Family First call for investigation into censor’s decision over teen novel

Stuff co.nz 27 September 2015
A conservative lobby group is calling for the country’s book censor to be investigated for removing a teen novel’s R14 rating.

Family First made the request in a submission arguing for a permanent age restriction on award-winning novel Into the River.

Director Bob McCoskrie said the deputy chief censor’s “highly politicised” decision to remove the book’s restriction in August was illegal.

“Parents and families need to have a level of trust and confidence in what the censorship board decides.”

Into the River sparked a row over censorship as the Film and Literature Board of Review and Classification Office debate its classification.

However, McCoskrie said the office never had a legal right to remove the R14 rating and it should have been decided by a High Court judge.

A final decision on the book’s classification is due to be made on October 2 when the Film and Literature Board of Review meet.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/72403409/family-first-call-for-investigation-into-censors-decision-over-teen-novel

Groups seeks R14 rating for banned book Into The River
NZ Herald 27 September 2015
The lobby group that sparked a firestorm over the banning of Ted Dawes’ book Into the River says it will apply to have an R14 rating slapped on the novel.

Family First today said it also asked for the deputy chief censor’s decision to remove the book’s previous classification to be investigated.

The censor placed an interim ban on the book, the first such ban in New Zealand in 22 years, until a final decision was made, possibly at the end of this month.

“Contrary to continued media commentary, Family First did not ask for the book to be banned,” Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said.

“But we also do not believe the book should be freely available to 9-year-olds, for example, as determined by the deputy chief censor.”

Mr McCoskrie said the book previously had an R14 restriction on it for two years.

“Where was the furore then? There was none. It was an appropriate classification.”

Family First said it wanted the deputy chief censor investigated.

“The deputy chief censor, under pressure from special interest groups, has rejected the subsequent and higher ruling of the Board of Review regarding this book. We believe this to be at variance with the requirements of the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993. The decision of the Board of Review was robust,” Mr McCoskrie added in a statement today.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11519743