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Summary A competition which invited listeners to relate how and at what age they had lost their virginity was broadcast on 91 ZM in Christchurch on 23 June 1999 at about 4. 30pm. Mr Eccleton complained to the station manager that by promoting the competition, the announcer was being irresponsible and cheap. He said he considered it to be "simply tacky" to promote the competition. When he did not have a response from the station within 20 working days, Mr Eccleton referred the matter to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989. At the Authority’s request, the station responded to the complaint. First it advised that it had not received the original letter of complaint, and secondly, that when the second letter was referred to it, it had not treated the matter as a formal complaint....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – Larry Williams Show – political commentator used term “house niggers”– offensive language – unfair – integrity of current affairs compromised – encouraged denigration FindingsPrinciple 1 – not offensive in context – no uphold Principle 6 – not relevant Principle 7 – no discrimination – no upholdThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] During a broadcast of the Larry Williams Show on Newstalk ZB, Barry Soper, a political commentator, referred to a comment made by Titewhai Harawira, a Maori political activist. The commentator recalled that the activist had referred to Maori Members of Parliament as “house niggers”. The broadcast occurred shortly before 5. 00pm on 16 September 2003. [2] Barbara Grover complained to The Radio Network Ltd (TRN), the broadcaster, that the comment was offensive, compromised the integrity of current affairs and encouraged denigration. [3] TRN declined to uphold the complaint....

Complaint under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB – talkback host Tim Drover – terminated two calls perfunctorily – one caller described as “old witch” with a “brain the size of a pea” – allegedly unfair, offensive, unbalanced, and denigratory Findings Principle 5 (fairness) – calls terminated to prevent the broadcast of racist views – comments borderline unfair – not upheld Principle 1 (good taste and decency) – not offensive in talkback context – not upheld Principle 4 (balance) – not unbalanced – not upheld Principle 7 (social responsibility) and Guideline 7a (denigration) – not socially irresponsible to avoid the expression of racist views – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A caller to Newstalk ZB referred to her visit to Porirua City but the host (Tim Drover) interrupted her....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Talkback with Danny Watson – discussion about the Catholic Church’s excommunication of the mother and doctor of a nine-year-old girl in Brazil who had been raped, become pregnant, and had an abortion – the view of one of the people who rang in support of the Church’s actions was later criticised by other callers – a number of callers rang in criticising the Church’s actions – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, fairness and discrimination and denigration standards Findings Standard 6 (fairness) – complainant and Catholic Church treated fairly – not upheld Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – subsumed into consideration of Standard 6 Standard 7 (discrimination and denigration) – criticisms of the Catholic Church lacked necessary invective for a breach of the standard – robust nature of talkback – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the…...

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB – host interviewed a representative from MetService about weather predictions made by NIWA – host commented “Do those people at NIWA, do they read your forecasts, or have they got their heads so far up their backsides they don’t take any notice of anyone else? ” – allegedly in breach of standards relating to good taste and decency and responsible programming FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – contextual factors – host’s comment colloquial – would not have caused offence or distress to listeners – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A talkback programme, broadcast on Newstalk ZB on Friday 24 December 2010 at 7....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB – talkback discussion on the Queen’s refusal to attend the civil wedding ceremony for the Prince of Wales – host said “she’s a heartless wench through and through” – allegedly in breach of good taste and decencyFindings Principle 1 (good taste and decency) – comment light-hearted expression of opinion – no obscene language – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision Broadcast [1] The subject of whether the Queen would attend the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles was discussed on the Newstalk ZB talkback programme at approximately 10. 30pm on 23 February 2005. A male caller explained that, while the Queen would attend the religious blessing of the couple, she could not attend the civil wedding ceremony. The host ended the conversation saying “she’s a heartless wench through and through”....

ComplaintPaul Holmes Breakfast – Newstalk ZB – Inspector General of SIS described as “old duffer” and “old buffer” – unfair – apology to Inspector General the following morning – process described as travesty – unbalanced – unfair FindingsPrinciple 5 – complaint not upheld by broadcaster – comment questioned competence – uphold No OrderBroadcaster argued that action taken by host sufficient – Authority agrees – no order This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] The continuing detention of Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui was a topic dealt with in an editorial comment by the host on Paul Holmes Breakfast, broadcast on Newstalk ZB at about 7. 25am on 7 August 2003. Expressing his displeasure at the continuing detention, the host described the Inspector General of the SIS, among other things, as an “old gent”, “that old duffer” and “the old buffer”....

SummaryIn the context of a discussion about driving habits on Newstalk ZB on the morning of 14 January 1999, the show’s host described how that morning he was passed at speed by a car which then crossed all three lanes to exit from the motorway. He identified the car by its personalised license plate, saying it was lucky there was not much traffic on the road as that sort of driving contributed to disaster on the roads. R, owner of the car, complained to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(c) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 that the broadcast was abusive and an invasion of his privacy. He denied that he had been driving dangerously, and pointed out that the alleged incident occurred at about 6. 15am when no other vehicles were in sight....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Paul Holmes Breakfast – Newstalk ZB – reference to streaking incident during rugby game – host commented that streaker used baby oil “no doubt to prepare himself for the police baton” – alleged breach of good taste and decency, balance, fairness and accuracyFindings Principle 1 (good taste and decency) – context – not upheld Principle 4 (balance) – does not apply to editorial/opinion pieces – not upheld Principle 7 – Guideline 7a (denigration) – police not denigrated – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] At about 8. 00am on 23 March 2004 the host of Paul Holmes Breakfast on Newstalk ZB (Paul Holmes) commented about a streaker incident which occurred during a Super 12 Rugby game at Hamilton Park....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB – The Justin du Fresne Show – host terminated a call saying “why don’t you just bugger off, you bigoted old silly man” – allegedly unfairFindingsPrinciple 5 (fairness) – robust environment of talkback radio – comments not unfair – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast[1] On The Justin du Fresne Show, broadcast on Newstalk ZB on the morning of 18 April 2005, a caller expressed the view that there was one law for Māori and another law for everybody else with regard to carrying weapons in public. Following a brief exchange, the host terminated the call saying “why don’t you just bugger off, you bigoted old silly man”....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – host Larry Williams – guest Michael Laws – New York terrorist attack – President Bush's actions described as pathetic – ignorant and offensive comments FindingsPrinciple 7 – nominated by broadcaster – inappropriate Principle 5 – correct standard – comments not unfair in context – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] The terrorist attack in New York City on 11 September 2001 was the topic discussed on Newstalk ZB between host Larry Williams and commentator Michael Laws at about 6. 20pm on 14 September 2001. During the discussion, Mr Laws described President George Bush’s actions as "pathetic". [2] Murray McEwan complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that Mr Laws’ comments were "appallingly" ignorant and offensive. He deplored the host’s response who had allowed the guest’s remarks to go unchallenged....

ComplaintLeighton Smith Morning Show – talkback host described protest group as a pack of mongrels – encouraged discrimination and offensive language FindingsPrinciple 7 guideline 7a – does not meet high threshold required for discrimination – no uphold Principle 1 – dismissive and insulting – uphold OrderBroadcast of approved statement This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Protesters outside a school in Hamilton were described by the host of the Leighton Smith Morning Show as "mongrels" and "a pack of mongrels". The programme is broadcast on weekdays on Newstalk ZB, and the comments complained about were made shortly before 10. 00am on 15 November 2001. [2] Wayne Smith complained to The Radio Network Ltd (TRN), the broadcaster, that the tone and the manner of the remarks encouraged discrimination against Maori. He later complained that the comments breached the standard requiring good taste and decency....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Paul Holmes Breakfast – Newstalk ZB – comment about recent pack rape allegations against Australian rugby league players – host described women who attended parties with rugby league players as “moles” and suggested that they were asking for trouble – allegedly denigrated womenFindings Standard 7 – Guideline 7a (discrimination and denigration) – comment encouraged denigration of women who socialise with rugby league players – not a genuine expression of serious comment – upheldOrder Section 13(1)(a) – broadcast of a statementThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] At about 7. 55am on 2 April 2004 the host of Paul Holmes Breakfast on Newstalk ZB (Paul Holmes) commented on recent pack rape allegations against a team of Australian rugby league players....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – Larry Williams Drive Show – interview with General Manager of Mitsubishi Motors on sponsorship withdrawal from the Holmes television programme – host allegedly trivialised Holmes’ comments on Kofi Annan – host’s comments allegedly racist FindingsPrinciple 7 Guideline 7a – legitimate interview – threshold not reached – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Larry Williams, the host of the Larry Williams Drive Show on Newstalk ZB, interviewed the General Manager of Mitsubishi Motors on its sponsorship withdrawal from the Holmes television programme. The host commented critically on the reasons for the withdrawal and then received four calls from the public, all of whom condemned Mitsubishi’s decision. [2] Milton Cassidy complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that Larry William’s comments trivialised the racist comments made by Paul Holmes about Kofi Annan....

ComplaintCrimeline – Radio Scenicland – weekly feature about police – reference to allegation about some questionable police practices in Greymouth – unfair comments in response – complainant obtained tape – part of broadcast missing – complainant later accepted that pause occurred when logging tape turned over FindingsPrinciple 7 – well-publicised matter dealt with responsibly – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] An allegation about corruption at the Greymouth Police Station made by two police officers was touched upon in Crimeline broadcast between 8. 30 - 9. 00am on 29 January 2002. Crimeline, broadcast on Radio Scenicland in Greymouth, is a weekly discussion with a police officer about Police activities in the region. [2] Nadine Thomas, one of two police officers who had made the allegations, complained to The Radio Network Ltd (TRN), the broadcaster, that the comments had discredited them....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1998-002 Dated the 29th day of January 1998 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by WING-YAU YEE of Auckland Broadcaster RADIO i98FM LIMITED S Maling Chairperson L Loates R McLeod...

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ] During KPMG Early Edition, the host read out an opinion piece criticising Israel’s actions in the Israel-Hamas conflict. She referred to a recent bombing of a UN school which ‘killed everyone inside’. The Authority upheld the complaint that this was inaccurate, as in fact 16 out of 3,300 people sheltering in the school were killed. It did not uphold the complaint other statements were inaccurate, as they were clearly the host’s opinion. The Authority did not make any order, as publication of this decision is sufficient to correct the error. Upheld: Accuracy No Order Introduction [1] During Newstalk ZB’s KPMG Early Edition the host read out an opinion piece about the current Israel-Hamas conflict, in which she was heavily critical of Israel’s actions....

Complaint under section 8(1)(c) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB in Christchurch – host Mike Yardley – lead up to local body elections – one candidate facing private prosecution for threatening to kill – had been granted name suppression – situation discussed on Newstalk ZB and questions raised about impact of name suppression order – allegedly breach of privacy, inaccurate and unfair – only privacy referred to AuthorityFindings Principle 3 (privacy) – complainant not identified – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] Newstalk ZB in Christchurch (host Mike Yardley) was aware that one of the candidates in the forthcoming local body elections was being prosecuted privately for threatening to kill, and had been granted name suppression by the District Court. The station broadcast this information and advised that the candidate had declined to allow the broadcast of his name....

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ]One of the hosts of talkback show, The Two, treated two callers in a way that the complainant considered to be unfair. The broadcaster upheld his complaint in relation to one of the callers. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the action taken by the broadcaster was insufficient, or that the broadcast otherwise breached standards. Talkback radio is recognised as a robust and opinionated forum in which hosts may sometimes behave rudely. The host in this case was expressing her opinion, and her comments did not go beyond what could reasonably be expected....