The BSA ruled that the interviews did not breach the balance and accuracy standards. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The Broadcasting Standards Authority has not upheld a complaint about two interviews on Morning Report, which explored the propriety of funding for a campaign to encourage Māori to register on the Māori electoral roll .
Paul Judge argued that the interviews - with Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, Chair of the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency (WOCA) which funded the campaign, and MP Shane Jones, who was asked to comment on the issue - displayed 'anti-Māori bias'.
Noting the broadcast incorrectly stated WOCA was a government agency, he said listeners would be left with an impression there was corruption taking place based on a false assumption.
The BSA found the balance standard was not breached, because significant perspectives about the advertising campaign were presented in the broadcast and in other media within the period of current interest.
While WOCA was inaccurately described as a 'government agency', the Authority found the error was not materially inaccurate or misleading in the context, noting WOCA administers taxpayer funds, the broadcast did not assert there was impropriety, and Raukawa-Tait responded to the questions and clarified the basis for funding the campaign.
Therefore the BSA ruled that the interviews did not breach the balance and accuracy standards.
The full BSA ruling can be found here: Judge and Radio New Zealand Ltd - 2025-049 (4 November 2025)