Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

Preliminary provisions

3A: Publication may be age-restricted if it contains highly offensive language likely to cause serious harm

You could also call this:

"Publications with very upsetting language can be restricted to protect young people."

Illustration for Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

You can classify a publication as restricted if it has highly offensive language. This language must be so offensive that it could cause serious harm to young people if they read it. The law considers language highly offensive if most people would find it very upsetting, and you can find more information about restricted publications under section 23(2)(c)(i).

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM313410.

This page was last updated on 8 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Crime and justice > Courts and legal helpFamily and relationships > Children and parentingRights and equality > Anti-discrimination

3: Meaning of objectionable, or

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

3B: Publication may be age-restricted if likely to be injurious to public good for specified reasons, or

"We can restrict books, videos or publications that might harm or upset young people."

Part 1Preliminary provisions

3APublication may be age-restricted if it contains highly offensive language likely to cause serious harm

A publication to which subsection (2) applies may be classified as a restricted publication under section 23(2)(c)(i).
This subsection applies to a publication that contains highly offensive language to such an extent or degree that the availability of the publication would be likely, if not restricted to persons who have attained a specified age, to cause serious harm to persons under that age.
In this section, highly offensive language means language that is highly offensive to the public in general.

Notes

Section 3A: inserted, on 22 February 2005, by section 5 of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 2).