Coca Cola Video Hits: Primal Scream's "Kowalski". Complaint that music video broadcast between 10.00–11.00am glorified violence, mocked the Catholic church and showcased lesbianism, and should not have been shown at a time when children were watching television unsupervised. Not upheld (good taste and decency, discrimination and denigration, children's interests, violence).
Newstalk ZB talkback. Host asked callers for their views on the possible reinstatement of corporal punishment in schools and commented about his own schooling at St Bede's College, referring by name to the man who had been given the duty of administering corporal punishment there and his attitudes towards that duty. Not upheld (fairness): action taken sufficient. Not upheld (privacy). Not relevant (good taste and decency, law and order, balance).
Holmes. Interview with a Croatian woman living in New Zealand who was about to return to Croatia for the unveiling of a memorial to her murdered father. Item suggested that the woman's father had been killed during the Second World War as a traitor to the Nationalist cause but that his name had now been cleared. Complaint that item contained factual errors. Declined to determine (accuracy).
Holmes. Item showed actions of an exasperated unpaid creditor in digging up a carpark his company had laid some months previously. Not upheld (law and order).
98 More FM in Dunedin. Announcer's comment in relation to a birthday call referring to a person as one of 12 children. Not upheld (discrimination and denigration).
60 Minutes. Item dealt with some of the events in South Africa leading to the incident after which a rugby player was charged with rape. Complaint that the item was biased towards the player. Upheld: majority (balance, fairness). No order.
Lake City 96 FM. Comment during review of the film Matilda that the main character's parents were played by Danny de Vito and his"real-life wife". Complaint about this description of Rhea Pearlman, an acclaimed actress in her own right. Not upheld (discrimination and denigration).
Classic Hits ZA-FM. Palmerston North City Council's decision to remove some trees was a matter of considerable public interest and local station, Classic Hits ZA-FM, broadcast from the site between 6.00am–6.00pm on 6 January 1997. Other trees were cut down on the 8 January and Classic Hits covered this by way of news bulletins Complaint that the broadcast on 6 January was unbalanced. Upheld (complaint referring to broadcaster's failure to keep a logging tape for thirty-five days). Not upheld (all other aspects of the complaints). No order.
Newstalk ZB talkback. Subject was the criticism by some Maori of English group the Spice Girls using the haka. Host's comments. Not upheld (balance, accuracy, fairness, discrimination and denigration).
60 Minutes. Documentary dealt with activities of a Tauranga Pastor, concentrating on the Pastor's alleged affair with the Church organist. Broadcast on 29 September 1996, and again on 10 January 1997. Upheld (fairness). Not upheld (privacy, accuracy, responsible editing). No order.