Members of the Muslim community have raised concerns about the Hindi film. The Kashmir Archives may stoke anti-Muslim sentiment, prompting the chief censor to review the film's rating.
The Kashmir Archivesa fictional account of the exodus of Hindus from Kashmir in the 1990s, was due to open in New Zealand on March 24 with an R16 certificate.
Speculation about the Classification Office's actions and motivations has been "abundant", chief censor David Shanks said, but "this is not a case of banning the film".
He said members of the Muslim community had approached him with concerns that the film "might spark anti-Muslim sentiment and potential hatred."
He said it was a "complex situation" as concerns centered around on- and offline behaviors in relation to the film, rather than the content of the film itself.
Videos posted online appear to show people in Indian cinemas cheering, shouting hateful slogans and calling for violence against Muslims.
Shanks said the concerns raised were valid and serious, so it was important to "take stock and pause."
