A documentary Real Crime: Broken Promises, Broken Brides, broadcast on TV One, investigated the abuse of foreign brides in New Zealand. It profiled a Malaysian woman who had died of a methadone overdose nine years earlier and interviewed her New Zealand husband, the complainant, who was convicted of her manslaughter. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the programme breached the accuracy and fairness standards. The programme did not create a misleading impression that the complainant had intended to murder his wife, the reporter clearly stating that the complainant was convicted of manslaughter; the complainant’s perspective was included; the programme was accurate and would not have misled viewers; and the complainant was provided with a sufficient opportunity to give his perspective in two interviews and the interviews were not unfairly edited.
Not Upheld: Accuracy, Fairness
During a replay in the broadcast of the Rugby World Cup Semi-Final between France and Wales on TV One, the commentator used the exclamation “Jesus”. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the use of the name “Jesus” was “blasphemous” and “offensive” and breached standards relating to good taste and decency and law and order. The exclamation “Jesus” as a spontaneous reaction during a live sports programme was not derogatory or abusive and would not have offended most viewers in that context.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Law and Order
An episode of the children’s cartoon Paddle Pop Begins, broadcast on TV3, contained a main character whose name was the same as a brand of iceblock. A complaint was made that this breached the responsible programming and children’s interests standards, because the programme amounted to advertising targeted at children, for a product high in sugar and fat. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint. It accepted that the ‘Streets’ logo and the name of the character amounted to branding or marketing – however, the programme was clearly a children’s cartoon rather than an “advertisement” for the purposes of guideline 8d.
Not Upheld: Responsible Programming, Children’s Interests
An item entitled “The Prophecy Makers” broadcast on Campbell Live reported on a pamphlet drop and Christian websites’ predictions of an earthquake and tsunami in Christchurch. The reporter sought comment and an apology from Kathy Robinson, the author of an article in the pamphlet. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the item breached standards relating to controversial issues, accuracy, fairness, and children’s interests. The item legitimately focused on Ms Robinson as she had given her permission for the publication of her prophecy on websites and was the first to have her predictions disseminated; it explicitly stated that it was unclear who had printed the pamphlet; and Ms Robinson was given a reasonable opportunity to comment.
Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Accuracy, Fairness, Children’s Interests
Afternoons with Jim Mora, broadcast on National Radio, included a panel discussion about New Zealand First’s decision to drop one of its candidates for drinking his own urine. A panellist commented that Don Brash and John Banks “drink each other’s urine”. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that this breached standards relating to good taste and decency and fairness. The comment was not so offensive as to breach the good taste and decency standard and would not have offended or distressed most listeners, and it did not carry any invective.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Fairness
In an episode of the TV3 reality programme Noise Control, a noise control officer was called to a party where there had been complaints about loud music. The complainant, one of the partygoers, was shown in the background and speaking directly to the camera. He complained that this episode and a promo for Noise Control were unfair, inaccurate and irresponsible and breached his privacy. The Authority declined to uphold the complaints. The complainant was properly informed of the nature of his participation and the item did not contain any unfair statements; he was identifiable but no private facts were disclosed in the broadcast and he did not have an interest in solitude or seclusion; the item was not inaccurate or misleading; and the responsible programming standard did not apply.
Not Upheld: Privacy, Accuracy, Fairness, Responsible Programming
A promo for Real Life: The World’s Most Enhanced Woman and Me, a documentary about the presenter’s search for the woman with the largest breast implants, was broadcast during One News, which was unclassified, and contained footage of a number of women with very large breasts. The Authority declined to uphold the complaints that this was in breach of standards relating to good taste and decency and children’s interests. The footage was relatively inexplicit (all the women were clothed, one was wearing a bikini top) and was not salacious; and the content was not unsuitable for child viewers under the guidance of an adult and did not contain any material that warranted a higher classification.
Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Children’s Interests
American Pie Presents: Beta House. Movie contained nudity and sex scenes. Declined to determine (recording of broadcast unavailable).
One News. Item reported on Australia’s recent attempts to reduce pollution by introducing a carbon tax scheme. Not upheld (accuracy).
Police Ten 7: “Bad Boys”. Episode of reality TV series about work of New Zealand police looked at “bad boys’ most memorable moments” and contained coarse language and nudity, both of which were censored in the programme. Not upheld (good taste and decency, law and order, discrimination and denigration, responsible programming, children’s interests, violence).