Barnardos New Zealand
Media release
8 December 2009

Law working well – review welcomed

Barnardos New Zealand welcomes the latest Section 59 Review by Howard Broad, Commissioner of Police, Peter Hughes, Chief Executive, Ministry of Social Development and Nigel Latta, Clinical Psychologist.

“The review findings again confirm that the law is working as intended, and parents are not being criminalised for lightly smacking their children,” says Murray Edridge, Chief Executive of Barnardos New Zealand.

“We welcome the additional procedures, information and guidelines recommended by the review. These will go a long way towards further reassuring parents and provide them with valuable support and information. Information and guidelines for parents and government agencies were called for when the law was first changed and it is great to hear that the Government has agreed to all the recommendations of the review.”

“We are also reassured to see that of the cases that had been referred by Family First New Zealand as being inappropriately investigated or prosecuted as a result of the law change, the review found that the investigating agencies responded appropriately and proportionately in all instances,” concludes Mr Edridge.”

Parents with concerns about their parenting practice can also call Barnardos Parent Help Line 0800 4 Parent (0800 4727368).

ENDS

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