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Complaint Shortland Street – episodes involving – casual sex (one night stand) – the use of toothpaste to make a child ill – ending an episode with voodoo-inspired fear – adult themes – inappropriate for broadcast to young people at 7. 00pm FindingsStandard G8 – appropriately rated PGR – no uphold Standard G12 – classification evidence of being mindful of children – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Shortland Street is a long running fictional series broadcast at 7. 00pm on weekdays on TV2. The episode broadcast on 12 August 2001 included a central character having a one-night sexual encounter, the episode on 17 August raised the possibility of giving a child some toothpaste to make her ill to enable the mother to have a break, and on 21 August, an episode concluded with fear inspired by the use of voodoo....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Sunrise – presenters and two guests had a discussion about a 19-year-old girl from Northland who sold her virginity for $45,000 – allegedly in breach of children’s interests FindingsStandard 9 (children’s interests) – themes discussed would have gone over the heads of younger viewers – broadcaster adequately considered the interests of child viewers – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] During a segment on Sunrise called “Uncles”, broadcast on TV3 at 7. 55am on Wednesday 3 February 2010, the presenters and two guests (the uncles) started a discussion about a 19-year-old girl from Northland who had sold her virginity for $45,000....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Close Up – item reported on water leak in West Auckland – stated that Watercare had failed to respond to complaints about water leak – interviewed representative from Watercare – showed person drinking water which had come from storm-water drain – allegedly in breach of standards relating to accuracy, fairness and children’s interests FindingsStandard 5 (accuracy) – item created impression that complaints made to Watercare and that Watercare failed to respond to complaints – Watercare and council separate organisations – item inaccurate and misleading – however, in light of factual background, broadcaster made reasonable efforts to ensure item accurate and did not mislead – not upheld Standard 6 (fairness) – Watercare invited to appear on Close Up with regard to complaint made 6 November – Watercare given sufficient opportunity to check records given nature of allegations made against it – not upheld…...

SummaryAn episode of British Sex was broadcast on TV3 at 9. 30pm on 28 October 1999. This series was publicised as a programme with a straight talking approach to all things sexual, which featuring "ordinary" people. Daphne Painting complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the programme was "a polluting intrusion and desecration of [her] home". She complained particularly about footage of a "body caster", who modelled body parts, including genitalia, which she described as "reprehensible in the extreme". She also stated her opinion that the programme’s effect on children would be to "corrupt" them. TV3 responded that British Sex was AO rated, screened an hour after the AO watershed, and was preceded by a written and verbal warning. It did not consider that the "body caster" segment was unacceptable in that context, commenting that the castings were non-sexual, and were neither lewd nor degrading....

Complaint Mo Show – interview with makers of and participants in a pornographic film – offensive – unsuitable for children FindingsStandard 1 – gratuitous sexual activities – uphold Standard 9 – not children’s normally accepted viewing time – no uphold No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision Summary [1] The making of a pornographic film near Los Angeles was shown in a segment of the Mo Show broadcast on TV2 at 10. 00pm on Tuesday 3 September 2002. The Mo Show is targeted at a young adult audience and features two New Zealand comedians presenting events they encounter in a number of countries, focusing on popular music and film. [2] Lois Durward complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the segment about pornographic film-making near Los Angeles was offensive and unsuitable for younger viewers....

Complaint under section 8(1C) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Underbelly: Razor – sex scene broadcast at 8. 42pm – allegedly in breach of children’s interests standard FindingsStandard 9 (children’s interests) – sex scene amounted to “strong adult material” broadcast close to the Adults Only watershed – broadcaster did not adequately consider children’s interests – upheld No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision. Introduction [1] An episode of Underbelly: Razor was broadcast on TV3 at 8. 30pm on 30 November 2011. At 8. 42pm, a sex scene was shown, in which a woman was on top of a man in bed. Her breasts were briefly visible, and she could be heard moaning. [2] The episode was preceded by the following visual and verbal warning: This programme is rated Adults Only and is recommended for a mature audience....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Breakfast – guest presenter commented, in relation to web video of children’s television presenter Roger Waters, “suddenly there’s LSD in the water” – allegedly in breach of law and order, responsible programming, and children’s interests standards FindingsStandard 2 (law and order) – presenter’s comment was brief and light-hearted – viewers would not have been encouraged to break the law – children would not have understood the comment – not upheld Standard 8 (responsible programming) – Breakfast was an unclassified news and current affairs programme – comment would not have distressed or alarmed viewers – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – comment was silly and oblique – children would not have appreciated its meaning, and would not have been encouraged to take LSD – broadcaster adequately considered children’s interests – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision....

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1992-066:...

Dr Patu Hohepa, the Commissioner of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, was co-opted as a person whose qualifications and experience were likely to be of assistance to the Authority. He took part in the Authority’s deliberations but the decision is that of the permanent members. Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Toi Whakaari – kapa haka group performing haka which included a whakapohane – exposed buttocks – allegedly unsuitable for childrenFindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – context – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – traditional cultural event presented in a stylised manner – not disturbing or alarming for children – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A kapa haka group performing a haka was shown in an episode of Toi Whakaari broadcast on Māori Television at about 6. 40pm on 9 May 2005....

ComplaintLaw and Order – person with mental illness portrayed as violent, unpredictable and evil – inaccurate – unfair – stereotype FindingsStandard G1 – fiction – no uphold Standard G6 – fiction – no uphold Standard G12 – 9. 30pm not usual children’s viewing time – decline to determine Standard G13 – dramatic work – no uphold Standard G20 – fiction – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] The murder of an eight-year-old boy and subsequent investigation was dramatised in an episode of Law and Order broadcast on TV3 at 9. 30pm on 15 December 2001. It was disclosed that he was killed by two girls (aged 13 and 10) and at the trial, the prosecution argued that the younger girl was a "sociopath", while the defence argued that she had "frontal lobe damage" following an accident, and had suffered ongoing abuse....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Sunday – item about fathers frustrated with the Family Court system – included interview with father who had been involved in custody dispute – identified his eight-year-old daughter – allegedly unbalanced, inaccurate, in breach of daughter’s privacy and children’s interests Findings Standard 3 (privacy) – highly offensive disclosure of private facts about child – not in child’s best interests – no public interest in disclosing facts – upheld Standard 4 (balance) – broadcaster presented significant viewpoints on controversial issue under discussion – not upheld Standard 5 (accuracy) – no inaccuracies – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) and guideline 9i – child unnecessarily identified and exploited – upheldOrdersSection 13(1)(a) – broadcast of a statementSection 13(1)(d) – payment to JB for breach of privacy $500 Section 16(1) – payment of costs to the complainant of $3,000 Section 16(4) – payment of costs to the Crown $2,500 This headnote…...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1998-019 Dated the 5th day of March 1998 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by RAY MAINWARING of Rangiora Broadcaster TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND LIMITED S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod J Withers...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-148 Dated the 20th day of November 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by W and P JONES of Auckland Broadcaster TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND LIMITED S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod J Withers...

ComplaintBig Brother – offensive behaviour – nudity – immorality – inappropriate for broadcast at 6. 30pm – unsuitable for children FindingsStandard G2 – adult themes – unsuitable for G timeslot – uphold Standard G8 – G classification incorrect – uphold Standard G12 – broadcaster not mindful of effect of broadcast on children – uphold No Order (but recommendation for a written apology) This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary Big Brother is a television series which features a group of people who are confined in a house in Australia and continuously monitored by cameras. It is broadcast on TV2 at 6. 30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays. On Monday's Big Brother is broadcast at 6. 00pm. For the first two weeks the series was screened, the programme was broadcast on Mondays at 6. 30pm....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Promo for The Vampire Diaries – broadcast during a G-rated programme at 4. 55pm – contained shots of vampires and people kissing – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, responsible programming, children’s interests, and violence standardsFindingsStandard 8 (responsible programming) – images in the promo very brief and dark – would not have left a lasting impression likely to disturb or alarm child viewers – correctly rated G – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – promo unlikely to disturb or alarm children – broadcaster adequately considered children’s interests – not upheld Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – promo was fleeting and inexplicit – not upheld Standard 10 (violence) – promo did not contain any violence – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Close Up – interview with actress Keisha Castle-Hughes and director Niki Caro about their new film The Vintner’s Luck – references to sex – showed scenes from the film of the main characters passionately kissing and the male character putting his head up the female’s skirt – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and children’s interests FindingsStandard 9 (children’s interests) – sex scene was gratuitous in a current affairs programme at 7pm – unsuitable for children – upheld – language was vulgar slang unexpected in this type of programme – borderline but not upheld Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – sex scene was not sufficiently discreet for PGR timeslot – upheld – language borderline but acceptable – not upheld No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision....

ComplaintHot Property – amateur male strip to raise money for club house – 5. 30pm – offensive – unsuitable for children FindingsStandard 1 and Guideline 1a – context – no uphold Standard 9 – not likely to upset or disturb children – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision Summary [1] Hot Property is an Australian series about real estate sales. A sequence in which members of a men’s soccer club performed an amateur striptease to raise money for a clubhouse was included in the episode broadcast on TV One at about 5. 30pm on 31 December 2002. [2] Kristian Harang complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that it was offensive to screen a male strip sequence at 5. 50pm, in which naked backsides were shown clearly, without a warning....

ComplaintCockstars – documentary about Puppetry of the Penis – male nudity – "pelvic gyrations" – breach of good taste and decency – failed to consider children’s viewing interest FindingsStandards 1 – context – no uphold Standard 9 – outside children’s normally accepted viewing times – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Cockstars was a documentary about seeking performers for the stage show "Puppetry of the Penis". The programme was broadcast on TV3 at 9. 30pm on 5 June 2003. It featured nude males manipulating their genitalia. [2] Fay Woodham complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the programme was offensive because "full frontal nudity" was unacceptable and breached standards relating to children’s viewing interests. [3] Declining to uphold the complaint, TV3 said in context the broadcast did not breach current norms of good taste and decency....

An appeal against this decision was dismissed in the High Court: CIV-2010-485-002008 PDF3....