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 that use of ‘Praise the Lorde’, in relation to New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, breached broadcasting standards. Given the Authority’s guidance regarding blasphemy in its Complaints that are unlikely to succeed publication, the Authority considered it appropriate to decline to determine the complaint.  

Declined to determine (s 11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 – in all the circumstances of the complaint, it should not be determined): Offensive and Disturbing content, Balance

The broadcast

[1]  During the 11 July 2025 1News bulletin, the statement ‘Praise the Lorde’ was used when introducing an item about upcoming concerts by the New Zealand singer-songwriter, Ella Yelich-O’Conner, better known by her stage name, Lorde. The phrase also featured visually in a graphic during the previews at the top of the bulletin.

The complaint

[2]  Rebecca Steer complained the broadcast breached the offensive and disturbing content and balance standards of the Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand for the following reasons:

• The wordplay was ‘mocking and dishonouring to those who uphold the Christian faith’.
• The phrase ‘Praise the Lord’ is ‘sacred and used to [uphold] Jesus Christ in the highest esteem’. ‘No other [person] should be honoured in the same way.’
• The statement was made in ‘bad taste’.

The broadcaster’s response

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

• ‘The BSA has issued a practice note that complaints such as this one are unlikely to succeed.’
• ‘The Authority has consistently found variations of “Jesus” and “Christ” used as exclamations do not threaten widely shared community standards of good taste and decency’. ‘This can similarly be said of the brief piece of wordplay in question in this 1News bulletin’.

[4]  Additionally, in further comments, TVNZ noted:

• ‘“Praise the…” is a phrase which is widely used in a secular context and is not solely tied to Christianity.’
• ‘The use of the term praise the Lorde is not inherently offensive and does not denigrate Christians.’

Outcome: Decline to determine

[5]  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.

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

a)  The decisions of the Authority issued over time, and the Authority’s publication Complaints that are unlikely to succeed,¹ provide guidance to broadcasters and complainants about what is acceptable under the broadcasting standards. As recognised in this guidance, words associated with the Christian faith might be offensive to some people but are not considered coarse language in our modern secular society.

b)  The balance standard, which establishes requirements surrounding the presentation of competing viewpoints when a broadcast discusses controversial issues, does not apply to the complainant’s concerns.

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

[7]  Therefore, in all the circumstances of the complaint, it should not be determined by the Authority.

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

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Susie Staley
Chair
23 September 2025

Appendix

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

1  Steer’s original complaint – 11 July 2025

2  TVNZ’s decision – 14 July 2025

3  Steer’s referral to the Authority – 17 July 2025

4  TVNZ’s response to the referral – 21 July 2025

5  Steer’s further comments – 28 July 2025

6  TVNZ’s further comments – 30 July 2025

7  Steer’s further comments – 1 August 2025

8  TVNZ’s confirmation of no further comments – 13 August 2025

¹  Broadcasting Standards Authority | Te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho “Complaints that are unlikely to succeed” <bsa.govt.nz> (see section on ‘Blasphemy’)