Classification Office (New Zealand)

"Office of Film and Literature Classification" redirects here. For the former Australian statutory body, see Australian Classification Board.

Classification Office
Te Mana Whakaatu (Māori)
Logo as of 2020
Agency overview
Formed1 October 1994; 30 years ago (1994-10-01)
Preceding agencies
TypeCrown entity
JurisdictionNew Zealand Government
HeadquartersLevel 1
88 The Terrace
Wellington, New Zealand
41°16′55″S 174°46′29″E / 41.28194°S 174.77472°E / -41.28194; 174.77472
Motto"Kōreō Tahi. Mātaki Tahi. Talk Together. Watch Together."
Employees26[1]
Annual budget$3,794,000 NZD (2021)[2]
Minister responsible
Agency executives
Key document
Websitewww.classificationoffice.govt.nz

The Office of Film and Literature Classification (Māori: Te Tari Whakarōpū Tukuata, Tuhituhinga), branded as the Classification Office (Māori: Te Mana Whakaatu), is an independent Crown entity established under Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 responsible for censorship and classification of publications in New Zealand. A "publication" is defined broadly to be anything that shows an image, representation, sign, statement, or word.[5] This includes films, video games, books, magazines, CDs,[6] T-shirts, street signs, jigsaw puzzles, drink cans, and slogans on campervans.[7][8][9] The Chief Censor, Caroline Flora, is the chair of the Office.

Films must be given a classification before they can be exhibited or supplied to the public. This is done either by the Film and Video Labelling Body or the Office.[10]

Any person may submit any publication for classification by the Office, with the permission of the Chief Censor. However, the Secretary for Internal Affairs, the Comptroller of Customs, the Commissioner of Police, and the Film and Video Labelling Body may submit publications for classification without the Chief Censor's permission. The courts have no jurisdiction to classify publications. If the classification of a publication becomes an issue in any civil or criminal proceeding, the court must submit the publication to the Office.

Any person who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Office may have the relevant publication, but not the Office's decision, reviewed by the Film and Literature Board of Review.

The Office also has a role in providing information to the public about classification decisions and about the classification system as a whole. It conducts research and produces evidence-based resources to promote media literacy and help people to make informed choices about the content they consume.[11][12]

  1. ^ David Shanks (2021). Annual Report of the Classification Office for the year ended 30 June 2021 (PDF) (Report). Classification Office. p. 63. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  2. ^ David Shanks (2021). Annual Report of the Classification Office for the year ended 30 June 2021 (PDF) (Report). Classification Office. p. 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Appointment to the Office of Film and Literature Classification - 2022-go2397 - New Zealand Gazette". gazette.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Appointment to the Office of Film and Literature Classification - 2021-go3054 - New Zealand Gazette". gazette.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  5. ^ Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act (Section 2). 1993.
  6. ^ Register of Classification Decisions (OFLC ref. 9501954) (Report). Office of Film and Literature Classification. 20 February 1996.
  7. ^ "Wicked Campers". Office of Film and Literature Classification. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  8. ^ Notice of Decision under Section 38(1) (OFLC ref. 1600221.000) (PDF) (Report). Office of Film and Literature Classification. 28 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2018.
  9. ^ Henry (2 February 2015). "Classifying clothing: how does the medium affect the classification? (Part 1)". Office of Film and Literature Classification. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  10. ^ "New Zealand's classification labels : Find Ratings : OFLC". www.classificationoffice.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  11. ^ Office of Film and Literature Classification (2018). LISTENING TO YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS: A case study of the Office of Film & Literature Classification's Young New Zealanders Viewing Sexual Violence research project (PDF). Office of Film and Literature Classification. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Research : About NZ Classification : OFLC". www.classificationoffice.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 October 2021.