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Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 Radio Pacific – talkback segment discussing Ahmed Zaoui – host said “I don’t care if we shoot him and send him out in a dog food can” – several other statements relating to Mr Zaoui’s activities – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and inaccurateFindings Principle 1 (good taste and decency) – context – not upheldPrinciple 6 (accuracy) – decline to determine accuracy of one statement – two statements inaccurate – upheldNo OrderThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast[1] A talkback segment on Radio Pacific in the early evening on 11 November 2004 discussed the Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui. The host expressed strong views that Mr Zaoui should leave New Zealand, and said “I don’t care if we shoot him and send him out in a dog food can”....

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....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Canterbury Tales – "The Miller’s Tale" – a spurned lover apparently burns his rival’s buttocks with a red-hot piece of pipe – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and violence standardsFindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – contextual factors – not upheld Standard 10 (violence) – implicit violence justified by context – care and discretion shown – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A modern day television adaptation of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales – "The Miller’s Tale" was screened on TV One at 9. 35pm on Sunday 5 March 2006. Near the end of the story, a spurned lover apparently burns his rival’s buttocks with a red-hot piece of pipe....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Paul Holmes Breakfast – comments regarding the beheading of hostages in Iraq – allegedly breached good taste and decency FindingsPrinciple 1 (good taste and decency) – presenter’s comments light-hearted look at serious issue – common practice in broadcast media – no intent to minimise gravity of subject matter – no obscene language or macabre detail employed – not in breach of good taste and decency standard – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] At about 6. 53am on 22 September 2004 the host of Paul Holmes Breakfast on Newstalk ZB (Paul Holmes) began a segment about the beheading of hostages in Iraq. At the time of the broadcast, British man Kenneth Bigley had been captured by terrorists in Iraq....

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....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 Newstalk ZB – news item reported on a court trial in which several people were accused of being involved in the death of a toddler – included details of the abuse suffered by the child – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency Findings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – details of the abuse were not gratuitous – no warning required – contextual factors – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] A news item, broadcast on Newstalk ZB at 5pm on Tuesday 21 October 2008, reported on the High Court trial of several people in relation to the death of a toddler. The presenter began the report by stating: The Crown has today outlined the horrific abuse Rotorua pre-schooler Nia Glassie went through for months before her death....

Complaints under section 8(1B)(b)(i) and 8(1B)(b)(ii) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Outrageous Fortune – coarse language broadcast during the first ten minutes of the programme including the word “cunt” – broadcaster upheld breaches of good taste and decency and children’s interests standards in relation to the use of the word “cunt” – action taken allegedly insufficientFindingsStandard 9 (children’s interests) – guideline 9b – frequent use of language amounted to broadcast of strong adult material too close to 8. 30pm watershed – broadcaster did not adequately consider children’s interests – upheld Standard 8 (responsible programming) – frequent coarse language and use of the word “cunt” in first 10 minutes of the programme constituted strong adult material that warranted an AO 9. 30pm classification and later time of broadcast – programme incorrectly classified – upheldStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – frequent coarse language before 8....

ComplaintThe Big OE – series following young New Zealanders on tour of Europe – reference to "drinking and shagging" – breach of good taste and decency FindingsStandard G2 – PGR rating appropriate – context – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] The Big OE was a series broadcast on TV3 on Thursday nights at 8. 00pm which followed a group of young New Zealanders on a 21-day tour around Europe. [2] Trevor Dixon complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the episode broadcast on 29 November 2001 breached standards of good taste and decency. In particular, he objected to a reference to "drinking and shagging" made by one of the participants. [3] TV3 declined to uphold the complaint, stating that the programme was rated PGR, screened during PGR time, and was accompanied by a verbal and visual warning....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989LMFAO Video Hits – LMFAO song “Shots” broadcast at 7....

Summary In a review of events surrounding the Erebus crash, it was reported that the then CEO of Air New Zealand had told a senior pilot "I’ll cut your f-ing balls off". The remark was quoted in a 60 Minutes item broadcast on 28 November 1999 at 7. 30pm, the 20th anniversary of the crash of the Air New Zealand plane in the Antarctic. Mr Schwabe complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that such language was offensive, unacceptable and entirely unnecessary, particularly in a programme which dealt with a subject still painful for the friends and relatives of those killed. TVNZ emphasised the context in which the remark was made and suggested the comment reflected the bitterness and unresolved questions arising from the disaster. In its view, the phrase spoke volumes about the emotions aroused by the debate....

Summary [This summary does not form part of the decision. ] During The Chase, a British quiz show, the host introduced one of the trivia experts as ‘“The Governess” Anne Hegerty – big brain, big bo…ots? ’ to audience laughter. The Authority declined to uphold a complaint that the host commented on Ms Hegerty’s ‘big boobs’ which was discriminatory against women, distasteful and unfair to Ms Hegerty, among other things. While the comment may have offended some viewers, it did not reach the threshold necessary to find a breach of broadcasting standards. Not Upheld: Discrimination and Denigration, Good Taste and Decency, Fairness, Responsible Programming, Accuracy   Introduction [1] During The Chase, a British quiz show, the host introduced the four trivia experts (the ‘chasers’) as follows: Who will you be up against today? Could it be Paul ‘The Sinnerman’ Sinha – big brain, bad suit?...

Summary[This summary does not form part of the decision. ]An item on ONE News discussed further charges laid against a man accused of a double shooting in South Auckland. During the item, images of the crime scene were shown, including footage of blood on a pavement. The Authority did not uphold a complaint alleging that the footage of blood breached the privacy of those involved (ie, the surviving victim and the victims’ relatives or friends), and that the footage would have disturbed young viewers. No individuals were identified during the broadcast, including the surviving victim or either of the victims’ relatives or friends. In addition, the image of blood was brief and was not graphic or explicit, and viewers could reasonably expect that a news broadcast reporting on a double shooting might contain some footage relating to the crime....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989ZM Morning Crew – game called “Racial Profiling” in which hosts and contestant were asked to decide whether individuals who had committed certain offences in the United States were “black, white or Asian” – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, discrimination and denigration, and responsible programming standardsFindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency), Standard 7 (discrimination and denigration), Standard 8 (responsible programming) – segment was an attempt at humour and satire – the outcome as broadcast demonstrated flaws in stereotyping – broadcast would not have offended most listeners in context, was not socially irresponsible, and did not reach high threshold required for encouraging denigration of, or discrimination against, any of the groups referred to as sections of the community – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision....

Summary The short film Stella Street was broadcast on TV2 at 10. 25pm on 26 July 1999. Stella Street is a short comedy programme featuring two impersonators who lampoon the performance style of the well-known characters that they portray. Mr Rae complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the programme contained highly offensive language and behaviour. TVNZ did not consider that it had breached any broadcasting standard. It noted the language was used in the context of a short film broadcast at 10. 25pm, carrying an AO certificate, and preceded by a warning. It did not consider the language would have exceeded the expectations of most viewers watching at that time of night. It also observed that the language was used for comedic effect. Dissatisfied with TVNZ’s decision, Mr Rae referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989....

Complaint Strassman – offensive language – "fuck" – interview with Rima Te Wiata breached her privacy – offensive behaviourFindings(1) Standard G2 – context – warning – AO time and classification – no uphold (2) Privacy – no private facts revealed – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary An episode of the comedy programme Strassman was broadcast on TV2 at 9. 30pm on 16 May 2000. Brian Shearer complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, about the repeated use of the word "fuck" during the programme, and an interview with Rima Te Wiata, which he considered breached her privacy and was in bad taste due to questions asked about her sex life. TVNZ responded that the programme was intended as adult entertainment, began well after the watershed, carried an AO certificate and was preceded by a warning about strong language....

ComplaintStrippers – sensationalist – voyeuristic – offensive – unsuitable for children and young teenagers FindingsStandard 1, Guideline 1a – context – no uphold Standard 9, Guideline 9a – not children’s normal viewing time – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Strippers is a British documentary series which followed a small group of women for three months and examined female striptease. One episode was broadcast at 9. 30pm on TV2 on 10 September 2002. [2] Kristian Harang complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the programme contained many strip scenes and breached the standard relating to the observance of good taste and decency. The warning which preceded the broadcast, he said, would not stop children and young teenagers watching the programme....

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 19897 Days – contained segment called “My Kid Could Draw That” – comments made about picture drawn by a child – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and children’s interests Findings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – unnecessary for child to be identified – linked young girl to ribald adult sexual humour – exploitative – upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – programme broadcast outside of children’s normally accepted viewing times – not upheld No Order This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An episode of the comedy programme 7 Days was broadcast on TV3 at 10pm on Friday 25 September 2009. The programme involved the host questioning two three-person teams of comedians about various events which had been reported in the media during the week....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989One News item – street march through Auckland – topless protester shown – allegedly in breach of good taste and decencyFindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – context – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An item on One News broadcast on TV One at 6pm on 5 March 2005 showed a street march through Auckland that day in support of “family values”. A topless woman was among those shown protesting against the views expressed by the marchers. Complaint [2] Luke McKoy complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that showing a topless woman did not observe standards of good taste and decency....