Emma Blackett against Radio New Zealand

Radio New Zealand published an article October 2, 2025 (updated 7 October 2025) titled, Kiwi teen on board Gaza flotilla ship intercepted by Israeli forces.

The article reported on the interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla that was attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. It focussed on the arrest or detention of three New Zealanders who were among the 500 people aboard the flotilla.

Emma Blackett’s principal complaint was about RNZ’s refusal to use the word genocide in its stories about the flotilla, Gaza and Israel, particularly since the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories released its findings in September – that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.

“The fact that Israel is committing genocide is essential contextual information that RNZ omits. This omission lends credence to Israel’s testimony and detracts from activists’, even though the activists were within the bounds of international law and Israel was, in several ways, breaking international law.”

“I would like the council to note that, unlike similar international publishers such as the BBC, RNZ has “not published any news articles about said decision--only a think piece in "The Conversation".

“RNZ ought to be writing about Israel's actions in Gaza using the language of genocide “in its own words”. At the very least, RNZ should use the language “accused genocide,” as it would for anyone accused of a serious crime that warrants public knowledge.

In response RNZ said its newsroom guide required caution to be exercised when the word genocide was used in its own voice.

“RNZ will not use this term (in its own voice) until the International Court of Justice (ICJ), or a similar body, has determined such an action has happened.”

“Some complainants have similarly argued that we should use the word genocide because the International Criminal Court has issued warrants for the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, the Prime Minister and the former Minister of Defence of Israel. As with the UN/ICJ, that does not meet RNZ's threshold. Were the ICC to convict Netanyahu or Gallant, that would obviously require us to review the guidance.”

Ms Blackett responded to this saying that a case against Israel on the charge of genocide was in process with the ICJ and RNZ could legally say Israel had been charged with or accused of genocide. Journalists manage the legality of similar language all the time when they report criminal charges against those accused of crime.

The Media Council agrees there is no reason why RNZ cannot report that Israel has been accused of genocide and that a case has been referred to the ICJ. These charges have been widely reported and RNZ say they ran an article the previous month reporting the UN Commission of inquiry finding that Israel had committed genocide as defined under international law.

However, the Council does not believe there is a requirement to refer to it in every story about this conflict. The Gaza war began more than two years ago and has been in the headlines constantly. Most stories relating to this war focus on developing news events, like the interception of the flotilla that was trying to break a blockade and deliver aid to the people of Gaza. It is impractical to detail all related information on the conflict every day there is a fresh development. Balance can be provided over time.

Media Council Principle (1) Accuracy, Fairness and Balance says that with long-running issues, where every side of an issue or argument cannot reasonably be reported on every occasion, balance is to be judged on a number of stories. The UN Commission of Inquiry finding and other allegations before the ICJ have been reported on widely and are in the public domain. These are elements woven into the broader narrative of the war and people who follow news of the conflict know that.

The Council does not consider there is evidence to show that this story and related war coverage breached its ethical principles.

Decision: No grounds to proceed.