How censorship works
New Zealand's censorship law applies to a range of publications. In this section you will find detailed information on how different types of publications, such as films, music, and video games fit into New Zealand's censorship system.
Films
Films and DVDs are the type of publication that the Classification Office mainly deals with. Different sorts of films go through different classification processes. In this section you will find information on the history of film censorship in New Zealand and how films are treated in the current system.
Books and magazines
Books and magazines don't have to be classified before they are supplied to the public. But if a book or magazine contains objectionable material then the person who owns it or supplies it risks prosecution. In this section you'll find information on how books have been censored in the past and how they are censored today.
Music
Music doesn't have to be classified before it is supplied to the public. Most of the warning labels that appear on CDs are put there by the distributors. Music CDs may be classified if there is a complaint about them.
Computer technology
The type of publication coming into the Classification Office has changed over the years. These days, many computer files, both moving image and still image, are classified each year. New Zealand's censorship law also applies to content on the internet under certain circumstances.
Games
Video games are a huge source of entertainment for a number of New Zealanders. In this section you'll find information on how video games are classified, including a list of all the games restricted or banned in New Zealand.
Cellphones
As computer files can be classified, so too can files on a cellphone such as text messages, pictures, or moving images.
