To Smack or not to Smack - Nzone Focus - PART TWO

As we head into a postal referrendum on Section 59, the jury is still out on the resons for the repeal of section 59, what the law actually says and whether or not a smack should be part of good parental correction. We spoke to Sue Bradford, Bob McCoskrie, Bruce Pilbrow, Hone Kaa and law professor Warren Brookbanks to try an understand the current section 59.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• smacking
• correction
• child
• abuse
• violence
• family
• first
• parents
• inc
• green
• nzone
• focus

[headlessrd]

It should be a criminal offence to smack a child because any attempt to define an acceptable level of violence against a child leaves the law open to abuse, as occurred when "reasonable force" was still a legal defence in a case of child abuse.

Some have said that it is necessary to use force to prevent a child from being harmed. However the current law provides for the use of reasonable force to prevent a child being harmed, harming others or harming property.

[NzoneTonight]

The new law has provision for violence for the protection and for preventing harm. Supporting the legislation means you support that provision for violence. Sue Bradford in the story clearly states she is against any violence against children, yet supports the law as it stands.

The argument is based on the word correction.. You can use force but not for correction..This is where the law becomes incredibly confusing to understand.

[NzoneTonight]

Police decilned to be interviewed or make an official statement but spoke off the record. Some of the converstations (if on the record) would have altered the arguments in the media substansially. Thanks

[dihle12]

headlessrd do gooder wake up to your self nothing wrong with smack on bum with hand

[grraadd]

Indian guy summed up the whole thing. Bravo.

Funniest thing is that children which weren't smacked bit up brutally other children...

[themessage187]

Good video but would have like to have heard from the Police. Are they arresting 'good parents' en masse....I don't think so. Police evaluations show no probs...the law is working fine. The cells aren't full of the 'Raelenes and Kevs' of New Zealand.