Smacking is part of the fabric and wholesome culture of New Zealand. When the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, it wasn't brought into law until attendees were properly smacked. When "Mother England" called during World War II, it was the heroic "Smacking Battalion" that carried the day, smacking their way "freedom's bum".And now the Almighty Government wants to take away this sacred right, this holy ritual of beating kids like a side of beef.But not anymore! This weekend we will hold a "Million Smack Smac-In" in front of the Beehive, where we will public beat the crap out of kids in a show of smacking defiance...that will be The Smack Heard 'Round The World.In jest,Manuel from Los Angeles(married to a Kiwi)
Bollocks Thomas and you must know it or be sucked in by the lousy low quality trash science the anti discipline crew peddle.I have seen the research and you are just Spinning!.Want to talk about the false stats out of Sweeden too.How the Body count of kids killed by parents that just defys the Govt lieing numbers...Oh truth how inconvenient..(to be cliched)
Solomon: who are you accusing of not doing homework?All the research has in fact TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT LEVEL OF PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT the only positive effect of smacking is immediate compliance (which isn't that surprising really)I hardly think that the 'minority' of people who support the repeal of section 59 are reactionary and emotional if anything the arguments that have been presented against the repeal have been the emotiveones
JOHN KEYIS RIGHT SMAKIG IS GOOD
Wassup there AlanThanks for your thesis on society and sharing your religious trauma with us.If you do your homework you will find that the only solid research on this as opposed to the 1000x repeated crap that REFUSES FLATLY to differentiate between Beatings Drunken rages etc from smacking for correction shows a very positive outcome for smacking.But What do we want with facts we we can be reactionary and emotional?Did your folks send you to confession too much as a Kid?Last time I knew it 88% of New Zealand were not Christians.What exactly is your Beef? Are you one of those that confuses force from an authority with random acts of violence?Please keep on topic. Your forced sunday school where you had to learn to not steal lie and commit adultery may have been tough and corrupting but it really is off the topic.Oh, How's Brendan these days?
Robert, the politicians have not all made up there mind about the referendum. The referendum was flawed and referenda are not binding. Larry Baldock is following a conservative Christian ideology and wants to perpetuate our poor record of child violence. And what do you mean about society unravelling. I would say that we are heading in the right direction by throwing off the shackles of religion. Also, what do you mean that the academics are pulling the strings? That is rubbish. The big influences on society are advertising, peer pressure and industry lobby groups.
So basically, the politicians of New Zealand have already made up their minds and aren't going to take the results of the referendum seriously. That police are given "discretionary powers not to prosecute inconsequential smacking" fails to change the bottom line: parents who smack have committed a criminal offence. As it stands presently, they may escape any consequences because the government has condescended to ignore their behaviour. The government may choose to turn a blind eye, but as far as the law is concerned parents who smack are guilty. So it remains that if you choose to smack your children, you have to do so in secret. Families are left worrying, “Is smacking OK or isn't it?” Smacking your children is not a viable choice if you want to remain a functioning member of society. This legal grey area we are creating for it undermines parental confidence and authority at a time when it is needed more than ever.And why is it that only the police and social services are going to be consulted in this matter? Why is nobody asking families with young children how their lives have been changed? The Police and social services can't give data on how devastating this law and the confusion that surrounds it has been for the many good families who don't see social services. The Plunket nurses may be keeping meticulous records about what they think is going on in homes, but how many parents are telling the truth when they are being made to feel so guilty and afraid? The office of parenting has become so degraded and devalued that we are funding adverts in our shopping trolleys to make ourselves feel better about it.As the fabric of our society unravels, our politicians and academics are pulling at the threads. They are determined to have their way. So much for democracy.
Sandy, the PM did not spend on the referendum - it was initiated by Larry Baldock. It is embaressingly pointless to worry about this with just 13 failed complaints vs. 2652 serious assault complaints. The law is working as written. Did these people do any real research?
Why didi our Prime MMinister spend 9 million dollars on a referendum then if he intended to leave things pretty much as is He did not NEED to waste the publics time and money to tell us the law is working OR to ask the police and child welfare agencies if they thought the law was working He is all but saying that IF the parents and caregivers of NZ want a law change there would need to be a worrying trend of increased smacking among that group again How sad is that!
Good to see that Key doesn't support child abuse like 88% of New Zealands population who are outraged at the fact they feel like criminals when taking out their own fustrations on a child.