60 Minutes (New Zealand)

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60 Minutes is the name of a television newsmagazine show currently broadcast in New Zealand on TV3. It began in 1989, based on an American program by the same name.

The broadcaster of 60 Minutes has changed twice during the 1990s. It was one of TV3's flagship programs when TV3 went to air in 1989. Then in 1992, TVNZ won the rights to the program, but leased it back to TV3 for one year.

After being shown on TV1 from 1993 to 2002, TVNZ decided not to renew the rights the show from CBS, and the rights were reaquired by TV3. Following this, there was a fight over the www.60minutes.co.nz domain, which for a short time, redirected to the site on TVNZ's replacement Sunday. Currently, the domain redirects to the www.cbs.com website.

The show is presented by Mike McRoberts and also features Melanie Reid and Amanda Millar.

1 Awards
2 Controversy
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Awards

In the inaugural Qantas Television Awards in 2005, the show won

Best Current Affairs Series
Best Current Affairs Reporter for Amanda Millar
Best Current Affairs Senior Camera for Ross Kenward on a segment called "Green Acres"

[edit] Controversy

Some segments broadcast have received negative responses. After an item entitled "Fowl Play" aired on 20 September 2004 about battery farming of hens, the Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand (EPFNZ) complained to the Broadcasting Standards Authority. They claimed it was unbalanced, inaccurate and unfair, but the Authority did not uphold the complaint as the EPFNZ had failed to participate in the item.

In July 2005, an interview with Ashraf Choudhary, the only Muslim Member of Parliament in New Zealand was broadcast. In this Choudhary stated that he would not condemn the practise of stoning to death some homosexuals and people who have extra-marital affairs.

A story broadcast in 2005 on the South Pacific received criticism from the Vanuatu Tourism Office General Manager. He said that the story by Rick Williamson was disrespectful to South Pacific cultures, taking footage out of context. In one section chiefs and villagers drinking kava are described as "really hammered" and "plastered on this stuff", while Williamson says when he partook in the kava that it was a "portal to the spirit world".