Hug-A-Ginga day complaints not determined

Photo / Daily Post

The Broadcasting Standards Authority say it has not been able to deal with complaints about a radio show's "Hug-A-Ginga day" promotion because recordings of the broadcast were not provided.

Five people complained to the BSA saying The Edge's promotion, run on May 28 encouraging the public to hug people with red coloured hair, was derogatory, discriminatory and encouraged the bullying of red-haired children.

However, Radioworks was unable to supply a recording of the station's breakfast show The Edge Morning Madhouse from the day of the promotion because of technical difficulties.

A majority of the BSA said determining the complaint required careful consideration of the exact words used in the broadcast and the overall tone of the programme - something they could not decide from about 20 minutes of clips out of the four-hour broadcast.

"We are left in the highly unsatisfactory position of being unable to make any determination on the standards raised by the complainants," the BSA said.

Failure to provide a recording of the broadcast "demonstrates a serious failure by the broadcaster with regard to the retention of tapes for the purposes of the formal complaints process, irrespective of the technical difficulties", the BSA said.

The BSA found the origin of the idea was an episode of the television programme South Park which then inspired a "Kick-A-Ginga Day" group on Facebook.

"In our view the current promotion still carries those undertones," the decision said.

"It seems clear from the complainants' submissions that the promotion has resulted in people feeling unfairly singled out, unwanted physical attention, and some distress among red-haired children who fear teasing and bullying."

- NZPA