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The sale or distribution of a YA novel by Ted Dawe has been temporarily banned in New Zealand following complaints from a Christian charity.
The call for a ban on Into the River, about a boy's experience at boarding school, came from Family First, which is described on its website as being a charity that puts an “emphasis on the Judeo-Christian values which have benefited New Zealand for generations”.
Dawe’s novel contains YA themes, including sex, but Family First director Bob McCoskrie said the author’s right to freedom of expression does not trump the laws “that were written to allow censorship to be applied to protect the public good”.
He added: “We are also aware that the censor has received over 400 emails of complaint about their latest decision from concerned kiwi parents. Their desire to protect their children must also be respected.”
The Film and Literature Board of Review has now placed an interim restriction order on the book, meaning no-one in New Zealand can distribute or exhibit it. Anyone breaking the rule faces a fine of NZ $3,000, or NZ 10,000 for companies.
It is not illegal to have a copy for personal use but the board suggests anyone wanting to buy an e-book or or a print copy from overseas should “wait for clarification of the status of the book”.
The rule will stay in place until the board, which is due to next meet in October, makes a final decision over whether the book can be distributed in the country or not.
Dawe told the Guardian he created the book, which won the New Zealand Post Children’s Book award in 2013, to reach teenage boys, so was writing in about issues that were relevant to them. “There are many issues that young adults can not take to other people. They want to do their own thinking about them. There is no better, no more private medium for this than the novel. In this relatively safe context the teenager can navigate through issues such as race, sexual orientation, body issues, class discrimination and bullying and harassment. They can test their responses against the main characters and calibrate the differences without the need to discuss.”