Watchdog upholds Maori TV burnouts complaint

A complaint over a Maori TV programme which showed the presenters laughing and cheering as a car performed burnouts has been upheld by the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

The footage was broadcast on Ti Hikoi Mahanga on January 8 during a segment where the presenters surfed at various New Zealand beaches and talked to locals.

At one point, the presenters spoke to a group of young men who had also been surfing who then got in their car and began performing burnouts on the road.

The presenters, who were sitting in their own car, were shown cheering, laughing and waving in support.

A viewer complained to the broadcaster, saying the programme breached the law and order standard of the Broadcasting Act and condoned and promoted the behaviour of the men.

In response, the broadcaster said the behaviour in the programme wasn't desirable, but wasn't "glamorising serious crime as contemplated by (the standard)".

Maori TV declined to uphold the complaint, but said the programme's producer had assured such actions and behaviour wouldn't be displayed again.

The viewer then complained to the Broadcasting Standards Authority, saying he was not satisfied with the broadcaster's response and pointing out it was an offence to perform a burnout on a public road.

He also noted the segment was replayed on the end-of-season episode.

The authority determined that the presenters' actions amounted to promoting and condoning illegal activity, and upheld the complaint.

It said the action taken by the broadcaster in speaking to the programme's producer was appropriate and sufficient, and there would be no further penalty for the broadcaster.

- NZPA