Referring a complaint is when you ask the BSA to investigate and review a complaint you have made to a broadcaster because you are dissatisfied with the broadcaster's decision, or the action taken by the broadcaster in response to your complaint. You may also refer a complaint to the BSA if you have not received a response from the broadcaster within the required timeframe.
Note: If you are complaining about a breach of privacy, or an election programme, your complaint can be made directly to the BSA and you do not need to complain to the broadcaster first. We have separate online complaint forms for privacy and election complaints. See: Privacy Complaint to the BSA, or Election Programme Complaint to the BSA.
Before you refer your complaint to the BSA, you should read the following one-page Quick Guide for referring a complaint, which outlines the circumstances in which you can refer a complaint to the BSA, timeframes for referring your complaint, and the information you should include in your referral:
Quick Guide for referring a complaint to the BSA [PDF]
You can submit your complaint referral to the BSA by:
If you have any questions or need assistance with submitting your complaint referral, please feel free to email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or phone 0800 366 996 and speak to someone in our complaints team.
You can refer your complaint to the BSA online, using the form below.
Please provide details of your complaint, why you think standards were breached, and why you disagree with the broadcaster’s response to your complaint, or the action taken by the broadcaster in response to your complaint. Please note that the Broadcasting Standards Authority can only consider points and standards that you have already raised in your original complaint to the broadcaster.
It is helpful if you can provide us with all relevant information and documents, including your original complaint to the broadcaster, and the broadcaster’s decision – you can attach documents within the Referral Form below, or alternatively send them to us by email at complaints@bsa.govt.nz.