KEY POINTS:
Radio Live has apologised to Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro for comments made on air by host Michael Laws.
Dr Kiro said she was pleased to see her formal complaint about the comments resulted in an apology broadcast today.
"The station's complaints committee acknowledged I had been treated in
an unfair and unkind manner and that two complaints submitted by my office were justified and the broadcaster has now twice censured Michael Laws for his inaccurate and unfair comments," she said.
Dr Kiro said she and her staff were distressed by the incorrect statements made on air by Mr Laws, who is also mayor of Wanganui.
"Not only were there inaccuracies, but the vitriol was disturbing," she said.
"We are aware that as employees of a Crown entity we are under public scrutiny and our work may be criticised. However, some of the comments made by Mr Laws went well beyond those parameters and into the deeply personal."
In its apology Radio Live said it accepted that during Radio Live's weekly morning show in March and April this year, Mr Laws made comments about Dr Kiro that were inaccurate and unfair.
Mr Laws claimed that Dr Kiro only ever got involved in white abuse cases, and criticised her for not being involved in useful initiatives on Maori child abuse, such as Reverend Hone Kaa's new charitable trust. In fact, Dr Kiro supported and funded Reverend Kaa's trust.
Radio Live said it accepted that she was involved in a wide range of actions aimed at tackling child abuse, across all ethnicities.
Mr Laws suggested that Dr Kiro was overseas while baby Teyah Pewhairangi's mother battled to be allowed to give her a liver donation. In fact, Dr Kiro was in the country, and once she became aware of the case supported Teyah's mother in getting the rules waived so that the donation could proceed.
Mr Laws claimed that National Party MPs called for Dr Kiro's resignation in Parliament over her comments on the anti-tagging bill. In fact, they didn't call for her resignation.
He also said that Dr Kiro refused to come on to his show but he had been misinformed - Dr Kiro was willing to be interviewed by Mr Laws.
Radio Live also said it accepted that Mr Laws made personal and unfair remarks about Dr Kiro, which were unjustified and inappropriate.
"Radio Live unreservedly apologises to Dr Kiro for Mr Laws' comments and for the upset and concern they caused to her and her office," the broadcaster said.
- NZPA
