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ComplaintZMFM – game – "Know Your Dairy" – denigrated foreigners – upheld by broadcaster under Principle 7 – action taken insufficient FindingsAction taken insufficient – unsatisfactory complaints procedure – warning Principle 8 – tape retention inadequate OrderBroadcast of statement This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary A game called "Know Your Dairy" was broadcast on 91ZM on 9 April 2001. The game invited contestants to call dairy owners to ask a basic question about New Zealand. The telephone calls were then broadcast. S E Burridge complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that the game was racist and xenophobic. TRN advised that the game was no longer a part of 91ZM broadcasts, and apologised to the complainant for offending her. Dissatisfied with the action taken by TRN, Miss Burridge referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989....

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ]During the KPMG Early Edition, the female host was asked, in reference to her interview with Kim Dotcom at his mansion, ‘What room did you do him in? ’ The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the comment breached standards of good taste and decency. It was in the nature of innuendo and was intended to be light-hearted and humorous rather than offensive or degrading to the host. Not Upheld: Good Taste and DecencyIntroduction [1] During the KPMG Early Edition the female host and a male guest discussed the host’s visit to Kim Dotcom’s mansion. Referring to the host’s interview with Mr Dotcom, the guest asked her, ‘What room did you do him in? ’ The comment was broadcast at 5. 55am on Newstalk ZB on 28 March 2014....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – offensive language – illegal – callous remark about shooting militia men in East Timor FindingsPrinciple 1 – flippant remark but not so offensive as to breach – no uphold Principle 2 – no uphold Principle 7 – not applicable This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary Host Larry Williams, when listing topics for discussion on his programme, mentioned that New Zealanders had shot a militia man in East Timor, adding: "There’s plenty left to go. " This comment was broadcast during his programme on Newstalk ZB at about 4. 12pm on 27 September 2000. Mrs J K Sanders complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that the host’s remark was "totally unacceptable and objectionable". In her view, the remark was contrary to the law and to standards of common decency. She requested that the station take "appropriate action" against the host....

Complaint89. 8 ZM – "spot the difference" competition – complainant’s incorrect entry read – complainant identified – breach of privacy FindingsPrivacy – privacy foregone by entering competition – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] The results of a "spot the difference" competition were broadcast on 89. 8 ZM on 11 January 2002 at approximately 4. 50pm. During the broadcast, KD’s incorrect answers and her name, city of residence and email address were read out on-air. [2] KD complained to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(c) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 that her privacy had been breached by the broadcast. She said that the broadcast had caused her humiliation and distress. [3] The Radio Network Ltd (TRN), the broadcaster of 89. 8 ZM, did not accept that KD’s privacy had been breached in the context of a "fun competition"....

Summary"You and me baby, we ain’t nothing but mammals, so let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel" is a line from a song by The Bloodhound Gang played on 91 ZM on 20 November 1999 at 7. 45am. Vaughan and Diane Barrow complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that the lyrics of the song breached current norms of decency and good taste, were harmful to children, and transgressed broadcasters’ obligation to be socially responsible. The Radio Network considered the complaint only under the good taste standard and, noting that the song contained innuendo and double entendres, argued that such content was nevertheless the norm for music targeted at youth. It noted that the song had had heavy airplay for at least three months and that it had received no other complaint about its content. It declined to uphold the complaint....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB – host used the phrase “whack-job Christians” – allegedly in breach of standards relating to discrimination and denigration FindingsStandard 7 (discrimination and denigration) – host used the phrase “whack-job Christians” to convey his personal opinion – comment lacked the necessary invective to reach threshold for encouraging discrimination against or denigration of Christians – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] During an item on Newstalk ZB broadcast on the morning of Friday 4 February 2011, the host stated: I voted for [MP’s name] before he got involved with all those ‘whack-job’ Christians and stuff, back when he was that middle class, middle of the road family man and he was on the verge of getting the five percent....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Kerre Woodham Talkback – host stated, in response to caller’s comment that having a disability was the result of “inbreeding”, “You fricken moron, I’d have cut you off if you hadn’t cut yourself off, you idiot…” – language used allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and responsible programming standards FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) and Standard 8 (responsible programming) – host said “fricken moron” not “fuckin’ moron” as alleged – comment broadcast after 9pm during talkback programme targeted at adults – comment would not have surprised or offended most listeners and its broadcast in this context was not socially irresponsible – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Introduction [1] Kerre Woodham Talkback was broadcast on Tuesday 12 June 2012 from 7pm to midnight on Newstalk ZB. At approximately 9....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – talkback – topic – global warming – complainant tried to contribute – described as idiot – named as Brian – call terminated Findings Principle 3 – identity not revealed – no uphold Principle 4 – insufficient information – decline to determine Principle 5 – opportunity to terminate call without rudeness not taken – broadcaster irresponsible and abusive – uphold – no Order This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Global warning was a topic discussed on talkback on Newstalk ZB, hosted by Leighton Smith, on the morning of 16 July 2001. At about 11. 12am, the complainant telephoned, gave his name as "Jim", and challenged the views advanced by a professor who had been interviewed, and who had disputed the global warming theory....

Summary An item on the Larry Williams Programme discussed New Zealand’s military ties with Indonesia and the conflict in East Timor. The host described Indonesian military officers training in New Zealand as "thugs". The item was broadcast on Newstalk ZB on 10 September 1999 at 4. 15 pm. Mr Mahoney complained to The Radio Network of New Zealand Limited, the broadcaster, that the host’s reference to Indonesian armed services members as "thugs" was unacceptable, and that the description was based on hearsay rather than fact. TRN responded that the Indonesian Army had been described by an interviewee on the programme as an accomplice to genocide in East Timor. The Indonesian personnel in New Zealand could not be separated from the Indonesian Army as a whole, it wrote. The host’s comment was based on fact and reflected fair opinion, it concluded, and declined to uphold the complaint....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Larry Williams Drive Show – host expressed his views on the execution of Osama bin Laden – allegedly in breach of standards relating to good taste and decency, law and order, controversial issues and fairness FindingsStandard 4 (controversial issues) – comments were clearly host’s personal opinion and did not amount to a “discussion” of a controversial issue of public importance – host referred to alternative viewpoints – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] During the Larry Williams Drive Show, broadcast on Newstalk ZB on 4 May 2011, the host expressed his views on the execution of Osama bin Laden. He stated: . . . The bin Laden photos will not be released, President Obama has announced this today, he said that he didn’t want to hold up a trophy....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Paul Holmes Show – guest host read out text message which used the phrase “pre-op tranny” – phrase repeated by a listener who called the show – allegedly in breach of discrimination and denigration standard – broadcaster upheld the complaint under Standard 7 – action taken allegedly insufficient FindingsAction taken: Standard 7 (discrimination and denigration) – action taken by the broadcaster was sufficient considering the nature of the breach – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision....

Summary The forthcoming wedding of Sophie Rhys Jones and Prince Edward was discussed on Saturday morning 19 June 1999 by the presenter of Newstalk ZB (Pam Corkery) and a British Correspondent. To the correspondent’s comment that the colour of the wedding dress was coffee, the presenter remarked: "What a slut". Ms Bristow complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that the remark was offensive and inappropriate. In response, TRN maintained that the vernacular and colloquial language was acceptable when used by a presenter who was well-known for her colourful language. It declined to uphold her complaint. Dissatisfied with TRN’s decision, Ms Bristow referred her complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989. For the reasons below, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint....

Complaint under section 8(1)(c) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB in Christchurch – host Mike Yardley – lead up to local body elections – one candidate facing private prosecution for threatening to kill – had been granted name suppression – situation discussed on Newstalk ZB and questions raised about impact of name suppression order – allegedly breach of privacy, inaccurate and unfair – only privacy referred to AuthorityFindings Principle 3 (privacy) – complainant not identified – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] Newstalk ZB in Christchurch (host Mike Yardley) was aware that one of the candidates in the forthcoming local body elections was being prosecuted privately for threatening to kill, and had been granted name suppression by the District Court. The station broadcast this information and advised that the candidate had declined to allow the broadcast of his name....

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ]The host of the Larry Williams Drive Show and a political editor discussed a protest that had taken place in response to the release of the Government’s budget. The host expressed his disapproval of the protestors and made comments about how he thought they should be dealt with, for example saying fire trucks cornering them from either end of the street. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that his comments breached standards. The host was clearly expressing his personal opinion, and the political editor countered the comments, noting people living in a democracy are entitled to protest....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 Newstalk ZB – news item reported that Nicholas Keesing undertook an election smear campaign “to get revenge” – allegedly in breach of controversial issues, accuracy and fairness standards – broadcaster upheld complaint under Standards 5 and 6 – action taken allegedly insufficient Findings Standard 4 (controversial issues – viewpoints) – item did not discuss a controversial issue of public importance – not upheld Standard 5 (accuracy) and Standard 6 (fairness) – broadcaster upheld complaint under two standards and offered corrective statement – action taken sufficient – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A news item broadcast on Newstalk ZB at 12pm on 23 November 2008 reported that “Newstalk ZB can now reveal what lies at the bottom of a smear campaign, in one of the country’s key electorates during the Election....

Complaints under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 Newstalk ZB – Paul Holmes Breakfast – Hon Tariana Turia called a “confused bag of lard” by host – also accused of being a bully and “all mouth” – allegedly offensive, encouraged denigration, unbalanced and partialFindings Principle 1 and Guideline 1a (good taste and decency) – comments not indecent – questionable taste – context – not upheld Principle 4 (balance) – not applicable to editorial comment – not upheld Principle 6 (accuracy) – editorial comment not required to be impartial – not upheld Principle 7 and Guideline 7a (discrimination) – comments focused on individual, not group – not upheldObservation Broadcast comments raised issue of fairness, and broadcaster acknowledged probable unfairness. However, neither complainant raised the fairness standard either explicitly or implicitly in original complaints. Authority unable to assess a complaint on standard not raised in original complaints....

ComplaintCrimeline – Radio Scenicland – weekly feature about police – reference to allegation about some questionable police practices in Greymouth – unfair comments in response – complainant obtained tape – part of broadcast missing – complainant later accepted that pause occurred when logging tape turned over FindingsPrinciple 7 – well-publicised matter dealt with responsibly – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] An allegation about corruption at the Greymouth Police Station made by two police officers was touched upon in Crimeline broadcast between 8. 30 - 9. 00am on 29 January 2002. Crimeline, broadcast on Radio Scenicland in Greymouth, is a weekly discussion with a police officer about Police activities in the region. [2] Nadine Thomas, one of two police officers who had made the allegations, complained to The Radio Network Ltd (TRN), the broadcaster, that the comments had discredited them....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Talkback with Danny Watson – discussion about the Catholic Church’s excommunication of the mother and doctor of a nine-year-old girl in Brazil who had been raped, become pregnant, and had an abortion – the view of one of the people who rang in support of the Church’s actions was later criticised by other callers – a number of callers rang in criticising the Church’s actions – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, fairness and discrimination and denigration standards Findings Standard 6 (fairness) – complainant and Catholic Church treated fairly – not upheld Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – subsumed into consideration of Standard 6 Standard 7 (discrimination and denigration) – criticisms of the Catholic Church lacked necessary invective for a breach of the standard – robust nature of talkback – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the…...

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Paul Holmes Breakfast – host discussed recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai – made various comments about Muslims and terrorism – allegedly in breach of controversial issues, accuracy, fairness, and discrimination and denigration standards Findings Standard 7 (discrimination and denigration) – programme was an opinion piece – lacked the necessary invective to cross the threshold for denigration – not upheld Standard 4 (controversial issues - viewpoints) – programme was not a news, current affairs or other factual programme – standard not applicable – not upheld Standard 5 (accuracy) – programme was not a news, current affairs or other factual programme – standard not applicable – not upheld Standard 6 (fairness) – not unfair to Muslim people – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision....