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ComplaintNewstalk ZB – Transmission Gully – talkback host’s comments criticised politicians – callers putting contrary views cut off – unbalanced – unfair FindingsPrinciple 4 – talkback robust – no evidence of lack of balance – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary The defeat of a private member’s Bill supporting a road through Transmission Gully was addressed during talkback on Newstalk ZB broadcast in Wellington between 8. 30 and 11. 00am on 3 May 2001. The host (Justin du Fresne) criticised the loyalty of the MPs from Wellington who had voted against the Bill. Arnold Sabine complained to The Radio Network Ltd (TRN), the broadcaster, that the programme, by ridiculing politicians and not allowing callers to present a contrary point of view, was unbalanced, inaccurate and unfair....

Complaint under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 Newstalk ZB – news item – question in Parliament about National Party leader Dr Brash’s previous interest in Treaty of Waitangi and racial issues – impression said to be left that he had never raised such concerns previously – allegedly inaccurateFindings Principle 6 (accuracy) – news item showed leader of New Zealand First and the Prime Minister “ganging up” on leader of the National Party – Parliamentary question reported accurately – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A question in Parliament from the leader of New Zealand First to the Prime Minister about the leader of the National Party’s previous concerns about the Treaty of Waitangi and race issues, before his recent Orewa speech, was the lead item on the news on Newstalk ZB broadcast at 5. 00pm on Wednesday 25 February 2004....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB – film review – reviewer used words “she doesn’t get my balls going” – allegedly offensiveFindingsPrinciple 1 (good taste and decency) – context – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A film reviewer on Newstalk ZB said of an actor “she doesn’t get my balls going”. The review was broadcast during the Saturday morning Mike Hosking show at 9. 45am on 16 July 2005. Complaint [2] Gaile Porter complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that the language was inappropriate at a time when her grandchildren were listening. She said the phrase, which was broadcast twice, was offensive. Principles [3] TRN assessed the complaint under Principle 1 of the Radio Code of Broadcasting Practice....

ComplaintNewstalk ZB – offensive language – socially irresponsible – racist – cocky nigger FindingsPrinciple 1 – majority finding that broadcast breached good taste – uphold Principle 7 – broadcast did not encourage denigration of/discrimination against Africans/African-Americans – no uphold OrderNo penalty This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary Newstalk ZB’s morning talkback show on 15 September 2000 included an item about a press conference with boxing legend Muhammad Ali, held at the Olympic Games in Sydney the previous day. During the item, the host used the words "cocky nigger" when referring to Muhammad Ali at the time of his gold medal win at the Rome Olympics in 1960. Jason Ake, Lewis Scott and Mrs A Reeves complained to The Radio Network Limited, the broadcaster, that the words "cocky nigger" breached standards of good taste and decency, and were derogatory and socially irresponsible....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Leighton Smith Show – host discussed verdicts in Urewera Four case – complainant phoned the programme and the host subsequently made comments about “nut bars” in New Zealand – allegedly in breach of discrimination and denigration standard FindingsStandard 7 (discrimination and denigration) – unclear which section of the community the complainant considered was denigrated or discriminated against – standard only applies to sections of the community and not to individuals so cannot be considered in relation to the complainant – broadcast did not encourage denigration of, or discrimination against, any section of the community – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Introduction [1] During the Leighton Smith Show, broadcast on the morning of 21 March 2012 on Newstalk ZB, the host discussed the verdicts in the “Urewera Four” case....

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....

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 1989Overnight Talk Show – radio host played excerpt from television show The View in which Fox News commentator, Bill O’Reilly, stated that the mosque near Ground Zero was “inappropriate” and that “Muslims killed us on 9/11” – radio host discussed comments – allegedly in breach of law and order, controversial issues, accuracy and fairness standards FindingsStandard 2 (law and order) – item did not encourage viewers to break the law or promote, condone or glamorise criminal activity – not upheld Standard 4 (controversial issues – viewpoints) – listeners would not expect a range of balanced views from a talkback programme – no discussion of a controversial issue of public importance – not upheld Standard 5 (accuracy) – host’s comments amounted to opinion and analysis – not upheld Standard 6 (fairness) – no person or organisation treated unfairly – not upheld This headnote does not form part of…...

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ]In a weekly interview segment on Mike Hosking Breakfast, Prime Minister John Key criticised the Labour Party while discussing a number of political topics. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the host displayed political bias and let the Prime Minister criticise other parties unchallenged, without them being offered any right of reply. This segment with the Prime Minister of the day has been running for 25 years, it was transparently political advocacy, and it did not purport to be a balanced or even-handed discussion of political issues. Other politicians were also interviewed on Newstalk ZB on a regular basis. Not Upheld: Controversial Issues, Fairness, Accuracy, Responsible Programming, Discrimination and DenigrationIntroduction [1] In a weekly interview segment on Mike Hosking Breakfast, the Prime Minister John Key criticised the Labour Party while discussing a number of political topics....

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ]During a panel discussion on the Mike Hosking Breakfast show about the government’s funding of America’s Cup campaigners, one of the panellists said ‘fucking’. She immediately apologised for the slip-up, and the other participants rebuked her in a light-hearted manner. The broadcaster upheld the complaint and counselled the panellist. The Authority found that the action taken by the broadcaster was sufficient. It noted the comment was made during a legitimate discussion about a matter of public interest, and all of the participants acknowledged at the time that the swearing was inappropriate....

Complaints under sections 8(1)(a) and 8(1)(c) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Newstalk ZB – item on the sale of shares by the New Plymouth District Council – broadcast of complainant’s recorded comments regarding the issue – allegedly unfair – alleged breach of privacyFindings Principle 3 (privacy) – no private facts disclosed – not upheld Principle 5 (fairness) – complainant should have been aware he was being recorded – spirit of Guideline 5a observed – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Background [1] On 8 September 2004 the complainant faxed to Newstalk ZB a copy of a letter he had sent to various official institutions, including the office of the Auditor-General. The letter included allegations by Mr Gibbs that a district council executive stood to benefit financially from the sale of shares by the New Plymouth District Council....

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ] During Canterbury Mornings with Chris Lynch, the host expressed frustration with the length of time it had taken police to decide whether to proceed with criminal investigations in relation to the collapse of the CTV building in the Christchurch earthquake. He said, ‘for Christ’s sake, police, you can do better than this’. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that the use of the word ‘Christ’ breached standards. The use of ‘Christ’ as an exclamation to express surprise or dismay has become an accepted part of colloquial speech and would not have offended most listeners. Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Responsible Programming Introduction [1] During Canterbury Mornings with Chris Lynch, the host discussed the progress of an investigation into the collapse of the CTV building in the February 2012 Christchurch earthquake....