Classification in New Zealand
Information for students
How - tukanga
How we classify
Ever wondered how it all works? The Classification System is a bit like life. There are steps to follow to do it, there are rules and if you break them penalties, you can appeal things you don't like, and countries all over the world do it. Intrigued?
How films and other publications are classified
Every publication, whether it's a film, game, book, magazine, T-shirt, text message or something else, goes through three stages to get a New Zealand classification. This page explains the stages in detail. Find out more about how films and other publications are classified
How the system is enforced
Classifications are not enforced by New Zealand's Classification Office. Enforcement, or making sure that people abide by the classification law, is the job of three agencies: the NZ Police, NZ Customs, and the Censorship Compliance Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). This page introduces you to the three censorship enforcement agencies. Find out more about how the system is enforced
How appeals work
There are several different ways that a classification decision can be changed. This page explains them all. Find out more about how appeals work
How our system compares to other countries
Social, cultural, legal and historical factors affect how a country treats its citizens' access to information. Censorship in some countries is greatly influenced by political or religious convictions or idealogies. This page explores how our classification system compares to six other systems around the world. Find out more about how our system compares to other countries
