BBC series: Discovery. Interview in which physicist hypothesised on the processes of mutation and natural selection, and the possible injection of information into genomes through Darwinian evolution. Complaint that programme should have included the Creationist view about the origin of information in living things. Not upheld (balance, accuracy)
All Decisions
Party of Five: Water Rats trailer. Trailer for an AO-classified programme was shown during a PGR-classified programme at about 8.03 pm. Not upheld (good taste and decency, programme classification).
Tonight: promo for news items. Item reported that planning was under way for the possibility of an early election. Not upheld (accuracy, responsible programming, fairness).
Dharma and Greg. Male character's description of two women. Complaint that language "discriminatory and paternalistic". Not upheld (good taste and decency, discrimination and denigration).
The Human Body: episode one. Eight-part series showing viewers what happened to the human body from conception to death. Complaints that the series assumed the truth of evolution and ignored the debate surrounding it. Not upheld (accuracy, balance, responsible programming).
Holmes. Item dealt with overcrowding in state-owned housing. and was in response to a comment the previous day from the Chief Executive of Housing New Zealand to the effect that some families lived in overcrowded conditions by choice. Upheld (balance, accuracy). Order (broadcast of statement).
National Radio: World Watch. Item concerning the plight of ethnic Albanian refugees reported that they had been prevented by the Serbian army from returning to Albania and were unwelcome in Macedonia to the south. Complaint that use of the name Macedonia inaccurate and that the item lacked balance. Not upheld (accuracy). Not applicable (balance).
Fair Go. Item reported that the vehicle a car buyer had agreed to purchase had been involved in a serious accident in France, and that the rebuilt vehicle did not meet New Zealand safety standards. Not upheld (accuracy, fairness, balance).
Radio Sport breakfast show. In discussion of reappointment of All Black coach, the host reported a private conversation he had overheard between John Hart and his wife in a public place. Upheld (privacy). No order.
Assignment. Item depicted a public meeting of the Act Party in Tauranga. The reporter stated that Act staff had told the broadcaster after the meeting that supporters of the group, Voters’ Voice, had given each Act MP a copy of the recent speeches of Pauline Hansen. Not upheld (accuracy).