New Zealand- A complaint over TVNZ’s coverage of the controversial Boobs on Bikes parade has been dismissed by the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
The parade, a promotion for the Erotica Expo held in Auckland in August, drew 20,000 people into Queen St to watch 25 bare-breasted porn stars cruise by on motorbikes.
Auckland’s mayor, Dick Hubbard, branded the parade “morally repugnant” and tried to prevent it taking place, sparking conflict between the city’s councillors.
On August 23, One News ran a news item on the parade, which outlined the controversy, and included views both for and against it.
The item showed footage of the topless women riding as pillion passengers on the motorbikes.
Kristian Harang, of Auckland complained about the news item, saying it was in bad taste, and set a “bad example” for teenagers about what behaviour was acceptable in public.
In response, TVNZ said the item was newsworthy as it had drawn such a large crowd, and caused a rift in the city council.
The broadcaster acknowledged it could have electronically obscured the breasts, but said that would have suggested it was against the parade, when in fact it was neither for or against.
The footage was “reasonably discreet”, TVNZ said.
Furthermore, “the (complaints) committee found it difficult to understand how a relatively harmless item which showed breasts being bared on Queen Street could be considered more damaging than news events dealing with such disturbing subjects such as war, child abuse, murder, intolerance and dishonesty,” the Broadcasting Standards Authority said today.
In ruling the broadcast fell within the boundaries of good taste and decency, authority chair Joanne Morris said the footage was not gratuitous or intended to titillate but was part of an item that addressed the controversy in a serious manner.
While the broadcast occurred during children’s viewing times, it was unlikely that unaccompanied young children would choose to watch news programmes.
A warning at the start of the item would have allowed those watching with children to “respond appropriately”, Ms Morris said.
The complaint was not upheld.