TV3 treated marine safety body fairly, says authority

A TV3 programme about the fishing expert known as Bill Hohepa contained an inaccuracy about the Maritime Safety Authority (MSA), but dealt with the organisation fairly, the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has found.

Keith James Philpot, 53, of Otaki, drowned in 1996 after the fishing boat Hunky Dory - skippered by Wayne Wills, known as Bill Hohepa - capsized in Northland's Doubtless Bay.

In a programme screened during December 2003, TV3's 60 Minutes had reported that Mr Wills felt he had been relentlessly pursued by the MSA because he had a high media profile, the BSA said in a recent decision.

MSA director Russell Kilvington had complained that the item was unbalanced, inaccurate and unfair.

The BSA found a reporter's statement had been inaccurate when it implied the cause of a lengthy delay before a coroner's inquest had been solely attributable to the MSA.

That comment had breached the accuracy standard of the Television Code, the BSA said.

The MSA had also complained about the accuracy of the item where it reported signals from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (Epirb) had not been acted on.

But the BSA decided it did not have enough information to determine the accuracy of the item's comments about Epirb signals.

The MSA had been dealt with fairly, the BSA found.

"It was Mr Wills' view that he had been unjustifiably pursued by the MSA since the accident, which was supported by the circumstances detailed in the programme."

Overall, the BSA said, it considered a balance of perspectives had been aired.

- NZPA