Martin Hales against Radio New Zealand

Radio New Zealand published an audio recording on its website on June 22, 2025, under the headline War in the Middle East: What the future might look like.

The recording replayed Jim Mora’s Sunday morning National Programme interview of an academic at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC on the bombing of Iran. The interview was recorded after a week-long Israeli bombing campaign against Iran and just hours before US bunker buster bombs were dropped on Iranian nuclear installations. A brief audio clip of US President Trump saying: “I may or may not do it...but Iran is in a whole lot of trouble” was run in the lead up to the 16-minute interview.

During the discussion/interview the commentator speculated on whether a US bombing mission would proceed or be successful, how the Iranians might retaliate, whether the regime might be de-stabilised and wider potentially very dangerous geo-political consequences.

Mr Hales complained that RNZ breached Media Council Principle (1) Accuracy, Fairness and Balance as the item was one-sided.

“No counterpoint was offered, no alternative, no background nor discussion that much of the world, including USA, is angered by Israel’s illegal attack on Iran and the potential implications thereof. Nor even, that the bombing was illegal. Nor that Iran is in accordance with IAEA whereas Israel is not. RNZ is NZs national radio station, not Israel’s. RNZ’s pro USA bias is always apparent but never more blatant than today.”

In response RNZ said this was an ongoing story and there had been significant wider coverage since that June 22 piece. 

“Our early coverage of this attack was necessarily based upon reportage that quoted US

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. In a developing story such as this, it takes time for all perspectives to be covered.

Since that time, our coverage has included:

June 25: Early US intel assessment suggests strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear sites,

sources say | RNZ News.

June 26: A speedbump, not a roadblock for Iran's nuclear programme | RNZ.

June 26: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Trump 'exaggerated' impact of

US strikes on nuclear sites | RNZ News.

 
Our commitment is to provide as wide a coverage as possible of international events, but this is dependent on the actions and availability of key world leaders. Please note that, in the aftermath of the attacks, RNZ broadcast interviews with the Ambassadors of Israel and Iran, as part of that approach.”

The Media Council notes the interviewee provided a measured commentary on the situation. Although he had a US military background, he provided an interesting and considered analysis of the situation just prior to the US bombing of Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities.

At the time it was apparent bombers had been despatched from their US bases, but it was not certain the attack would proceed.  The analyst expresses his reservations about the US becoming involved and the use of force, and his fears about what might follow. It was not a one-sided commentary, and it did not parrot the view of the US or Israeli leaders.

While it did not cover all the points canvassed by Mr Hales, the Media Council believes this was an analysis at a particular moment in a fast developing and important story where a lot of information was still unknown. It was not necessary to cover all the different angles in this one item. The Media Council has always held that in long running stories or in situations where a story is evolving, questions of fairness and balance need to be judged over time.

This interview was just one of many items run before and after the bombings and it was notable that RNZ subsequently carried interviews with both the Israeli and Iranian ambassadors to New Zealand.

As balance was provided over time the Media Council concluded that RNZ had not breached Principle (1).

 
Decision:  No grounds to proceed.