All films supplied to the public must be submitted to the Labelling Body.
The Labelling Body:
Rates unrestricted films
Cross-rates unrestricted films that have been rated in Australia or the UK
Issues labels that must be displayed on films before they are supplied to the public
Labels can only be displayed on films once they have been rated or classified.
How the Labelling Body rates films
The Labelling Body can rate a film and issue a label if:
The film has previously been rated or classified in NZ.
The film has been given a rating in Australia of G, PG or M
The film has been given a rating in the UK of U, PG, 12 or 12A
On viewing the film, the Labelling Body assesses the content as being unrestricted
The Labelling Body will submit a film to the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) if:
The film has been classified as MA15 or higher in Australia
The film has been classified as 15 or higher in the UK
The film has been refused approval for supply or exhibition in Australia or the UK
On viewing the film, the Labelling Body assesses the content as being restricted
The Labelling Body acts as the agent for distributors when films are submitted to the OFLC.
The flowchart illustrates the process that the Labelling Body is required to follow:
The OFLC is responsible for classifying all films submitted to it.
Films can be submitted to the OFLC by:
The Film and Video Labelling Body
The Censorship Compliance Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs
New Zealand Customs
New Zealand Police
A member of the public (with leave from the Chief Censor)
The OFLC can ban or restrict the availability of a film, impose display conditions on a restricted publication or assign an unrestricted rating. Restrictions imposed by the OFLC are legally enforceable.
For further information on the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 and the functions of the Office of Film and Literature Classificaiton, please consult their website www.classificationoffice.govt.nz