Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

Search and seizure

108: Seizure of objectionable publications

You could also call this:

"When can the police take away something they think is objectionable?"

Illustration for Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

You can be stopped from having a publication if it is thought to be objectionable. An Inspector or constable can take the publication if they think it is objectionable. They can do this while doing their job and do not need extra permission. You might still be able to have a publication even if it is objectionable. This is if you have it in certain circumstances, as outlined in section 131. In these cases, having the publication is not against the law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM313895.

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

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyRights and equality > Anti-discrimination

107: Inspector may seize publications, or

"Inspector can take a film or publication if it breaks the rules"

109: Search warrants for offences against specified sections (other than sections 126 and 131A), or

"Getting a search warrant to find something that breaks the law"

Part 7Search and seizure

108Seizure of objectionable publications

Subject to subsection (2), where an Inspector or a constable, in the course of carrying out his or her lawful duties, discovers any publication that he or she believes, on reasonable grounds, to be objectionable, that person may, without further authority than this section, seize that publication.
Nothing in subsection (1) applies to any publication that is in the possession of any person in circumstances in which, by virtue of subsection (4) or subsection (5) of section 131, the possession of that publication by that person is not an offence against subsection (1) of that section.

Notes

Section 108(1): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).