A book teaching parents how to smack, thump and pull their children's hair could soon be banned following a complaint.

To Train Up a Child has been removed from Whitcoulls' online store but other leading book sites are still selling it.

The book, by fundamentalist United States Christians Michael and Debi Pearl, promotes using a rod, such as a branch or belt, several times on a child as a way of disciplining and training them to obey.

It has courted controversy worldwide after a California couple who followed the book's instructions were convicted of murdering their seven-year-old adopted daughter.

The Internal Affairs Department's Censorship Compliance Unit confirmed it was investigating the book after a complaint was made last week.

An American child abuse victim, now living in New Zealand, complained to Whitcoulls, which agreed to remove the book from its website.

Online booksellers Fishpond, The Nile and Usedbooks continue to sell To Train Up a Child.

The victim said he was shocked to find out the book was being sold in New Zealand, despite the country's anti-smacking law.

"I'm not one to prevent books from being sold, but I think an instruction manual on how to enact violence on your child is a completely different story," he said.

"New Zealand has such a high rate of child abuse and to instruct people on how to do this is just so irresponsible."

Sue Bradford, who campaigned as a Green Party MP to remove the defence of reasonable force when disciplining a child, said she was concerned parents would buy the book and follow its instructions.

"It's a real pity people are buying it and perhaps having their ideas that it's okay to assault children as a way of bringing them up being reinforced," she said.

Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said the organisation wanted the anti-smacking law overturned but, while he promoted a light smack on the hand or bottom as a way of correcting behaviour, thumping and hair pulling was completely wrong.

A marketing manager for Whitcoulls has confirmed the book had been sold on the site but had since been removed.

She would not comment further on the books sales or whether the company had received any complaints.

Censorship Compliance Unit manager Stephen OBrien said the book's content would be investigated and, if it was found to be objectionable, it could be either banned, restricted or referred to the human rights or childrens commissioners.

There are 1309 books already banned in New Zealand.

International media outlets have reported that Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz followed the book's instructions and subsequently beat their seven-year-old adopted daughter to death.

The Schatzes allegedly held their daughter Elizabeth down and beat her continuously on the back of her body, causing massive tissue damage.

While the book does encourage parents to use some force on their children, it does not advocate being so forceful that it causes injury.

WHAT THE BOOK SAYS:

- The book promotes thumping, smacking and hair pulling as a way of training a child to obey instructions. It compares children with dogs.

- It promotes the use of a "rod", which the authors describe as a "divine enforcer". It recommends using a metre-long branch or a belt on an older child and a smaller object, such as a ruler, on a younger child.

- "Any spanking to reinforce instruction, must cause pain."

- "If you have to sit on him to spank him, do not hesitate... hold the resisting child in a helpless position for several minutes, or until he is totally surrendered."

- Michael Pearl said his wife trained their daughter to stop biting her during breastfeeding by pulling on her hair. "Understand, the baby is not being punished. Just conditioned."

- Stuff

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