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ComplaintThe Ugly – film rated R18 by OFLC – broadcast at 9. 30pm – graphic violence and adult content – offensive – school holidays – unsuitable for children FindingsStandard 1 and Guideline 1a – context included violent theme, cuts, time of broadcast, and warning – no uphold Standard 9 and Guidelines 9a and 9c – 9. 30pm not children’s normally accepted viewing time – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] The film The Ugly, a psychological thriller made in New Zealand, was screened on TV4 at 9. 30pm on Thursday 16 January 2003. [2] The Secretary (David Lane) of The Society for the Promotion of Community Standards Inc. (SPCS) complained to TV4 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the film breached the standards relating to good taste and decency, and to the protection of children....

Complaint Overboard – film – "bitch" – "slut" – inappropriate – offensive language FindingsStandard 1 – not offensive in context – no uphold Standard 9 – not unsuitable for children – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Overboard, a comedy film, was broadcast by TV2 at 6. 30pm on Saturday 21 September 2002. It portrayed an arrogant and spoilt woman who, through a number of incidents, discovered humility and love. The film was rated "G". [2] Mark Bray complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the language used was unacceptable during family viewing hours. He specifically referred to the use of the words "bitch" and "slut". [3] In declining to uphold the complaint TVNZ said, in context, the language did not breach current norms of good taste and decency....

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1993-005:Georgeson and Television New Zealand Ltd - 1993-005 PDF365. 46 KB...

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1992-046–051:Whyte and 5 Others and Television New Zealand Ltd - 1992-046–051 PDF1. 94 MB...

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1992-100:Wardlaw and Television New Zealand - 1992-100 PDF477 KB...

An appeal against this decision was dismissed in the High Court: AP90-SW02 PDF980. 81 KBComplaintScream – movie – breach of good taste – glamorised criminal activity – inappropriately classified AO – broadcaster not mindful of effect on child viewers – broadcaster did not exercise care and discretion regarding violenceFindings(1) Standard 9, Guideline 9b – gruesome and horrific violence – scene at 8. 45pm – uphold Standard 9, Guidelines 9a, 9c, 9e and 9f – subsumed(2) Standard 1 – no uphold(3) Standard 2 – no uphold(4) Standard 7, Guideline 7a – no uphold(5) Standard 10, Guidelines 10a, 10b and 10f – horror film – included elements of parody – violence highly unrealistic – no upholdNo OrderThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary[1] Scream is a teen horror movie which parodies the horror movie genre. The movie was broadcast on TV3 at 8. 30pm on 18 January 2002....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989We Own the Night – sex scene broadcast at approximately 8. 32pm contained footage of woman with hand between her legs, couple kissing, partial nudity, man's hand down woman's pants – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, children’s interests and responsible programming FindingsStandard 9 (children's interests) – sex scene constituted strong adult material – shown too soon after the 8. 30pm Adults Only watershed – upheld Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – programme's content appropriate for AO-classified programme broadcast at 8. 30pm – not upheld Standard 8 (responsible programming) – programme correctly classified AO – not upheld No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A movie called We Own the Night was broadcast on TV3 at 8. 30pm on Saturday 29 May 2010....

Complaint under section 8(1C) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 American Pie Presents: Beta House – movie contained nudity and sex scenes – allegedly in breach of children’s interests standard Findings Standard 9 (children’s interests) – recording of broadcast unavailable – decline to determine in accordance with section 11(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 This headnote does not form part of the decision. Introduction [1] A movie called American Pie Presents: Beta House was broadcast on FOUR at 8. 30pm on 24 May 2011. [2] Gus Hastie made a formal complaint to TVWorks Ltd, the broadcaster, alleging that the movie contained nudity and sex scenes close to the 8. 30pm watershed, in breach of standards relating to children’s interests. [3] Mr Hastie referred his complaint to the Authority on the basis that he had not received a response from the broadcaster within the statutory timeframe....

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 1989 Two and a Half Men – episode screened at 7. 30pm contained sexual innuendo including references to being “spanked”, “wearing my panties”, and transmitting sexual diseases – showed naked man with his genitals pixellated – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and children’s interests standards Findings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – sexual innuendo was inexplicit and sophisticated so that it would have gone over the heads of younger viewers – nudity pixellated – content consistent with programme’s PGR rating – contextual factors – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – episode correctly rated PGR – broadcaster adequately considered children’s interests – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision.  ...

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1993-104:Armitage and Television New Zealand Ltd - 1993-104 PDF313. 81 KB...

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1993-171–172:Canterbury Area Health Board and Harris and TV3 Network Services Ltd - 1993-171, 1993-172 PDF1. 28 MB...

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

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1990-025:White and TV3 Network Services Ltd - 1990-025 PDF537. 29 KB...

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ] A One News item included footage of Gareth Morgan speaking at a Mana Party event. The Authority did not uphold the complaint that broadcasting his use of the word ‘prick’ breached standards. The comment was intended as self-deprecating humour, rather than being offensive or abusive, and it was relatively fleeting in the context of the item, which focused on a potential alliance between the Internet Party and the Mana Party. Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Responsible Programming, Children’s Interests Introduction [1] During One News, an item about the relationship between the Mana and Internet Parties included footage of Gareth Morgan speaking at a Mana Party event....

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1991-041:Children's Media Watch and Television New Zealand Ltd - 1991-041 PDF788. 47 KB...

ComplaintPromo – 60 Minutes – "pissed off" – offensive language – incorrect classification – broadcaster not mindful of the effects of broadcast on children – broadcaster not mindful of explicit material in promo FindingsStandard G2 – context – no uphold Standard G8 – G rating correct – no uphold Standard G12 – correct classification and time of broadcast – no uphold Standard G24 – not relevant This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] A promo for 60 Minutes was broadcast on TV One at 6. 50pm on 10 November 2001. The promo was for an item on Dean Barker, New Zealand’s America’s Cup skipper. [2] Michael Hooker complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, about Mr Barker’s use in the promo of the phrase "pissed off". [3] TVNZ declined to uphold the complaint....

Summary An interview with a bisexual author of erotic books was included in 60 Minutes broadcast on TV One on 31 October 1999 between 7. 30–8. 30pm. The woman described herself as "an amateur sexologist" and explained how she had become an expert on the subject of erotica. Mr Hausmann complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the material was pornographic, breached the good taste standard and was unsuitable to be shown at a time when younger viewers could be watching. He also maintained that the item lacked balance because it did not show the serious downside of what he termed sexual addiction. TVNZ responded that the programme had profiled a New Zealand woman who had been approached by a publisher to produce a work on female erotica. It suggested that the complainant had made an unfair assumption by concluding that the woman had a sexual addiction....

ComplaintPerfect Match – Featured a gay man in search of a male partner – broadcast during school holidays at 8. 30pm – alleged erroneous message – disturbing to children FindingsStandard 9 Guidelines 9a and 9c – broadcaster considered children’s viewing interests – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] An episode in the programme Perfect Match featured a gay man in search of a male partner. It was broadcast on TV One at 8. 30pm on Thursday 17 July 2003. [2] Mr Gardiner complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the programme, which screened at a time when “older” children were still watching television, contained a message that incorrectly implied gay relationships were normal. [3] In response, TVNZ noted that the programme was clearly classified Adults Only and disputed the view that the programme could harm children....