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Recent decisions

Clicking on the names below will take you directly to the decisions.

Cotsilinis, Fish and Game New Zealand, Hadfield, Lion Nathan Ltd, O’Neil and TVNZ - Close Up

Five complaints were lodged with the Authority about a Close Up item which followed a group of duck hunters for a day on a farm in the Wairarapa. The duck hunters were shown drinking alcohol before shooting ducks, and one hunter was shown naked from behind jumping onto a blow-up doll.

The Authority upheld the complaints that the programme breached the good taste and decency, children’s interests, and liquor standards.

The Authority found that the Close Up item promoted beer and the Tui brand, and advocated liquor consumption. The Authority noted that one hunter said, “In the first three hours it’s all about the shooting and then it’s just about having a good day, getting on the booze...” and that another hunter acknowledged, “A few guys get a bit carried away, maybe a few lagers. Probably the shooting goes downhill.” The Authority said that it would have been obvious to viewers that the men were consuming alcohol while using firearms, and concluded that the liquor promotion in the item was not socially responsible.

With respect to good taste and decency and children’s interests, the Authority considered that the combination of socially irresponsible liquor promotion and the scene including the blow-up doll breached both standards in the context of a current affairs programme broadcast at 7pm.

The Authority ordered TVNZ to broadcast a statement, and to pay $3500 costs to the Crown and $1500 towards one complainant’s legal costs.

Willcock and TVNZ - Sunday

A complaint that an item on Sunday was in breach of the fairness standard was upheld. The programme investigated the state of New Zealand’s pedigree dog breeds and breeding ethics, and included comments from a dog owner who believed that his bulldog had serious health concerns that had been dismissed by the breeder. The reporter was shown driving to the breeder’s house and being asked to leave by the breeder’s husband.

The Authority upheld the breeder’s complaint that the item was unfair to her. It noted that TVNZ had approached the breeder for general comments about breeding ethics, but had not advised her that it intended to broadcast the dog owner’s specific complaints about her. It considered that this made Sunday’s decision to “door-step” the breeder unfair as she was not given a fair and reasonable opportunity to respond to the concerns raised by the dog owner.

The Authority ordered TVNZ to broadcast a statement summarising the decision.

MSD and TVNZ - Close Up

Item featured a man who had been made redundant – claimed he was not eligible for the Government’s ReStart package – allegedly inaccurate.

QM and TVNZ - Coastwatch

Included footage of Fisheries officers enforcing blue cod catch restrictions in the Marlborough Sounds – footage shown of officers pulling up to a boat which had been fishing in a banned area and issuing an infringement notice to the skipper for breaching the fishing restrictions – occupants of the boat were shown unpixellated – allegedly in breach of privacy and fairness standards.

LK and TVNZ - Real Crime: The Investigator

Programme analysed the conviction of a man for murdering his wife – disclosed the names and showed photographs of the man’s daughters – allegedly in breach of privacy.

Crawford and TVNZ - Backbenchers

Mt Albert by-election special – programme featured candidates from Labour, National, Green, ACT and United Future – candidates campaigned for votes and addressed various issues facing the electorate – allegedly in breach of balance and fairness standards.

McDonald and TVNZ - One News

Item on Big Wednesday Lotto draw – presenter stated that ticket holders had a one in 2.7 million chance of winning – allegedly inaccurate.

Reid and Maori TV - Te Kaea

Item reported that Ngati Porou was preparing to implement Foreshore and Seabed Deed of Agreement – allegedly unbalanced.

Whitford and Maori TV - Homai Te Pakipaki

Viewers had the opportunity to vote via text messaging for their favourite contestant – allegedly in breach of fairness, programme information and children’s interests standards.

Roy and TVNZ - One News

Item reported that an 89-year-old man had been accused of helping to kill 28,000 Jews at a “Polish death camp” during World War II – broadcaster agreed item was inaccurate and instructed staff not to use the reference again – action taken allegedly insufficient.

Hutt and TVNZ - Trinny and Susannah: The Great British Body

Large group of naked British people formed a sculpture of a naked person – contained full frontal nudity – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency.

Howard and TVWorks - Skins

Programme about a group of teenagers in Britain – showed teenagers drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and taking drugs – contained sexual material, nudity, violence and coarse language – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency, law and order, responsible programming, children’s interests, violence and liquor promotion standards

Cavill and TVWorks - 3 News

Item on the effects the recession was having on the adult entertainment industry – contained footage from “Boobs on Bikes” parade – included footage of a male stripper, a topless woman covered in body paint and three women dancing provocatively with one another – allegedly in breach of good taste and decency and children’s interests

FD and TVWorks - Campbell Live

Story about a man convicted of defrauding ACC who later successfully appealed to the Supreme Court – allegedly unbalanced and inaccurate.

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Review of complaints procedure ads - update

The Broadcasting Act which requires broadcasters  to publicise procedures for making complaints, including broadcasting notices about the process on each of their channels.  The BSA is currently reviewing these ads. 

A letter was sent to all broadcasters in late October, asking about the content and scheduling of their ads.  Thanks to all those who have been so speedy with their replies, it's much appreciated!  The questions asked are copied below.  All replies are due by 18 December 2009.

If you have any questions concerning your complaints procedure ads or this review then please contact Dominic Sheehan. 

What you need to tell us:

• Content – we need to see what is in the ad. If possible please email or send us a DVD of the ad(s) – email or post (PO Box 9213, Wellington). If sending a copy isn’t possible please send us the text and exact running time of the ad(s).
• Schedule – please let us know the times and dates the ad was played for one single calendar month this year – any month in 2009 is fine.
• You need to provide this information for each channel you broadcast.

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