An intimate Shortland Street scene showing two young men in bed together has been rejected by broadcaster TVNZ, says the long-running local soap's producer.
South Pacific Pictures producer Jason Daniel told the NZ Herald that TVNZ initially wanted the storyline dropped but eventually accepted a re-edited version.
The storyline, which starts this week, shows receptionist Gerald Tippett, played by Harry McNaughton, kissing a male friend. The men are also seen shirtless and ducking under the covers twice.
The Herald reports: "There was a suggestion he was performing a sexual act on the other, but the scene was 'sped up' after TVNZ raised concerns."
The serial drama recently featured racy storylines including 'before and after' scenes of straight couple having 'quickie sex' in a restaurant, and a male teenage model stripping for a 'threesome' safe sex poster campaign. A violent climax of the 7pm soap's 'serial killer' storyline was OK'ed by TVNZ - but was broadcast after two separate 'violence may disturb' warnings were shown.
A TVNZ spokesperson admits the broadcaster wanted one same-sex bedroom scene re-edited, at its expense, in case it caused "parents some unnecessary difficulties in explaining it to their children".
Daniel has now gone public with TVNZ's request for cuts, accusing them of double-standards, as recent episodes featuring a lesbian couple were given the all-clear. "[But] when it's two men, we have fraught discussions about corrupting the morals of a nation," he points out.
More on this story is on the NZ Herald link below.