New Zealand has just banned "Into The River", it's first book banning in 22 years

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Incidentally, looking at CARA's website and Wiki article, I didn't see any indication that they are anything other than a private project by the MPAA.

Yes, that's the impression I get too. As I say, though, in the UK, film and video game age ratings are legally binding, so it's not too surprising that other countries should have similar laws.

I note that NZ's system of book classifications has been in place since 1993, so if this is the first situation in which a book has had to be temporarily withdrawn from sale while its age classification is changed (and it seems a little misleading to call it a "ban") in 22 years, the system would seem to be working reasonably well.

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Incidentally, looking at CARA's website and Wiki article, I didn't see any indication that they are anything other than a private project by the MPAA.

It is private. It has teeth in that in terms of film distribution any films with a rating of NC-17 or no rating have trouble getting shown in theaters. The threat of the MPPA rating a film NC-17, or of refusing to give it a rating, often pressures film makers to edit the film to what will be acceptable.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

It is private. It has teeth in that in terms of film distribution any films with a rating of NC-17 or no rating have trouble getting shown in theaters. The threat of the MPPA rating a film NC-17, or of refusing to give it a rating, often pressures film makers to edit the film to what will be acceptable.

The BBFC in the UK is also a private body, founded by the film industry in 1912, but it has statutory powers granted to it by the 2010 Video Recordings Act which make its ratings legally enforceable.

[GeoffR]

The article is wrong to say that this is the first book to be banned in New Zealand for 22 years. The Peaceful Pill Handbook was banned in 2007, and the ban lifted in 2008.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by GeoffR

The article is wrong to say that this is the first book to be banned in New Zealand for 22 years. The Peaceful Pill Handbook was banned in 2007, and the ban lifted in 2008.

That would appear to be a rather different situation, in that the book gave explicit instructions on how to commit criminal acts. I'm pretty sure that it would be banned in the UK, too, on those grounds, even though the UK doesn't classify books.

[peterwardgd]

Originally Posted by chitrodhar

Is it this book btw?
http://www.amazon.com/Into-River-Ted.../dp/B00FKE3XUU

I am gonna buy it. I am always intrigued to read banned books

yes its this book:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/into-the-river

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by chitrodhar

Is it this book btw?
http://www.amazon.com/Into-River-Ted.../dp/B00FKE3XUU

I am gonna buy it. I am always intrigued to read banned books

Hopefully, then, you are actively participating in this month's MR Book Club, the topic of which is "Banned Books".

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by GeoffR

The article is wrong to say that this is the first book to be banned in New Zealand for 22 years. The Peaceful Pill Handbook was banned in 2007, and the ban lifted in 2008.

I think that the media is just confused or else omitted the details in order to make their story more dramatic, a frequent occurrence in my experience.

The Film and Literature Board of Review was first established by the 1993 Act i.e. 22 years ago. So I think the correct message which the media did not understand or chose to omit is along the lines that in those 22 years that it is one or both of that it is the first time the Board of Review has banned a book or that it is the first time they have placed an interim restriction on a book. I think the latter (interim restriction) is correct but don't know about the former.

So not that it is the first time in 22 years that a book has been banned by the Classifications Office itself. I don't know how many books are banned at the moment, but a few years back there were around 250 if I recall correctly, most due to their criminal or extreme content or which have lain there from less permissive times and their classification never reviewed.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by darryl

--------

So how can we help the New Zealand puritans keep this evil book from corrupting the pure, innocent minds of their young? Uh, we can't! Please, nobody tell the politicians this. The world needs its luddites in positions of power!

It is pretty easy. Locate a few of these "pure, innocent minds" and burn them at the stake. A half a dozen or so on the nightly TV will do the trick.

[GeoffR]

The New Zealand Herald reports that the ban has now been lifted:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainm...ectid=11529170

[rjcroy]

Interview with the author after the announcement that the book has been made available again without restriction.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/pr...ed-in-20-years

[Rizla]

Sales will increase.

[issybird]

Moderator Notice
Posts expressing an opinion about religion belong in the P&R forum. Post deleted.

[Tarana]

Gosh, it's amazing how we managed to get through life figuring out what our children should read without some other group making that decision with their codes.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Gosh, it's amazing how we managed to get through life figuring out what our children should read without some other group making that decision with their codes.

Your country finds it necessary to assign age ratings to films. Are you really surprised that another country has decided to do the same for books?