Timeline quick find
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1906 | Offensive Publications Act amended so premises can be searched for indecent literature |
| 1908 | Lawyer takes Shakespeare to court to make a legal point |
| 1910 | Indecent Publications Act replaces earlier censorship acts – aims to censor smut while protecting worthwhile material |
| 1915 | Conference calls for Government film censorship |
| 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 | Jean Devanny's The Butcher's Shop becomes first novel by New Zealand born writer 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 |
| 1943 | Government intervenes over banning of the film Love on the Dole |
| 1949 | Age restrictive certificates (R16 etc) made standard practice by new film censor |
| 1951 | Political censorship during waterfront strike |
| 1954 | Teenage sex revelations lead to Mazengarb Enquiry and tougher laws, particularly around comic books |
| 1955 | The film Rebel Without a Cause passed on appeal |
| 1960 | The novel Lolita banned |
| 1961 | Television standards introduced, and the Crimes Act regulates live performances |
| 1963 | Indecent Publications Tribunal established |
| 1967 | Unusual classification decision on film Ulysses means that men and women watching it must sit separately |
| 1970 | Controversial The Little Red School-book 'not indecent'. Patricia Bartlett sets up the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards |
| 1972 | A Clockwork Orange passed by the Film Censor despite large public outcry |
| 1977 | Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion Act restricts publications carrying contraceptive information |
| 1980 | Monty Python's controversial film The Life of Brian is classified as R16 by Chief Censor of Films |
| 1983 | Feminist group Women Against Pornography formed |
| 1985 | First explicit sex films passed by Chief Censor of Films, Arthur Everard |
| 1986 | Labour Party conference calls for sacking of Arthur Everard |
| 1987 | Video Recordings Authority established. Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into Pornography announced |
| 1989 | Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into Pornography releases a report recommending reform of 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) |
| 1996 | OFLC classifies four billboards on Karangahape Road in Auckland after they are 'submitted' by a member of the public |
| 1998 | OFLC runs first Censor for a Day programme for secondary school students |
| 1999 | Bill Hastings appointed Chief Censor of Film and Literature. Key court case: Moonen v Film and Literature Board of Review |
| 2000 | Key court case: Living Word Distributors v Human Rights Action Group (Wellington) |
| 2003 | Manhunt is the first video game banned in New Zealand |
| 2004 | OFLC decision on The Passion of the Christ is appealed. Board of Review classifies the film as R15 |
| 2005 | Amendments to the Classification Act expand the classification criteria. Underage Gaming Research Report commissioned by OFLC. The book Mihi: Collected Poems is classified as unrestricted |
| 2006 | New Zealand film Out of the Blue classified as R15. Young Persons use of Entertainment Mediums research report commissioned by OFLC. Crimes (Intimate Covert Filming) Amendment Act 2006 makes it an offence to film someone without their knowledge |
| 2007 | Hostel 2 is refused classification for cinema release after the director refuses to cut a scene |
| 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 |
| 2011 | Dr Andrew Jack is appointed Chief Censor |
