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Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Dancing with the Stars – remarks made by hosts considered offensive and blasphemous – allegedly in breach of standards relating to good taste and decencyFindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – comments mild and light hearted – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] TV One broadcast Dancing with the Stars on 19 June 2005 at 8. 30pm. The two hour special was the finale of an ongoing ballroom dancing competition which partnered New Zealand celebrities with professional dancers. The show was hosted by a female dancer and a well known male television personality. [2] At one point in the show, the male host made a remark about a performance, commenting “on a Sunday too! ”, followed by “Hail Mary!...

ComplaintTipping the Velvet – promo – "lesbian sex scenes" – 7. 30pm – offensive – unsuitable for children FindingsStandard 1and Guideline 1a – context – no uphold Standard 9 – not alarming or distressing for children – majority – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Scenes and dialogue of an intimate nature between females from the television drama, Tipping the Velvet, were broadcast in a promo on TV One at 7. 30pm on Sunday 4 May 2003. [2] Robin Watson complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the promo contained lesbian sex scenes which were entirely unsuitable for child viewers and, therefore, inappropriate for broadcast during family viewing time....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Robert & Jono’s Drive Show – host told personal anecdote about a man with Down Syndrome who fell off a swing and hurt himself – story intended to be humorous – host used the term “mental” to refer to people with intellectual disabilities – allegedly in breach of standards relating to good taste and decency, fairness and discrimination and denigrationFindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – story was conveyed in a light-hearted manner – the term “mental” in reference to people with intellectual disabilities was used without malice or invective – co-host made mitigating comments – host also made comments that were positive towards people with intellectual disabilities – not upheldStandard 7 (discrimination and denigration) – comments did not amount to hate speech or vitriol and the story was told without malice – did not encourage the denigration of, or discrimination against,…...

Download a PDF of Decision No. 1991-012:Tregurtha and Television New Zealand Ltd - 1991-012 PDF394. 96 KB...

Summary[This summary does not form part of the decision. ]A promo for Aquarius, shown during Seven Sharp, included a brief shot of a partially clothed injured male character surrounded by female characters tending his wounds. The Authority did not uphold a complaint that the ‘sexualised’ promo was inappropriate for a time when children could be watching television. The promo did not depict any sexual activity or full nudity, and the shot complained about was fleeting and indistinct. The content was consistent with expectations of a PGR classification and the host news and current affairs programme, and any child viewers would have likely been supervised by adults. Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency, Responsible Programming, Children’s InterestsIntroduction[1] A promo for Aquarius, shown during Seven Sharp, included a brief two-second shot of a partially clothed injured male character surrounded by female characters tending his wounds....

The Authority has declined to determine five complaints about different Newshub Live broadcasts under several standards, on the basis they were trivial, vexatious, or in all the circumstances, did not warrant determination. Decline to determine (section 11(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 – trivial and vexatious, and section 11(b) in all the circumstances the complaint should not be determined): Accuracy, Children’s Interests, Good Taste and Decency, Discrimination and Denigration, Programme Information, Law and Order...

An announcer on The Edge Breakfast recounted an experience at her antenatal class where she discussed how to address constipation post childbirth. The complaint was this segment breached the good taste and decency and children’s interests standards. The Authority did not uphold the complaint, taking into account the programme’s target audience, audience expectations, and the low-level language complained about (being of an anatomical, rather than a profane or sexual nature). Not Upheld: Good Taste and Decency and Children’s Interests...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-122 Dated the 18th day of September 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by G L BROWN of Nelson Broadcaster TV3 NETWORK SERVICES LIMITED S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod A Martin...

BEFORE THE BROADCASTING STANDARDS AUTHORITY Decision No: 1997-165 Dated the 15th day of December 1997 IN THE MATTER of the Broadcasting Act 1989 AND IN THE MATTER of a complaint by PETER LORD of Christchurch Broadcaster TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND LIMITED S R Maling Chairperson L M Loates R McLeod J Withers...

ComplaintNine to Noon – offensive language – "nigger" FindingsPrinciple 1 – context – used to explain another word’s offensiveness – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary The word "nigger" was used by presenter Kim Hill in Nine to Noon broadcast on National Radio on 3 May 2000 just after 11. 00am. John Lowe complained to Radio New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the use of the word was unacceptable and unnecessary on public radio, and breached the good taste and decency standard. RNZ explained that the word arose in the context of a discussion about the origin of the word "munted" which had apparently been used on the programme earlier that day. According to a fax received from a South African listener, the word "munted" had the same derogatory meaning as "nigger"....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Futurama – animated cartoon series – contained sexual references – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and children’s interests FindingsStandard 1 (good taste and decency) – contextual factors – not upheld Standard 9 (children’s interests) – broadcaster adequately considered the interests of child viewers – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An episode of the comedy cartoon Futurama was broadcast on C4 at 7pm on Wednesday 27 May 2009. The show revolved around the main character Fry, who was cryogenically frozen in 1999 and then thawed 1,000 years later. The episode began with a flashback to New York in 1999 and showed Fry delivering a pizza to the local television station, which was showing a fictional programme called Single Female Lawyer....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 19893 News, Nightline and Campbell Live – items looked at issues surrounding David Benson-Pope’s seeking re-election for the constituency of Dunedin South – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, balance, accuracy and fairness Findings Standard 5 (accuracy) – no inaccuracies – not upheld Standard 6 (fairness) – not unfair to complainant – not upheld Standard 4 (balance) – subsumed into consideration of Standard 6 Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – vox-pop was acceptable in the context of an unclassified news programme – not upheld (This headnote does not form part of the decision. ) Broadcasts [1] A report on 3 News by its political editor Duncan Garner entitled “Seeking Re-Election”, was broadcast on TV3 at 6pm on 23 October 2007....

Complaint under section 8(1B)(b)(ii) of the Broadcasting Act 1989 NewstalkZB – during a discussion about the vice presidential candidate for the Republican Party, Sarah Palin, one of the regular commentators stated that Ms Palin's daughter was "the town bike” and that her family was "low-rent" – broadcaster upheld complaint that the comments breached Standard 1 (good taste and decency) and Standard 7 (discrimination and denigration) – action taken by broadcaster to rectify breaches allegedly insufficient Findings Standards 1 (good taste and decency) and 7 (denigration and discrimination) – broadcaster upheld complaint under two standards and counselled host on remark – action taken by broadcaster sufficient – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] An item on Newstalk ZB, broadcast at 8....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989This Way Up – host interviewed correspondent about an Irish pub which had been burned to the ground twice allegedly by local mafia in Sicily – host laughed occasionally while asking questions – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency Findings Principle 1 (good taste and decency) – awkward laughter did not threaten standards of good taste and decency in the context of an entertainment programme – not upheld This headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] On Radio New Zealand National’s This Way Up programme on the afternoon of Saturday 3 March 2007 the host, Simon Morton, interviewed a correspondent in Rome. The correspondent told the story of an Irish pub in Sicily – owned by Italian and Irish men – that had refused to pay the local mafia “protection money”....

Complaint under section 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Bogan’s Heroes – extreme satire about prison life – allegedly in breach of standards relating to good taste and decency and violenceFindingsStandard 1 – majority considers contextual factors sufficient to avoid a breach – not upheld Standard 10 – majority considers violence unrealistic and farcical – not upheldThis headnote does not form part of the decision. Broadcast [1] On 20 July 2005 at 11. 25pm, TV2 broadcast Bogan’s Heroes, a satire about criminals and life in prison. Complaint [2] Mr Cozens complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the programme was tasteless and offensive. He noted that the programme was described in the Listener as an AO-rated “extreme prison based comedy”. [3] He considered that the programme was excessively violent, indecent, and extremely offensive....

Complaint under s. 8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989Holmes – light-hearted commentary on a TV3 presenter’s telephone call to Wellington High Court about Justice Ron Young who was hearing TV3’s appeal against some decisions of the Broadcasting Standards Authority – Holmes presenter (Paul Holmes) said that TV3’s presenter (John Campbell) had been getting it “up the chutney” at the appeal hearing – allegedly offensiveFindings Standard 1 (good taste and decency) – context – not upheldObservation When complaint referred to the Authority under s. 8(1)(b) in which there is doubt whether broadcaster has had the opportunity to investigate the complaint, the Authority will clarify processes with the broadcaster before formal action initiatedThis headnote does not form part of the decision....

ComplaintZM Breakfast – discussion involving evaluation of breast size with regard to career prospects – alleged soft porn – inappropriate for target audience FindingsPrinciple 1 & Guideline 1a – not offensive to target audience – no uphold This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary [1] Between 9. 30 and 10. 30am on Wednesday 20 August 2003, the hosts of ZM Breakfast had a discussion on how breast size influenced women’s careers. After receiving a call from a young woman who related her employment experience, the hosts initiated a panel discussion asking three male employees of the station what they considered distracting about women’s breasts. [2] Richard Moore complained to The Radio Network Ltd, the broadcaster, that the discussion and panel interview, which he described as a "soft porn" broadcast, was inappropriate for the younger targeted listeners....

ComplaintDrama Priest – depiction of homosexual sexual activity – incest – blasphemy – offensive behaviour – offensive language FindingsStandard G2 – programme started at 9. 10pm – warnings – no explicit sexual behaviour – no breach This headnote does not form part of the decision. Summary A British drama entitled Priest was broadcast on TV One at 9. 10pm on 11 November 2000. It highlighted the inner conflict experienced by a priest as he tried to reconcile the contradictory demands of his faith and his homosexuality. Ken Francis complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that scenes which depicted homosexual sexual activity were offensive and breached broadcasting standards. The film also contained incest and blasphemy themes, he noted, which he also found offensive....

SummaryThe film Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man was broadcast on TV2 on 7 October 1999, beginning at 11. 00pm. It was an action movie in which two men stole mob money to prevent their friend’s bar from being closed down. Laurie Collier complained to Television New Zealand Ltd, the broadcaster, that the language and "gross violence" contained in the film breached broadcasting standards. In particular, he complained about the excessive use of the "f word" and what he called "the blood and guts violence". TVNZ’s informal response emphasised the relevance of context in ascertaining whether the language exceeded community expectations. When Mr Collier sought a review of TVNZ’s decision, it provided a more substantive response, again emphasising contextual factors. It noted that the film began at 11. 00pm, well into adult viewing time, that it was preceded by a warning, and that it was classified as AO....