The New Zealand Herald reported that New Zealand TV news program 'Close Up' has rejected claims it staged a segment. (Credit: NZ Herald, screenshot) backup, limewire

New Zealand TV news Close Up has been accused of staging a segment, the New Zealand Herald reported.  Close Up, however, has rejected the claims.

The segment showed a “youth with a pistol.”  But, according to the Herald, “police have determined the gun was fake.”

Georgie Hills, a spokesperson for TVNZ, which airs Close Up, stated

“There is no documentary evidence to support the claim the boys were egged on by our reporter or cameraman.  It may not be the image the town wishes to project to the world, but the clip wasn’t set up in any way. it was unbidden and unscripted footage caught on camera. Any suggestion to the contrary is egregiously wrong.”

iMediaEthics wrote last month when Close Up apologized after copying a segment and script from ABC News America.