New Zealand's censorship review board has slapped an interim ban on a book for the first time since the current law was passed 22 years ago.
Media law expert Professor Ursula Cheer said it was now illegal to supply the book even to a friend.
The president of the Film and Literature Board of Review, Dr Don Mathieson, QC, has issued the Interim Restriction Order banning the sale or distribution of Auckland author Ted Dawe's award-winning novel for teenagers Into the River until the full board can consider whether the book should be restricted.
Family First director Bob McCoskrie, who requested the review, said the interim order - the first affecting a book under the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993 - showed people could still use the censorship system.
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