Newswires around the world were abuzz last Wednesday after government officials in New Zealand seized a copy of “Bloody Mama” from a local business; the book has been banned there since 1971.

There are currently 1319 books officially banned in New Zealand and another 728 titles that are restricted.

Under state law, a person can be fined up to $50,000 or sentenced up to five years in prison for possession of a banned book under the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993. An organization can be fined up to $200,000 for distributing a banned book, while an individual convicted of distributing a banned book can be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Book Haven is New Zealand’s largest online secondhand book store, with some 57,000 books listed; the “indecent” book had been listed for sale on the website since February, 2011 for $8.50, according to store owner Don Hollander.

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http://bbark.deepforestproductions.com/column/2011/11/28/banned-books-awareness-bloody-mama/