NZealand PM faces revolt on child smacking law

[Mid]

NZealand PM faces revolt on child smacking law
24/08/2009

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key moved Monday to defuse a public revolt over a law which bans the smacking of children.


New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, pictured, has moved to defuse a public revolt over a law which bans the smacking of children.

Preliminary results released Friday from a referendum showed 87.6 percent of those who took part wanted changes to a 2007 law which removed the right of parents to use "reasonable force" to discipline their children.

Key said the so-called "anti-smacking law" was working and would remain, but that he would add safeguards to reassure parents they would not be prosecuted for trivial assaults on their children.

"I believe the law is working as intended, but I want to give parents an assurance that a National-led government will continue to monitor the way the law is being implemented," Key said.

No parents have been convicted for light smacking offences against their children since the law was passed two years ago.

"Cabinet has agreed that if future police data indicates a worrying trend, the law will be changed to ensure that good New Zealand parents are not criminalised for lightly smacking," Key said following a cabinet meeting.

Police and other relevant government agencies have been instructed to carry out a review to ensure no parents were being prosecuted for light smacking and there would be regular monitoring of the law.

One of the organisers of the petition calling for the referendum, Larry Baldock, said Key's response was disappointing.

"It sounds like he is basically ignoring the referendum. The things he is offering is not what we asked for, parents don't want to be criminalised for a smack, it's that simple," he told commercial television.

The referendum asked: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"

Voter turnout in the referendum was 54 percent, with just over 1.6 million votes cast, according to the preliminary count.

A 2003 Unicef report said New Zealand had the third-worst rate of abuse and neglect of children in the OECD group of developed countries.

bangkokpost.com

[Attilla the Hen]

A 2003 Unicef report said New Zealand had the third-worst rate of abuse and neglect of children in the OECD group of developed countries.

Probably not if you take all the Maoris and Samoans out of the equation.

[Texpat]

Oh dear. Parents can't smack a misbehaving kiwi child to correct his untoward behavior?

That explains a lot.

Do the nanny minders have tables that differentiate a pat from a smack from a wallop? Do they have government lookouts positioned in each room of the house or just one upstairs and one downstairs?

[AntRobertson]

Oh dear. Parents can't smack a misbehaving kiwi child to correct his untoward behavior?

That explains a lot.

It does?

Do the nanny minders have tables that differentiate a pat from a smack from a wallop? Do they have government lookouts positioned in each room of the house or just one upstairs and one downstairs?

Nope and nope again.

[Norton]

That explains a lot.

Water chummed. Bait cast.

It does?

Hook set.

Catch and release Tex?

[AntRobertson]

^Pffft, he's only gonna get himself tangled in his own line.

When it comes to fishing Tex's about as subtle as using dynamite in a pond.

[Texpat]

While I'll admit it is a lot like shooting fish in a barrel, this species is not very tasteful.
And frankly, I don't find it exhilarating and irresistible to sit around all day whining and moaning about other nations and their people and governments.

I guess I'm stable and comfortable in my own skin.

Carry on.

[Norton]

they would not be prosecuted for trivial assaults on their children.

Well that sure quantifies the limits. Defense lawyers should have a field day with this.

[blackgang]

Probably not if you take all the Maoris and Samoans out of the equation.

First thought that popped into my head too. even tho I have never been to their country and have no ideas about it. I know PP and he is a white NZlander and quite mild and civilized.
But I do kinda know Antsy and he claims to be Maori and it is apparent that he is a whiner and very mentally unstable, if he is a rep of those people then you are quite right in your assumptions.

[DrAndy]

I guess I'm stable and comfortable in my own skin.

yep, enough to feel comfortable in

But I do kinda know Antsy and he claims to be Maori

yes BG, you obviously know him well

there is a sub-species of Maori who have white skin and red hair, quite interesting innit?

[Texpat]

Something to add Andy, or just flitting about the periphery?

[AntRobertson]

And frankly, I don't find it exhilarating and irresistible to sit around all day whining and moaning about other nations and their people and governments.

And yet you do. Almost to the exclusion of everything else. Go figure.

So then, I take it you don't care to expand on your earlier clumsy attempt. Thought as much.

[Rural Surin]

PC Nanny State.....will this ever end?