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Source: ONE News -
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New Zealanders are being urged to join a "march for democracy" next month after the result of a referendum on the anti-smacking law was rejected by Prime Minister John Key.
Auckland businessman, Colin Craig, says he will fund the march because "it was deeply disturbing that such a clear message from the people of this country to government has been ignored".
Craig, who has teamed up with lobby group Family First is putting up almost half a million dollars of his own money to the government's lack of action over the recent smacking referendum.
In a referendum on Green MP Sue Bradford's controversial anti-smacking law 1.6 million people voted - of those nearly 88% said smacking should not be a criminal offence.
Craig says his forefathers "fought for a democracy and in a democracy the government does not pass and retain laws that nearly 90% of the people don't want.
"It is my turn to help fight for the rights of ordinary New Zealanders," he says in a statement.
Bradford says it's Craig's democratic right to protest, but $450,000 is a lot of money to put towards a march.
She says it's a pity as there are better ways that kind of money could be used to support families.
Bradford says it will be interesting to see what that that sort of money does buy in terms of marches.
The march is scheduled for Auckland's Queen St on November 21.
Family First Director Bob McCoskrie is encouraging people to have their say again.
He says the issue has become more than just about smacking, it's about democracy too.
McCoskrie says the group is also calling for an independent Commission of Inquiry into the real causes of child abuse.
Protesters say they will be calling on the government to amend section 59 of the Crimes Act so the law does not treat light smacking as a criminal offence.
