BSA: Campell Live did not breach privacy rules

Paul Valor and Pearl Valor residents of Gloriavale on their wedding day. Photo / TVNZ

A covert Campbell Live filming at a controversial religious commune did not breach privacy rules, according to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

A TV3 reporter visited Gloriavale at Haupiri, inland from Greymouth on the West Coast, unannounced earlier this year as part of a Campbell Live story looking at allegations of misconduct within the community made during two earlier interviews with a former commune resident.

The reporter had a conversation with two senior Gloriavale members about the allegations, but did not inform them that they were being filmed.

Footage and audio of their conversation was then broadcast.

A complaint over a breach of privacy was made to the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA).

In a decision released today, the BSA overall reached the view that the footage "did not disclose any private information about the members or intrude on their privacy in a manner that was highly offensive".

The BSA noted in its decision its discomfort at the covert way in which the footage was obtained, but on balance found that it did not make the disclosure of the footage highly offensive.

Campbell Live had made several unsuccessful requests to interview a member of the Gloriavale community prior to the reporter's visit, and the BSA considered the broadcaster had a reasonable belief that the only way to obtain comment was to visit the community in person.

The BSA also considered it relevant that Gloriavale was likely to have been aware of the Campbell Live investigation, and that the two community members engaged willingly and courteously with the reporter and at no point objected to the filming or his presence.

In addition, the BSA noted there was public interest in the broadcast and in the footage of the Gloriavale community members.

"Serious allegations were made about individuals within the Gloriavale community and Campbell Live raised legitimate questions about the community's response - or lack thereof - to these allegations," the BSA said.