Fair Go. Programme discussed the problems three different clients had experienced with a house removal company. Not upheld (accuracy, fairness).
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One Network News. The ACT Party annual conference was the subject of items on One Network News and some items included a report on the increase in the world price of crude oil, and a discussion about the high price of groceries in Queenstown in view of the absence of a supermarket. Complaint that the items lacked balance and one lacked accuracy. Declined to determine (balance, accuracy).
20/20: "Burden of Proof". Item featured retrial of Auckland man, David Dougherty, his subsequent acquittal, and his claim to the Crown for compensation over his original conviction and imprisonment for rape. It also noted that the claim for compensation had been rejected. The complainant, the mother of the girl, complained to the broadcaster that the item did not have any input from the complainant's family, the police, or anyone representing the Minister of Justice or Cabinet, and that the evidence of the child's identification of Mr Dougherty as her assailant was "rehashed" to mean something else, and without the child's consent. Not upheld (fairness, balance)
Coromandel FM. Station reported that an outrigger canoe operator had accused complainant, a Council employee, of victimising him, and had hinted at her involvement in the sabotage of one of his canoes. It also reported that the police had no evidence of any involvement by Council employees in the sabotage. Complainant alleged a breach of her privacy; the District Council alleged inaccuracy and unfairness. Upheld (fairness). Not upheld (privacy, accuracy). Order ($500 costs to Crown).
Great Train Journeys: "Aleppo to Aqaba". Programme included a map which showed Israel as including the Occupied Territories. Not upheld (accuracy, balance).
The Way We Were. Episode dealing with New Zealand’s involvement in overseas conflicts included the words, "the Brits let us down", referring to the fall of Singapore and Japan’s expansion into the Pacific during World War II. Not upheld (accuracy).
Access Radio: "Aspects of Israel". Item on the fate of money belonging to Holocaust victims but deposited in Swiss bank accounts during World War II. Not upheld (law and order, discrimination and denigration).
95bFM. Announcer broadcast himself leaving a sexually suggestive message on P’s answerphone; P was involved with a community standards lobby group which featured in news reports at the time. Upheld (privacy). Order ($750 costs to Crown, $250 compensation to P).
Assignment. Programme featured disputes between medical specialists and midwives about maternity care. It concentrated on a couple whose child had died, and their midwife. Upheld: majority (fairness). Not upheld (privacy). No order.
60 Minutes. Term 'moron' used to describe Mayor of Auckland and Deputy Mayor of Auckland for declining to contribute Auckland council funds to assist the annual Hero Parade. Not upheld (denigration and discrimination).