. In some instances, broadcasts which condone criminal activity or present it as positive or humorous may have this effect of direct incitement.⁷

[18]  Antisocial behaviour is broader than illegal activity. Serious antisocial activity is contrary to the laws or customs of society to such a degree that a significant number of people would find it unacceptable.⁸

[19]  We first considered whether the content complained of may have constituted illegal or serious antisocial behaviour.

[20]  As noted by the Authority in previous decisions, the broadcast of hunting footage is generally acceptable in New Zealand, provided it does not depict undue cruelty.⁹ Pig hunting with dogs, and ‘pig-sticking’, are generally acceptable hunting methods in New Zealand, provided pigs ‘at the bail’ are killed quickly and humanely.¹⁰

[21]  The complainant submitted the way in which the pigs were killed on the programme may have constituted wilful or reckless mistreatment, which are offences under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.¹¹ We note it is a defence if the conduct was ‘part of a generally accepted practice in New Zealand for the hunting or killing of wild animals of that type’.¹²

[22]  The Department of Conservation recommends¹³ pig hunting practices in the New Zealand Pig Hunting Association’s Code of Conduct for Pig Hunting be followed. The Code of Conduct states:¹⁴

Pig Hunters should employ hunting methods that enable them to locate, catch and kill their pigs with the minimum of stress and suffering to the pig and the dog(s). This includes:

• Ensuring that dogs are adequately trained so that they minimise any pain, suffering and damage to pigs caught. […]
• The use of legal tracking collars to assist with locating dogs and pigs as quickly as possible.
• The use of mechanisms to protect dogs from injury whilst hunting pigs.
• Ensuring hunters possess the skills to dispatch all pigs humanely. They must carry this out as quickly as possible once the pig has been bailed or caught.
• Giving consideration to the number of dogs being used. A maximum of four dogs per hunter or hunting party is recommended.

[23]  The complainant considered the pigs were in distress for a lengthy period before the hunters arrived, the hunting dogs bit the pigs in multiple places rather than having them in a ‘clean hold’, and that the way in which the hunters stabbed the pigs was not in accordance with best practice guidelines, causing unnecessary suffering to the pigs.

[24]  We appreciate the complainant’s concern for the suffering of these pigs. However, from the footage shown, there was nothing to indicate to us that the hunting techniques used were a significant departure from generally recommended practice, or that the pigs were subjected to undue cruelty. The hunters appeared to respond quickly on hearing signs the dogs had found a pig; the dogs, while aggressive, did not appear to exhibit behaviour that was obviously outside of the recommended guidelines; and the pigs appeared to be killed quickly once the hunters arrived at the scene. As TVNZ submitted, the nature of hunting large wild animals is that it may not be ‘textbook perfect’ on occasion.

[25]  In any event, for the standard to be breached, some form of encouragement or promotion of illegal or serious antisocial behaviour is required. In our view, the broadcast could not be said to be actively promoting or encouraging the particular techniques or style of hunting:

a)  Wild Kai Legends is a programme which follows the host as he explores various hunting environments throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. It is not an educational ‘how-to’ guide on hunting.

b)  In this episode, the presenter and guest hunter did not explain their actions or techniques in any detail.

c)  While the presenter and his fellow hunter were clearly enjoying the hunt, they were not actively promoting the techniques they were using.

d)  Merely showing pigs hunted in this way could not be said to be encouraging or promoting this style of hunting.

[26]  Accordingly, we do not uphold this complaint under the promotion of illegal or antisocial behaviour standard.

For the above reasons the Authority does not uphold the complaint. 

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Susie Staley
Chair
6 May 2026    

Appendix

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

1  Kodikara’s original complaint – 21 October 2025

2  TVNZ’s decision – 18 November 2025

3  Kodikara’s referral to the Authority – 26 November 2025

4  TVNZ’s response to the referral – 19 December 2025

5  TVNZ’s further comments – 19 December 2025

6  TVNZ’s further comments – 26 March 2026

¹ TVNZ+ “Wild Kai Legends” <tvnz.co.nz>
² Four Seasons Safaris New Zealand “Wild Boar” <fourseasons.co.nz>
³ Citing: Jennifer Eder “Men deny animal cruelty charges after pig hunting video posted online” Stuff (online ed, 12 December 2016)
⁴ Commentary: Promotion of Illegal or Antisocial Behaviour, Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand, page 11
⁵ Standard 3: Promotion of Illegal or Antisocial Behaviour, Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand
⁶ Introduction, Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand, page 4
⁷ Commentary: Promotion of Illegal or Antisocial Behaviour, Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand, page 11
⁸ Commentary: Promotion of Illegal or Antisocial Behaviour, Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand, page 11
⁹ See for example: Judge and Television New Zealand Ltd, Decision No. 2025-042 at [21]; Judge and Television New Zealand Ltd, Decision No. 2020-027 at [13]; Judge and Television New Zealand Ltd, Decision No. 2020-018 at [13]; Feral and Mediaworks TV Ltd, Decision No. 2014-143; and Boyce and Mediaworks TV Ltd, Decision No. 2015-103.
¹⁰ Andersson and Television New Zealand Ltd, Decision No. 2016-043 at [20]
¹¹ Animal Welfare Act 1999, s 30A(1) and (2)
¹² Animal Welfare Act 1999, s 30A(3)
¹³ Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai “Ethical and humane hunting” <doc.govt.nz>
¹⁴ The New Zealand Pig Hunting Association (10 July 2022) “Code of Conduct for Pig Hunting” <nzpighunting.org.nz>