Applying to have a classification decision reviewed

The Film and Literature Board of Review will only review publications that have been recently classified by the Classification Office.

The Board will review the publication against the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993. It will not review the decision made by the Classification Office. The Board will then issue a new decision which replaces the decision of the Classification Office.

Those with an automatic right to apply for a review

The following people have an automatic right to apply for a publication's review by the Board:

• The owner, maker, publisher, or authorised distributer of the publication.
• The person who submitted the publication to the Classification Office.
• The Film and Video Labelling Body.
• Any party to court proceedings (if a publication has been referred to the Classification Office by a court).

If you have an automatic right to apply for a review, contact the Secretary of Internal Affairs. The application must be received within 30 working days of the date of registration of the decision in the NZ Register of Classification Decisions. The register page of each publication is available as a PDF from the NZ Register of Classification Decisions.

An application to the Board of Review should include:

• A copy of the publication you want to have reviewed.
• A submission form and the appropriate fee (available from Internal Affairs).

Application forms are available from the Secretary of the Board of Review, upon request. You can contact the Board of Review via email at classificationreview@dia.govt.nz or by phone on 04 495 7200.

Members of the public

A member of the public can apply for a review but must first seek the leave of the Secretary of Internal Affairs. Applications for leave must be lodged within 20 working days of the date of registration of the decision. The register page of each publication is available as a PDF from the NZ Register of Classification Decisions.

Once leave is granted the applicant has 5 working days from the date leave is granted, or 30 working days from when the decision was registered (whichever date is later) to submit their request to the Film and Literature Board of Review.

To seek leave, contact the Secretary of Internal Affairs and include:

• A copy of the publication to be reviewed (if possible).
• A submission form and the correct fee (available from the Department of Internal Affairs).

Application forms to seek the leave of the Secretary and copies of these guidelines are available from the Secretary of the Board of Review, upon request. You can contact the Board of Review via email at classificationreview@dia.govt.nz or by phone on 04 495 7200.