Category Archives: Anti-smacking Bill

Reality Check Needed on Shameful Child Abuse says Family First NZ

By SPCS | Published: December 11, 2011

MEDIA RELEASE In a media release issued  on 10 December 2011, Family First NZ, a registered charity with the Charities Commission, states: Family First  is rejecting claims by the Children’s Commissioner and others that rising child abuse statistics are ‘good news’ and ‘delightful’, and is repeating its call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into [...]

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To Train Up a Child – parenting book classified unrestricted

By SPCS | Published: September 22, 2011

A book teaching parents how to smack, thump and pull their children’s hair was the latest considered for censorship. The Censorship Compliance Unit assessed the book, written by fundamentalist Christians Michael and Debi Pearl, and decided not to ban or restrict it.  A spokesman for the Department of Internal Affairs, which the office and unit [...]

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Anti-Smacking Law Doco Attracts Huge Audience – says Family First NZ

By SPCS | Published: August 25, 2011

In its media release issued today, Family First NZ, a registered charity with the Charities Commission, states that approximately 100,000 NZ’ers have viewed the documentary”My Mummy’s A Criminal” on the anti-smacking law which profiles good families who have been victims of the law. Society members are encouraged to view this documentary for no other reason than to get better [...]

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Government Denying Parents Right to Fair Trial – says Family First NZ

By SPCS | Published: July 15, 2011

Family First NZ, a registered charity with the Charities Commission, says in its latest media release dated 15 July 2011 ………. It is disturbing that the Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill to be passed by the government is denying parents the right to be tried by their peers on crucial family issues.   “By removing the [...]

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Juries Protecting Parents From Politicians – Family First (NZ)

By SPCS | Published: June 24, 2011

Family First (NZ) Media Release 17 June 2011 Family First NZ [a registered charity with the Charities Commission] says that the anti-smacking law is criminalizing good parents and only the common sense of juries is protecting parents from the actions of politicians. It is challenging Prime Minister John Key to amend the [so-called 'anti-smacking'] law [...]

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James Louis Mason has his assault conviction quashed by Supreme Court

By SPCS | Published: November 3, 2010

Mason’s assault conviction quashed – NZPA A Christchurch musician has successfully had his conviction for assaulting his four-year-old son quashed by the highest court in the land. The Supreme Court said today there would be no retrial ordered.  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10685029

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King John ignores the shrieks at his peril” or What can we say about the ‘anti-smacking law’ referendum? Nelson Mail Opinion Piece by Chris Salt

By SPCS | Published: September 8, 2009

In an opinion piece from the Nelson Mail (5 Sept. 2009) entitled – “King John ignores the shrieks at his peril”, Chris Salt, former police inspector and Riwaka tourism operator looks, at the question: What can we say about the ‘anti-smacking law’ referendum? Chris holds a masters degree in public sector management and takes a [...]

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Section 59 “a complete and utter dog’s breakfast” says PM John Key

By SPCS | Published: September 4, 2009

The Prime Minister acknowledged this morning on Radio Live that the current Section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961 – the so-called anti-smacking legislation promoted by Green MP Sue Bradford – is “a complete and utter dog’s breakfast”. He made this comment in an interview with Michael Laws on RadioLive at 11:40 AM today Friday, [...]

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A smack or time out for correction should not be a crime

By SPCS | Published: July 28, 2009

Kiwi Party Press Release 28 July 2009 The Referendum about the so called “anti-smacking” law (the name which Sue Bradford herself originally gave to her Bill) is really about how children should be corrected according to former MP & now President of the Kiwi Party Gordon Copeland.

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(dis)Honest to God: How Not to Argue about the Smacking Referendum

By SPCS | Published: July 27, 2009

Dr. Glenn Peoples responds to liberal Ian Harris. Ian Harris tells us (“Honest to God,” Dominion Post, [Dominion Post. Saturday July 11, 2009. Page B5], reproduced at the YesVote website at http://yesvote.org.nz/2009/07/17/the-bibles-harsh-view-rejected/) that we should reject the “harsh views” on child rearing found in the Bible. Mr Harris, unfortunately, joins many of those who promote [...]

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BIG NEWS Report: Barnardos asks kids about smacking, and lies about the research”… Why? In order to promote their VoteYes Campaign?

By SPCS | Published: June 28, 2009

Barnardos have been interviewing New Zealand children by phone to see what they think about getting smacked. The question they asked: Do you think that adults who are taken to court for hitting a child should be let off if they say they were disciplining the child?” ……. The kids had to push 1 if they [...]

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Anti-Smacking Law ‘Has Made No Difference’ – Law Society

By SPCS | Published: May 21, 2009

Family First NZ says that the Law Society has admitted that the anti-smacking law has made no difference to NZ’s unacceptable rate of child abuse. Chair of the Family Law Section of the Law Society Paul Maskell was asked on a radio interview this week whether the law has done anything to reduce child abuse from the perspective of the legal profession. He responded ‘we haven’t noticed any change at all…The change in law really has made no difference’. He agreed that abusers don’t even know what the law is and don’t really care.

“This is backed up by an online poll of 3,829 people on the NZ Herald website yesterday which showed that 89% believed that the anti-smacking law had had no effect on child abuse, Curia Market Research in March where 77% believed that the law change would not reduce the rate of child abuse, and 87% of respondents on a littlies.co.nz website last year who felt the law was ineffective,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. For more, see below (Family First Media Release 21 May 2009. www.familyfirst.org.nz).

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Did the ‘anti-smacking’ legislation reduce Child Abuse?

By SPCS | Published: May 19, 2009

A Growing list of child homicides in New Zealand suggests that the repeal of section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961 has had no positive impact whatsoever on reducting the incidence of child abuse and child homicides in New Zealand. If anything the problem has become worse. The legislation, championed by Green MP Sue Bradford, that criminalises every parent that uses any form of force “for the purpose of correction” must be repealed. The latest shocking report of yet another child homicide must cause all decent-minded citizens to cry out “Enough is enough! We must fix this disasterous problem!”

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No trial in Christian right to smack case

By SPCS | Published: November 15, 2008

The trial of a former Nelson man fighting for what he says is his right as a Christian to hit his son will not go ahead, after the Crown decided to offer no evidence in the case.

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Dad Argues for right to hit son

By SPCS | Published: December 7, 2007

The Nelson Mail, Friday, 07 December 2007 By SALLY KIDSON – A Nelson father charged with assaulting his son, in one of the region’s first prosecutions under a controversial new child discipline law, says he is prepared to go to jail for his right as a parent and a Christian to hit his child. Rowan [...]

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The Empresses’ new clothes or Smacking: Those Kiwis must be crazy!

By admin | Published: July 27, 2007

By Ruby Harrold-Claesson Attorney-at-Law in Gothenburg, Sweden. President of the NCHR (www.nkmr.org) One year ago, I travelled 36 hours from Gothenburg, Sweden to Auckland at the invitation of the Section 59 Coalition. I came to testify at the Parliamentary hearing on the private member’s Bill that proposed a repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes [...]

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How Caregivers will be Criminalised Under Sue Bradford’s ‘anti-smacking’ Bill

By admin | Published: April 27, 2007

Press Release 27 April 2007 If Green MP Sue Bradford’s ‘anti-smacking bill’ is passed into law, increasing numbers of childcare workers (e.g. creche and kindergarten workers) and those in the place of parents (e.g. grandparents, foster parents and guardians) will be charged with criminal assault by the police for lightly smacking children for “correction” purposes [...]

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Legal Opinion by QC Shows How Good Parents Will Be Criminalised by Bradford’s anti-smacking Bill

By admin | Published: March 11, 2007

United Future MP Gordon Copeland has recently received a legal opinion he commissioned from Peter McKenzie QC, dealing with the effect of Green MP Sue Bradford’s private member’s bill, on the actions of parents who remove their kids using “reasonable force”, against their will, to “time-out zones” for disruptive and defiant behaviour. He concluded that [...]

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Well over 80% Oppose Bradford’s ‘Anti-Smacking’ Bill

By admin | Published: November 21, 2006

Press Release 21/11/06 The Society agrees with the 87% of New Zealanders who hold strongly to the view that parents should be able to smack their children without fear of breaking the law (Today’s on-line Stuff News Poll). Clearly the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders, as evidenced by the results of numerous nation-wide polls over [...]

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Swedish child abuse increases despite anti-smacking laws

By admin | Published: July 31, 2006

Press Release 31/07/06 Non-government child advocate lobby groups in NZ have urged police to confirm that police officers will not arrest parents for smacking their children, should smacking become a criminal offence if Section 59 is removed from the Crimes Act, upon the passage of Green MP Sue Bradford’s bill into law. In effect, what [...]

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Swedish Parents Kill 258 of their children (1965-1999)

By admin | Published: July 29, 2006

Media Report 28/07/06 Sweden has been hailed by Green MP Sue Bradford as an enlightened country where anti-smacking legislation has had a significant impact on reducing the number of child homicides committed by parents. She wants to repeal Section 59 of the Crimes Act, which provides a defence of “reasonable force” to parents, or those [...]

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Society Shares Qualified Swedish Lawyer’s Concerns Re S. 59

By admin | Published: June 16, 2006

Family Integrity says that Swedish lawyer Ruby Harrold-Claesson, who coming to New Zealand next month, will be the most qualified person ever to speak in New Zealand on the effect of Sweden’s smacking ban on that country’s social fabric. Dr Joan Durrant of the University of Manitoba in Canada has been to New Zealand twice [...]

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Minister confirms no NZ Court ruling on meaning of S. 59 re "a person in the place of a parent"

By David | Published: June 6, 2006

  Office of Hon Mark Burton, M.P. for Taupo. Minister of Justice. 6 June 2006. Dear DavidThank you for your email of 22 February 2006 regarding section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961. Your email to the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment has been referred to me for direct response as these matters [...]

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‘Anti-Smacking’ Lobby Submissions Analysed

By David | Published: May 29, 2006

Family Integrity representatives attended the first sitting of the Justice and Electoral Select Committee last Thursday to consider submissions on MP Sue Bradford’s Bill to repeal Section 59. It was a showcase of the “heavies” lined up in favour of repeal: Save the Children, EPOCH, Familes Commission, UNICEF, Parent.org, Barnardos, Relationship Services, CCS, IHC and [...]

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NZ Police confirm repeal of s. 59 criminalises parents who discipline by smacking

By David | Published: February 24, 2006

Friday, 24 February 2006 On 11 August 2005, Dr A Jack of the Legal Services of the NZ Police, wrote to Mr Craig S. Smith, National Director Family Integrity. His letter, which has been brought to the attention of parliament by Judith Collins MP, is reproduced below with minor editorial additions in square brackets that [...]

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