John Key and the occasional smack

Dr Lesley Patterson, spokesperson for EPOCH New Zealand says “Our organisation has been campaigning for many years to remove the perceived permission for parents to use physical punishment that exists in New Zealand law. The outcome of yesterday political ‘negotiations’ is very disappointing”.

“It seems Mr Key may never have had any intention of co-operating to reach a compromise that increases political and public support for the child discipline bill”.

“He like many other with agendas of their own make much of the risk of “good” parents being criminalised for the occasional smack if the child discipline bill becomes law”.

“Section 59 as it currently stands is only useful to parents who really hurt and harm their children – no one else gets taken to court. We have confidence that the Solicitor General’s Prosecution Guidelines provide a protective framework against prosecution for very minor infringements of the law.

“People who spread fear and alarm about the child discipline bill seem unaware that far too many children in New Zealand are still hit hard and often by parents who do not feel any pressure to use alternative, more effective and less damaging positive discipline”, said Dr Patterson.

“Hitting hurts and harms children. Let’s make our law consistent with the way we would like New Zealand to be – a place where everyone knows that it is not ok to hit children. Positive discipline works”.

ENDS

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