JUNE NEWSLETTER 

Kia ora koutou

Last month we featured our What is Looksmaxxing? resource and this month we're seeing more discourse in the media about the topic. We welcome these conversations so that it can be easier to broach the topic with the young people in your life. Our resource covers terms, FAQs, and further reading for support. 

Our newsletters generally talk about topics like sex, drugs, and the media content landscape. Our aim is to have difficult conversations and shine a light on ways to reduce harm for New Zealanders. If you know someone who should receive these updates, please share our newsletter or encourage them to subscribe. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn too.

Aroha atu, aroha mai, tātou i a tātou
Let’s look out for each other

— Chief Censor Caroline Flora

#Mātakitahi #WatchTogether #Kōrerotahi #TalkTogether 

Image: Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) in Off Campus

Can my child watch Off Campus?

Off Campus has quickly become one of the most talked-about young adult series of the year. Based on the bestselling novels by Elle Kennedy, the university-set drama combines romance, friendship, sport, and plenty of steamy sexual content. But alongside its lighter moments, the series also tackles more serious themes, including sexual assault, trauma, and consent. 

The series has been self-rated 16 by Prime Video for New Zealand audiences, with warnings for offensive language, drug use and sex scenes.  

Here at the office we welcome healthy portrayals of difficult conversations, and the careful treatment of experiences that can be triggering for viewers, rather than using it simply as a plot device. Off Campus presents an opportunity to talk with young people in your life about some tough topics with care. And to role model how young people can support their friends. Continue reading on the blog. 

What we're noticing: Media attention on sexual violence content is raising public awareness

Recent reporting about the scale of online communities sharing videos and instructions on how to drug and sexually assault partners has been confronting. For many, this coverage has brought something previously hidden into full view, and with that can come a sense of shock, anger, and even hopelessness.

In 2026 we are noticing that this material, and the behaviours behind it, are becoming more widely known, discussed, and reported on. What was once hidden in the darker corners of the internet is now entering public awareness and discourse.

Under the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act (FVPCA), it is against the law to create, possess, share, or even view content that promotes or supports sexual violence. In this blog we discuss the legal line: what is sometimes less understood is that it is also illegal to promote or encourage this kind of offending in content.

We're officially now known as the Classification Office

This may be a very niche update, one for the law fans. The very recent law change enacted as part of the Regulatory Systems (Internal Affairs) Amendment Act 2026 means the Office of Film and Literature Classification is now officially named the Classification Office. That's under section 57 of the Act, and one of the tweaks to the regulations that determine how we operate. 

Netsafe launches Digital Guardian Guide

Preparing for a first digital device, learning about chatting and online relationships, and helping your child understand online life right now are all covered in Netsafe's newly launched Digital Guardian Guide. The online resource can be filtered by content, or you can take a short quiz to identify resources that you need. 

Experience and explore Digital Guardian Guide online at digitalguardian.guide

Why did Power Ballad get this rating?

M: Violence

Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny, a fading boy band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves.

Power Ballad was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body and received an M with a content warning for violence. Read our breakdown of this rating.

Why did Backrooms get this rating?

M: Violence and offensive language

Inspired by the viral YouTube sensation, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve star in this creepy horror about two people who discover a place beyond a furniture showroom – and seemingly beyond our known reality.

Backrooms was rated by Film and Video Labelling Body and received an M with content warnings for violence and offensive language. Read our breakdown of this rating.

Why did Caterpillar get this rating?

M: Sex scenes, offensive language and drug use

Set in a run-down Wellington villa in 2003, Caterpillar follows three women living separate lives under one leaky roof. Sixteen-year-old Cassie is all bravado and vulnerability, drifting into risky territory as she searches for belonging.

Caterpillar was rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body and received an M with content warnings for sex scenes, offensive language and drug use. Read our breakdown of this rating.

Because our work requires a broad knowledge of the vast online landscape, we consume a lot of media in the office. Here are just a few of the things we’ve found relevant and informative over the past month. Take a break with these media lunch items:

Women over 60 are still being made the butt of the joke in movies (ABC via RNZ)

Which streaming services do you really need in 2026? (The Spinoff)

Loneliness influencers: why are people suddenly boasting about having no friends? (The Guardian)

How looksmaxxing is pulling young Kiwi men towards dangerous extremes (1News)