SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

Film and Literature Board boss Don Mathieson steps down after Into the River saga

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Stuff News Reports: A censor involved in banning [sic] controversial novel Into the River is leaving the Film and Literature Board of Review. [An interim restriction order was applied to the publication not a “ban”]

Don Mathieson, QC, will be replaced as the board’s president in January by Auckland lawyer Kate Davenport, QC.

Mathieson, a conservative Christian, made headlines in September, after Ted Dawe’s teen novel Into The River was briefly banned, [sic] following a complaint from conservative lobby group Family First.

The book had previously won the NZ Post Children’s Book Award, and the ban [sic] – the first handed down in 22 years – sparked public outrage.

By a majority vote, the board lifted the interim ban in October – and the book’s previous R14 classification was thrown out at the same time, making it an unrestricted read.

Mathieson opposed the ruling, with a dissenting opinion in the board’s final decision, saying “no responsible parent of a 17-year-old, let alone of a 12-year-old, would want this repetitive coarse language normalised.”

On Monday, Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne announced Mathieson’s departure from the board, in a statement announcing seven new appointments.

Mathieson, from Waikanae, north of Wellington, told Stuff he did not expect to be reappointed after two three-year terms, both as president, and did not put his name forward to continue in the job.

He said he was “not particularly glad or sorry” to be leaving the board, which he joined as a public service.

To see full story published 1/12/15 go to:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/74575182/film-and-literature-board-boss-don-mathieson-steps-down-after-into-the-river-saga

Censors protecting the “public good” from morally toxic computer games

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The just released 2009/10 Annual Report of the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) has highlighted a computer game that the Office has recently banned. In its summary of reasons for the decision it states:

 “The game presents still images and text that legitimises sexual violation and rape in a manner that is intended to sexually arouse the player who takes on the role of a rapist who preys primarily on school girls… Sexual violation and rape are essential to complete the game in its entirety”.

The Society considers it important that the public be made aware of the nature of the objectionable corrupting publications that are being produced for the commercial market by hard core pornographers and others bent on profiteering by the exploitation of people with addictions to moral vices etc.

 The public needs to learn about the vital role played by our Classification Office  to  ensure that such morally corrupting material that injures the “public good” is banned. For this reason it has sought over the last ten years to recommend quality, well-qualified people for nomination to the Film and Literature Board of Review that deals with appeals against classification decisions issued by the OFLC.

New appointments to Film and Literature Board of Review

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Internal Affairs Minister Nathan announced on 29 June three new appointments to the Film and Literature Board of Review. Dr Don Mathieson has been appointed as President of the Board with Andrew Caisley as Deputy President. Dr Laurence Simmons also joins the Board.

Wellington lawyer Dr Mathieson is well qualified for this role. He is Queen’s Counsel and a former lecturer who currently works as a part-time Special Counsel to the Parliamentary Counsel Office.

“Mr Caisley is a founding partner of law firm Kiely Thomson Caisley. He has longstanding experience in theatre and arts organisations having served on the Council of Creative New Zealand, the Silo Theatre Board and as the founding Chair of New Theatre Initiative.

“Dr Simmons is Deputy Head of the Film, Television and Media department at the University of Auckland. He is fluent in Italian and is the author of many books, articles and other publications. Dr Simmons was awarded a Senior Fulbright Fellowship in 2002.

“All new members have been appointed for terms of three years.”

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new+appointments+film+and+literature+board+review

[Read more…]

Three New Appointments to the Film and Literature Board of Review

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Press Release 14/12/07 Hon. Rick Barker

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=31670

Dr Josephine Baddeley, Judy Callingham and Louise Carroll have been appointed to the Film and Literature Board of Review, Internal Affairs Minister, Rick Barker announced today. [They replace three Board members whose terms of office expired on 31 March 2007: Peter Cartwright, Dr Lalita Rajasingham and Stephen Stelhin]

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Minister Hon. Rick Barker Fails to Replace Lame-Duck Board Censors

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Media Release 24/10/07

The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. Rick Barker, has failed to replace three members of the nine-member Film and Literature Board of Review (“the Board”), whose positions expired on 31 March 2007, almost seven months ago. The Society, which has raised numerous concerns with the Minister and his predecessor, the Hon. George Hawkins, over their respective failures to comply with their statutory duties regarding Board appointments; says that these three lame- duck members – Peter Cartwright, Dr Lalita Rajasingham and Stephen Stehlin – have played no active role in Board proceedings since 27 April 2007. However, it points out that the Board is required by law to have NINE fully-functioning members (not just six), each fully capable of participating in all review processes, who reflect the breadth of cultural, ethical and standards-based concerns found in New Zealand Society in the area of censorship (safeguarding the “public good”) [1].

The Board has continued this year to convene hearings, deliberate on critical reviews and issue decisions, but has done so since the end of April without any input from the three lame-duck members concerned. While it is true that the Board can operate with full authority and carry out its functions in law as a quorum of five [2], the non-participation of three members due to their positions having expired, is not sanctioned in law, says the Society. The quorum provision is only there for pragmatic reasons – to overcome genuine unavailability (sickness, family commitments, work conflicts etc) of members. It is not a provision put in place to assist a tardy Minister, unable or refusing to carry out his statutory duties. [Read more…]