History of Censorship
1858
Customs regulations prohibit importation of 'indecent' and 'obscene' material.
1892
Offensive Publications Act includes restrictions on indecent advertisements.
1893
Post Office Act amended so suspected indecent mail can be opened and destroyed.
1896
First film screening in New Zealand.
The first public film screening in New Zealand was in Auckland on October 13, 1896. Professors Hausmann and Gow introduced 'Edison's latest marvel, the Kinematograph', with which they showed a programme of short films – the first public film projection in New Zealand.
1906
Offensive Publications Act amended so premises can be searched for indecent literature.
1908
Lawyer takes Shakespeare to court to make a legal point.
Read more about this challenge to censorship law
1910
Indecent Publications Act replaces earlier censorship acts. Aims to censor smut while protecting worthwhile material.
1915
Conference calls for Government film censorship.
Read more about the introduction of film censorship in New Zealand
1916
Cinematograph-film Censorship Act requires Government censor to preview all films.
Legislation passed to allow Government to censor war footage.
1917
Reproduction of Giorgione's Sleeping Venus found indecent, despite protection for art under Indecent Publications Act of 1910.
1926
Novel The Butcher Shop about life in New Zealand banned.
1930
Talkies revolution leads to record numbers of films being banned.
Controversy over banning of All Quiet on the Western Front.
1934
Minister of Internal Affairs given power to appeal censor's approval of a film.
1939
Extensive wartime censorship introduced. Censorship during the war extended to all aspects of information: newsreels and newspapers were censored as well as mail sent to troops and by troops. Teams of translators were employed to read any mail addressed to or sent by foreigners living in New Zealand.
1943
Government intervenes over banning of the film Love on the Dole. New appeal board appointed which passes it.
1949
Age restrictive certificates (R16 etc) made standard practice by new film censor (Gordon Mirams).
1951
Political censorship during waterfront strike.
Read more about one of the harshest times in New Zealand censorship history
1954
Teenage sex revelations lead to Mazengarb Enquiry and tougher laws which allow the banning of comics and 'pulp' literature.
Read more about the comic scare of the 1950s and the banning of The Wild One
The Wild One banned (banned 5 times before being classified as R16 in 1977).
1955
Rebel Without a Cause passed on appeal.
Read more about the classification history of Rebel Without a Cause
1960
Nabokov's novel Lolita found indecent by Court of Appeal.
1961
Television comes to New Zealand and the Broadcasting Act sets standards for TV and radio.
The Crimes Act outlaws 'indecent' performances.
Read more about the standards for television and the Crimes Act
1963
Indecent Publications Act sets up Indecent Publications Tribunal (IPT) and redefines 'indecency'.
1967
The film Ulysses is classified R18 but men and women were not allowed to sit together.
1970
Little Red School-book found not indecent after much controversy.
Read more about The Little Red School-book
Patricia Bartlett forms the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards, a group which still exists today. Patricia Bartlett campaigned for stricter censorship of theatre, film and sexually explicit material. She was opposed to teenagers having access to sex-education material and the Homosexual Law Reform Bill.
1972
Germaine Greer convicted for saying 'bullshit'.
Stanley Kubrick's film A Clockwork Orange is classified R20 by the film censor despite public protest. The classification was lowered to R18 in 1984. The classification of the film and DVD is still 'R18: contains violence'.
Musical Hair acquitted of obscenity charge.
1977
Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act restricts publications carrying contraceptive information.
1980
Restrictions on video recorder imports removed.
Monty Python's Life of Brian is classified as R16 by Chief Censor of Films. This decision is hugely controversial with many people calling for the film to be banned.
Read more about the controversy surrounding The Life of Brian
1983
Feminist group Women Against Pornography formed.
1985
First explicit sex films passed by Chief Censor of Films, Arthur Everard. These were films for exhibition in specialist 'adult cinemas'.
1986
Labour Party conference calls for sacking of Arthur Everard.
1987
Video Recordings Act sets up the Video Recordings Authority (VRA) to censor restricted and banned level videos intended for home use. Unrestricted level material to be cross-rated from Australia by the new Video Labelling Body.
Establishment of the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into Pornography announced. The Committee's report is released in 1989 and leads to an overhaul of the censorship system.
1989
Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into Pornography releases a report recommending reform of the censorship system (this led to the classification law we have today).
Read more about the report which led to a change in the censorship system
1993
Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 passed (replaces all previous censorship Acts).
1994
Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) opens (replaces all previous censorship bodies)
Read more about the origins of the current classification system
1996
OFLC classifies four billboards on Karangahape Road in Auckland after they are 'submitted' by a member of the public. The OFLC consults with the City Council, the shop owners, Auckland Girls' Grammar School, and the Auckland Bus Company before making a decision that all of the billboards are objectionable (banned). The owners of two of the billboards appealed the decision.
1998
OFLC runs first Censor for a Day programme for secondary school students.
1999
Bill Hastings appointed Chief Censor.
Key court case: Moonen v Film and Literature Board of Review
Read more about this court case which changed the way the classification law is applied
2000
Key court case: Living Word Distributors v Human Rights Action Group (Wellington)
Read more about this court case which led to changes in the classification legislation
2003
Manhunt is the first console game banned in New Zealand.
2004
The Passion of the Christ is classified 'R16: Contains brutal violence, torture and cruelty', by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. It is appealed to the Board of Review. The Film and Literature Board of Review issues a new decision lowering the restriction to 'R15: Contains prolonged sequences of brutal violence, torture and cruelty'.
2005
Amendments to the Classification Act expand the definition of 'objectionable' to ensure nude pictures of children and young persons are included; allows restriction for highly offensive language and dangerous imitable conduct; and increases penalties for possession and distribution of objectionable publications. Many of these amendments are as a result of the Living Word case in 2000.
Underage Gaming Research Report commissioned by OFLC
Read about the Underage Gaming Research
The book Mihi: Collected Poems is classified as unrestricted after it is submitted by a member of the public concerned about sexual portrayals in the book.
2006
Robert Sarkies' film of the shootings at Aramoana (Dunedin) Out of the Blue classified as 'R15: Contains violence and content that may disturb'.
Read a case study on Out of the Blue
Young Persons use of Entertainment Mediums research report commissioned by OFLC
Read about the media use research
Crimes (Intimate Covert Filming) Amendment Act 2006: This makes it an offence to film someone without their knowledge. This legislation is a result of the Living Word decision in 2000.
2007
Hostel 2 is refused classification for cinema release after the director refuses to cut a scene. The decision is upheld on appeal, and the film is later released on DVD with the scene cut from it.
2008
Viewing Violence: Audience Perceptions of Violent Content in Audio-Visual Media research report jointly commissioned by OFLC and BSA
2010
Chief Censor Bill Hastings resigns his position to become a District Court Judge and head of the new Immigration and Protection Tribunal. Bill Hastings was Chief Censor for 11 years and replaced Kathryn Paterson.
2011
Dr Andrew Jack becomes Chief Censor of Film and Literature on 7 March 2011. Dr Jack’s previous job was as the Group Manager, Legal and Advisory Services at the New Zealand Customs Service. He has also worked for the New Zealand Police as Chief Legal Advisor.
