is
Talley Family v National Business Review
212
in which the then Complaints
r
eview Tribunal (now Human
r
ights
r
eview Tribunal) considered whether
the publication of the g ich Listh was a news activity. i
t considered two
approaches to the interpretation of news activity. First, a broad interpretation,
under which the content of the publication is not analysed. The only question
under this approach is whether the publication was part of an activity by the
defendant broadly described as a news activity, as distinguishable from the news
mediumfs other functions such as advertising and employing staff. The second
possible approach involved analysing the content of the public
public interest test to determine whether it is gnews.h The Tribunal found that
on either approach the publication was a news activity. i
t did not state clearly
which was the correct approach.213
Therefore, it is likely to be difficult to successfully complain to thep
rivacy
3.17
Commissioner about a breach of privacy by the news media, except in relation
to breaches of principles 6 and 7 by radio New Zealand or Television
New Zealand. We note however that, although the news media are not bound
by the a
ct in relation to their news activities, the
p
rivacy Commissioner may
inquire into and comment on media practices affecting the privacy of individuals,
even where these relate to the mediafs news activities.214 i
n 2007 the
Commissioner reported on her inquiry into the publication of photographs of
elderly people and their carers in the journal of the New Zealand Nurses
Organisation. The Commissioner noted that, while the journal fell within
the definition of news medium and was therefore not subject to the a ctfs
complaints provisions, she was empowered by section 13(1)(m) of the a ct to
inquire generally into any matter if it appears that individual privacy may be
being infringed.215
Complaints to Privacy Commissioner
The information privacy principles are not enforceable in the courts.
3.18
216
r
ather, breaches of the principles are dealt with through the complaints process
outlined in this section. The exception is that the entitlement to access personal
information in principle 6, where that information is held by a public sector
agency, is a legal right and is enforceable in the courts.217
a ny person may make a complaint to the
p
rivacy Commissioner (gthe
3.19
Commissionerh) alleging that any action is or appears to be an interference with
the privacy of an individual. For the purposes of a complaint, an action is an
212 (1997) 4 H
r NZ 72.
213
s
ee also discussion in John Burrowsand
u rsula Cheer
Media Law in New Zealand
u niversity
p
ress, Melbourne, 2005) 275-277;
p aul
r oth
Privacy Law and Practice
Wellington, last updated 2007)
214
p
aul roth Privacy Law and Practice
p V a 2.2(e).
215
Marie s hroff,
p rivacy Commissioner gCommissioner
i
nitiated
i
nquiry under
s
ection 13 of the
p rivacy
a ct 1993:
p
ublication of
p
216
p
rivacy
a
ct 1993, s 11(2).
217
p
rivacy
a
ct 1993, s 11(1).
59
Invasion of Privacy: Penalties and Remedies