Shelf Awareness
The Interim Restriction Order imposed in September by the president of the New Zealand Film and Literature Board against Ted Dawe's award-winning YA novel Into the River has been lifted, the Herald reported. In a majority decision this week, the board ruled that it no longer considers a ban justifiable, adding that even though the book describes a number of "unacceptable, offensive and objectionable" behaviors, it "does not in any way promote them.""I am thrilled. It has restored my faith in New Zealand's legal system," Dawe said.
Penguin Random House NZ managing director Margaret Thompson called the board's majority decision "a victory for freedom of expression and the right of authors and publishers to deal with the challenging social issues young people face today in high-quality works of literature."
Mary Sangster, chair of Booksellers NZ, commented: "This has been a long process, but we see this very sensible decision as reinforcing that there are subjects and issues in our society that need to be transparent and explained for the benefit of young people."
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