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Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

Introduction

You could also call this:

"Keeping You Safe from Unsuitable Content"

Illustration for Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

This law is about checking films, videos, books, and other things to see if they are suitable. You will find rules about what can and cannot be shown or read. It also gets rid of some old laws, like the Indecent Publications Act 1963, the Films Act 1983, and the Video Recordings Act 1987. This law helps keep you safe from things that might not be good for you to see or read. It makes sure that films, videos, and books are checked before they are shared with people. The law says what is allowed and what is not allowed. The old laws are being replaced with this new one to make things simpler and easier to understand. You can still find information about the old laws, but they are no longer used. This new law is the one that is used now to check films, videos, books, and other things.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM312894.

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Highlights from this law

Topics:
Arts and culture > Heritage protectionHealth and wellbeing > Public health
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1: Short Title and commencement, or

"What the Act is called and when it starts"

Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

Reprint as at:
2025-11-13
Assent:
1993-08-26
Commencement:
see section 1

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Department of Internal Affairs.

An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the censoring of films, videos, books, and other publications; and to repeal the Indecent Publications Act 1963, the Films Act 1983, and the Video Recordings Act 1987

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