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This database was established to provide public access to classification decisions made by New Zealand censorship authorities. Decisions of these authorities are deemed by law to be decisions of the Classification Office.
The database contains classification decisions made by:
- The Office of Film and Literature Classification: 1994 – present
- Indecent Publications Tribunal: 1963-1994
- The Video Recordings Authority: 1987-1995
The Office is continuing work to incorporate the decisions of:
- The Chief Censor of Films: 1917-1994
We are creating this database from records that are often contained in mediums as diverse as handwritten scraps of paper, carbon copies and archaic magnetic tapes. Please be patient, as deciphering and transferring these records may take some time. As these records are checked for accuracy and entered, the database will be updated.
The database also includes decisions made by the review authorities for each of the censorship authorities.
To search the database, click on the button marked Search.
NEW DECISIONS
New decisions are available on the website, usually by the 10th working day of each month. Each monthly update includes all the decisions made in the preceding month. For example, an update on the 10th working day of February will include all decisions made in the month of January.
WHAT YOU WILL NOT FIND HERE
Unrestricted films with ratings
If you are searching for information on an unrestricted film released since 1994, then you are unlikely to find it on this database. Since 1994, most unrestricted films are rated G, PG or M by an industry-based organisation called the Film and Video Labelling Body.
Publications other than films
You will find a range of non-film publications in this database submitted by the Courts, the Department of Internal Affairs, Customs, the Police, and occasionally members of the public. There is not, however, a pre-release classification regime that requires non-film publications to be submitted for classification before their release. Only those that have been submitted for classification are found here.
Television ratings
Broadcasters assign ratings to television programmes under the Broadcasting Act 1989. The Classification Office has no power to decide broadcast ratings. Occasionally this database will include the title of a television programme that has been released on video or DVD. The classification returned by your search will be the one given to the DVD by the Office, not the rating given to it by the broadcaster.
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