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Friday, October 16th, 2026I have sometimes criticised ASA decisions, mostly around political ads, which I think are usually the most important. But remember, these are a tiny fraction of the ASA’s workload. In general, as far as I can tell, they do a pretty good job. Over the years, they have been at pains to provide extensive guidance […]
The future of media regulation in New Zealand?
Wednesday, October 14th, 2026There’s a new media self-regulatory body in town. It’s called the IJC: the Independent Journalist Collective. The founding members are Cameron Slater, David Farrar, Brynn Neilson, Penny Marie and Simon Anderson, or at least their organisations. From a brief look at their websites I detect… a certain similarity in their political leanings. To become members, […]
A funny thing happened on the way to abolishing the BSA…
Monday, October 12th, 2026As you’ll know, the current government has decided to scrap the Broadcasting Standards Authority. This would happen after the election. But last month they introduced a Bill that would do the trick. One little-noticed effect of doing away with the BSA is that it would also subject all broadcasters to the Privacy Act. Under current […]
AI lawsuits?
Thursday, October 8th, 2026Before AI kills us all, or enslaves us like horses, or takes our jobs, or destroys our infrastructure, it’s going to drive us to the courts. I’m a media lawyer and lecturer, and I’ve spent the past few weeks thinking about how AI is going to shake down in my field. You’ve probably already heard […]
Ad infinitum
Wednesday, September 30th, 2026Yet another ASA decision about yet another National Party ad – a billboard this time. There’s one of these on the motorway between Wellington and Petone and when I saw it I was outraged. I started drafting a complaint to the ASA myself. But then I thought I’d better check the wording. So I drove […]
ASA gets this one right
Monday, September 28th, 2026I think National’s election campaign this year is a particularly deceptive one, and this is another complaint. This time it’s about a mail-out, which parties ought to take particular care with. National claimed that “Labour’s capital gains tax would hit the familybach, rentals, small businesses and KiwiSaver.” See if you can work out the justification […]
Another problem with the ASA’s election complaint process
Monday, September 28th, 2026Here’s a complaint against a National Party Facebook and Instagram ad, again falsely implying that Labour is proposing nine new taxes (though to be fair it doesn’t seem to explicitly mention Labour). The ASA chair decided there were grounds to refer it to the complaints board for consideration. But then National simply said the ad […]
A few notes on the OIA scandal
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026A Ministry of Education official has been caught on video telling staff not to write down their feedback from the Minister’s office because it is “OIA-able”. It’s not good. It looks like an attempt to create a misleading impression that feedback on a draft curriculum didn’t come from the Minister’s office. It may be a […]
Stuff gagged – wrongly?
Friday, September 18th, 2026The High Court has granted an injunction against Stuff Ltd preventing it publishing a report into potential conflicts of interest at a law firm receiving legal aid money. It seems the law firm was referring work to a firm that produced cultural and alcohol and drug reports for court. That firm was owned by two […]
Interesting Media Council splits
Friday, September 18th, 2026The Media Council (formerly the Press Council) hears complaints against print or text based media, alleging unethical conduct such as inaccuracy or lack of fairness or balance, or invasion of privacy. The complaints board comprises a combination of journalist and non-journalists picked to represent the public and is usually chaired by a retired judge (currently […]
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