BSA upholds complaint against Radio NZ

The New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has upheld a complaint by Fiji's solicitor-general against Pacific Island affairs commentator Michael Field on Radio New Zealand.

Solicitor-General Christopher Pryde had complained a broadcast by Field in March was an "uneducated, ill-informed, deeply biased, unbalanced, and false account of recent events in Fiji".

The comments included criticism of the head of Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who was the brother of the military-appointed attorney-general, and the deportation of newspaper editor Russell Hunter.

Field also commented on Justice Jocelyn Scutt's criticism of the Fiji Human Rights Commission report, which said the Fiji coup had been legitimate.

Field linked that with an attack on the judge the following day.

Radio NZ said that the statements complained of were not material to the discussion.

The BSA said that the public had a right to expect that news and current affairs programmes would present material accurately.

The BSA declined to make any orders but said that the publication of its decision would serve as a reminder to commentators that they must ensure the accuracy of factual statements.

- NZPA