The High Court has quashed a decision that Television New Zealand breached broadcasting standards by airing the f-word in a programme about the 1990 massacre in Aramoana.
In April, the Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled that the Sunday current affairs programme breached standards of good taste and decency.
TVNZ appealed, arguing that viewers had a right to hear the exact exchange of words between the Aramoana gunman and the policeman who shot him dead.
In the judgement, Justice France described the BSA's decision as plainly wrong, as it did not consider the whole context of the programme.
The BSA says it will seek to learn from the High Court ruling.
