MARCH NEWSLETTER 

Kia ora koutou

This week is Unity Week. It is a community-led initiative that brings together people across Christchurch and Canterbury in the days around 15 March. The date 15 March is recognised by the United Nations as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. It is a date that carries deep meaning, and marks a day of immense loss for Muslim communities and for our country. This week we remember, reflect, and stand in solidarity. 

Moonshot's report on the first ever early intervention service for online violence in New Zealand has just been released. Their report provides an overview of new and innovative approaches for how to support people at critical moments, here in Aotearoa. 

We're growing our professional development programme to better support people who work with and alongside young people. Not only do we publish resources on our website but we're also offering workplace training and online seminars. Get in touch in you want to learn more about how we can support you workplace. 

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 our socials 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: The Bride!

Somewhere Trusted To Turn: New Zealand's First Online Violence Prevention Programme (Moonshot release)

In 2025, New Zealand launched its first nationwide early intervention service for online violence. Between 31 March and 31 December 2025, the New Zealand Online Violence Prevention Programme placed 2.7 million offers of support in front of people at critical moments: those searching for or consuming harmful content, and those worried about someone they know or care about.

Moonshot's programme report references the Classification Office's recent study. Two-thirds of adults have seen extreme or illegal content. One in ten has been harmed by what they saw. Moonshot’s research demonstrates that across all age groups, people are searching online for help with violent or aggressive young people in their lives.

Read the full report from Moonshot available now

Support for people and families who may be struggling with or affected by the present social climate can contact Your Turn to Talk.
For more helpline services visit our resource page. 

Resources to support people supporting young people

These resources were created by our team in direct consultation with educators and youth workers. They wanted to know how to keep themselves and rangatahi safe in these conversations about tough stuff. The resources are readily accessible from our website:

How to keep yourself and rangatahi safe when talking about harmful or objectionable content

Youth worker conversation starters by age group: Supporting rangatahi with harmful or upsetting online content 

For Educators: Conversation starters for talking about harmful or upsetting online content

If you're seeking further professional development in this area we offer online as well as on-location workshops and training. We're also offering training for law enforcement professionals. Get in touch via email to our team at info@classificationoffice.govt.nz 

What we're noticing: Smoking looking cool again

In our new What we’re noticing series, we share trends, what we’re seeing in how New Zealanders are watching, sharing, and rediscovering media, and what that can mean for viewers today.

Smoking is reappearing in films, series, and music videos in ways that feel more current. It’s showing up alongside contemporary artists and pop culture figures, framed as grungy, effortless, and stylish. A few years ago, this kind of portrayal didn’t seem to land the same way. Now, it feels like something worth paying attention to.

In our latest blog Caitlin takes a look at this trend that could be making smoking 'cool' again. This blog was republished in last month’s edition of NZ Doctor.

Can my child watch Wuthering Heights?

A parent’s guide to the film’s NZ M-Rating

It’s hard to escape the buzz around Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights (2026) right now. Whether you’ve got a Margot Robbie fan, a Jacob Elordi fan, a Charli xcx fan, or someone in the whānau who genuinely loves the classic novel, there might be strong insistence on seeing it at the cinema.

But with all the hype, parents and caregivers may be wondering – is it actually okay for tamariki and young rangatahi to watch Wuthering Heights?

Do you have a suggested title you'd like to see us feature in our Find a Rating section of classificationoffice.govt.nz? Get in touch at info@classificationoffice.govt.nz with your request.

Why did Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere get this rating?

16: Offensive language, Discrimination, Sexual references

Louis Theroux dives into the world of extreme online influencers and content creators who are reshaping ideas about modern masculinity. Along the way, he explores why these attitudes resonate and how these figures are shaping the values of young men. 

Louis Theroux was self-rated by Netflix and received a 16 with content warnings for offensive language, discrimination, and sexual references. Read our breakdown of this rating.

Why did The Bride! get this classification?

R16: Violence, sexual violence and offensive language

The Bride! is a horror-romance reimagining of Mary Shelley’s The Bride of Frankenstein. Set in 1930s Chicago, USA, a mad scientist resurrects a dead woman to serve as a companion for Frankenstein’s Creature. Instead, she asserts her autonomy and inspires a revolution.

The Bride! was classified by the Office and received an R16 with content warnings for violence, sexual violence and offensive language. Read our breakdown of this classification.

Why did The Moment get this classification?

R16: Drug use and offensive language

The Moment is a mockumentary about singer Charli XCX as she prepares for an arena tour and concert film, following the success of her album brat.

The Moment was classified by the Office and received an R16 with content warnings for drug use and offensive language. Read our breakdown of this classification.

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:

NZ spy chiefs warn of extremism risk as teenage boys dominate investigations (Stuff)

Gen Z males twice as likely as baby boomers to believe wives should obey husbands (The Guardian)