Screening of film investigated

The Department of Internal Affairs is investigating the Dunedin screening of an unclassified short film on euthanasia that is banned in Australia.

And the Film and Literature Board of Review has rejected a second application for an interim injunction to prevent the distribution of the euthanasia book, the Peaceful Pill Handbook, clearing the way for it to be sold in New Zealand.

A Department of Internal Affairs censorship compliance unit spokesman said a complaint had been received about the short film DIY with Betty, which was shown to about 50 people at a public meeting held by Australian euthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke in Dunedin on Sunday.

The short film is one of a series of three describing steps to take to end your life with helium and a plastic bag.

The spokesman said the unit, which is responsible for enforcing breaches of the Film, Videos, Publication and Classification Act, would wait for chief film censor Bill Hastings to classify the film before deciding whether Dr Nitschke had breached the Act.

A breach could bring a fine of up to $10,000 for an organisation.

Mr Hastings said he granted anti-euthanasia group Right to Life leave to submit the Betty films for classification on Friday.

Because the films were so short, the process might take only about two weeks.

He said he told Dr Nitschke about a year ago that if he wished to show the films they needed to be labelled with a rating issued by the Film and Video Labelling Body in Auckland.

Any which the body believed warranted a restricted classification were passed on to the Office of Film and Literature Classification.

Films exempt were documentaries, natural history films and films that were instructional or educational, Mr Hastings said.

Dr Nitschke said he did not believe the film needed classification because it was "over the top to do that" and was modified following an earlier complaint from the Australian Auditor-general.

He would be "sorely" disappointed if the film was classified anything other than for general distribution.

He did not feel "terribly" uncomfortable showing the film in public and it was widely available on the Internet, so it was a double standard to say it was not fit to be shown publicly.

The film was developed mainly as promotional material for potential members of Exit International, a pro-choice voluntary euthanasia/assisted suicide organisation founded by Dr Nitschke.

It had been well received by Exit members who "wanted to see the sort of information they would be getting by joining", he said.

Dr Nitschke welcomed a decision late yesterday to reject a second attempt by Right to Life NZ and the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards to stop distribution on his book The Peaceful Pill Handbook.

The book would be on sale in 30 bookstores across New Zealand by the weekend.

It was banned in New Zealand last year but the ban after it was revised.

It was given an R18 rating, has sections blacked out and must be sealed when sold.