Broadcasting standards breaches
In March 2004, the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) upheld a complaint against Fair Go concerning its September 2003 investigation into Adfit Membership Services Ltd, a company that collects gym membership fees. While most aspects of the complaint were not upheld, the Authority found that the programme had been unfair in suggesting Adfit’s contracts had not been legally tested, despite Adfit having informed the broadcaster of successful Disputes Tribunal and District Court outcomes. The BSA ruled that omitting this information misrepresented Adfit's position and breached the fairness standard. TVNZ was ordered to broadcast a corrective statement.[12]
In August 2010, the BSA upheld complaints against Fair Go for breaching accuracy and fairness standards in a November 2009 broadcast that implied American photographer Dan Bush had falsely claimed ownership of a rainbow photograph. The programme featured a New Zealand woman who believed the image was hers and suggested Bush had “stolen” it, despite his website showing clear evidence he was the true creator. The BSA found that Fair Go misled viewers and treated Bush unfairly, contributing to threats and reputational harm. A privacy complaint was not upheld, as the information shown was already public. TVNZ was ordered to pay $1,000 in costs to the Crown.[13]
In July 2011, the BSA upheld a complaint against Fair Go relating to a September 2010 hidden camera investigation into sales tactics used by Wenatex, a company selling high-priced beds. The programme featured footage of two sales consultants making claims about the health benefits of the beds, including a comment interpreted as suggesting one consultant no longer needed a wheelchair after using the product. The Authority found the consultants had been treated unfairly, as they were identifiable despite their faces being blurred and were not given a reasonable opportunity to respond to serious allegations. Although complaints under the privacy and accuracy standards were not upheld, TVNZ was ordered to pay $8,740 in legal costs to the complainants.[14]
In December 2020, the BSA upheld a fairness complaint against Fair Go relating to a February 2020 broadcast investigating a fencing contractor. The BSA found the contractor was unfairly set up for a covert on-camera interview under false pretences and was not given a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations. It also determined that the inclusion of past criminal convictions, which were irrelevant to the issues at hand, contributed to an unjustly negative portrayal. The BSA did not uphold complaints under accuracy or balance standards but ordered TVNZ to pay $750 in costs to the Crown.[15]
In August 2022, the BSA upheld a complaint against Fair Go concerning a 2021 episode about a delayed residential building project. The BSA found the programme breached accuracy and fairness standards by misrepresenting the causes of the delays and unfairly portraying the builder, Michael Morrison, and his company, New Homes Direct. While no breaches of privacy or balance standards were found, the BSA ordered TVNZ to broadcast and publish a summary of the findings, awarded $2,098.70 in legal costs and disbursements to the complainants, and imposed $1,000 in costs payable to the Crown.[16]
