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The man who spearheaded the smacking referendum has called on the Prime Minister to reconsider his refusal to change the anti-smacking law.
The referendum asked "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"
In the preliminary result released by the Chief Electoral Officer, 87.6% have voted no and 11.81% have voted yes.
Both the Prime Minister and Opposition leader have previously said the law is working and the referendum result will not encourage them to change it.
Vote No spokesperson and Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock organised the petition to parliament calling for the referendum.
He says the Prime Minister's comments are "pretty offensive" to 87% of New Zealanders who voted no and want the anti-smacking law changed.
"We elected our House of Representatives to represent us and our views. I'm hoping the Prime Minister will reconsider," Baldock told TVNZ News at 8.
Baldock says the Kiwi Party wants the prohibition on the use of force for parental correction deleted from the law.
"We believe parents know the difference between a smack and abuse. They've always said they did and and these results are consistent with all the polls.
"Give back parents the right to raise their kids the way that they know best."
Family First echoes sentiments
Family First New Zealand says it is now time for politicians to respect the people they represent and amend the anti-smacking law.
The Family First National Director, Bob McCoskrie, says 87.6% of voters have called for a law change by voting no.
"The National-led government should move immediately to amend the law. John Key cannot ignore this result," he says.
"To put the vote into perspective, at the general election last year 45% voted for National, 34% voted for Labour and 6.7% voted for the Greens. 87.6% is more than these three combined."
McCoskrie also says attempts by politicians to dismiss the referendum as ambiguous and irrelevant has also been rebuked by the voters.
He says a 54% response rate in the referendum is still significant especially when compared to just 47% voting in the recent Mt Albert by-election, an average of just over 40% voting in the recent local body elections for their mayors and city councils, and a 55% response rate which changed our whole voting system to MMP.
"The attack on the referendum seems to have rarked up voters because they feel like it was more of the previous 'we the politicians know better than you and we're not listening' attitude. New Zealanders hoped that we had moved on from that approach."
Family First is calling on the government to immediately amend the anti-smacking law under urgency "so that good parents are not treated as breaking the law for light smacking."
The group says the government should then to establish a Royal Commission of Enquiry into Child Abuse which will identify and target "the real causes".
"The 87.6% of New Zealanders who voted no are not people who are demanding the right to 'assault' and 'beat' children.
"They are simply Kiwis who want to tackle the tougher issues of family breakdown, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, violence in our media, poverty and stress, and weak family ties," says McCoskrie.
He says the anti-smacking bill has been "a spectacular failure" because it has failed to identify and target the real issues and has had no effect on child abuse rates.
"It was simply about a political agenda rather than practical solutions."
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timeline of the anti-smacking
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentObey Democracy said on 2009-08-28 @ 16:17 NZDT: Report abusive post
Time to exercise some democracy and tear this illegitimate Law Down. Spread the word gather at parliament on 09/09/09 at 9am. It is time to make a stand for democracy that these creeps can't defy. It will be an asset to New Zealand for generations to come. Never again should any Political party be able to show such contempt and corruptibility to obey tiny minorities, UN dictates or whatever is operating Key. 09/09/09@9am/9pm Parliament/MPS Office or CYFS Carry signs saying "OBEY"
Nomanor said on 2009-08-27 @ 14:53 NZDT: Report abusive post
1 Leading: the wording of the referendum was bias. Which I believe led people to vote against the bill. 2 Abuse: parents who actually beat their children before the bill were able to get off the assault charges on reason of "Discipline". Misinterpretation makes parents believe that actual disciplinary measures will put them in prison. 3 Resolution: Key refuses to repeal the bill and give child abusers a GOJF card and protects against innocent people getting in trouble. Key has my vote.
samuelpike10 said on 2009-08-26 @ 22:44 NZDT: Report abusive post
What type country has Aotearoa become? We have elected members to parliament who do as they will and not as the people ask. I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BILL THE COST OF THE REFERENDUM TO THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. If they acted appropriately in the first place we would not be in this situation. We have lost our position as a best practice leader.
mcarky said on 2009-08-26 @ 21:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
Paul Henry challenges the PM on folic acid in bread and in about a week the legislation is dropped. 88% Kiwis voice there disapproval for Sue Bradfords smacking bill, but yet it remains. I would really love to hear Paul Henry challenge the PM on this one. Why the about face? Whats the agenda?
klemon said on 2009-08-26 @ 20:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
So where do we turn? Labour stank, National won't listen, all the other parties are nuts. There is pretty much no one left to vote for. I think I've just lost faith in the only country I've ever been in.