National has today moved to make clear the right of a parent to discipline a child, but it is determined that the violent abuse of children will stop.

"We are determined that children must no longer bear the physical brunt of a loose interpretation of the law surrounding child punishment in this country, Social Services spokesperson, Bob Simcock said.

"Section 59 of the Crimes Act allows parents and caregivers the privileged right to use reasonable force to discipline their children, but the understanding of what is 'reasonable force' is too unclear.

"I am lodging a Members Bill calling for an amendment to Section 59. My bill spells out clearly the definition of 'reasonable force' so parents and caregivers are unable to hide behind a lax interpretation of the law in the event of a case going before the courts.

"National believes that a parent should be entitled to discipline a child, but we are determined to put a stop to family violence. Evidence shows that New Zealand children are subjected to more violence than children in many other comparable countries.

"We are committed to reducing violence towards children. This bill will ensure that the rights of parents to discipline their children remain, but it will outlaw discipline that causes injury to a child. It will also ensure that good parents remain completely certain of their rights.

"There has to be leadership on this issue if we are to quell violence towards children in New Zealand. My bill will make it clear to the courts and to parents and caregivers that the use of force which causes physical harm should never be considered 'reasonable", Mr Simcock said.

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>