One News reported on legal aid lawyer Charl Hirschfeld’s resignation, with the statements that his “resignation comes within days of the Law Society launching an investigation into his legal aid work”, that he “topped the legal aid rich list”, that the LSA had “completed an investigation into payments to Mr Hirschfeld” and that “in the last year Charl Hirschfeld netted $3.2 million in legal aid money”. The Authority declined to uphold the complaint that the item breached the accuracy and fairness standards. Mr Hirschfeld’s arguments were primarily issues of semantics and the statements were not inaccurate or misleading; the broadcaster had treated him fairly since the item simply reported the facts and did not make any allegations of wrongdoing; and One News had also gone to his offices but he had been unavailable for comment.
Not Upheld: Accuracy, Fairness
All Decisions
Apna 990 “radio-thon”. Allegedly broadcast statement that eight Fijian nationals had died in Christchurch earthquake. Not upheld (accuracy, responsible programming, and good taste and decency).
Not Going Out. Scene showed character dancing with baby and moving him from side to side. Not upheld (good taste and decency, violence, children’s interests, fairness, and discrimination and denigration).
One News. Item about arming police officers referred to police “force”. Declined to determine on the grounds that the complaint was frivolous (accuracy).
Waitangi: What Really Happened. Docu-drama about events leading up to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Decline to determine on the grounds that the complaint related to matters of personal preference and editorial discretion (controversial issues, accuracy, fairness, discrimination and denigration, responsible programming).
Campbell Live. Montage of footage from earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Not upheld (good taste and decency).
Te Karere. Presenter noted that Māori Party was using “a Chinese lawyer who has a lack of knowledge of Māori process”. Not upheld (discrimination and denigration).
TVNZ News Now. Item containing footage of teenage girl beating another and two girls fighting was not preceded by a warning. Not upheld (responsible programming, children’s interests and violence – action taken).
Hooked in New Zealand. Host and other competitors in a fishing competition shown drinking beer and shots of sambuca. Not upheld (liquor and law and order).
Sean Plunket Morning. Host interviewed Dr Paul Connett about his views against fluoridation of water. Not upheld (controversial issues, fairness, and discrimination and denigration).