✓ Balanced Reporting [9/10]: The headline clearly and neutrally states the outcome of the auditor-general's decision without exaggeration or implication of guilt or innocence.

"Auditor-general decides not to porsecute Nelson councillor over financial interests"

✕ Vague Attribution [4/10]: The headline contains a typo ('porsecute' instead of 'prosecute'), which undermines professionalism and could affect credibility, though it does not alter framing.

"Auditor-general decides not to porsecute Nelson councillor over financial interests"

✕ Loaded Language [7/10]: Includes Mayor Smith's quote calling the law an 'ass of a law', which is highly informal and emotionally charged. The article presents it without immediate counterbalance or editorial distancing, potentially influencing reader perception.

""I will also be writing to Ministers of Local Government and Regulation urging that this ass of a law be replaced.""

✕ Appeal to Emotion [6/10]: Includes councillor's statement that the situation was 'very distressing', which humanizes her but risks tilting sympathy without equal space for public concern about conflicts of interest.

""It's been very distressing, and I am pleased it's been resolved," she said."

✓ Balanced Reporting [9/10]: Presents both the legal framework and the councillor's position without overt judgment, allowing readers to assess the situation based on facts and official statements.

"Under the Local Authorities (Members' Interests) Act, people are prevented from being elected or appointed as a member of a local authority if they are "concerned or interested" - either personally or through a spouse or partner - in contracts or subcontracts from that authority totalling more than $25,000 per year unless the Auditor-General grants an exemption."

✓ Proper Attribution [10/10]: Clearly attributes statements to named officials: Mayor Nick Smith, Councillor Lisa Austin, and references the Audit Office and Auditor-General with specificity.

"Nelson mayor Nick Smith welcomed the decision."

✓ Comprehensive Sourcing [9/10]: Includes perspectives from the councillor, the mayor, and the Audit Office, covering political, personal, and institutional angles of the story.

"The council said the Audit Office has since been in contact to advise it would not start proceedings against Austin."

✓ Comprehensive Sourcing [10/10]: Provides background on the legal framework (Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act), explains the nature of the financial interest, and clarifies that there are no direct council contracts.

"Under the Local Authorities (Members' Interests) Act, people are prevented from being elected or appointed as a member of a local authority if they are "concerned or interested" - either personally or through a spouse or partner - in contracts or subcontracts from that authority totalling more than $25,000 per year unless the Auditor-General grants an exemption."

✕ Omission [3/10]: Does not explicitly state that the Auditor-General plans to urge law reform in writing, though it is implied. The event context confirms this is a known fact, but RNZ only says the office 'intended to write', which is slightly on the edge of completeness.

"The Audit Office intended to write to the Minister of Local Government and the Department of Internal Affairs to urge them to consider law reform again."