The Broadcasting Standards Authority has upheld a complaint relating to the violent death of a "Shortland Street" character in an episode broadcast in September last year.
The complainant said violent scenes, including the bashing of Dr Craig Valentine with a baseball bat and his being trapped in a car that was set on fire, were totally unacceptable for the programme's 7pm timeslot.
Television New Zealand said the episode's violence had been carefully edited to meet the PGR classification.
However, most members of the authority considered the material should have been classified as Adults Only.
The decision was not unanimous and the authority has not imposed any order on the broadcaster.
