Mad Max in New Zealand

[PL-12Airtruk]

I recently wrote to the NZ Film Censor for information on when Mad Max was exhibited in New Zealand as I had heard MM1 was not classified until AFTER MM2.
This is why the later MM1 poster art (not the original blue tinted one with steering wheel but the dramatic low angle artwork where the Interceptor looks like a
Transam!) was titled "The Original Mad Max" on NZ video tapes during the 1980s.

I got this information back from them:

- Mad Max first classified on 9 August 1979. Banned from NZ cinemas and the ban was upheld again after review on 23 March 1981.

- Mad Max submitted again for classification on 15 April 1983. Passed and classified with an R18 rating, which it still has to this day.

- Mad Max 2 first classified on 9 March 1982 with an R16 rating. I've noted the DVD rating has dropped slightly to an M rating
but remains recommended to 16 and over.

I have a 1980s video box at home with the "modified title" I'll dig out and post here later.
As a side note MM3 was rated a GY classification in its day (todays standard M rating) meaning any age group could go to it.

[Taipan]

Very interesting info! I've included it in the Wikipedia with you as the reference. Do you perhaps know how it went down in Sweden with Mad Max? AFAIK it was banned there as well, but not sure when the ban was lifted nor the circumstances. Also, plz post that pic of the tape, it would make for some interesting trivia.

[PL-12Airtruk]

I've now added the image of the Mad Max VHS cover as released by Roadshow in NZ during the mid-1980s. You can clearly see from the blurb and title that it was released in NZ
AFTER MM2 and was marketed as such. This was my first purchase of the film and the first time I saw it uncut (it screened on TV heavily censored in NZ in 1987). The VHS tape has long since perished but I kept the box for historic reasons.

[Taipan]

Brilliant, thanks!