The Broadcasting Standards Authority has declined to uphold complaints that two female characters kissing on Coronation Street breached broadcasting standards.

The complainants alleged the scene, which was broadcast at 5.30pm, breached standards of good taste and decency, responsible programming, children's interests and standards relating to controversial issues.

The complainants considered that showing two women kissing was offensive.

The BSA found that the scene consisted of a brief, relatively innocuous kiss between two young women, who were sitting on a couch and fully clothed.

"The Authority has previously declined to uphold complaints about characters kissing during G programmes. We also agree with TVNZ that the mere fact that the kiss was between two women does not make it less acceptable.

"We do not consider that most viewers would have been offended by the scene or that it threatened current norms of good taste and decency."

The BSA was also satisfied that the kissing scene was not unsuitable for any unsupervised child viewers and did not warrant a higher classification of PGR, or a later time of broadcast.

The BSA found that the controversial issues complaint did not apply as that standard only relates to news, current affairs and factual programmes.