Swearing complaint against Paul Henry dismissed

Paul Henry. Photo / Mediaworks

Complaints of offensive language and footage of fighting have been dismissed by the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

One complaint regarded the late-night Paul Henry show, in which the controversial presenter commented on a recent incident involving an apparent tourist who had reportedly driven with a kayak attached sideways to the roof of his car.

Henry called him a "bloody twat" and lamented New Zealand's "politically correct" attitude towards tourists.

The Authority said that in the context of a late-night programme with an adult target audience and Henry's well-known presenting style, which could be provocative, the language did not breach the good taste and decency standard.

Another complaint related to a news item on One News which showed footage of an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) match that featured a New Zealander.

The authority did not agree with the two complainants that the item was excessively violent.

In the context of an unclassified sports news item about a UFC fight, the footage was not unexpected or gratuitous, the authority said.

"People will have different attitudes about matters of taste. However, the context of the broadcast is always crucial to deciding whether to uphold a complaint about good taste and decency", BSA chief executive Karen Scott-Howman said.

"Contextual factors can vary, but usually include the programme classification, the time of broadcast, and audience expectations of the programme and the channel or station."

The authority upheld a complaint related to a broadcast by radio station APNA 990 of details of a disputed business debt between the station and the complainant's company.

It found the broadcast as a misuse of airtime, as the station neglected their responsibility as a broadcaster to preserve individuals' right to privacy.

The authority ordered the radio station to pay $1000 compensation for breach of privacy to the complainant and costs of $1000 to the Crown.