It has not even landed in letterboxes yet, but already the referendum on the so-called anti-smacking legislation is causing consternation.
The question on the postal ballot has come under criticism from politicians from both sides of the political divide, with most agreeing it is unlikely to result in a law change.
The referendum question asks, ‘should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?’
It is a question that is causing as much controversy as the law it is supposed to be about.
“The question is a bad question to which I feel uncomfortable voting either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’,” says Labour leader Phil Goff.
This citizen-initiated referendum comes after 310,000 people signed a petition.
But now it is in the post, there are serious concerns being raised about the question.
“I struggle with this question because it is asking us to comment on whether smacking is part of good parental correction,” says Murray Campbell of Baseline Consultancy.
“Then it asks us, ‘should it be a criminal offence?’”
It presumes that the two go together when in reality - they need not.
At a cost of nearly $9 million, it is an expensive exercise, and one which has been badly executed - according to the architect of the law.
“The whole problem with this referendum of course was that the question was allowed by the clerk,” says Green MP Sue Bradford.
“It’s a real pity that happened.”
The question was formulated by a representative of the anti-smacking lobby Larry Baldock, and was signed off by the Clerk of the House - who is effectively Parliament’s head legal advisor.
While the result of the referendum is not binding - it is forcing politicians to rethink the way that referenda are run.
“I do think the question is a bit ambiguous and can be read a number of ways,” says Prime Minister John Key.
“That is of course, one of the challenges with referendums.”
Mr Key went on to say that it “might make a bit of sense” to have stricter rules – given the cost of a referendum.
ACT's Rodney Hide is the only MP 3 News spoke to today who said the question was clear.
“I think I’ll be voting for parents to have the right to give their children a light smack,” he says.
So how do you know whether to vote yes or no?
Vote ‘yes’ if you want the law to remain unchanged - so that using force or violence to discipline children is illegal.
Vote ‘no’ if you want the law to revert back, giving parents the defence of using reasonable force on their children.
3 News