CHAZ FORSYTH AGAINST OTAGO DAILY TIMES

Overview

Chaz Forsyth complained about a story published in the Otago Daily Times on 12 August 2021 headed High number of illegal guns blamed on gangs. It was illustrated by a graphic showing the number of firearms seized in different regions and included an inset photo showing firearms. Mr Forsyth said the firearms shown were actually seized in Northland so it was misleading to use this photo to illustrate a story about firearms seized in the Southern Police District.

The ODT replied, saying the photograph was to represent what guns seized by police can look like. It was merely an illustration, not intended to be the actual guns seized.

The photograph was used as a generic illustration of guns that might have been seized by police. It is of no significance where the guns were seized. The graphic referred to gun seizures over the whole country and there was no information about where these particular guns had been seized. Readers would not be misled in any way by the photograph.

Finding: Insufficient Grounds to Proceed.