Jacinda Ardern pulps fiction: New Zealand government bans the sale of classic novels including Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings - but you can still order self-help books
- The New Zealand government has banned online delivery for non-essentials
- That includes fiction books - although 'essential' books are allowed to be sent
- Shoppers can still order fiction books - but they will not be delivered yet
- New Zealand is set to relax lockdown from stage 4 to stage 3 on April 28
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
The New Zealand government has banned fiction books from being delivered under stage four lockdown.
Under some of the world's toughest coronavirus restrictions, all non-essential shopping and online delivery has been forbidden since 26 March.
With bookshops closed, only medical and professional books as well as textbooks were allowed to be delivered until last week when further exceptions were made.
The New Zealand government has banned fiction books from being delivered under stage four lockdown. Pictured: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Fiction books such as the Harry Potter and Lord Of The Rings series do not make the cut for those that can be delivered
Books about food and drink, personal care and pet care as well as children's and educational books can be now be sent to customers.
Retail company MightyApe has a helpful 'essentials' tab showing which books customers can get hold of.
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It advertises self-help books including one about brewing beer at home and another about the stock market.
But fiction books such as the Harry Potter and Lord Of The Rings series do not make the cut.
Shoppers can still order fiction books - but they will not be sent until level four lockdown in the country ends on 28 April.
Retail company MightyApe has a helpful 'essentials' tab showing which books customers can buy. It advertises self-help books including one about brewing beer at home and another about the stock market
An email to customers from University Book Shop, seen by Daily Mail Australia, reads: 'You can still place orders via our website however they will NOT be sent until after the lockdown is lifted.'
When stage four restrictions were introduced on 25 March, a spokesman for New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said: 'Couriers will only be delivering essential items.
'We are asking customers to commit to only purchasing essential items at this time.'
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the ministry for further comment.
