Formal Complaints

Making a Formal Complaint

To complain about something you heard on-air

To complain about an on-air broadcast, you must do so in writing, either by using our online complaint form or by writing to our Chief Executive at PO Box 123 Wellington 6140.

A formal complaint must:

• nominate the programme name, along with its time and date
• nominate which of the standards you think were breached
• set out why you think they were breached

The full standards are contained in the Code of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand. Your complaint must reach RNZ within 20 working days of the programme’s broadcast.

The only time you can complain directly to the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) is if you wish to make a complaint alleging a breach of privacy. You can write to the BSA at PO Box 9213 Wellington 6001, or you can use the BSA online complaint form.

If you are not happy with our response to your complaint, which we must provide within 20 working days of receipt, you can refer it to the BSA and you must do that within 10 working days of receiving our reply.