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Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

Bodies - Office of Film and Literature Classification

77: Functions of Classification Office

You could also call this:

"What the Classification Office Does"

Illustration for Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

The Classification Office has many jobs. You can think of these jobs as follows: they decide how to classify publications that are given to them. They help some video providers create their own rating systems, as seen in section 11A and section 46G. They also keep a list of films. The Classification Office supports the Chief Censor in several ways. They help the Chief Censor check the rating systems that video providers use. You can read more about this in section 46H. The Classification Office does other things too. They answer questions from courts about publications. They decide if conditions should be placed on how restricted publications are displayed. They check film posters to make sure they follow the rules. They consider applications for exemptions from the law. The Classification Office must work independently when doing its jobs. This means they make their own decisions without being told what to do by someone else, as stated in the Crown Entities Act 2004. They follow the rules in this Act and other laws that apply to them.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM313845.

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76: Office of Film and Literature Classification, or

"The Office of Film and Literature Classification is a government office that helps decide what films and books are suitable for New Zealanders."

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78: Powers of Classification Office, or

"What the Classification Office can do"

Part 6Bodies
Office of Film and Literature Classification

77Functions of Classification Office

  1. The functions of the Classification Office are as follows:

  2. to determine the classification of any publication submitted to it under this Act:
    1. to support and facilitate the development by specified CVoD providers of approved self-rating systems:
      1. to provide and maintain a database of films (see section 11A):
        1. to support the Chief Censor to approve self-rating systems developed by specified CVoD providers for their use to label commercial video on-demand content (see section 46G) and to monitor the operation of, and results of the use of, those approved self-rating systems:
          1. to support the Chief Censor to review approved self-rating systems used by specified CVoD providers (see section 46H):
            1. to determine any question relating to the character of a publication referred to it by a court pursuant to section 29(1) or section 41(3) in any civil or criminal proceedings (including proceedings under section 116):
              1. to determine, in accordance with section 27, whether or not, in the case of any publication classified as a restricted publication, conditions should be imposed in respect of the public display of that publication, or any advertising poster or, as the case requires, any film poster relating to the publication, or both, and if so, what conditions:
                1. to examine, in accordance with regulations made under this Act, any film poster used or intended to be used in relation to the public supply or public exhibition of any film submitted to the Classification Office under section 12 or section 13:
                  1. to determine any application made under section 44 for an exemption from the provisions of this Act in respect of any publication:
                    1. to exercise and perform such other functions, powers, and duties as are conferred or imposed on the Classification Office by or under this Act or any other enactment.

                      1. Except as expressly provided otherwise in this or another Act, the Classification Office must act independently in performing its statutory functions and duties, and exercising its statutory powers, under—

                      2. this Act; and
                        1. any other Act that expressly provides for the functions, powers, or duties of the Classification Office (other than the Crown Entities Act 2004).

                          Notes
                          • Section 77(1)(aa): inserted, on , by section 17 of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Commercial Video on-Demand) Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 49).
                          • Section 77(1)(ab): inserted, on , by section 17 of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Commercial Video on-Demand) Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 49).
                          • Section 77(1)(ac): inserted, on , by section 17 of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Commercial Video on-Demand) Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 49).
                          • Section 77(1)(ad): inserted, on , by section 17 of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification (Commercial Video on-Demand) Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 49).
                          • Section 77(2): added, on , by section 200 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 (2004 No 115).