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Summary[This summary does not form part of the decision. ]During the Leighton Smith Show, presenter Leighton Smith, in relation to a headline regarding Pope Francis’ warning to then President-elect Donald Trump, ‘do not back away from UN climate pact’, said, ‘I don’t want to offend, certainly not insult, any Catholics listening, but how did you end up with this tosser? ’ The Authority did not uphold a complaint that this comment was derogatory, crude and demeaning. Mr Smith was entitled to express his opinion on the Pope’s stance on climate change and while his comment was considered offensive by the complainant, in the context of a talkback radio show, the Authority did not consider it undermined current norms of good taste and decency....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 74/94 Dated the 1st day of September 1994 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by DENNIS WALKER of Havelock North Broadcaster TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND LIMITED I W Gallaway Chairperson J R Morris R A Barraclough L M Loates...

ComplaintInventions from the Shed – documentary – rated G – bugger – offensive language FindingsSection 4(1)(a) – applied under standard G2 – word not used gratuitously – acceptable in context – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary The documentary Inventions from the Shed described some inventions created by men and women while pottering in their sheds. One invention involved a gadget for making sheep shearing easier, and the inventor, while describing it, used the word "bugger", or variations of it, on three occasions. The programme was broadcast on TV One at 8. 30pm on 18 June 2001. Paul Schwabe complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the use of the offensive word "bugger" in a G rated programme breached broadcasting standards. In response, TVNZ argued that the dialogue was natural for the inventor shown, and it declined to uphold the complaint....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Morning Rumble – breakfast show hosts on The Rock discussed a story featured on Close Up the previous night about two girls who alleged that, twelve-years prior, an ex-All Black had engaged in sexual activity with one of them while she had been unconscious – the hosts noted that the girl had accepted a payment from the man to settle the matter – one host made the comment, “See, all I see is that that woman and her mate have cashed in at both ends” – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, controversial issues, fairness and responsible programming standardsFindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – contextual factors – not upheldStandard 6 (fairness) – some elements of unfairness – however, hosts entitled to voice their opinions in the manner in which they did – freedom of expression – not upheldStandard 4…...

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Hunting Aotearoa – hunter said, “Fuck, wonder if I should shoot the cunt now” in reference to his dog – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency standard FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – majority of viewers would not have expected that level of language in a hunting programme which did not carry a specific warning for language – research suggests that majority of viewers consider the word “cunt” unacceptable in the context of a reality television programme – upheld No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An episode of Hunting Aotearoa, a reality television programme about hunters, was broadcast on Māori Television at 9. 30pm on Thursday 24 February 2011. At approximately 9....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Embarrassing Bodies – episode focusing on vaginas broadcast at 8. 30pm – close-up shots of women’s vaginas and surgical operations – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, responsible programming and children’s interests standards FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – programme had educational value – clear pre-broadcast warning for nudity and medical scenes – nudity was non-sexual and matter-of-fact – contextual factors – not upheld Standard 8 (responsible programming) – programme correctly classified AO and preceded by adequate warning – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – clear warning and signposting of likely content gave parents an opportunity to exercise discretion – broadcaster adequately considered children’s interests – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision....

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1992-021:Wislang and Television New Zealand Ltd - 1992-021 PDF333. 3 KB...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 77/95 Dated the 31st day of July 1995 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by D R CAMPBELL of Papamoa Broadcaster TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND LIMITED J M Potter Chairperson L M Loates W J Fraser R McLeod...

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Nestle New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker – baking competition – contestant exclaimed, “Oh my ring went into the cream! ” – host replied, “Usually it’s the other way round” – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and responsible programming FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – comment was fleeting and unclear – programme broadcast in AO time – not upheld Standard 8 (responsible programming) – rest of the material was acceptable in a G programme – comment would have gone over the heads of child viewers – correctly rated G – screened outside of children’s viewing times – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An episode of Nestle New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker was broadcast on TV3 at 8. 30pm on Thursday 25 February 2010....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Two and a Half Men and Scrubs promo – male character in Scrubs promo stated "I don’t like doing things I'm not good at", to which female character responded, "Yeah, that's why we don't have sex much" – male doctor in Scrubs promo talking to a female nurse said "My post-op is going in and out of consciousness. You know what I'd like to go in and out of?...

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Fanny Hill promo – broadcast during One News and Mucking In – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, programme classification and children’s interests standards Findings Standard 7 (programme classification) – promo incorrectly classified – upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – Mucking In – broadcaster did not adequately consider interests of child viewers by broadcasting promo during a G-rated programme – upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – One News – majority considers broadcasting PGR promo during unclassified news did not breach standard – not upheld Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – subsumed into consideration of Standards 7 and 9 Order Section 16(4) – payment of costs to the Crown $2,000 This headnote does not form part of the decision....

Summary A song entitled Closer by the group Nine Inch Nails which was broadcast by 9inety6ixdot1 on 2 February 1999 at around 5pm contained the lyrics "I want to fuck you like an animal". Mr Calver of Auckland complained to 9inety6ixdot1, the broadcaster, that the lyrics were inappropriate to be broadcast, as they offended against the observance of good taste and decency. He also complained that the lyrics had "connotations of a certain level of violence" which was inappropriate for the time of the day the song was broadcast. 9inety6ixdot1 denied that the lyric "I want to fuck you like an animal" encouraged violence. It contended that the lyric "must be read – and heard – in relation to the station’s intended audience" and, therefore, that it complied with the good taste standard in the context of its audience....

ComplaintMusic video – HLAH – "Good Advice" from "Blood on The Honky Tonk Floor" – zombie genre – excessive violence FindingsG2, G9, G11(i), G24, V1, V2, V3, V6, V8, V10, V11 – complaint subsumed under G2 and V1 Standard G2 – music video – context – challenging style – satirical – no uphold Standard V1 – gruesome but verging on the farcical – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary The HLAH music video of "Good Advice" from the album "Blood on the Honky Tonky Floor" was screened on TV4 at 11. 00pm on 30 November 2000. Mark Gilmour complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the video displayed graphic violence which, he said, was "disgusting". TV3 said that "Good Advice" was a satirical view of the zombie movie genre set in a contemporary club....

ComplaintOne News – Shop closure in country town – comment from observer – "It’s going to be a bugger to lose that shop" – language offensive. FindingsStandard G2 – language not inappropriate in context – no upholdThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary The comment "It’s going to be a bugger to lose that shop" was used by a man interviewed during an item about the closure of the Deka shop in Dargaville. The item was broadcast on One News on 16 March 2001 at 6. 00pm. Paul Schwabe complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the word "bugger" was offensive. TVNZ responded that the word was not inappropriate in the context of the item, and declined to uphold the complaint. Dissatisfied with TVNZ’s decision, Mr Schwabe referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Fear Factor – episode showed contestant eating live dragonflies – complainant alleged such behaviour was barbaric – allegedly in breach of standards of good taste and decencyFindings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – well-established programme screened after the AO watershed – item distasteful but did not breach standards of good taste and decency – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An episode of Fear Factorwas screened on TV2 at 8. 30pm on 18 December 2004. The broadcaster described Fear Factoras a reality programme in which contestants are challenged to take part in activities which they find frightening, repellent, or disgusting. The programme had a Christmas theme and the segment that was the subject of the complaint involved a contestant eating live dragonflies....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Holmes – item on a strip club package for supporters of Lions rugby tour – naked women shown playing pool – demonstration of lap dancing – bedroom with mirrors shown – allegedly offensive, inappropriately classified and unsuitable for children – presenter said “stuff you bitch” at end of programme about another matter – allegedly offensiveFindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – context – not upheld Standard 7 (programme classification) – not applicable to news and current affairs – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – sufficient earlier indications of focus of item – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] The package offered by a strip club for Lions rugby supporters was covered in an item on Holmes broadcast on Prime at 7. 00pm on 24 May 2005....

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 111/95 Dated the 26th day of October 1995 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by PHILLIP SMITS of Auckland Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED J Potter Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod...

Summary The situation faced by the original owners of some pensioner flats in Kaiapoi was addressed in an item on Fair Go broadcast at 7. 30pm on TV One on 12 May 1999. The item reported that when the owners featured on the programme had purchased their flat in the mid-seventies from the local authority, they had agreed to sell it back to the Council for the same price when they left. The item disclosed that the original prices were between $13,000 and $17,000, and the properties were now worth between $65,000 and $75,000. The ethics of the Waimakariri District Council in enforcing the agreement were questioned, and it was suggested to viewers that they write to the Council expressing their opposition to the policy....

ComplaintIce As – skit about eating St Bernard dogs – offensive behaviourFindingsStandard G2 – context – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary A skit satirising media comment by the MP for Tauranga, Winston Peters, about an alleged trade in New Zealand bred St Bernard dogs for consumption in Asia, was featured at intervals during an episode of Ice As. The programme was broadcast on TV3 at 7. 30pm on 20 May 2000. Charmaine Kendrick complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the skit was "ill informed and in appalling taste". She also considered that the item’s Tauranga focus was offensive, as she was a St Bernard breeder in that area....