Mike Hosking's outburst deemed not offensive by Broadcasting Standards Authority

Mike Hosking at work in the Newstalk ZB studio. Photo / Michael Craig

The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has ruled that two similar terms of using the Lord's name in vain were neither blasphemous nor offensive.

The first complaint came after the 1 News Vote 17 Leaders Debate where moderator Mike Hosking questioned Bill English and Jacinda Ardern.

Hosking was quizzing National Party Leader Bill English about a damaged fuel pipeline in Auckland that affected flights out if its airport.

In frustration at English's response, Hosking uttered the words "for God's sake".

The authority found the alleged harm did not outweigh the important right to freedom of expression, especially in the lead-up to a general election.

They said the variations of "God", "Christ" and "Jesus Christ" are commonly used as exclamations.

In Hosking's case, he used the phrase to express his own and voters' frustration at the Government's response to the ordeal.

The second complaint came after a farmer used the expression "for Christ's sake" when talking about a report on 1 News on the outbreak of a cattle disease in South Canterbury.

The authority found that there was a public interest and high value in hearing an authentic voice from a New Zealand farmer as part of the report.

It noted that the farmer used the expression to express his frustration and strong support of the affected farm owner.

The complaint was not upheld.

Mike?s Minute: Sorry NZ - I misled you

Mike Hosking: Sorry New Zealand. I'm guilty of an unspeakable crime. I misled you. ...

Video Player is loading.

Play Video

PlaySkip Backward

Mute

Current Time 0:00

/

Duration 0:00

Loaded: 0%

0:00

Stream Type LIVE

Seek to live, currently behind liveLIVE

Remaining Time -0:00

 

1x

Playback Rate

Chapters

• Chapters

Descriptions

• descriptions off, selected

Captions

• captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
• captions off, selected

Audio Track

Fullscreen

This is a modal window.

Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

Text

ColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanOpacityOpaqueSemi-Transparent

Text Background

ColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanOpacityOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparent

Caption Area Background

ColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanOpacityTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaque

Font Size

50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%

Text Edge Style

NoneRaisedDepressedUniformDrop shadow

Font Family

Proportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall Caps

Reset restore all settings to the default valuesDone

Close Modal Dialog

End of dialog window.

Close Modal Dialog

This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

Drones could be coming to farm sheds and beaches near you

UP NEXT:

NOW PLAYING • Mike?s Minute: Sorry NZ - I misled you

Mike Hosking: Sorry New Zealand. I'm guilty of an unspeakable crime. I misled you. ...