One Network News. Item demonstrated effectiveness of a fire-fighting aircraft, which was shown scooping thousands of litres of water from a lake or ocean and dropping it on fires. Complaint that the item was inaccurate and misleading because it implied that water bombing was a new concept. Not upheld (accuracy, fairness).
One Network News. Item dealt with the high number of emergency calls received by the Police on Christmas night and into Boxing Day and also reported that about 90% of the calls involved alcohol or domestic violence. Complaint that the item was anti-male. Declined to determine (good taste and decency, discrimination and denigration).
Trailer for a forthcoming episode of the repeat of the New Zealand at War series. Complaint about repeated use of an offensive phrase. Not upheld (good taste and decency, discrimination and denigration).
Newsnight. Subject of an item was the Auckland Sun Club and a graphic depicting a hand was used to cover the genitalia of the club members who appeared in the item. Complaint about the use of a masking device. Not upheld (good taste and decency, balance, accuracy, fairness, discrimination and denigration).
Heartland: Glenorchy. Repeat of programme in which three naked men were shown sliding along a patch of wet grass with their genitalia electronically obscured. Complaint about use of this electronic technique. Declined to determine (law and order, accuracy, fairness, discrimination and denigration, children's interests) – a complaint made by same complainant on same grounds already dismissed in decision, 1994-051.
One Network News. Item about a just released psychiatric patient who gave birth to a baby on a Porirua street very early in the morning. Complaint from the Minister that the item was inaccurate as the woman was not "just released" but had discharged herself from hospital some five weeks before the birth. Further, the birth had happened some two weeks before the news item. Upheld (accuracy, responsible programming). Not upheld (G13 discrimination and denigration and G19 fairness). No order.
Wellington's Pirate FM afternoon programme. Announcer referred abusively to a nephew from Auckland who was visiting his two sons and threatened to inflict violence on him with a baseball bat. He also broadcast the address where his sons were living with his former wife, whom he described as "the ex-slug". Upheld (good taste and decency, law and order, privacy). Not upheld (discrimination and denigration). Not relevant (responsible programming (re children)). Order ($1,500 compensation to complainant).
Re award of costs for decision 1995-151, 1996-152. Not considered appropriate in all the circumstances.
Newstalk ZB wrap-up programme. Comments on breastfeeding another woman's baby, an issue which had been discussed earlier in the week on the panel programme Yardstick. Not upheld (privacy).
3 Network News. Footage of Michael Laws, adviser to the New Zealand First political party, opening his front door while wearing his night attire began a news item about the resignation of two New Zealand First candidates. The item also included an interview with Mr Laws filmed later in the day. Complaint about what he termed TV3's unethical behaviour and the alleged breach of his privacy. Not upheld (privacy).