BSA issues decision on online broadcasting complaints
The Broadcasting Standards Authority has upheld two complaints about online broadcasts by The Platform.
A BSA decision released today relates to two complaints by the same person, about two broadcasts on 22 July and 15 October 2025. The first complaint involved what the complainant described as “unacceptable racist comments” by The Platform’s founder and morning talk show host, Sean Plunket, while discussing Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s proposal about its Kaupapa Māori strategy.
The Authority’s acceptance and consideration of that complaint was discussed during the 15 October broadcast. This is the subject of the second complaint, about comments by Plunket that ridiculed the complainant, shared his private information with listeners, and led to abuse, harassment and threats.
In releasing today’s decision, the Authority notes the first complaint concerned not just a remark comparing tikanga Māori to “mumbo jumbo”, in isolation, but the broader context of the broadcast. Upholding this complaint under the Broadcasting Act’s good taste and decency standard, the Authority said:
“The ‘mumbo jumbo’ comment, in itself, was unlikely to threaten standards of taste and decency. However, this was never just about calling tikanga mumbo jumbo. This remark was made amid comments throughout the broadcast that denigrated Māori, including the use of te reo Māori and consideration of tikanga by public sector organisations,” the BSA says.
The Authority upheld the second complaint as a serious breach of the complainant’s privacy. It also found it breached the broadcaster’s responsibility to uphold standards that maintain law and order.
During the October broadcast, Plunket disclosed the complainant’s full name repeatedly, during a series of disparaging remarks about him. Later that day, the BSA’s correspondence was posted online by The Platform, including the complainant’s name and email address.
“This was despite explicit notice that the information was not for publication, which should have been a signal that it contained private information. As a direct result of the broadcaster’s actions, the complainant said he received a threatening email almost immediately and subsequently received many more abusive messages. The complainant is still the target of mocking and abusive comments online, even on unrelated matters,” the BSA says.
The initial threatening email, from a person saying they knew where the complainant lived, warned the complainant to “be cautious”, and that “we live in dangerous times” in which many people “feel inspired to abandon the tolerance that citizens of this country were historically respected for”.
In its decision, the Authority notes freedom of expression is a vitally important human right and the starting point of every decision it issues, but this right has always come with limits.
“Media entities, particularly those who reach a large audience, have the power to influence public opinion and behaviour. The complainant was singled out by name for ridicule and belittlement, and the broadcaster could reasonably be expected to foresee the threats and abuse that followed,” the BSA says.
The decision published today follows a decision in March in which the BSA confirmed it had jurisdiction under the Broadcasting Act to consider a complaint about The Platform, the first formal complaint referral it has received about an online broadcaster since publishing its policy on online broadcasters in 2020.
“Given the novel circumstances of these complaints, being the first time our jurisdiction has been applied to an online broadcaster, the length of time since the complaints were received (whilst jurisdiction issues were worked through), and the evolving and uncertain regulatory landscape, we will not make orders over upheld aspects.”
ENDS
Notes
An executive summary and the full decision can be seen on the BSA website here.
In an earlier decision, published on 1 April 2026, the BSA confirmed it had jurisdiction to consider this complaint – its first formal complaint referral about an online broadcaster. This decision can be seen here.
In accordance with the Government’s announcement in May of its intention to abolish the BSA, the Authority continues in its role while the relevant legislative changes are progressed.
Complaints about online broadcasters may be considered under the Authority’s 2020 policy, if they raise major issues of public interest and/or potential harm.
ABOUT THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY
The BSA is an independent Crown entity that oversees the broadcasting standards regime in New Zealand. It determines complaints that broadcasts have breached standards, undertakes research and oversees the development of broadcasting standards in consultation with broadcasters.
For more information see our website: www.bsa.govt.nz