The Warehouse and Noel Leeming praised for 'family friendly values'

Family First NZ has come out congratulating The Warehouse and Noel Leeming for reinforcing their ‘family-friendly values’ by removing R18 games and DVDs from its shelves, and is calling on other retailers including JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and Dick Smith to do likewise.

“This is a principled move and shows that these retailers are serious about protecting families from some of the graphic violence and sexual content which is confronting children and families from every angle,” says Bob McCoskrie, national director of Family First NZ.

Family First NZ has previously called on the Grand Theft Auto video game series to be banned in NZ because of its constant graphic violence and sexual situations. Players can re-enact having sex with a prostitute, beating her bloody, taking her money and running her over with a car and shooting at police officers. The latest versions are even more graphic and offensive.

“It is completely unrealistic to believe that young people will not be influenced in their attitudes and behaviours by constant exposure to this type of gaming and DVD material,” says McCoskrie.

Family First says “with concerns in the increasing rates of juvenile violent and sexual offending including the RoastBusters saga, it is time we acted to protect our young people and communities from the effects and influences of these extreme types of video games and DVDs.

“So-called ‘entertainment’ and freedom of expression should never be at the expense of the safety of our community, appropriate emotional and moral development of our children, and promoting acceptable attitudes towards women, violence and law enforcement,” McCoskrie says.

“The Warehouse and Noel Leeming are to be applauded for taking the lead on this issue.”