There's disappointment that an appeal to put the book Into the River back on shelves has been declined.

OPINION: How Into the River was banned, and why it should never happen again

The Board of Review have said Into the River will remain under censor until another decision is made in early October.

Barrister Graeme Edgeler said the Board of Review were wrong to place the restriction order because it's the classification of the book under review, not the complete banning, a restriction order should never have been allowed.

"The current situation is that no one can read the book. I'm in my thirties ... this is saying that people in their thirties can't read the book. That's just an odd decision."

The Library Association of New Zealand's Kris Wehipeihana believes getting an age restricted book out is like getting codeine from the pharmacy:

"They tend to have books that are for younger children separated out from the books that are for older children. At a public library you have go to the desk and say can I please have Into The River by Ted Dawe."

Wehipeihana said sometimes it's safer to discover life through reading a book and Into the River was one of few that does this.

"This is a really important book that was written by a New Zealander that was about subjects that our young people face every day or that their peers will be facing every day. This is how we learn."