AUGUST NEWSLETTER 

Kia ora koutou

Have you been slaying demons or has the soundtrack been slaying your ears? KPop Demon Hunters is a Netflix animated release that is generating a lot of buzz. And now it's headed to cinemas for a limited release. Check out our detailed guide if you're wondering whether it's actually suitable for your tamariki. 

Our team has launched into school term three with some sparky Censor for a Day sessions with rangatahi around the motu. We've been using Nicolas Cage's The Surfer as a test case for high school students to learn about classifying entertainment content. This film contains a number of challenging themes including bullying, violence, and drug use. It's always valuable for us to engage with young people about what they find most impactful in a film, especially one with complex themes. 

Netsafety Week closed out July and we welcomed their kōrero around involving youth voices, advice for parents with gamers, and what's happening with AI content and safety. These are all timely and necessary conversations to be having both during and outside of the week. If you'd like more resources in these areas, our online resource hub includes conversation starters for parents, as well as our gaming resource hub.   

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 Fantastic Four: First Steps

Te Mana Whakaatu at Involve Conference

Our very own Kate W attended and took part in an Online Safety Panel earlier this month at the Involve Conference. The panel spoke to the topic 'To age or not age - That is not the question. The youth development sectors' role in online safety'. Kate was joined on the panel by Terryann Clark from University of Auckland, Lola Fisher from Gen-Z Aotearoa, and Vince Nathan from VOYCE Whakarongo Mai, with the panel facilitated by Vira Paky. 

Sharing our expertise, researching findings, and youth consultation feedback with youth-focused organisations is a key part of our train-the-trainer approach across the next year.

If you're in education working with youth, we'd love to hear from you about the type of resources you want from the Classification Office. This quick survey will help inform the work that we're designing for delivery. 

Can my child watch KPop Demon Hunters?

KPop Demon Hunters is streaming on Netflix, which has self-rated it PG with a note for adult themes, scary scenes, supernatural themes and violence. The animated movie follows a group of glamorous idols who lead a double life: pop stars by day, demon hunters by night. With slick animation, an empowering message, and a whole lot of fight scenes, it’s a fun watch and the soundtrack really hits the mark – but it also has a few intense moments that may not be right for all ages.

Read on for more detail about KPop Demon Hunters to help make an informed decision for your whānau. 

Netsafety Week 2025: Tools and tips for navigating games, films and harmful content

During Netsafety Week – a nationwide initiative led by Netsafe to help all New Zealanders stay safer online – we’re using this week to highlight some of the Classification Office mahi we’re doing to support rangatahi and their whānau as they navigate digital spaces, from gaming to streaming and beyond.

Read on about our Gaming blogs, How to pick age-appropriate movies and series, and our evidence-based resources for parents and caregivers about harmful content online.

Why did Chief of War get this rating?

16: Violence, nudity, sex scenes, cruelty, offensive language, content that may disturb

A thrilling telling of the unification of the Hawaiian Islands in 1795 from an indigenous perspective. A Hawaiian war chief joins a bloody campaign to unite the warring islands to save them from the threat of impending colonization.

Chief of War was self-rated by Apple TV+ and received a 16 with content warnings for violence, nudity, sex scenes, cruelty, offensive language, content that may disturb. Read our breakdown of this rating.

Why did The Fantastic Four: First Steps get this rating?

PG: Violence and coarse language

Whilst navigating their roles as superheroes and their newfound family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps was cross-rated by Film and Video Labelling Body and received a PG with content warnings for violence and coarse language. Read our breakdown of this rating.

Why did Together get this classification?

R16: Horror, violence, sex scenes, and offensive language

After moving to the countryside, a supernatural encounter starts to transform a couple's love, their lives, and their flesh.

Together was classified by the Office and received an R16 with content warnings for horror, violence, sex scenes and offensive language. Read our breakdown of this classification.

Why did Happy Gilmore 2 get this rating?

M: Drug references, offensive language, violence

Following years of retirement after winning his first Tour Championship, Gilmore returns to professional golf to pay for his daughter's ballet classes. 

Happy Gilmore 2 was self-rated by Netflix and received an M with content warnings for drug references, offensive language, violence. 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:

A rare, direct warning from Japan signals a shift in the fight against child sex tourism in Asia (Japan Today)

The makers of TV's most terrifying monsters reveal their repulsive secrets (The Guardian)

Far-right extremists recruit over gaming platforms, researchers say (CTV News)