Reference list

Collins, S. (2010). Poll finds smacking making comeback. Retrieved May 9, 2011, from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-smacking-debate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501165&objectid=10635490

Freitas, M. (2007). The anti-smacking bill fear- the nanny state. Retrieved May 5, 2011, from http://www.geekzone.co.nz/freitasm/3546

Gough , J. (2010, August 17). The anti-smacking bill and the possible amendment. Retrieved May 12, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pPMXJxhNag

Harvey, S. (2011). Smacking acquittal outrage. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/4788433/Smacking-acquittal-outrage

Trevett, C. (2010). Dad wins appeal over judge’s assault case gaffe. Retrieved May 9, 2011, from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-smacking-debate/news/article.cfm?
c_id=1501165&objectid=10685199

Anti-smacking- An issue or not?

This is not like any of the blogs about celebrities, or technology. No, this blog is my opinion against the anti-smacking law that came to fruition in the year 2007, and the debate over whether the law to smack a child is an offence rather than a way of discipline.

Four years on and the word ‘anti-smacking’ is still being used in many parts of society. However my point of view is that the government has no right to say how a parent must discipline their child, without resulting to a smack. I’m not saying its right to smack, but there is a difference between a smack to reinforce a sense of discipline within a child and a beating which is what is commonly known as child abuse, and in New Zealand there are many cases of child abuse taking place and it is here where the anti-smacking bill should be enforced.

In an article in the New Zealand Herald Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock wanted to stop the criminalization of parents by repealing the bill. He states that "this has to be the most anti-family socially destructive legislation parliament has passed in a long while”. Upon this statement being true in my view, a video by Jamie Gough shows his opinions also about the bill being repealed as it doesn’t address the issue of child abuse. He believes that a light smack on the bottom for misbehaving is not child abuse.

Furthermore in a media release by Admin (2010), it writes about how the smacking law leads to the miscarriage of Justice. The case of 50 year old musician father of two James Louis Mason was a high profile case of smacking after the anti-smacking law was first passed. Mr. Mason was prosecuted by police for pulling his son’s ear after he was trying to keep his son from getting into a dangerous situation with his bike whilst out in Christchurch. National Director of Family First NZ Bob McCoskrie stated that “Family First always said that if the conviction was for an ear pull rather than the claimed punch in the face, it was inappropriate.” So it should be, a conviction over an ear pull to me is insane. It terrorizes parents in a way that they belittle themselves as parents as McCroskie further adds that “NZ’ers have no confidence in this law and are confused by it… and that good parents taking their kids for a bike ride and trying to keep them safe deserve the support of the state – not criminalization.”

Furthermore an article by Harvey (2011), showed the anti-smacking law being challenged as a defence for a father who was charged for tying his wrist to his sons wrist, shaving his hair and washing his mouth out with soap. The couple’s lawyer used the amendment of this law to show jurors on what terms of "justified force" were allowed to prevent or minimize harm, or to stop the child engaging in "offensive or disruptive behavior". The father of this case admitted to tying his wrist to his son’s as he feared his son was going to kill himself. He also stated that he shaved his other son’s hair to teach him a lesson after he had stolen from his parents. These disciplinary actions from this father shows that he was trying to teach his kids that there are consequences to your actions. If he had just ignored the actions of his kids or responded to it in a more lenient approach then they would surely be continuing to do what they’re doing right? I agree that this father had a sense of responsibility to teach his kids between right and wrong. Lead juror in the case Dianne Shilton said she was “embarrassed to be a New Zealander because the couple on trial was "good decent parents trying to instill a sense of responsibility”.

In contrast, Collins (2010) found that in a survey carried out by Curia Polls found that there was a “slow increase in support for the ban on smacking for correction, with the numbers saying they strongly or somewhat agree with the law rising from 29 per cent in 2007 to 33 per cent in the latest poll, after dipping during the referendum debate”. Family First director Bob McCoskrie called on the Government to support Act MP John Boscawen's bill to allow force for correction if it does not cause more than "transitory and trifling" injury, does not use any weapon or instrument and is not "cruel or degrading".

So leaves the question: If the anti-smacking bill prevents parents from smacking their children then where is the law that bans parents from abusing their child with a much harder force then a smack. I think the New Zealand government needs to re-think the laws they pass, it’s time to wake up and realize the bigger issues affecting our countries at the moment and it is not smacking.