New Zealand Legislation: Acts

16 Referral of notice of submission to complaints officer

• (1) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (3) of section 15 of this Act, where a notice of submission is lodged under that section, the Chief Censor may, in his or her discretion, refer the notice to a complaints officer.

  (2) On any such referral, the complaints officer shall—

  • (a) Consider the publication; and

  • (b) Determine whether or not, in his or her opinion, the Chief Censor should give leave under section 15 of this Act for the publication to be submitted to the Classification Office; and

  • (c) Report his or her opinion to the Chief Censor.

  (3) In making a determination under subsection (2) of this section, the complaints officer shall have regard to any guidelines issued for the purpose by the Chief Censor.

  (4) Where the Chief Censor receives a report under subsection (2)(c) of this section in relation to a publication, the Chief Censor shall take the recommendation in that report into consideration in deciding, under section 15 of this Act, whether or not to grant leave for the publication to be submitted to the Classification Office.