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Broadcasting Standards Authority Upholds Decision on TVNZ Breakfast Interview with ACT Party Deputy Leader

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority has upheld a decision on a complaint regarding a TVNZ Breakfast interview with ACT Party deputy leader Brooke van Velden. The interview, which aired on 19 February 2024, was part of a discussion between van Velden and Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick about Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's State of the Nation speech. The complainant, Geoff Neal, claimed that the broadcast breached the accuracy, balance, and fairness standards of the Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Broadcasting Standards Authority upheld the decision that the host's question/prompt was in the nature of analysis, comment, or opinion, and not a statement of fact.
  • The authority found that the host's phrase "You must be able to read the room" was a common interview technique to challenge the interviewee, and did not constitute a material error of fact.
  • The complainant alleged that the host's comment showed significant political bias, but the authority stated that the balance standard does not require news, current affairs, and factual programming to be presented impartially or without bias.
  • The fairness standard was not breached, as van Velden was given the opportunity to respond to the host's comment, and the threshold for finding a breach of the fairness standard is higher for public figures and politicians.
  • The authority noted that the complainant had not highlighted any particular view that they believed was not included in the broadcast, and that viewers would not expect further points of view to be included in a clearly defined discussion between two political leaders.

Statistics:

  • 77% of New Zealanders thought the country was becoming more divided in a September poll, under the Labour Government.
  • A poll in December 2022 showed New Zealand becoming more divided.
  • Half of New Zealand believed race relations were getting worse in July 2023, under the Labour Government.
  • The Curia poll commissioned by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union showed that three New Zealanders support the Treaty Principles Bill for every New Zealander that opposes it.

Sources:

  • [1] Complainant Geoff Neal's complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority, dated 22 May 2024.
  • [2] TVNZ's response to the complaint, dated 22 May 2024.
  • [3] Broadcasting Standards Authority's decision on Complaint 2024-023, dated 22 May 2024.
  • [4] Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand.
  • [5] Curia poll commissioned by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union, results not specified.
  • [6] TVNZ Breakfast interview with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, 19 February 2024.
  • [7] September poll, results not specified.
  • [8] December 2022 poll, results not specified.
  • [9] July 2023 poll, results not specified.

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