OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 

Kia ora koutou

Since 2018, we've had a Youth Advisory Panel as an integral part of the Classification Office team. The Panel is a diverse group of rangatahi who ensure a youth perspective is meaningfully represented in our work. And we're recruiting for more members! Read on for details and share the info with Wellington region-based young people in your life by 30 October.

One of our new online resources includes frequently asked questions about what to do if you see harmful content online, with information for educators, parents, and young people. On a similar theme, we've written a blog about the impact of seeing scary or impactful things, both fictional and real, with practical tips for how to process these situations.

As usual, we also break down the content for popular titles in cinemas and on streaming platforms. Check out the featured decisions for East of Eden, Verity, and Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story 

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: Florence Pugh and the Aotearoa New Zealand landscape in Netflix's East of Eden

What happens when we see something we can't forget?

Do you remember the first film, series, or video game that scared you when you were young? This is one of our favourite icebreakers we use when we meet with new people and groups.

It’s a great icebreaker because it’s relatable, usually brings a few laughs, and almost everyone can remember that first visceral feeling of being scared by something they watched.

But these days, graphic content we’re exposed to online often comes without a warning label. And once we've seen something, we can't unsee it. Being affected by frightening or distressing content is a very human response.

We’ve written a blog, “What happens when we see something we can’t forget?”, which has practical ideas for dealing with this situation for yourself and the young people in your life.

Find out about our practical ideas for helping yourself and others.

We're recruiting for the Youth Advisory Panel

We're looking for Wellington-based rangatahi aged 16 to 19 to join our Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) at Te Mana Whakaatu Classification Office. 

To find out more or to apply, visit our info page or send an email to YouthAdvisoryPanel@classificationoffice.govt.nz – please share with the young people in your life! Applications close 30 October.

FAQs: What should I do if I see harmful or illegal content online?

People often have questions about what to do if they come across harmful, disturbing or potentially illegal content online. Sometimes the right response is clear, but sometimes it isn't.

This page provides practical guidance for common scenarios you might come across on social media, group chats, gaming platforms, messaging apps, and other online spaces.

Why did East of Eden get this rating?

16: Sex scenes

Set across five decades, from the post-Civil War era to World War I, the story follows the Trask family in California's Salinas Valley – and the impact of mysterious Cathy Ames on their legacy.

East of Eden was self-rated by Netflix and received a 16 with a content warning for sex scenes. Read our breakdown of this rating.

Why did Verity get this rating?

R16: violence, cruelty, offensive language and sex scenes

An aspiring writer is hired as a ghostwriter for a bestselling author. As disturbing family secrets are uncovered, fiction and reality become harder to separate.

Verity was classified by Te Mana Whakaatu, Classification Office and received an R16 with content warnings for violence, cruelty, offensive language, and sex scenes. Read our breakdown of this classification.

Why did Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story get this rating?

18: Graphic violence, horror, and offensive language

The fourth season of the true-crime Monster anthology. This instalment follows Lizzie Borden, a woman accused of murdering her father and stepmother.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story was self-rated by Netflix and received an 18 with content warnings for graphic violence, horror and offensive language. Read our breakdown of this rating.

We also have content breakdowns for the earlier instalments in the series: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story; Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story; and Monster: The Ed Gein Story.

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:

M is for Manosphere: Online misogyny terms to look for – RNZ

East of Dunedin: The NZ locations behind Netflix's new hit series – The Spinoff

Microdramas are booming. AI could make it even harder to stop binge-watching – The Conversation