During 3 News: Firstline, broadcast on TV3 at 6.45am, the newsreader interviewed a representative of the 'Occupy Wellington' protest movement. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the newsreader’s comments and interviewing style breached standards relating to accuracy, fairness, and discrimination and denigration. The interviewee adequately expressed his viewpoint and defended the position of the protestors; the interviewee’s perspective was included so viewers would not have been misled by the newsreader’s comments; and the comments did not carry the necessary invective to encourage discrimination or denigration against the protestors as a section of the community.
Not Upheld: Accuracy, Fairness, Discrimination and Denigration
An item on 60 Minutes entitled “Turned Away” was broadcast on TV3 and investigated the case of a young man who died of meningococcal disease after being misdiagnosed by medical professionals. The reporter interviewed the Chief Executive of the Northland District Health Board (NDHB) about the circumstances surrounding the man’s treatment and, in particular, about the doctor who made the decision not to administer a lumbar puncture earlier, despite the fact that the man displayed all but one of the symptoms of meningitis. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the item was inaccurate and misleading and that the interview was unbalanced and unfair. The item did not create a misleading impression; the District Health Board’s viewpoint was included through the interview with its Chief Executive and the item was not unfair; and significant perspectives were included on the issue under discussion.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness
An episode of reality series Four Weddings was broadcast at 2pm on TV One. It included a ‘naturist’ ceremony where the bride and groom and most of the guests were shown naked. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency and children’s interests. The nudity was matter-of-fact and non-sexual, nudity is not in itself harmful to children, and the programme was preceded by a verbal and written warning.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Children’s Interests
In an episode of Intrepid Journeys, broadcast at 7.30pm on TV One, well-known New Zealander Brendon Cole visited a Vanuatu village. The locals told him how to kill a chicken using a slingshot but he didn’t manage to hit the chicken properly and eventually killed it with his hands. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the programme breached standards relating to good taste and decency, children’s interests and violence. The footage was not gratuitous – it showed the daily reality of a different culture and it was clear that Mr Cole was upset about killing the chicken; the programme was correctly rated PGR and the scene was signposted so parents could exercise discretion; and the footage did not amount to “violence” as envisaged by that standard.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Children’s Interests, Violence
A promo for 3 News broadcast on TV3 at 5.55pm contained a brief shot of a man head-butting another man during the ‘Occupy Dunedin’ protest movement. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, law and order, children’s interests, and violence. The footage was fleeting and inexplicit and no visible injury was shown; it did not encourage viewers to break the law or glamorise criminal activity; it screened immediately before the news within the host programme Home and Away which is not targeted at or likely to appeal to younger child viewers; and the voiceover signposted the footage as a “violent protest” against the occupiers.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Law and Order, Children’s Interests, Violence
An item on One News, broadcast on TV One, reported on Prime Minister John Key referring the matter of the “tea tapes” to the police. It included Mr Key’s comment that because the crime rate had been lowered the police “do have a little bit of spare time”. At the end, the reporter said, “John Key may face criticism . . . for saying that police have too much time on their hands.” The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to controversial issues, accuracy and fairness. Viewers heard Mr Key’s original comment so they would not have been misled; politicians should expect robust commentary on their views during an election period; and the item presented alternative views on the involvement of police in the matter.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness
An item on 3 News, broadcast on TV3 at 6pm, reported on a single bluefin tuna being sold at auction in Japan for nearly one million dollars. Footage was shown of the fish’s head being removed and the fish being sliced in half; there was also brief footage of other fish being sliced or filleted. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached the good taste and decency and violence standards. The images were not gratuitous and would not have offended most viewers in the context of a news item, and filleting fish did not amount to “violence” for the purposes of that standard.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Violence
During Afternoons with Jim Mora, broadcast on Radio New Zealand National about 4.30pm, the host and panellists discussed the recent release of a controversial collectors’ edition Barbie doll. A panellist suggested there was a market in the Muslim world for “terrorist Barbie”, and in response the host suggested “suicide bomber Barbie”. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, accuracy, discrimination and denigration, and responsible programming. The comments were intended to be satirical, they were clearly commentary and opinion rather than statements of fact, the panellists were making the point that the marketers were smart to release controversial Barbie dolls, and the programme was not one likely to appeal to child listeners.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Accuracy, Discrimination and Denigration, Responsible Programming
An episode of the cartoon comedy Family Guy, broadcast on FOUR at 7.30pm, contained sexual content and innuendo. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the broadcast breached standards relating to good taste and decency, responsible programming and children’s interests. The sexual content was subtle and inexplicit and the sexual innuendo would have gone over the heads of younger viewers; the content was not unsuitable for supervised child viewers; and the episode was correctly rated PGR, preceded by a visual and verbal warning, and screened in an appropriate time-band.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Responsible Programming, Children’s Interests
Items broadcast on Campbell Live on TV3 asked viewers for their opinions on changing the New Zealand flag and gave a brief visual overview of the history of New Zealand flags. The Authority declined to determine the complaint that this breached standards relating to controversial issues, accuracy, fairness, discrimination and denigration, and responsible programming: the complainant’s concerns were matters of personal preference and editorial discretion and the complaint was frivolous and trivial.
Declined to Determine: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness, Discrimination and Denigration, Responsible Programming