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Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

Preliminary provisions

3: Meaning of objectionable

You could also call this:

"What makes something objectionable, like a harmful book or video?"

Illustration for Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

A publication is objectionable if it deals with things like sex, horror, or violence in a way that could harm the public. You need to think about whether the publication could hurt people. The publication is objectionable if it promotes or supports things like exploiting children or using violence to make someone do something sexual. When you are deciding if a publication is objectionable, you must think about the things it describes or shows, like torture or sexual violence. You also need to think about who the publication is for and why it was made. The publication's purpose and who it is intended for are important things to consider, as is the impact of the medium in which the publication is presented, according to section 23(2). You must consider the character of the publication, including any merit or importance it has, and the dominant effect of the publication as a whole. The publication can be considered objectionable if it degrades or dehumanises someone, or if it promotes criminal acts, as stated in the Human Rights Act 1993. Other relevant circumstances relating to the intended or likely use of the publication are also considered.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM313407.

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Part 1Preliminary provisions

3Meaning of objectionable

  1. For the purposes of this Act, a publication is objectionable if it describes, depicts, expresses, or otherwise deals with matters such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, or violence in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to be injurious to the public good.

  2. Without limiting subsection (1), a publication deals with a matter such as sex for the purposes of that subsection if—

  3. the publication is or contains 1 or more visual images of 1 or more children or young persons who are nude or partially nude; and
    1. those 1 or more visual images are, alone, or together with any other contents of the publication, reasonably capable of being regarded as sexual in nature.

      1. Subsection (1A) is for the avoidance of doubt.

      2. A publication shall be deemed to be objectionable for the purposes of this Act if the publication promotes or supports, or tends to promote or support,—

      3. the exploitation of children, or young persons, or both, for sexual purposes; or
        1. the use of violence or coercion to compel any person to participate in, or submit to, sexual conduct; or
          1. sexual conduct with or upon the body of a dead person; or
            1. the use of urine or excrement in association with degrading or dehumanising conduct or sexual conduct; or
              1. bestiality; or
                1. acts of torture or the infliction of extreme violence or extreme cruelty.

                  1. In determining, for the purposes of this Act, whether or not any publication (other than a publication to which subsection (2) applies) is objectionable or should in accordance with section 23(2) be given a classification other than objectionable, particular weight shall be given to the extent and degree to which, and the manner in which, the publication—

                  2. describes, depicts, or otherwise deals with—
                    1. acts of torture, the infliction of serious physical harm, or acts of significant cruelty:
                      1. sexual violence or sexual coercion, or violence or coercion in association with sexual conduct:
                        1. other sexual or physical conduct of a degrading or dehumanising or demeaning nature:
                          1. sexual conduct with or by children, or young persons, or both:
                            1. physical conduct in which sexual satisfaction is derived from inflicting or suffering cruelty or pain:
                            2. exploits the nudity of children, or young persons, or both:
                              1. degrades or dehumanises or demeans any person:
                                1. promotes or encourages criminal acts or acts of terrorism:
                                  1. represents (whether directly or by implication) that members of any particular class of the public are inherently inferior to other members of the public by reason of any characteristic of members of that class, being a characteristic that is a prohibited ground of discrimination specified in section 21(1) of the Human Rights Act 1993.

                                    1. In determining, for the purposes of this Act, whether or not any publication (other than a publication to which subsection (2) applies) is objectionable or should in accordance with section 23(2) be given a classification other than objectionable, the following matters shall also be considered:

                                    2. the dominant effect of the publication as a whole:
                                      1. the impact of the medium in which the publication is presented:
                                        1. the character of the publication, including any merit, value, or importance that the publication has in relation to literary, artistic, social, cultural, educational, scientific, or other matters:
                                          1. the persons, classes of persons, or age groups of the persons to whom the publication is intended or is likely to be made available:
                                            1. the purpose for which the publication is intended to be used:
                                              1. any other relevant circumstances relating to the intended or likely use of the publication.

                                                Notes
                                                • Section 3(1A): inserted, on , by section 4(1) of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 2).
                                                • Section 3(1B): inserted, on , by section 4(1) of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 2).
                                                • Section 3(3): amended, on , by section 4(2) of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 2).
                                                • Section 3(4): amended, on , by section 4(2) of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 2).