Our ratings among New Zealand blogs – June 09

FROM: Open Parachute blog http://openparachute.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/nz-blog-ranks-june-09/

For more information about these ratings check out the link above at Open Parachute..

KiwiSmithFamily is rated in the 101-150 blogs in New Zealand.
The Home Education Foundation and Family Integrity come in at 150-200.
These sections are in alphabetical order.

Total Rank	Change	Name	Rank	Links	RSS subs
1	0	Kiwiblog	1	1	1
2	0	Public Address	2	4	1
3	0	frogblog	3	2	13
4	0	The Standard 2.02	4	3	16
5	1	Not PC	5	7	11
6	3	TUMEKE!	7	12	17
7	-2	No Right Turn	31	9	3
8	0	The Dim-Post	10	21	13
9	-2	The Inquiring Mind	18	14	53
10	0	Whale Oil Beef Hooked	53	5	46
11	1	Halfdone	14	17	61
12	5	MacDoctor Moments	17	25	51
13	12	MandM	16	21	10%
14	-3	Auckland Daily Photo	46	12	38
15	-2	No Minister	6	50	34
16	5	Open Parachute	12	41	41
17	6	The Wellingtonista	30	52	5
18	-4	Liturgy	51	16	46
19	-4	In a stange land	47	28	24
20	39	Life is not a race to be first finished	34	51	9
21	13	Cactus Kate	9	79	10
22	8	Kiwipolitico	20	33	77
23	-5	Beatie’s Book Blog	40	35	36
24	4	Wellington Daily Photo	50	23	35
25	-9	Jack Yan: The Persuader	72	11	43
26	-2	The Fundy Post	60	24	22
27	-7	New Zeal	25	59	24
28	-10	Nelson Daily Photo	48	10	108
29	-7	The Hand Mirror	15	85	12
30	-4	New Zealand Conservative	8	46	101
31	-4	The visible hand in economics	13	31	148
32	7	Allthings2all	130	8	27
33	-2	Ethical Martini	26	45	69
34	27	Offsetting Behaviour	37	55	39
35	-2	Liberty Scott	35	57	44
36	9	Stephenfranks.co.nz	43	47	46
37	-1	Hot Topic	27	53	74
38	-3	Keeping Stock	22	69	62
39	-10	Derek’s blog	100	37	6
40	new	Artichoke	123	30	3
41	6	Hitting Metal With A Hammer	44	38	85
42	1	Lindsay Mitchell	24	63	81
43	19	Silent running	66	6	182
44	-2	Clint Heine and Friends	31	73	64
45	12	Big News	19	62	127
46	-9	sustain:if:able kiwi	69	28	83
47	-15	Capitalism is bad	177	15	21
48	-10	Radical Cross Stitch	41	111	7
49	new	Lively	61	42	86
50	22	Knowledge Workers	28	61	122
51	4	Media Law Journal	66	66	31
52	19	Educational Origami	10%	84	22
53	-3	Oswald Bastable’s Ranting	28	87	74
54	new	A cat of impossible colour	52	86	33
55	-14	Homepaddock	11	130	40
56	-10	Christchurch Daily Photo	73	39	93
57	-6	from the morgue	92	49	57
10%	-4	Reading the Maps	68	68	49
59	-19	Poneke’s Weblog	36	132	8
60	-7	Just Left	57	102	15
61	-13	Object dart	97	60	45
62	26	Educating the dragon	78	83	20
63	-14	Anti-Dismal	33	110	65
64	-20	Barnsley Bill	20	127	65
65	-9	Pacific Empire	96	40	96
66	2	Anarchia	127	27	90
67	35	Red Alert	95	32	145
68	-16	Pundit	82	19	185
69	new	Teaching Sagittarian	64	67	99
70	-3	Put ‘em all on an island	82	80	55
71	4	John Key	48	70	139
72	new	Signposts	42	105	81
73	-13	Christchurch City Libraries Blog	125	72	29
74	-10	En Avant	102	77	49
75	-17	The Hive	98	95	28
76	-10	roarprawn	38	108	115
77	-9	Evolving Newsroom	82	120	24
78	new	Contradiction	157	47	76
79	-14	Kotare	137	94	19
80	-10	Policy Blog	126	36	154
81	-7	Greenpeace New Zealand Weblog	65	43	233
82	new	Adventure into romance	143	34	149
83	-20	Greg’s Blog	148	90	29
84	-4	NewZblog	117	65	101
85	new	Luddite Journo	79	89	113
86	0	Einstein Music Journal	56	97	146
87	new	Robyn’s Secret Passage	113	109	37
88	-15	ACT New Zealand blogs	92	26	289
89	-8	Bowalley Road	112	99	71
90	-13	Bioblog	55	81	219
91	-15	Prodigal Kiwi(s) Blog	89	150	18
92	-10	Greenflame	139	74	108
93	30	Liberation	63	153	51
94	-15	Samuel Dennis	45	124	174
95	6	CORE	104	93	131
96	-3	Art and my life	140	92	94
97	-8	Webweaver’s world	135	122	59
98	-15	Monkey with typewriter	54	160	84
99	-15	Bits on the side	175	75	121
100	8	Say Hello	110	101	132

101 – 150
Against the current Alliance Party of New Zealand Aotearoa: a wider perspective Auckland Blog Beautiful Monsters Being Frank Blessed Economist café pacific Canterbury Atheists Christian News NZ Daily New Zealand News Dave Gee: Life from Right Field Education investigation Eye of the Fish Fighting talk g.blog get the skinny:[from skinny]	goNZo Freakpower Brains Trust Hamilton Daily Photo Henry Humanitarian Chronicle Joe Hendren Karl du Fresne KiwiSmithFamily Lefthandpalm Love in a tent Micky’s muses . . From the antipodes Mulholland Drive NZ Blogosphere PM of NZ Put up thy Sword! RobiNZ Personal Blog SageNZ Semper Vita	Sharing the addiction Socialist Aotearoa Stargazer Su’s Sound Bites Tauranga Daily Photo TBR.cc the gossip The Republican Movement of Aotearoa new Zealand The sound of butterflies The world according to Misha theSection59Blog This is halfpie Thoughtspurs Unity Blog whoar.co.nz Workers Party

150 – 200
A Sensitivity to Things Alf Grumble Ali’s blog All embracing, but underwhelming Bill English Blogging it real Brian Edward’s Media Canvassing for opinion cbmilne33 Contra Celsum Cr!key Creek dad4justice definitive Developing the mind of Christ Distractions ragonsingDer Dunedin Public Libraries news and reviews blog	Ellis in Wellyland ereport Family integrity Funerals and snakes Genius Home Education Foundation I see red ki ta himi titiro Leigh Blackall Lunchbox Manaia Kindergarten Maori Party Naketa’s Blog Neil Stockley Nevermind Not quite perfect NZ Conservative	Opposable thumb People Points Physics Stop Planet NZ Tech Prog blog rob’s blockhead blog simon.net.nz Spleen Stanselen Star Studded Super Step The Fairfacts Media Show Thinking Matters Talk Truth Seeker Turning the supertanker United Future Website.net.nz

201 – 370 (Check out the link at the top of this post to see theses rates and more…)

July 1, 2009

Family Integrity #460 — Youtube video seen as desperate: Barnardos

Forwarded to you by:

Craig Smith

Family Integrity

Youtube video seen as desperate: Barnardos

By ESTHER LAUAKI – Kapi-Mana News

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/communities/kapi-mana-news/2549421/

Barnardos has rubbished a Youtube video posted by a local man about the “anti-smacking” referendum, saying it was a desperate attempt at a smear campaign.

The controversial referendum, to be held between July 30 and August 21, on the so-called anti-smacking legislation, will ask Kiwis to vote yes or no to the question, “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”

Porirua resident Renton MacLachlan, who opposes the legislation, posted a political satire about the topic on the popular website Youtube earlier this month.

Supporters of the law, Barnardos, took exception to the video in which Mr MacLachlan conducts an ‘in-depth’ interview with a fictional Barnardos employee (also played by Mr MacLachlan) called Dennis Morris-Traveler, spokesperson for the ‘yes vote’ campaign.

“I’ve been a supporter of parents’ rights to raise their own children for some time,” he told Kapi-Mana News.

“Barnardos and all other organisations like them who support the bill are saying that every parent that has ever smacked their child to discipline them – that’s most parents in New Zealand – is a child abuser. I think for an outfit like Barnardos to step into a public arena and label all these parents child abusers is outrageous.”

The organisation asked Mr MacLachlan to remove the video upon legal advice that its rights had been violated by him purporting to be an employee and expressing views that were not necessarily its own.

Every Child Counts project manager Deborah Morris-Travers, the real spokesperson for the yes-vote campaign, said the video was a desperate attempt to boost the opposition’s campaign.

“We here at Barnardos strongly believe that children should not be harmed and we support the safety of children. We’re not about using dirty, defamatory tactics for our campaign. They know that they’re going to lose this referendum and that this legislation will stay the same. The video is evidence of just how desperate they are really getting.”

Mr MacLachlan rejected her sentiments and said she was “whistling in the dark”.

“Consistently for years 85 per cent of people have rejected their arguments and for her to say it’s a desperate attempt is over the top.” He said Barnardos was one of several organisations he alluded to in the clip and feels they over-reacted.

“It was ridiculous. Anyone with half a brain could see that it was meant as a comedy. Spoof and satire are pretty well covered under freedom of speech law so I went ahead with it.”

Barnardos is not pursuing legal action.

Watch the video

July 1, 2009

Family Integrity #459 — SPCS Media Release: Condomania, S. 59 and YesVote Silence

Forwarded to you by:

Craig Smith

Family Integrity

Sent: Tuesday, 30 June 2009 7:28 p.m.
To: spcs.org@gmail.com

Subject: SPCS Media Release: Condomania, S. 59 and YesVote Silence

Scoop News

Condomania, S. 59 and YesVote Silence

Tuesday, 30 June 2009, 5:26 pm
Press Release: spcs

The Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc.
P.O. Box 13-683 Johnsonville

New Zealanders may have forgotten that in 1988 Deborah Morris-Travis, currently spokesperson for the VoteYes anti-smacking campaign, while the then Minister of Youth Affairs, vigorously lobbied to have condom vending machines in all our schools and colleges and in all places where young people gather. She failed in her “condomania bid” as it was referred to. The Dominon Post (30 June) has reported that Board members of a primary school in her sedate seaside hometown of sunny Otaki, have resigned in the wake of the fallout over children as young as 6 and 10 at the school being forced by their teacher to pick up used condoms in the school grounds. Parents are outraged at the failure of St Peter Chanel’s board of management to deal with the condomania scandal and associated health and safety issues involved.

However, it is the use of FORCE for the purpose of correction – in her own sunny ‘backyard’ – that must be of more serious concern to Ms Morris-Travers, her employer Barnardos and her YesVote coalition, given that “the anti-smacking law” they lobby so tirelessly for, at huge financial cost, outlaws the use of any kind of FORCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CORRECTION. Surely reports on the use of FORCE by teaches to make Otaki primary school children pick up used condoms as a punishment for misbehaving, failure to complete homework, or whatever; should have prompted the entire Yes Vote Coaliton into action: including Barnardos CEO Mr Murray Eldredge and their spokespeson Ms Morris-Travers.

However, there’s been total silence over this condomania – forced child labour scandal.from the Yes Vote coalition who claim they oppose force being used against children for correcton

For much more go to:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0906/S00342.htm

July 1, 2009

Should a smack be a criminal offence? – Vote NO

Protect Good Parents. Tackle the real causes of child abuse.

I’ve got slow internet! | video not working? try upgrading Adobe Flash Player

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Check out this website:

http://www.voteno.org.nz/video.htm

July 1, 2009

$9 Million Found To Cover Referendum

MEDIA RELEASE

1 July 2009

$9 Million Found To Cover Referendum

Family First NZ says that Treasury figures reveal that $52 million has been budgeted for social policy advice for the financial year and that only a portion of this is needed to cover the cost of the Referendum.

“The upcoming Referendum is simply an outcome of political deafness but its cost is covered under projected government spending,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“$52 million has been budgeted for Social Policy Advice under the Social Development Vote, and includes ‘the provision of information to, and discussion for, the public and other agencies on social policy issues’.”

“The anti-smacking law is a massive social issue which has affected the role of parents and the functioning of families. The Referendum will allow the public to finally have a say on this issue after being completely ignored by the politicians.”

“Getting the anti-smacking law right will also have economic benefits. Latest figures on child abuse reported in the Christchurch Press show an incredible 2/3’rds of notifications to CYF requiring no further action.”

“By correcting the anti-smacking law to avoid unnecessary investigation and intervention, and with $433 million being budgeted for CYF according to Treasury papers, the $9 million on the Referendum is not just about a flawed law but correcting an expensive exercise in mis-defining real abuse.”

“We can now refer to the Referendum as Social Policy Advice,” says Mr McCoskrie. “Its cost is covered.”

ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

Bob McCoskrie – National Director

Mob. 027 55 555 42

July 1, 2009

Smacking poll in hands of mother

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/2550600/Smacking-poll-in-hands-of-mother

Smacking poll in hands of mother

By NICK VENTER – The Dominion Post

Last updated 05:00 30/06/2009

LAST WORD: The referendum on the anti-smacking law will not go ahead if promoter Sheryl Savill withdraws her petition.

The dark-haired, bespectacled woman talking forcefully across an outdoor table laden with scones, cake and drinks on Family First’s pro-smacking website does not have a bionic arm and cannot run faster than a speeding car. But Sheryl Savill is New Zealand’s $6 million woman.

The mother of two and policeman’s wife will have the final say this week on whether another $6m is spent on a referendum that Prime Minister John Key says the Government will ignore.

That is because the petition calling for a referendum on the anti-smacking law was submitted in her name.

A spokeswoman for the chief electoral officer said yesterday that $700,000 had already been spent preparing for the August referendum and a public information campaign costing $2.2m had also begun.

If the referendum goes ahead it will cost another $6m. However, if Ms Savill withdraws her petition before the governor-general issues the writ, the last day for which is Friday, the referendum can be cancelled.

Family First director Bob McCoskrie and petition organiser Larry Baldock say that will not happen unless the Government agrees to decriminalise smacking.

“The consequences of this law remaining in New Zealand are far too serious and will cost the country far more than the cost of the referendum,” Mr Baldock said.

He said Ms Savill, who is in the United States on a family holiday, was chosen as the petition promoter because she was a mother.

“She was concerned about the law and as a young mum felt she was prepared to put her name to it.”

Ms Savill, 40, has asked petition organisers not to give her contact details to the news media, but her views are explained in the video produced for the Vote No website. “I’m the mum of two lovely girls and when I realised how the anti-smacking law would directly affect the way I was raising my girls I knew that I had to do something,” she says, children and friends seated nearby.

“A light smack done in a good home that’s full of love sure isn’t child abuse.”

Mr McCoskrie said Ms Savill’s girls were aged about eight and 11. He declined to say whether she smacked them. “I can’t answer that. I won’t answer that on her behalf. I’m not going to comment on her parenting practice. All I know is that she is supporting the law change.”

Ms Savill, of South Auckland, works as a “communicator” for a conservative critics say Right wing evangelical organisation, Focus on the Family. Its headquarters are in the United States and it offers advice on parenting and marriage.

Family First Comment : The Referendum is actually in the hands of the Prime Minister. 300,000-plus signatures, 80% support for amending the anti-smacking law. Only the PM can prevent a costly Referendum. And Sheryl isn’t the $9 million dollar woman. Each person who signed the petition (300k) is the $30 protester!!!

June 30, 2009

Woman behind smacking referendum ‘concerned’ mum

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/63271/woman-behind-smacking-referendum-039concerned039-mum

Woman behind smacking referendum

‘concerned’ mum

Mon, 29 Jun 2009

The one woman with the power to halt the $9 million “anti-smacking” referendum is a “concerned” South Auckland married mother of two.

Do you think the referendum should go ahead?

A Research New Zealand survey of 481 people released yesterday found 77 percent of respondents thought the referendum was a waste of money, 18 percent supported it and 5 percent were unsure.

Prime Minister John Key said it was up to the referendum’s instigator to decide whether to go ahead or not.

The referendum asks: “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”.

Opponents of a 2007 law change, which removed the reasonable force defence in child abuse cases, want the public to vote no.

Sheryl Savill, who is currently on a two-week family holiday in the United States and unavailable to media, works for Focus on the Family New Zealand – a member of the Vote No coalition – and is the instigator of the poll.

“Her role as proposer is simply because of being a concerned mum”, Family First director Bob McCoskrie said.

Mrs Savill, 40, has two daughters with her policeman husband and has worked for Focus since 2006.

She is the programme manager for the parent education programme Drug Proof Your Kids.

In an opinion piece for the New Zealand Centre for Political Research in August, Mrs Savill said she did not normally get involved in politics but “knew she had to do something”.

“The government was intruding, yet again, into the lives or parents and, as a mum, I was really concerned about the impact that this type of bill would have on my family,” she wrote.

“To remove and undermine a parent’s authority in their own home is a treacherous area for the State to wade into.”

New Zealand needs to deal with “real causes” of child abuse, Mrs Savill said.

Mr McCoskrie said that, “as discussed” with Mrs Savill before she left on holiday, the referendum would only be withdrawn if the law was amended.

“The responsibility for the referendum continuing currently lies fairly and squarely with the Government.”

The referendum has been criticised as being confusing, as some people who support the status quo may think that is what they are voting for if they tick no.

The Government believes the law is working as intended and police are only prosecuting serious cases.

The non-binding, citizens-initiated referendum will be held by postal ballot from July 31 to August 21.

June 30, 2009

Read real-life stories of how the Anti-smacking law has hurt Kiwi families…

From: http://www.voteno.org.nz/

Click on the writing below:

June 29, 2009

CITIZENS INITIATED REFERENDUM REPORT

CIR Update no.32

CITIZENS INITIATED REFERENDUM REPORT

Only 55 days to referendum day! August 21.

Greetings, Another busy week as media continued to carry more news of the impending referendum.
Congratulations to Bob McCoskrie and team on a successful launch of the http://www.voteno.org.nz website. If you haven’t seen it yet I encourage you to take a good look. Lots of useful downloads and information. Simon Barnett has done a great job fronting it with a 90 sec video, and has been prepared to make his stand for the principles he believes in. Thanks Simon, Jody and family. We are proud of you!

Also Muriel Newman’s NZCPR weekly newsletter was entitled “A smack in the face of democracy.” Muriel wrote a great article and invited me to be her guest commentator. Click on the link above if you haven’t received it direct. None of these events were co-ordinated or planned but the timing turned out to be great.

The controversy over Christine Rankin’s appointment to the Families Commission has helped keep media interest alive this week with stories about her being required by the PM to not actively campaign for a ‘NO’ vote. You may have heard Chief Families Commissioner Jan Pryor say on National Radio that there had been robust debate amongst commissioners previously about the Families Commissions official position on the anti-smacking law. Since in her own words she said the debate was robust, there is a clear indication that the seven previous commissioners were not all in support of the law change. Hear the interview here

Now with two new Commissioners that we believe would be opposed to the anti-smacking law, it would be very interesting indeed if the Families Commission had a fresh debate and vote concerning it’s official position of support for the law change.
You can hear my interview with Geoff Robinson here.
Perhaps if you were of a mind to write to the Chief Families Commissioner to urge them to re-open the discussion it would be a good way of supporting Christine Rankin.

Last week we had several meetings with media and creative production teams to finalise plans for Radio and TV advertising campaigns for vote NO. Under the laws governing CIR anyone wanting advertise to promote one of the answers to the referendum question cannot spend more than $50,000. View Sec 42 of the CIR Act

It is fairly obvious already that the Yes vote coalition has been spending up large to spread their half-truths and misinformation. I will give you some examples of this next week.

We need your help to make our campaign to the finish line in this long battle to make sure ‘the voice of the people is not drowned out!’ We have raised approx one third of our budget so far. Can you help us raise the rest of the total of $50,000? Whether you can afford $10, $20, $50, $500 or much more, whatever the amount, it will be an investment for the future protection of families in New Zealand.

You can send your checks made out to CIR Referendum, P.O. Box 9228, Greerton, 3142 Tauranga or direct Internet banking to our solicitors, McKenzie Elvin Trust account

For CIR Referendum Trust 02 0432 0393 450-02

Or donate on line with credit card via our Kiwi Party website donation page DONATE
100% of all donations will be used for the advertising campaign. The ads will not be mentioning the Kiwi Party.

Finally this week, a woman who writes under the pseudonym of Nonen Titi, has self published a book called ‘The Happiness Inquisition.” This fictional novel attempts to portray what the possible ramifications of the anti-smacking law will be in our communities and I found it a worthwhile read. You may find it useful to give to a friend to help explain why this law is bad and must go.

To view the book cover and make any orders click on her website link. The cost is $10 incl postage in NZ. http://www.nonentiti.com

Warm regards,
Larry Baldock

June 29, 2009

Referendum Cost Unfortunate Outcome of Political ‘Deafness’

MEDIA RELEASE
28 June 2009
Referendum Cost Unfortunate Outcome of Political ‘Deafness’
Family First NZ is not surprised by a poll today that says that 77% of NZ’ers think the Referendum is a waste
of money, and says that the government should save the taxpayer $9 million on a postal referendum and
simply fix the anti-smacking law now as demanded by 80% of kiwis.
“It is incredible that in the midst of a recession, the government will be spending that amount of money to tell
them what they already know – that the law should be fixed,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family
First NZ.
“But that is the unfortunate price of ‘political deafness’. The blame for having to even have a Referendum is
pointed fairly and squarely at the politicians. Even supporters of the Referendum would say that the
Referendum is a waste of money – but completely necessary in the circumstances.”
“The Referendum has resulted in a huge amount of time, energy and resources being spent collecting the
300,000-plus signatures to force the Referendum in the hope that the government would be spurred to amend
the law and target the real causes of child abuse. Unfortunately they remained deaf.”
“The law can be easily fixed by removing the criminality of parents who use reasonable force for the purpose
of correcting their children.
“The politicians have tried to paint the Referendum as confusing. They should try explaining the anti-smacking
law to parents,” says Mr McCoskrie.
“NZ’ers are crying out for politicians to listen to the voice of the people and to tackle the real causes of child
abuse, without criminalising and threatening good parents with investigation and interference from already
overworked police and CYF social workers,” says Mr McCoskrie.
ENDS
For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie – NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Mob. 027 55 555 42

June 28, 2009

Year: 2009

Scoop News

Condomania, S. 59 and YesVote Silence

Bob McCoskrie – National Director

Mob. 027 55 555 42

Smacking poll in hands of mother

Woman behind smacking referendum

‘concerned’ mum