Proposals to limit New Zealander's access to online pornography could be on the table before the 2020 election. (This video was originally published in November 2019)

Taboo "step-fantasy" and non-consensual behaviour feature in much of the porn Kiwis are watching, according to the chief censor.

A new report analysing nearly 200 popular porn videos Kiwis have watched shows 10 per cent feature physical aggression, but Chief Censor David Shanks says there's a "concerning trend" of people watching "step-porn".

The porn has actors pretending to have sex with step-mothers, step-brothers or step-sisters, and commonly features a family member pressuring their step-family member into sex.

The Breaking Down Porn report, which analyses the 200 most watched porn videos on mainstream website PornHub, found 46 per cent of this porn involved step-fantasy and 35 per cent involved non-consenual behaviour.

DAVID UNWIN/STUFF Chief Censor David Shanks has released a new report into New Zealanders' porn habits.

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PornHub is a global giant in online porn, and researchers at the chief censor's office say it seems to be the most popular site for adolescent Kiwis.

Shanks said the volume of step-fantasy porn was "surprising and a little bit shocking" and particularly problematic for young people.

"This was not something that was evident in earlier content research, particular pre-internet."

The "persistence and persuasion" applied in the videos to overcome a person's resistance to sex reinforced stereotypes about non-consensual behaviour, he said.

"It's pretty evident from this sample that we've done that these are fictional porn scenarios. There is really no realistic representation or attempt to make this realistic.

"On the other hand, that relies on the viewers having the kind of understanding and comprehension of what they're viewing."

Of the 196 videos totalling 46 hours of content, one-in-10 featured physical aggression.

While 13 per cent of videos had a hand placed on another person's throat, only one of the videos featured choking or restricting the person's breath.

Affectionate behaviour, like hugging or kissing, could be seen in 29 per cent.

Three per cent of the videos featured the use of a condom, which worried Shank as many teens watch porn to educate themselves about sex.

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A previous report from the chief censor, released a year ago today, found a quarter of all children under the age of 12 and two-thirds between 14 and 17 had seen pornography.

Of those who regularly watched porn, 73 per cent used porn as a "learning tool", which they said had both a positive and negative effect.

"These are hard things to talk about. Pornography is a really hard thing for parents to talk to their child about ... nonetheless, it's really important that we do it," Shanks said.

Tackling the problem of youth accessing porn was tricky. An integrated strategy combining education and regulation was needed, he said.

Shanks said "age gates", which prompt a person to confirm they are 18-years or older, could be useful in reducing accessibility.

CHARLES DELUVIO/UNSPLASH Porn watched by Kiwis heavily featured coercion and "step-fantasy", according to a new report from the chief censor.

"Placing a label restriction of 18 on the front page of a website is not going to be respected by older teens … But sometimes it does provide them with a warning that they'll take notice of."

But to compel large, commercial porn distributors to put such gates up could require an international effort — akin to the Christchurch Call.

"We definitely could have a space in leading that work. Providing some of this updates evidence and research, it's providing us a platform … the fact is, this is an issue across the world," he said.

Shanks said he expected further work on porn to be announced early next year.

Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin said she was still receiving advice from officials on how New Zealand could better protect children from porn.

"It's very interesting that [the chief censor's report] shows us what New Zealanders are watching ... And that gives us an indication of what children are seeing accidentally," she said.

"There's some really concerning bits and pieces in there if that's where our children are learning about sexual health and relationships."

Martin said she would not rule out any measure, including age gates, and hoped to announce something on the matter next year.