Kiwi Party pledge anti-smacking law will be gone by lunchtime!
The Kiwi Party
Press Release
May 26,2008
CIR Petition organiser and Kiwi Party Leader Larry Baldock said the latest poll commissioned by Family First and revealed in the NZ Herald today, continues to dash the hopes of anti-smacking law supporters that good Kiwi Mums and Dad’s are ever going to accept the Governments interference in their parental authority.

“Rather than “moving on and getting over it” as claimed by Sue Bradford and Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro, kiwi parents and prospective parents are strengthening their resolve to see the act repealed,” he said.

The survey ssked if they thought the new law was likely to help reduce child abuse, 79 per cent said it was not at all likely. This figure was up from 77 per cent last year.
85 per cent of those polled - up from 82 per cent a year ago - agreed the new law should be changed to state that parents who gave their children a smack that was reasonable and for the purpose of correction were not breaking the law

The petition campaigners have collected 355,000 signatures on their way to a target of at least 370,000 to ensure that a referendum is held. Plans are currently under way for a major collection drive across the nation from Queens Birthday weekend through to mid June to finish the task.

“Then all that remains to be done is for a majority of New Zealanders to reclaim their democracy by saying no to the question “should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?” and vote yes to the Kiwi Party and I promise that the anti-smacking bill will be ‘gone by lunchtime,’ said Mr Baldock.

ENDS

Those wanting the petition forms can call 0800 The Kiwi Party or download the forms from www.thekiwiparty.org.nz