Search Rapua

Summary An American documentary entitled Scared Straight – 20 Years On was broadcast by TV3 on 12 July 1999 at 8. 30pm. It examined a rehabilitation programme for youthful offenders which was based on behaviour modification. The programme was trialled in the 1970s, and 20 years later some of those participants were asked about their experiences on the course and how they had lived their lives since then. James Whitham complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the programme condoned violence and encouraged intimidating and threatening behaviour. He contended that it had breached a number of broadcasting standards. TV3 responded by noting that the behaviour modification programme had been used successfully in America to help teenage offenders. In the context of an AO programme, which had been preceded by a verbal and written warning relating to language, TV3 maintained that no standards had been breached....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 132/94 Dated the 12th day of December 1994 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by LEWIS CLARKSON of Christchurch Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED I W Gallaway Chairperson J R Morris L M Loates W J Fraser...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1996-149 Dated the 31st day of October 1996 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by PETER KOSSEN of Auckland Broadcaster TV3 NETWORKS SERVICES LIMITED J M Potter Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

SummaryWWF Raw and WWF Summerslam were broadcast consecutively on TV4 on 11 September 1999, from 8. 30pm to12. 00am. These programmes featured professional wrestling bouts which had been staged in front of live audiences. Mr Bridgman, Ms Crombie, Mr Little and Mr Bonner complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that aspects of the behaviour shown in the programmes breached programme standards relating to good taste and decency, discrimination against women, and the effect of programmes on children and violence. TV3 explained that the "fights" in the programmes were choreographed, not real. It described the WWF shows as "neither sport nor drama but a kind of pageant" which it compared to a magic show. TV3 rejected every aspect of the complaints. Dissatisfied with TV3’s response, the complainants referred their complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989....

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1993-004:O'Dea and TV3 Network Services Ltd - 1993-004 PDF279. 1 KB...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-075 Decision No: 1997-076 Decision No: 1997-077 Decision No: 1997-078 Dated the 19th day of June 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of complaints by GEOFFREY PRENTICE of Auckland and GERARD ROBERTS of Auckland Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED J M Potter Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

ComplaintInside New Zealand: "Piercing – The Hole Story" – documentary – pierced genitalia displayed – offensive – inappropriate for children FindingsStandard G2 – piercing for body suspension – images beyond community standards – uphold; piercing of genitalia – majority – matter of fact – minority – gratuitous – no uphold; other aspects – context – no uphold Standard G12 – body suspension segment at start of programme – waterfall after 8. 30pm – uphold No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] "Piercing – The Hole Story" was the title of a documentary broadcast on the Inside New Zealand series on TV3 at 8. 30pm on 1 August 2001. It examined the practice of piercing navels and tongues among youth, and showed some more unusual piercings, including genital piercing and suspending by hooks through the flesh....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-020 Dated the 6th day of March 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by CHILDREN'S MEDIA WATCH of Auckland Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED J M Potter Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-155 Dated the 27th day of November 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by ANDREW MACPHERSON of Wellington Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R M McLeod J Withers...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1996-066 Dated the 27th day of June 1996 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by PHILLIP SMITS of Auckland Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED J M Potter Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

Complaint3 News – item about Parihaka commemoration – omission to provide full, accurate historical background – unbalanced FindingsStandard G14 – context – further historical information not required – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary An item about commemorative celebrations planned or held to mark significant dates for Parihaka descendants was broadcast on 3 News on TV3 at 6. 00pm on 25 March 2000. S R Hill complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the item did not provide full and accurate information about the history of Parihaka, and that it had been unbalanced and biased in favour of the Parihaka Maori as a result. TV3 responded that the modest amount of background material provided in the item was set out to explain the context of the events about which TV3 was reporting....

Complaint 3 News Special – interview with Prime Minister broadcast on 10 July – canvassed allegations in "Seeds of Distrust" by Nicky Hager published that day – claimed that Government was aware of accidental distribution of GM contaminated seeds – unfair and inaccurate – application by broadcaster for hearing FindingsApplication declined This headnote does not form part of the decision. INTERLOCUTORY DECISION The Background [1] Detailed claims from the book "Seeds of Distrust", written by Nicky Hager and published on 10 July, were put to the Prime Minister by interviewer John Campbell during a 3 News Special broadcast at 7. 00pm on the same day. The interview had been recorded the previous day (9 July). The book, which was not mentioned during the interview, alleged that the Government was aware of the accidental distribution of GM contaminated seeds and had allowed the seeds to be grown, harvested and processed....

Summary In reporting the New Zealand cricket team’s visit to Buckingham Palace a 3 News sports item broadcast on 3 June 1999 beginning at 6. 00pm announced "The Blackcaps bowl up at Liz and Phil’s wicket…". Mr Bernards complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that this reference was disrespectful to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and overstepped the limits of acceptability. He sought a sharply worded warning to TV3’s management not to repeat such language. TV3 responded that the phrase was intended to be a brief, light-hearted pointer to the report coming up. It noted that the humorous reference was more than adequately balanced by the tone of the full news item. While it regretted that the complainant had found the reference distasteful, it did not consider it had breached broadcasting standards and it declined to uphold the complaint....

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1993-116:Health Action and TV3 Network Services Ltd - 1993-116 PDF343. 72 KB...

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1993-060:Kirby and TV3 Network Services Ltd - 1993-060 PDF490. 32 KB...

An appeal against this decision was dismissed in the High Court: AP90-SW02 PDF980. 81 KBComplaintScream – movie – breach of good taste – glamorised criminal activity – inappropriately classified AO – broadcaster not mindful of effect on child viewers – broadcaster did not exercise care and discretion regarding violenceFindings(1) Standard 9, Guideline 9b – gruesome and horrific violence – scene at 8. 45pm – uphold Standard 9, Guidelines 9a, 9c, 9e and 9f – subsumed(2) Standard 1 – no uphold(3) Standard 2 – no uphold(4) Standard 7, Guideline 7a – no uphold(5) Standard 10, Guidelines 10a, 10b and 10f – horror film – included elements of parody – violence highly unrealistic – no upholdNo OrderThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary[1] Scream is a teen horror movie which parodies the horror movie genre. The movie was broadcast on TV3 at 8. 30pm on 18 January 2002....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-153 Dated the 27th day of November 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of complaint by MINISTER OF HOUSING (HON MURRAY McCULLY) Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod J Withers...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1998-018 Dated the 5th day of March 1998 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by RAEWYN CLARK of Manurewa Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod J Withers...

ComplaintCourage Under Fire – film – blasphemy – offensive language – "Jesus fucking Christ"FindingsStandard G2 – context – AO classification and time of broadcast – warning – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary The film Courage Under Fire was broadcast on TV3 on 21 May 2000 beginning at 8. 30pm. During a combat scene in the film, one of the characters was heard to say "Jesus fucking Christ". Brian Burlace complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the language used was blasphemous and offensive. TV3 explained that the programme was rated AO and had been preceded by a warning about its language. It also observed that the film had been edited to remove much of its coarse language....