Family Integrity

Category: News Media/Press Releases

  • Police Confirm Prosecutions For Smacking

    MEDIA RELEASE
    19 December 2008

    Police Confirm Prosecutions For Smacking

    LAW CONFIRMED AS SPECTACULAR FAILURE
    Latest figures on police activity following the anti-smacking law confirm that police are wasting valuable police time and resources investigating unwarranted complaints against parents, but they also confirm that they are prosecuting parents for smacking.

    “There has been a 30% blow-out in total CYF notifications in the last 12 months to just under 100,000, a 27% increase in referrals by police to CYF, and an increase in police investigations for smacking since the amendment. Yet the number of cases warranting further investigation by CYF has declined!” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

    “Most concerning is that parents have been prosecuted or referred to CYF for minor smacking. Our fears of prosecutions have been confirmed.”

    “Sadly, the rate of ‘child assault’ prosecutions is decreasing and actual child abusers are not being caught and the ‘roll of horror’ of child abuse deaths continues with cases including 16 month old Sachin Dhani, 22-month-old Tyla-Maree Darryl Flynn, 3 year old Nia Glassie, Ten-month-old Jyniah Mary Te Awa, Two-month-old Tahani Mahomed, 3 year old Dylan Hohepa Tonga Rimoni, and 7-year-old Duwayne Toetu Taote Pailegutu.”

    “Green MP Sue Bradford is quite correct. She said ‘The epidemic of child abuse and child violence in this country continues – sadly. My bill was never intended to solve that problem.’ We agree.”

    “You know a law is completely ineffectual when the proponents applaud it because of its lack of impact and the problem and rate of child abuse remains,” says Mr McCoskrie.

    Family First is calling on the National government to amend the law so that non-abusive smacking is not a crime, and good parents are not victims of a law which should be targeted more effectively at child abusers.

    ENDS
    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
    Bob McCoskrie – National Director
    Mob. 027 55 555 42

  • Doctors get $5m to okay abortions

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4795186a11.html

    Doctors get $5m to okay abortions

    The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 17 December 2008

    Doctors who approved abortions were paid more than $5 million in the year to June an increase of $1.5 million or more than 30 per cent in four years.

    The Abortion Supervisory Committee’s annual report says there were 18,382 abortions in 2007, 448 more than in 2006.

    Every abortion must be approved by two doctors, one of whom must be a gynaecologist or obstetrician. In the year to June, the Government paid 196 certifying consultants a total of $5,048,096.

    Abortions are legal in New Zealand under certain conditions, including when pregnancy would endanger the mother’s life, her physical or mental health, or if there is a risk of the foetus being handicapped. More than 98 per cent of abortions are authorised on the grounds of risk to mental health.

    Earlier, a High Court judicial review found there was reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions and that the committee was wrong to interpret the law as meaning it had no power to review consultants’ decisions.

    The committee has appealed against the ruling and the anti-abortion lobby group Right to Life, which brought the High Court challenge, has cross-appealed. The case is likely to be heard early next year.

    New Zealand has 19.6 abortions a year per 1000 women aged 15-44.

  • Welfare schemes ‘struggling’

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4795187a11.html

    Welfare schemes ‘struggling’

    By BEN FAWKES – The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 17 December 2008

    Obesity, poverty and drug abuse are gobbling up billions of dollars in state funding as “short-sighted” welfare programmes struggle to deal with society’s most deprived people, the new Government has been told.

    Briefing papers prepared by a panel of state agency chief executives for Social Development Minister Paula Bennett say inter-agency co-operation is disjointed because of an absence of leadership and direction.

    “The combined effect of this has been a long-term under-investment in resilience building, prevention and early intervention initiatives.

    “This means we are spending more on remedial interventions than is ultimately necessary.”

    Of the $43 billion spent each year on state social services, more than $30 billion was spent on “social protection” – looking after people during times of hardship or crisis.

    “Some of this spending could have been avoided if more had been invested in high-quality, future-focused forms of spending to build resilience and prevent problems escalating and becoming entrenched,” the papers said.

    Included in the amount was about half a billion dollars spent annually on obesity-related healthcare costs, the $894 million spent this year on the rising prison population and $380 million spent on child and youth care and protection.

    The briefing also predicted that demand for social services would increase, as an aging population and low standards of living in Maori and Pacific Island communities placed greater demand on state resources. This could be exacerbated by tax cuts planned by the Government.

    Ms Bennett said the Government was committed to pulling the most deprived people out of poverty and would adopt a long-term approach to the problem.

    “I want to make sure the Social Development Ministry is focused on its core responsibilities in the years ahead, in particular those families stuck in long-term poverty. I don’t underestimate the challenges associated with this, but I intend to make it a priority.”

    She was also concerned that no single government agency had clear accountability for good parenting.

  • Research Shows Need for Renewed Debate on Abortion

    MEDIA RELEASE

    1 November 2008

    Research Shows Need for Renewed Debate on Abortion

    Family First NZ says that the building body of evidence about the potential harm of abortion to the mother means that the debate on the abortion should be reopened.

    The University of Otago study found that women who had an abortion faced a 30% increase in the risk of developing common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

    “Yet this message is nothing new or controversial. It is consistent with research worldwide which is being done into the effects of abortion,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

    Last week, a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research also found a link between abortion and psychiatric disorders and refuted a American Psychiatric Association report released in August claiming abortion causes no mental health issues for women. The research team found induced abortions resulted in increased risks for a myriad of mental health problems ranging from anxiety to depression to substance abuse disorders.

    In 2007, an Australian research team from the University of Queensland found a close connection between abortion and drug and alcohol abuse. And earlier this year, The Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK recommended updating abortion information leaflets to include details of the risks of depression. They said that consent could not be informed without the provision of adequate and appropriate information.

    “With 98% of abortions in NZ being performed on the basis of the mental health of the mother, it is time that the research on the post-abortion mental health outcomes was given equal weight with the pre-abortion claims.”

    “Along with protecting the rights of the unborn child, we need to protect the rights of women to know the medical facts in order that they can make fully informed decisions,” says Mr McCoskrie.

    Family First NZ is calling for a law which requires informed consent (including ultrasound) for all potential abortions, and counselling to be provided only by non-providers of abortion services. Parental notification of teenage pregnancy and abortion should happen automatically except in exceptional circumstances approved by the court.

    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

    Bob McCoskrie – National Director

    Mob. 027 55 555 42

  • Explosion in CYF Notifications But Missing Abuse

    MEDIA RELEASE

    December 2008

    Explosion in CYF Notifications But Missing Abuse

    Latest figures show we’re narking on the wrong people.

    Family First NZ says that CYF’s limited resources are being wasted and non-abusive parents are being targeted, with a ‘blow-out’ in CYF notifications but the levels of actual abuse not increasing.

    CYF has received more than 93,200 notifications this year – up from 32,000 in the 2002–2003 period – and a 30% increase on the 2007 year. Yet actual child abuse being uncovered has shown no corresponding increase.

    In Palmerston North, notifications went up from 2341 to 2691, but identified cases actually dropped from 879 to 826. Waikato figures reported in the Waikato Times in August showed an increase of notifications from 5,973 to 8,629 but those requiring further action have fallen from 3729 to 3308 that same year.

    “If the increase in notifications was leading to the identification of actual child abuse which was previously being missed, this would be entirely appropriate and warranted – but it’s not. CYF is chasing its tail trying to deal with the huge explosion in notifications over the past five years but children are no safer from adults who actually are abusing them,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

    “We all want the public to feel compelled to report child abuse when they see it, but the ideologically flawed anti-smacking law has resulted in unwarranted reports of good parents which is a waste of the limited resources of CYF and the Police. Good families are being narked on because we have confused appropriate and reasonable parental discipline and correction with violence and assault,” says Mr McCoskrie.

    “CYF and Police resources should be focusing their energies and resources on the real causes of child abuse – including drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and family breakdown and dysfunction.”

    Family First NZ continues to call on the politicians to change the law so that non-abusive smacking is not a crime (as wanted by more than 80% of NZ’ers according to recent research), and a non-political Commission of Enquiry that identifies and treats the real causes of child abuse.

    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

    Bob McCoskrie – National Director

    Mob. 027 55 555 42

  • Thousands to get lessons in parenting

    Why do you think we have these out of control 0-7 year olds?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4767641a11.html

    Thousands to get lessons in parenting

    By LANE NICHOLS – The Dominion Post | Friday, 21 November 2008

    A Government scheme that sends parents of violent or misbehaving children to parenting courses is to expand to up to 15,000 more families.

    Officials estimate that children with severe antisocial behavioural problems each cost society $3 million during their lives through crime and other state spending.

    Parents of chronically disruptive children are now being sent on state-run parenting courses in a bid to address their children’s antisocial behaviour – some through court and Probation Service referrals.

    The 12 to 20-week group courses, which include homework assignments on how to play with children, teach parenting skills such as rewarding good behaviour, setting boundaries and discipline.

    Hundreds of parents have taken part since last year.

    Officials intend to expand the scheme to the parents of 15,000 children thought to have chronic behavioural problems, who amount to 5 per cent of the country’s three to eight-year-olds.

    Initial research involving about 200 parents suggests the courses – known as the Incredible Years programme – have resulted in vastly improved behaviour for up to 75 per cent of the children whose parents took part.

    Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft praised the broadening of the “excellent” initiative. He said early intervention was crucial in preventing children from growing into a life of crime.

    “So often the battle is won or lost at that age. The longer I am in the Youth Court, the more I realise the problems we get are really formed in the 0-5, 0-7 ages.”

    The work is part of a five-year plan targeting severe antisocial behaviour in young children involving education, health, justice and social agencies.

    The Education Ministry says an Auckland University study estimated that the lifetime cost to society of a chronic adolescent antisocial male is $3 million.

    Officials hope the ministry-led project will help save billions of dollars by preventing an unchecked slide into unemployment, mental health problems, substance abuse, crime and prison.

    “If we get in early we can curb aggressive behaviour in children and decrease disobedience before they develop into permanent behaviour patterns,” ministry documents say.

    Severe behaviour displayed by children as young as two included tantrums, swearing, yelling, hitting, kicking, talking back and refusing to share toys. Problem children were identified through before-school health checks, teacher and GP referrals, or parents.

    Special education deputy secretary Nicholas Pole said the key was intervening early. “It starts with good parenting skills.”

  • Helen Clark still smiles

    Helen Clark still smiles The Kiwi Party
    Press Release
    November 18, 2008
    While we can rejoice in the change of Government that has occurred in NZ we should all realise that defeated Prime Minister Helen Clark will still be wearing a big smile after reading the supply and confidence agreements signed yesterday by ACT, UF and the Maori Party.

    Why? Because none of them contain any initiatives to reverse and dismantle the consequences of her Governments family deconstruction policies over the last nine years. Many commentators have acknowledged that the anti-smacking law passed by 113 MPs in the last Parliament was the piece of legislation that led to the downfall of Helen Clark and the Labour Government. The subject arose time and again during the campaign yet none of the support parties have given any assurance to the citizens of this country that the referendum to be held on Aug 21st on the question, “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence?” will be respected.

    It is particularly disappointing that Rodney Hide and the ACT Party ,who campaigned widely on their commitment to repeal the anti-smacking law, have not secured a commitment from John Key for the result of the referendum to be binding. Prostitution law reform, same sex marriage, (Civil Unions) abortion on demand and the criminalising of good parents for smacking their children are issues that none of the partners to the new Government seem prepared to use their influence to address.

    Underage girls will still be able to be taken from school to the nearest abortion clinic without parental notification or consent. The lowering of the drinking age which has been widely acknowledged to have been a mistake goes unmentioned, as does the awful problems of drug and alcohol addiction and abuse, and the lack of detox and rehabilitation facilities needed to treat those with these problems.

    There is no mention of policies to address our high rates of family breakdown, family violence and child abuse that are at the very core of our social problems, and nothing to promote a stronger and healthier marriage culture in this country without which we will never see a reduction in fatherless young criminals appearing before our youth court.

    The Kiwi traditional common law rights to hunt and fish to put food on the family table will continue to be threatened with no mention in any agreement of support for the Kahawai Legal Challenge. Recreational fishers still face their battle with the Ministry of Fisheries over the depletion of the fish stock in the inshore-shared fishery.

    It also looks like the Department of Conservation, Animal Health Board and Regional Councils will be able continue their insane campaign of dropping 1080 poison that will one day ruin our clean green image and potentially affect our primary exports.

    Helen Clark ‘s new society looks set to remain intact. New Zealand will never be the same again; at least not if it is left up to National and it’s allies ACT, UF and the Maori Party to reverse these things in the next three years.

  • Dad who smacked loses son

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4761488a6009.html

    Dad who smacked loses son
    Katie Wylie and Nelson Mail – The Press | Saturday, 15 November 2008

    A Christchurch man has lost custody of his young son despite his trial on assault charges being abandoned.

    Rowan James Flynn, 53, was this week scheduled to stand trial in Nelson on five charges of assaulting his 12-year-old son, then aged 11.

    He also faced one charge of assaulting a female and two charges of leaving a child under 14 without reasonable supervision.

    Nelson District Court Judge Tony Zohrab discharged Flynn after the Crown offered no evidence on the assault charges.

    Prosecutor Janine Bonifant said the decision did not mean the Crown believed the alleged offences had not taken place.

    Flynn, an unemployed father-of-four now living in a caravan in Christchurch, was charged after his son called the police from the family’s Nelson home.

    He had allegedly hit his son about five times on the bottom with a wooden spoon after he was disobedient, and he said it was a “tiny issue” that blew up.

    He said he had also “clipped” his son around the face but, as a Christian, believed the Bible condoned his disciplinary methods.

    “I smacked him but I never assaulted him,” he said. “When he was in a defiant mood there was just no dealing with him.

    “I do very strongly believe in smacking children as a means of correction.”

    Yesterday, he learned that Child, Youth and Family (CYF) has interim custody of his son and that he may not contact the boy, who is now living with Flynn’s sister in Nelson, without consent and supervision.

    “It’s absolutely disgusting. There was no need for it and it is just a clear and blatant abuse of (CYF’s) powers,” he said.

    “Obviously, he doesn’t like getting his bum smacked, but that’s the whole point. I do not pose a threat to him at all.”

    CYF general manager of operations, Lorraine Williams, said: “While criminal charges may have been dropped, in this case, on the balance of probabilities, we still have concerns for the boy’s safety and will continue to work with his family for a successful outcome.”

    Nelson police have defended their decision to prosecute Flynn as correct and in the public interest.

    Family First New Zealand national director Bob McCoskrie said the withdrawal of the charges was proof that good parents trying to deal with unacceptable behaviour from their children were being dragged before the courts without evidence to back up the charges.

    “This case adds to our growing list of parents who are either being convicted, charged or investigated for attempting to correct their children in the most appropriate and effective way,” he said.

    Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro said Flynn’s methods of discipline were not justified.

    “It doesn’t wash, frankly. There is no justification for violence against children and people who think that there is basically need to learn some new techniques,” she said.

    “They need to learn that in fact violence begets violence and this is no way to treat children.”

  • Children’s Commissioner Survey Says Nothing New

    MEDIA RELEAS E

    Children’s Commissioner Survey Says Nothing New

    Family First NZ is welcoming a Children’s Commissioner survey which says that only 20% of those surveyed disagreed with smacking in certain circumstances.

    “This is consistent with all other polls done throughout the year including research commissioned by Family First – that there is an 80% opposition to the anti-smacking law because most people know that smacking for the purpose of correction is not child abuse,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

    “The 43% support for the law change would include a large number of people who are optimistic about the police discretion clause introduced at the eleventh hour.”

    “However, recent evidence suggests that their optimism may not be justified. Only yesterday, a father who was charged with smacking had all charges dropped just before the court case was due to start.”

    “This is not the first time this has happened,” says Mr McCoskrie. “And there has also been plenty of evidence of good parents being convicted, investigated and reported as a result of a law that the authors and supporters cannot definitively tell parents as to whether smacking is, isn’t, has been or hasn’t been banned as a result of the law change.”

    However, Family First is concerned that only 80% said that children should be protected from assault.

    “This figure should be 100%. But the Children’s Commissioner has simply caused confusion by misrepresenting the effect of the law and the difference between assault and a light smack.”

    “This is yet more wasted government funding on information that has told us nothing new, done by an office trying to justify its existence,” says Mr McCoskrie.

    Family First is calling for the Families Commission and Children’s Commission to be replaced by a Minister of Families in Cabinet.

    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

    Bob McCoskrie – National Director

    Mob. 027 55 555 42

  • Schools Failing To Tackle Violence

    MEDIA RELEASE

    3 November 2008

    Schools Failing To Tackle Violence

    Family First NZ says that schools are being forced to turn a ‘blind eye’ to increasingly unacceptable behaviour and violence because of a drive by the Ministry of Education to reduce the numbers of suspensions and expulsions.

    The comments follow a Close Up programme which highlighted a vicious and unprovoked attack and yet the offender is still at the school and the victim (and family) is still be victimised by the inappropriate response of the school.

    “It seems ironic that as we are saying no to violence within families and our community, schools are tolerating an unacceptable level of violence, sexual and offensive behaviour and intimidation,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

    A Ministry of Education report earlier this year trumpeted a fall in school suspensions, and at the time Minister of Education Chris Carter heralded it as a ‘concerted effort by schools supported by the ministry’.

    “Yet Education Ministry figures in 2007 revealed that violence and dangerous behaviour is on the rise in schools with more pupils assaulting teachers and classmates, and the Post Primary Teachers Association called for more resources to deal with difficult pupils and for zero tolerance toward violence and abuse,” says Mr McCoskrie.

    Ironically, Family First uncovered figures which the Ministry had buried showing a 37 per cent surge in primary school disciplinary actions. Primary schools are reporting increasingly violent misbehaviour by children as young as five.

    The presidents of the Canterbury and national principals’ associations backed up recent comments by a high school principal who said “Because it’s an election year, the Government is trying to make sure the statistics look really good.”

    “The Ministry of Education is burying both its head and the extent of the problem in the sand, and both staff and young people are being put at risk by the unacceptable behaviour of a minority who know that the consequences are negligible,” says Mr McCoskrie.

    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

    Bob McCoskrie – National Director

    Mob. 027 55 555 42