Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The Broadcasting Standards Authority has not upheld a complaint under the Discrimination and Denigration, and Fairness standards about an interviewee saying, on Midday Report, that the Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters. was "touching himself instead of doing a real job of caring for New Zealanders in difficulty'"
Stewart Brown complained about the interview, broadcast on 2 October, 2025, with Adrian ('Adi') Leason, who was talking about his son's experience as a participant of the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid for Gaza, that was intercepted by the Israeli Navy.
During the interview, Leason said: "Yeah, the Ministry [of Foreign Affairs and Trade] have been good. The staff have responded quickly to questions. We've received a written letter. Unfortunately, they're kind of saying, in a kind of ministerial kind of way, that their ability to support New Zealanders is being limited by the current administration. Clearly, Winston Peters is at work, you know, touching himself instead of doing a real job of caring for New Zealanders in difficulty. So, it's very disappointing to see this approach taken from leadership, but the staff have been excellent."
Brown argued that the comment was 'hate filled, illogical and defamatory'. 'This, to me, expands the scope of commentary way beyond common decency and robust political dialogue.'
The BSA noted that the threshold for finding a breach of the Fairness standard is higher for politicians and public figures, and it found the brief comment would not have left viewers with an unfairly negative impression of Peters. It ruled the Discrimination and Denigration standard did not apply.
The full decision can be found here: Brown and Radio New Zealand Ltd - 2025-064 (21 January 2026)
