Changed Censorship Urged (Press, 4 October 1971)

At a seminar held on 2 October 1971 by the University of Canterbury Film Society, Mr W. N. Sheat, a member of the Film Censorship Appeal Board, highlighted the inadequacies of New Zealand's film censorship guidelines. He expressed that the current regulations, which operate under the assumption of a "uniform society," are outdated given the evolving nature of cinema and its realism in dialogue and subjects. Sheat defended the work of the chief censor, Mr D. C. Mclntosh, but argued for a redefinition of the guidelines to better reflect contemporary film-going patterns. According to Sheat, the current R18 rating failed to recognise the diversity of the audience, suggesting that the majority of objections to films often came from middle-aged viewers who based their tastes on standards set two decades prior. He pointed out the inadequacies of the current censorship board, which includes a magistrate and a retired principal, to represent the broader society’s views adequately. During his tenure of two and a half years on the board, Sheat indicated that the board had reviewed a limited number of films, with only two films in his first year being examined, both of which were rejected by the censor. In one instance, the board imposed restrictions on the film "The Balcony," limiting its viewing to approved film societies, a decision that was met with discontent from the film’s distributor. By the time of the seminar, the board had reviewed 19 films, with 14 occurring that year alone, upholding censorship decisions on films such as "Myra Breckenridge" and "Performance." In some cases, cuts that had been mandated were reinstated, allowing for a more artistically justified viewing experience. Sheat also mentioned the positive aspect of New Zealand's film industry in that it had largely avoided an influx of low-quality films, often referred to as "sexploitation" or "skin flicks," which were designed to exploit shifts in moral attitudes and attempts at more liberal censorship. Moreover, he clarified that any public exhibition of "Swedish stag films," which were being advertised in local strip clubs, would need prior approval from the censor, or else police intervention might follow. This discussion underlined the complex nature of film censorship in New Zealand and the challenges of keeping laws relevant in a rapidly changing societal landscape.

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