MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed until 1:30pm Thursday February 22, 2007

Give Mums and Dads a say in what’s best for their kids

Passing a law like Sue Bradford’s proposed amendment to Section 59 has the potential to turn good parents into criminals. And a decision of this magnitude should not be made without first hearing the view of New Zealand parents.

That is at least the view of Focus on the Family New Zealand.

And this is why Sheryl Savill, the Administrator of Focus on the Family’s ‘How to DRUG PROOF YOUR KIDS’ programme and Larry Baldock have the full support of Focus on the Family NZ, in their Citizen’s Initiated Referendum.

“There are times when the basic rights of parents to raise their children in the best possible way can come under fire and or be undermined,” says Focus on the Family NZ’s Executive Director, Tim Sisarich, “Even with the best of intentions of well meaning people, like Ms Bradford, this is one of those times.“

Despite the divisive wording like ‘beating’, ‘whacking’ & ‘abusing’ of children and the constant talk of “scare tactics” by proponents of this new legislation, it would appear that New Zealand parents agree, and have not lost sight of the real issue – that this is not targeting child abuse, but in fact parents who give their child a smack, in the confines of a safe, loving family environment, should it be necessary.

In fact all the surveys on the issue show that approximately 80% of the public support the status quo.

However, Mr Sisarich says that, “It would appear that parents themselves aren’t being heard on important issues of parenting.”

This is a key issue for the sake of our children and the role of parents in this nation – the question of who is best to raise our children – us as parents, or a Government that may be gone after its elected term.

“Whether or not you agree that smacking is a healthy or loving form of discipline, we would like to encourage that every parent to have a say on this, not just 121 MPs." Says Mr Sisarich
Focus on the Family NZ would also encourage every parent to become better informed on the issue, and to this end have produced a radio broadcast that will air over the next week, on affiliated radio stations. Details at family.org.nz

ENDS

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