Search Rapua

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Paul Holmes Breakfast – segment where host played the role of an Iraqi terrorist – comments about American soldiers and a British hostage being held by terrorists – allegedly breached good taste and decencyFindingsPrinciple 1 (good taste and decency) – seen in context, item not in poor taste or indecent – satirical and ironic comment on situation in Iraq – presenter known for satirical approach to issues – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A segment called “World City” was broadcast on Newstalk ZB as part of the Paul Holmes Breakfast on 29 September 2004. At the time of the broadcast, British man Kenneth Bigley had been captured by Iraqi terrorists. In the “World City” segment, the presenter (Paul Holmes) imitated Abu Massad Al Zarqari, an Iraqi terrorist....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB – comments made by presenter and local councillor Phil Quinney on Saturday morning “garage sale” show – comments critical of complainant, fellow-councillor – allegedly unfair Findings Principle 5 (fairness) – comments themselves not unfair – complainant had put matter in public eye – no unfair abuse of position by presenter – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] On the morning of 31 July 2004, New Plymouth District Councillor Phil Quinney, while presenting his regular “garage sale” show on Newstalk ZB, made comments that were highly critical of fellow-councillor and complainant Sherril George. The presenter’s comments focussed in particular on the complainant’s reported statements about a recent Council meeting and the Council’s consequent agreement to sell its shares in local gas and electricity distribution company Powerco....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – doctor commented that human life begins at implantation, not conception – inaccurate – contrary to accepted medical practice – dangerous – undermined respect due to human embryo FindingsPrinciple 4 – not relevant Principle 5 – not relevant Principle 6 – well-informed opinion – no uphold Principle 8 – reminder This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] The Medical Training Co-ordinator of the New Zealand Family Planning Association commented on Newstalk ZB on 27 February 2002 at around 8. 30am along the lines that human life begins at the implantation of the human embryo into a woman’s womb and not at conception. [2] Right to Life New Zealand Inc. complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster of Newstalk ZB, that the comments were inaccurate, contrary to accepted medical practice and dangerous....

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....

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ]One of the hosts of talkback show, The Two, treated two callers in a way that the complainant considered to be unfair. The broadcaster upheld his complaint in relation to one of the callers. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the action taken by the broadcaster was insufficient, or that the broadcast otherwise breached standards. Talkback radio is recognised as a robust and opinionated forum in which hosts may sometimes behave rudely. The host in this case was expressing her opinion, and her comments did not go beyond what could reasonably be expected....

ComplaintPaul Holmes Breakfast Show – barrage of jokes against French and German military – racist and offensive Findings Principle 7 and Guideline 7a – no discrimination – high threshold not reached – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision Summary [1] A barrage of jokes relayed on the Paul Holmes Breakfast Show between 6. 00–8. 30am by its presenter, Paul Holmes, was broadcast on The Radio Network Ltd (TRN) on Friday 14 February 2003. The jokes targetted the French and German military. [2] Sylvia Shepherd complained to TRN, the broadcaster, that the jokes were racist, anti-French and offensive. [3] In response, TRN stated that the jokes, which had previously been published in the Sun newspaper in Britain did not encourage denigration of, or discrimination against, the French and were legitimate examples of humour or satire....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – Paul Holmes Breakfast – host used term “house niggers” – offensive language – unfair – integrity of current affairs compromised – encouraged denigration FindingsPrinciple 1 – not offensive in context – no uphold Principle 6 – not relevant Principle 7 – no discrimination – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] During an interview with the Prime Minister, Paul Holmes, as the host of the Paul Holmes Breakfast on Newstalk ZB, referred to a comment made by Titewhai Harawira, a Maori political activist. The host said that the Government’s Maori Members of Parliament had been referred to as “house niggers” and asked a question related to the comment. The comment was broadcast at around 7. 40am on 3 September 2003....

Paul France declared a conflict of interest and did not participate in the determination of this complaint. Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 Newstalk ZB – afternoon host made comments about Green Party MP Keith Locke – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, and fairness standards Findings Standard 6 (fairness) – viewers would have realised comments were host’s and callers’ interpretation of Mr Locke’s stance – public figures are open to criticism – not upheld Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – subsumed into consideration of Standard 6 This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] During Newstalk ZB’s afternoon show, broadcast between 1pm and 4pm on 5 January 2009, the host started a discussion about Green Party MP Keith Locke, saying: Keith Locke’s another one. He’s an apologist for terrorism....

Summary"Boy racers" were encouraged by radio station 91 ZM on 14 October to turn up at a named City Councillor’s home address and to play their car stereos loudly to protest about the Councillor’s stand on noise control in Palmerston North. Ross Warren complained to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 4(1)(c) that the broadcast had disclosed the Councillor’s address and had encouraged people to harass him. In a brief response, the station argued that it had been reasonable to disclose the Councillor’s address to enable a protesting group to make a legitimate point against a crusade by a local politician. Furthermore, it noted, the station had acted responsibly by dealing with complaints received and the protest had been cancelled. The Councillor had accepted the station’s apology and had agreed to meet with drivers at a later time, it wrote. It recommended that the complaint not be upheld....

SummaryNews broadcasts by Newstalk ZB and Classic Hits FM between 6. 00–9. 00 am on 16 October 1998 reported that a Victoria University student had been forced to leave her employment in England as a nanny because of sexual advances by her employer, Mr Mohammed Al-Fayed. Mr Wilkinson complained to The Radio Network Limited, the broadcaster, that the reports were inaccurate. In an interview he had heard with the student on another radio station, she had emphasised cultural differences and human rights matters as being the reasons for leaving her employment, he said. The sexual slant placed on the story by the broadcaster did not assist understanding of another culture, he wrote, and it was a disservice to the student. Responding, TRN said that the story, quoting the student as having had sexual advances made to her by Mr Al-Fayed, had been given widespread local and international coverage....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1996-022 Dated the 6th day of March 1996 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by PAM SUTTON of Porirua Broadcaster THE RADIO NETWORK OF NEW ZEALAND LIMITED J M Potter Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – Larry Williams Drive Show – interview with General Manager of Mitsubishi Motors on sponsorship withdrawal from the Holmes television programme – host allegedly trivialised Holmes’ comments on Kofi Annan – host’s comments allegedly racist FindingsPrinciple 7 Guideline 7a – legitimate interview – threshold not reached – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Larry Williams, the host of the Larry Williams Drive Show on Newstalk ZB, interviewed the General Manager of Mitsubishi Motors on its sponsorship withdrawal from the Holmes television programme. The host commented critically on the reasons for the withdrawal and then received four calls from the public, all of whom condemned Mitsubishi’s decision. [2] Milton Cassidy complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that Larry William’s comments trivialised the racist comments made by Paul Holmes about Kofi Annan....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – discussion regarding "National Penis Day" – included reference to penis on Michaelangelo’s David – breach of good taste and decency FindingsPrinciple 1 – contextual matters – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] On Newstalk ZB an interview with the Executive Director of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation regarding "National Penis Day" was broadcast on 2 September 2002 at 5. 34pm. The discussion concerned the Foundation not being able to publicise the day by putting up billboards featuring penises. [2] David Robb complained to The Radio Network Ltd (TRN), the broadcaster, that the item was offensive and the material inappropriate, particularly for child listeners. [3] In response, TRN maintained that the comments in context did not breach current norms of good taste and decency. It declined to uphold the complaint....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – host Danny Watson – results of trial of Jules Mikus for the murder of Teresa Cormack referred to and discussion about justice, retribution and community responsibility – encouraged vigilante justice FindingsPrinciple 7 – not applicable – no upholdPrinciple 2 – some of the host’s populist comments came close to breach – although overall support for judicial processes – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision Summary [1] The conviction of Jules Mikus for the murder of Teresa Cormack was referred to on Newstalk ZB between noon and 3pm in the talkback session broadcast on 9 October 2002 hosted by Danny Watson. Concern at the time-lapse between the murder and conviction was expressed. Examples of extra-judicial justice were given by callers and the host at times suggested that instant justice could be more effective in reforming offenders than the justice system....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Paul Holmes Breakfast – comment included a statement that the Green Party was the party of square dancers – complainant objected to square dancers being associated with the Green Party – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and denigrated square dancersFindingsPrinciple 1 (good taste and decency) – standard not relevant to complaint – not upheld Principle 7 and guideline 7a (denigration) – square dancers not a “section of the community” to which the guideline applies – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] On 6 June 2006 at approximately 7....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Paul Holmes Breakfast – Newstalk ZB – reference to streaking incident during rugby game – host commented that streaker used baby oil “no doubt to prepare himself for the police baton” – alleged breach of good taste and decency, balance, fairness and accuracyFindings Principle 1 (good taste and decency) – context – not upheld Principle 4 (balance) – does not apply to editorial/opinion pieces – not upheld Principle 7 – Guideline 7a (denigration) – police not denigrated – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] At about 8. 00am on 23 March 2004 the host of Paul Holmes Breakfast on Newstalk ZB (Paul Holmes) commented about a streaker incident which occurred during a Super 12 Rugby game at Hamilton Park....

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 1989 Overnight Talkback with Bruce Russell – host and caller discussed meteorite exploding over Russia, and host made comments to the effect he would rather it happened in Russia than in New Zealand – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency standard FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – host’s comments were expressed in a light-hearted and flippant manner – comments would not have offended or distressed most listeners in context – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Introduction [1] During Overnight Talkback with Bruce Russell, the host and a caller discussed a meteorite exploding over central Russia, causing a shock that smashed windows, damaged buildings and injured many people....