Complaints upheld after comments about iwi

The Broadcasting Standards Authority has dished out a $3000 fine and upheld two complaints about a Sean Plunket interview with a Te Whᾱnau ᾱ Apanui spokesman on iwi checkpoints.

The Magic Talk Afternoons with Sean Plunket interview with Louis Rapihana amplified negative stereotypes about Mᾱori and had the potential to cause widespread harm, the authority said.

Rapihana was questioned about roadblocks in the eastern Bay of Plenty under Covid-19 alert level 4, it said, and what the iwi intended to do if anyone refused to comply with the travel permit requirement established under alert level 3.

“We consider Mr Plunket’s tone, dismissiveness, repeated interruptions of Mr Rapihana, and the comments he made following the interview, were either intended to encourage harmful tropes and views, or reflected ignorance at a level that is offensive and harmful to Mᾱori,” it said.

The authority said Plunket’s comments and approach had the effect of reflecting and amplifying casual racism towards Mᾱori.

“The broadcaster felt the segment did not contain a ‘high level of vitriol’. We disagree,” the authority said.

As a result of the “high level of harm”, the authority ordered a broadcast statement from MediaWorks and $3000 in costs to the Crown.

In a statement, MediaWorks said it accepted the authority’s decision.

“By its nature, talk radio was an opinionated environment that promotes provocative and edgy debate with challenging viewpoints,” the company said.

“[We] understand the comments made during this live broadcast could have caused distress, and for that we apologise.”