7 December 2004 Media Statement

Minister has full confidence in Film Censor and Film & Literature Review Board

Internal Affairs Minister, George Hawkins, today declined to accept an invitation from the Society for Protection of Community Standards to dismiss the entire Film and Literature Board of Review.

"I have full confidence in the competence of the members of the Board and the Chief Censor and his staff," said the Minister.

"Bill Hastings and his Deputy do a very difficult job under sometimes trying conditions. They bring a very professional approach to their tasks and I have no grounds for questioning their judgement.

"In New Zealand we have a robust system for the classification of publications and films according to their content which meets the needs of the whole community. The classifications then allow individuals to make informed choices about what they will read or watch, and protect vulnerable young people from content which exceeds their personal level of maturity. That is the way it should be," concluded Mr Hawkins.

ENDS

© Scoop Media