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Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

Offences - Offences involving objectionable or restricted publications

126: Offences involving knowledge in relation to restricted publications

You could also call this:

"Breaking the rules about restricted publications can get you in trouble"

Illustration for Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993

You commit an offence if you do something with a restricted publication knowing it is restricted. This includes supplying, distributing, exhibiting, or displaying a publication to someone under 18 that you know is likely to be objectionable to them. You can be punished if you break this rule. You can be liable for imprisonment or a fine if you commit this offence. As an individual, you can be imprisoned for up to 3 months or fined up to $10,000. A body corporate can be fined up to $25,000. If you break this rule, you will be punished according to the law, as stated in section 125(1). You must follow the rules about restricted publications to avoid punishment. The law is clear about what you can and cannot do with these publications.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM314154.

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Crime and justice > Criminal lawFamily and relationships > Children and parenting
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"Breaking rules about restricted publications can lead to a fine"

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Part 8Offences
Offences involving objectionable or restricted publications

126Offences involving knowledge in relation to restricted publications

  1. Every person commits an offence against this Act who—

  2. does any act mentioned in section 125(1) knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the publication is a restricted publication; or
    1. supplies, distributes, exhibits, or displays to any person under the age of 18 years any publication—
      1. that is objectionable if made available to a person of the age of the person to whom it is so supplied, distributed, exhibited, or displayed; and
        1. that the person so supplying, distributing, exhibiting, or displaying it knows is likely to be classified under this Act as objectionable if made available to a person of the age of the other person.

        2. Every person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction,—

        3. in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $10,000:
          1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $25,000.

            Compare
            • 1963 No 22 s 22(1)(ab), (2)
            • 1972 No 136 s 8(1)
            • 1987 No 85 s 52(1)(b)
            Notes
            • Section 126(2): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).