Part of the short film, in which an elderly woman teaches individuals how to use an oven bag to end their lives, was played to about 50 people attending a public meeting on the topic of voluntary euthanasia.
The film is one of a series of three films called Doing it with Betty which describe the steps involved in taking their own lives using helium and a plastic bag. The film is not yet classified.
Controversial Australian euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke described the film as "quirky and interesting" before playing it at his first public meeting in Dunedin.
It was the first time the film had been shown in public in New Zealand after controversy in February when Dr Nitschke suggested he would show the "Betty" film, and another that shows a group of elderly people making materials for a so-called peaceful pill, designed to end lives, during workshops in New Zealand.
Last night, he said he had shown the films in public in Australia without rebuke since the recent change in government, but had only ever shown stills from the film in New Zealand.
The film was available online. Dr Nitschke said common sense dictated that it should be allowed to be shown publicly.
In February, Dr Nitschke told The New Zealand Herald he had sought advice from chief censor Bill Hastings on screening it.
Mr Hastings said he had offered advice on the grounds required for the films to be shown without a classification.
A spokesman from the Office of Film and Literature Classification told the newspaper the only exemption was if people had brought a film to New Zealand to show to friends. "But if he wants to show it to the public, he would have to get them classified," the spokesman said.
There was a narrow band of exemptions for films shown to the public, including documentaries and natural history films. "But if they have material in them which give them an age restriction or mean they would be banned, you can't claim that exemption."
Mr Hastings said it was for Dr Nitschke to decide whether the films were exempt, but he risked prosecution if they were shown and found to have required classification first.
A failure to abide by New Zealand's classification laws could lead to a fine of up to $3000 for individuals, or $10,000 for an organisation.
Mr Hastings could not be contacted last night.
Right to Life spokesman Ken Orr said the group, which opposes euthanasia, had submitted the films to the Office of Film and Literature Classification for classification last month.
He had received an acknowledgement of his submission, but had not yet heard about classification.
Dr Nitschke told the audience it was inappropriate at the public meeting to go into detail on the range of practical strategies available, but offered an outline of options including how to obtain and use certain drugs, the situation in Switzerland and Mexico and the use of gases and "exit" bags.
The specifics of each option was discussed in detail at a workshop attended by 23 people following the public meeting.
