Case studies
The case studies in this section have been selected because they have interesting classification decisions or highlight different aspects of the censorship system. We've gathered together all the information we have on these films and games and put it in one place for you.
Films
New Zealand film: Matariki (RP13), 2010
Matariki is a New Zealand film about a group of people in Auckland who are each dealing with challenges in their life. It has been screened at international film festivals, and in New Zealand has been given the uncommon classification of RP13.
New Zealand film: Once Were Warriors (Cinema release: R13, video and DVD: RP16), 1994
Once Were Warriors is a very well-known New Zealand film. It tells a powerful story of a family whose lives are blighted by domestic violence. This film was released just as New Zealand's censorship legislation was changing, resulting in an interesting classification situation.
New Zealand film: Out of the Blue (R15), 2006
Out of the Blue is a New Zealand film about the massacre of 13 people by gun collector David Gray in the small Otago township of Aramoana on 13 and 14 November 1990. As part of the censorship process for this film, staff from the Classification Office travelled to Aramoana and spoke to people there about their feelings on the film.
127 Hours (RP16), 2011
20th Century Fox Film Distribution, the distributor of 127 Hours, disagreed with the R16 (content that may disturb) classification given to the film by the Classification Office. They applied to the Film and Literature Board of Review to have the Classification Office's decision reviewed. The Board made the film RP16 (graphic content may disturb).
Paul (R13), 2011
In March 2011 Paramount Pictures submitted the comedy film Paul for classification. After applying the classification criteria set out in the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993, the Office of Film and Literature Classification classified the film R13 with the descriptive note 'contains violence, offensive language and sexual references'.
The Princess and the Frog (PG), 2010
When Disney's princess story about what happens when a young girl kisses an enchanted 'frog-prince' was released in 2010, it had a cross-rated G rating from Australia. We received complaints from parents who had taken their young children to see it - this case study explains what the parents were concerned about and how the classification was changed.
Find out why we changed the classification of The Princess and the Frog
Paranormal Activity (R16) 2009
Paranormal Activity opened in New Zealand cinemas with an unrestricted rating of M (cross-rated from Australia). The Classification Office received complaints from members of the public about the frightening and disturbing content of the film and so the Chief Censor called it in for classification. After applying the New Zealand censorship criteria, the classification changed from M to R16.
Disney's A Christmas Carol (M) 2010
Disney's 2010 retelling of a classic Christmas story was visually astounding. It opened in cinemas in December 2009 with a cross-rated PG rating from Australia - however after receiving complaints from frightened children the rating was changed.
Read more about why the PG rating for Disney's A Christmas Carol was changed
Slumdog Millionaire (Cinema release and DVD: R13, Blu-ray: R16) 2009
Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jamal, a boy from the slums of Mumbai, who enters the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? The cinematic version and DVD of this film were classified R13, but the blu-ray version has a higher classification because of its extra content.
Games
Naughty Bear (R13), 2010
Sometimes games that are targeted at teenagers use characters and imagery which might appeal to young children - but the content of the game, such as the violence makes them unsuitable for children. This was the case with the game Naughty Bear.
Dead or Alive: Dimensions (M), 2011
The Chief Censor called this game in for classification against New Zealand's criteria after concerns about sexual content in the game. Learn about how the classification law was applied to this game.
Graphic Novels
Occasionally the Classification Office classifies printed material, such as graphic novels. Find out why people were concerned about graphic novels such as Ghost World, and how the classification criteria was applied.
Animation
There are lots of different sorts of animation out there, some targeted at children and a lot targeted at teenagers and adults. Find out more about the classification of DVD box sets of animated television shows such as South Park and Family Guy.
Genre: Horror
A lot of schools are choosing to focus on 'horror' in their film studies. This case study explains what 'horror' means in terms of censorship and classification, and provides examples from films which have been classified in New Zealand over time, such as Psycho (1963), The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Friday the 13th (1980, remade in 2009).
Archived case studies
We have a range of other case studies available. As new case studies are written, older ones will be moved to the archived case studies page.
Archived case studies include: The Passion of the Christ, Happy Feet and Saving Private Ryan
Glossary:
- Cinematic version = The version of the film that is shown in movie theatres. It is usually on 35mm film and sometimes on DVD. It is just the main feature film, with no extras.
