Suicide Content

It is a crime to assist, incite or encourage another person to die by suicide in New Zealand. This includes making, possessing or sharing content –  online or offline – that promotes or supports suicide.

Suicide is a serious issue that affects individuals, whānau, and communities. Suicide content may be objectionable (illegal), or restricted by age, depending on what the content is.

Suicide content can influence vulnerable people, encourage or glorify suicide, or provide instructions. Content like this can lead to copycat behaviour, make people feel hopeless, or overwhelm them with shocking or distressing details. Viewing or sharing this material increases the risk of harm, including to future victims, by normalising or supporting the behaviour, making it appear easy to carry out, or suggesting it is the only option.

Suicide content can be classified in different ways depending on its context, tone, and impact. Some material that depicts or discusses suicide may be unsuitable for children and young people and may be age-restricted. This is because the content may distress or shock young audiences, or increase the risk of serious harm to themselves or others. In some cases, where the content is promotional, it may be classified as objectionable due to the potential for it to incite a person to suicide.

This page tells you what New Zealand law (the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993) says about suicide content and what you can do if you come across it.

This information is for general understanding and awareness. It is not legal advice.

What is suicide content?

Suicide content refers to explicit material that depicts a person harming themselves with the intention of causing their own death or with material that discusses suicide in a way that makes it appealing.  When this content promotes or supports suicide - such as by encouraging or instructing others to do so in real life –  it may be illegal.

What does suicide content include?

Content involving suicide can be images, videos, livestreams, discussions in forums and chatrooms or any online content. It often includes real people, but it doesn’t have to. The Classification Act treats Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI), and animated suicide in the same way as suicide containing real-life content. Even if content is fake, it can still encourage real-life harm. You can read more about AI and the law here.

Is suicide content illegal?

In New Zealand, the law that deals with suicide content is sections 3 and 3B of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993  (the Act). Section 3 is the part of the Act that defines what is objectionable. Suicide content may be illegal because it promotes or encourages a crime when:

  • it encourages other people to suicide.
  • it encourages someone to assist another person to suicide. Helping someone else in this way is also a crime in New Zealand.
  • it sets out detailed instructions on how to suicide.
  • Section 3B of the Act covers the potential harm, specifically to young people (rather than vulnerable people of any age), in them watching suicide and self-harm content. It allows content to be restricted to adults even though it is not objectionable.

What does “promote or encourages” mean?

In this context, promote or encourages means content that encourages, normalises, or presents suicide as acceptable or harmless. This includes material that approves of it, justifies it, or suggests it should be engaged in.

It can also include content that provides instruction or endorsement, and in some cases, this may include material presented as fictional, humorous, or for entertainment, depending on how it is framed and the overall message.

How do I know what’s illegal?

Knowing where the legal line is a matter of expert judgment of the Office. The key question that the Office will consider is whether the content promotes and encourages the suicide depicted.

Are all representations illegal? What about fiction, satire or news reporting?

The law, and the Classification Office, places a high priority on freedom of expression. The law does not ban all content that deals with suicide.

Content that refers to suicide in a factual, critical, or harm-focused way, such as news reporting, education, or legal discussion, is not considered to promote or support it and is not illegal.

Incorporation of themes of suicide in fiction, film, or other entertainment (which do not endorse or encourage the behaviour) are not illegal. Sometimes an age restriction may be placed on this content due to the potential harm for younger audiences (as, for example, in a R16 film).

New Zealanders have told us they are particularly sensitive to content involving suicide. We take this into account by applying clear content warnings to films, series and games where suicide may harm audiences, and by providing information to help people make informed decisions about what they view. For more information about suicide in films and series see our Find a Rating page.

There are some restrictions in New Zealand on what can be made public about a real suicide or suspected suicide. The Mental Health Foundation provides guidance for media and reporting and portrayal of suicide, here.

About the Classification Office’s role and how the law works

The Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 balances freedom of expression with protecting people from harm – especially children and young people.

Every piece of content the Classification Office sees is different and to decide whether something is illegal it must consider each one on its own merits and carefully apply the Act and the principles of fairness and natural justice. There are also serious penalties for offences under the Act. This is why decisions about whether content is illegal are made by trained experts at the Classification Office, who, guided by the Act, follow a very transparent and fair process before making a decision.

You can read more about the classification process here.

Why or where might people come across suicide content?

Like any content, people can come across suicide content in a variety of ways – for example, on social media feeds, websites, messaging apps, or by being shown content in person. Content might be unwanted or show up unexpectedly, or people might seek it out intentionally.

How to report harmful or illegal content

If you come across harmful, distressing, or illegal content online, it’s important to report it.

Reporting helps protect you, your whānau, and others, supports safer online spaces, and ensures the right agencies can act. You don’t need to be certain whether content is illegal, different New Zealand agencies can assess it and respond appropriately. You can report content even if it’s hosted overseas.

Find out who to report to and how to report harmful or illegal content in New Zealand.
How to Report Harmful or Illegal Online Content in New Zealand

People across Aotearoa have consistently told us they are concerned about the harms of extreme content. Young people, parents and caregivers, grandparents, aunties and uncles, educators, and community leaders are worried for themselves, for young people, and for their communities.

Addressing these harms is a shared effort, supported by clear laws, dedicated agencies, and community action. Together, we can reduce harm by not creating or sharing objectionable content, protecting wellbeing, and reporting harm when we see it.

What’s next?

For parents and whānau: The Classification Office has a range of practical resources to help you support young people who may be encountering extreme content online — from conversation starters to insights shared directly by rangatahi.

For educators and those working with young people: Our resources focus on supporting young people safely and confidently, including guidance on keeping yourselves safe in those conversations and knowing what to do if concerns arise.

For young people: Learning about this content is an important step in staying safe and understanding where the legal line sits. If you need to report something, you can find out how here. If you’d like to talk to someone, our list of support helplines is available here.