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The New Zealand Press Council
If you have a complaint about the editorial content of a newspaper, magazine or periodical in circulation in New Zealand (including their websites) you may complain to the Press Council.
The Press Council was established in 1972 as an industry self-regulatory body and provides an independent forum for resolving complaints involving the press.
The Press Council is funded by industry and there is no cost to lodge a complaint.
The Press Council also lobbys on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Press issues.
Press Council Members
NEW ZEALAND PRESS COUNCIL OFFICERS
Barry Paterson CNZM, OBE, QC Independent Chairman, Retired High Court Judge, Auckland
Mary Major Executive Director
Representing the public
Pip Bruce Ferguson Independent Researcher, Hamilton
Sandy Gill Consultant and mother, Lower Hutt
Chris Darlow Lawyer, Auckland
Tim Beaglehole Emeritus Professor, Wellington
Liz Brown Consultant, Horowhenua
Peter Fa'afiu General Manager, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, Tamaki Redevelopment Company, Auckland (Alternate member)
Representing the Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA)
Clive Lind Editorial Development, FairfaxNZ, Wellington
John Roughan New Zealand Herald Assistant Editor, Auckland
Representing Magazine Publishers
Kate Coughlan Editor, NZ Life & Leisure and NZ House & Garden, Auckland
Representing the NZ Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (Media Division)
Stephen Stewart Journalist, Wellington
Penny Harding Journalist, Wellington
Case Number: 2320 CLIVE STUART AGAINST NORTH & SOUTH
Council Meeting APRIL 2013
The New Zealand Press Council has upheld a complaint against a North & South article on homeopathy published in its July, 2012 edition.
The article included the statement “… homeopathic remedies have failed every randomised, evidence-based scientific study seeking to verify their claims of healing powers". Clive Stuart, a registered homeopath of Tauranga, took issue with this statement.
The Press Council found the statement inaccurate in so far as the state of scientific research into homeopathy is not as conclusive as North & South had suggested.
The Council said newspapers and magazines are entitled to take a severely critical attitude to any product or practice that claims health benefits but they need to take care that the facts they present are accurate. They need to take particular care in references to medical research.
The other issues of complaint raised by Mr Stuart were not upheld.
The Press Council assessed the complaint on journalistic principles, and made no finding on the efficacy of homeopathy.
For the full decision please use the link below.
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