Family Integrity

Category: News Media/Press Releases

  • FI407-PM Desparate to Shut Down Smacking Referendum

    24 June 2008 – Family Integrity #407 — PM wants to shut down referendum

    The PM has said she reckons there’s not enough time to organise a referendum to occur at the same time as the next general election. What rot. Why is she afraid of the referendum results? Because she knows she’ll be drowned and overwhelmed by opposition to this so-called “anti-smacking” law which in fact makes it a crime for parents to correct their own children.

    TAKE ACTION: Email the Prime Minister and John Key demanding that a Referendum be held at the upcoming Election

    pm@ministers.govt.nz john.key@parliament.govt.nz

    MEDIA RELEASE

    23 June 2008

    Family First NZ is shocked and angry that the Prime Minister is willing to consider spending over $10 million of taxpayers’ money on the anti-smacking Referendum to be held separately from the upcoming election rather than holding it during the upcoming election, which is the most natural timing for it.

    “Helen Clark says that Parliament had spoken on the issue with a near “unanimous mind”. What she fails to say is that both the major parties were ‘whipped’ to vote for the bill, which is highly ironic considering it is the anti-smacking bill,” says Mr McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “The bill would have been dead and buried otherwise, as NZ’ers wanted.”

    “She also fails to hear the voice of over 390,000 signatories who oppose the law change and are demanding a Referendum, and the 80%-plus who want the law changed according to latest polls.”

    “Unless the PM is holding the election before 23 September, the perfect and most economical time to hold the Referendum is Election day in October or November, and any later timing is simply a cynical attempt to try and prevent the voice of NZ’ers being heard.”

    “It would be a sad day for democracy and fairness if that happened.”

    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

    Bob McCoskrie JP – National Director

    Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42

    TAKE ACTION: Email the Prime Minister and John Key demanding that a Referendum be held at the upcoming Election
    pm@ministers.govt.nz john.key@parliament.govt.nz

  • New report shows police are wasting their time

    Kiwi Party Leader and organiser of the petition for a referendum on the Anti-smacking law said the new law is simply wasting the police’s time.

    The Prime Minister has claimed that the police report proves nothing much has changed. “In part I agree with her,” said Mr Baldock.

    The police report does not reveal any improvement in the prosecution of real child abusers. The category of other child assaults for the past three months has remained at about the same level as it was for the three months prior to the new law.

    What has changed though, and this very dramatically, is the number of police call outs to smacking and minor acts of physical discipline. In the three months prior to the law their were a combined total of 13 for these two categories. In the last 3 months this has risen to 41.

    The report confirms this when it states, “The current review period volume of 13 child assault events involving “smacking” and 65 of the total 69 “minor acts of physical discipline” events were determined to be “inconsequential” by either the attending and/or investigating Police Officer, and therefore not in the public interest to prosecute.”

    That means 82 call outs for only 3 pending prosecutions and one dealt with by diversion.

    No wonder the police don’t have time to attend call outs on real crime.

    “The police should not be required to monitor parental activity. They should be monitoring the crime syndicates operating through gangs that are dealing in drugs, prostitution and violent assaults on innocent shop keepers and home invasion victims,” said Mr Baldock.

    “When the Prime Minister claims that the law is working and not affecting good parents, she of course does not have any understanding of the traumatic experience good parents are experiencing when the police turn up at their door to investigate what their own report says ‘are inconsequential minor acts of discipline.’

    “The anti-smacking law was not needed and the sooner it is repealed the better,” said the Kiwi Party leader.

    Ends
    Contact

    Larry Baldock
    Party Leader
    Phone: 021 86 4833
    Email: l.baldock@xtra.co.nz

  • Govt creating renegade generation

    THE FAMILY PARTY

    http://www.thefamilyparty.org.nz

    Govt creating renegade generation

    24 June 2008. The Family Party is calling on the Prime Minister to acknowledge the concerns of the majority of New Zealanders by holding the smacking referendum at the General Election.

    In today’s NZ Herald Prime Minister Helen Clark has virtually ruled out a referendum on smacking at this year’s election, saying there will not be time to organise one.

    Family Party leader Richard Lewis says the smacking law remain a serious concern in South Auckland communities, where the Family Party has continued to collect petition signatures.

    “The Prime Minister continues to manipulate New Zealand’s democratic process by denying New Zealanders the opportunity to have their say on this very important issue at the most cost-effective and expedient opportunity, which is this coming General Election. It is this kind of disregard towards the concerns of New Zealanders that has rendered Labour irrelevant and out of touch with the realities of everyday family life,” said Mr Lewis.

    Mr Lewis says the Government has failed to make the connection between Law and Order and parental authority in the home.

    “Not a day goes by without a parent raising the issue of parental correction and establishing boundaries in the home. Government still fails to realise that Law and Order begins in the home. By undermining parents in the home they’re setting up a generation of kids to be renegades in community. So don’t be surprised when more children and young people emerge into community with a bad attitude and a complete disregard for others and authority,” he added.

    ENDS

    Richard Lewis

    0275 398730

    Family Party online advertisement

  • Michael laws on Radio Live right now

    Michael laws is on Radio Live right now. Ring in now about the CIR Referendum. Make your voice known about having the Referendum at the same time as the elections.

    The question being asked here this morning is “Have you changed how you discipline your children since Section 59 has been amended.”

    You can listen here:

    http://www.radiolive.co.nz/

  • Substantial Jump in Parents Being Investigated for Smacking

    MEDIA RELEASE

    23 June 2008

    Family First NZ says that the police report on the effects of the anti-smacking law shows an almost 300% jump in the number of parents being investigated for minor acts of physical discipline since the law was passed.

    “The six month review of police activity following the passing of the anti-smacking law follows on from the 3 month review immediately after the law change, and a further 3 month review six months after the amendment,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “There is an obvious effort to try and paint a positive spin on this law change by the police head office, with so many reviews!”

    “But what this particular review shows is that police resources are being wasted on attending and investigating smacking and minor acts of physical discipline, yet less than 5% are serious enough to warrant prosecution.”

    “This report fails to explain what “minor acts of physical discipline” are, acknowledges that there may have been changes in police recording practice and may have been changes in the ‘threshhold’ of what is acceptable, and as per the last report in December 2007, admits that “an absence of a notification on a Police file does not necessarily mean that no notification was made.”

    “The worst aspect is that the number of actual child assaults are now at almost the same rate as before the law change.”

    “In other words, the anti-smacking law has failed to stem the tide of child abuse, but has targeted many good parents and grandparents with the trauma and fear of police investigation and CYF involvement. Parents will feel very nervous reading this report, knowing the increasing level of investigations for minor acts.”

    “Sue Bradford, Cindy Kiro and Barnados trumpet the law as a success because not many are being prosecuted.”

    Family First wants laws which target actual child abusers, tackles the real causes of child abuse identified by the CYF and UNICEF reports, but leaves good parents alone to raise law-abiding and productive citizens of NZ.

    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

    Bob McCoskrie JP – National Director

    Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42

  • Police attended 288 child assault incidents in six months

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4593757a10.html

    Material provided by the Government showed over the six months between September and April police attended 288 child assault incidents.

    In the three months prior to this 111 incidents were attended.

    Of the 288 incidents, 13 involved “smacking”,

    This was up from three in the previous period.

    None of the incidents resulted in a prosecution.

    Of the 288 incidents, 69 involved “minor acts of physical discipline.

    Of those only four resulted in prosecution, one did not proceed and was treated through diversion.

    Three other alleged offenders have remanded on bail and are due to appear in early July.

  • FI406-We got the numbers on the Petition!

    24 June 2008 – Family Integrity #406 — We got the numbers!

    The Kiwi Party

    They will not drown out the voice of the people!

    Kiwi Party Leader and Tauranga electorate candidate Larry Baldock will today resubmit to the Clerk of the House the petition calling for a referendum on the Anti-smacking law that was passed by Parliament in May 2007.
    The petition was first presented on Feb 29 this year with 324,511 signatures but was deemed to have insufficient valid signatures after the audit process had been carried out. The required number to force a referendum is 285,027 and the petition fell short by approx 18,000.


    The CIR Petition Act 1993 allows for an extension period of up to 2 months for the petition sponsor to gather further signatures and then resubmit all the signatures again. The Clerk of The House then conducts a completely new audit process on a new 1 in 11 sample to determine if a referendum is to be held.

    Mr Baldock said he was very confident that they now had sufficient signatures to ensure a referendum goes ahead.
    “Over the past 15 months we have collected more than 390,000 signatures all over this country. That means we are now handing in 100,000 more than required and more than 60,000 new signatures since we first handed the petition in just over 3 and half months ago.

    “Quite frankly I do not know who Sue Bradford, Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro, and Barnardos Chief executive Murray Edridge are trying to kid when they claim that attitudes have changed. I would like to see the supporters of this crazy ill-conceived law try and collect even 100,000 signatures in support of it, let alone the nearly 400,000 we have collected, the Kiwi Party leader said.

    “Why are these people so afraid of democracy?

    In Tauranga last week National Party leader John Key said he was not going to change the law if he became Prime Minister. In response to a question from the floor, he said that he would only make changes if he saw good parents being prosecuted.

    “Personally I find that most disturbing,” said Mr Baldock. “John Key seems to be catching Parliamentary flu, that sickness which afflicts so many of our political leaders and causes them to believe they know better than the people who elected them to their positions of responsibility.


    “The only acceptable response to the referendum is for John Key, Helen Clark, Peter Dunne, and Jim Anderton to promise the people of New Zealand that they will lay aside their personal opinions on the subject of how good parents should correct their children, and give their solemn commitment to abide by and implement the majority view of the people of New Zealand.

    “Winston Peters, who has held the balance of power for the past three years could have stopped the Bradford Bill in its tracks. Once again he has showed everyone that he was more interested in enjoying the baubles of office around the world, than representing good families in need of a voice here at home.


    “Our success in collecting these signatures has in part been helped by the fact that many voters have had enough of being ignored by arrogant politicians. This Bradford anti-smacking law has been the latest example of a blatant disregard for our democracy as parliament has passed a long line of laws against the will of the majority of New Zealanders. I am determined not to let them get away with this one,” said Mr Baldock.

    Ends

    Larry Baldock
    Party Leader
    Phone: 021 86 4833
    Email: l.baldock@xtra.co.nz

  • Large Stack of Signatures Confirms Referendum at Election

    MEDIA RELEASE

    23 June 2008

    (petition to be presented on steps of Parliament at 12.30pm)

    Large Stack of Signatures Confirms Referendum at Election

    Family First NZ says that the extra ‘stack’ of signatures on the petition opposing the anti-smacking law and being presented at Parliament today confirms that the politicians failed to listen to the voice of the people when passing this unpopular and ineffective law.

    “The law would never have passed if the two major political parties had not ‘whipped’ their MP’s to vote for the anti-smacking law, which is highly ironic in itself,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

    “But the massive response to the petition, combined with recent polls showing 85% support for changing the law, demonstrates just how unpopular the law is. The petition is a simple plea from NZ’ers – don’t criminalise the actions of good parents who are trying to raise law-abiding and productive citizens of the future.”

    “When the author of the law change Sue Bradford tells us that the law change was never intended to deal with the epidemic of child abuse and child violence, it is quite obvious that this law change was not about solving a problem – it was about telling parents how to raise their children. And parents who are already doing a great job have responded by saying “we’re doing fine thanks.”

    “If the purpose of the law was not to ban smacking, as promised by the Prime Minister before the last election, the law should explicitly state this. It should not be left open to potential persecution of parents through complaints by schools, members of the public and children, and investigations by police and CYFS,” says Mr McCoskrie.

    “We are now also seeing clear evidence of good parents being prosecuted in courts for correcting their children in ways that were promised would not be caught under the new law.”

    Family First is calling on the politicians to amend the law so that good parents are not criminalised for reasonable and appropriate correction of children.

    “There is good reason that only 23 of the almost 200 countries have adopted this law. NZ can lead the world by being the first country to reverse this flawed law before its effects are fully felt by families and the community,”

    ENDS

    For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

    Bob McCoskrie – National Director

    Mob. 027 55 555 42

  • Child discipline law one year old tomorrow

    http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/10397/child-discipline-law-one-year-old-tomorrow

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4591239a11.html


    Fri, 20 Jun 2008


    As the first anniversary of the so-called anti-smacking legislation rolls around, campaigners will again present a petition trying to get the law overturned.

    But the architect of the bill, Green MP Sue Bradford, says the new law is working well and should be left alone.

    The first anniversary of the controversial law is tomorrow, a day Unicef says is cause for celebration.

    Ms Bradford’s legislation amended section 59 of the Crimes Act to remove the defence of reasonable force for parents who physically discipline their children.

    The amendment, which was supported by the overwhelming majority of Parliament, gave police discretion to judge whether a reported offence warranted prosecution.

    There is to be a review of the law next June, two years after its introduction.

    Unicef executive director Dennis McKinlay said fears that good parents would face charges for minor infringements of the law had been well and truly laid to rest.

    “Police and the public have shown that this law works well and that parents can find better and more constructive ways to discipline and guide children than hitting them,” Mr McKinlay said.

    However, Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock and supporters will on Monday again present signatures on a petition trying to force a referendum that would ask the question: “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand.”

    When the petition was presented earlier, supporters had collected 324,316 signatures, but after these were checked for validity there were only 269,500 — less than the 10 percent of enrolled voters which has to be reached for a referendum to be held.

    Mr Baldock today said the petition, to be presented to the Clerk of the House on Monday, would be checked and a random sample audited over the next two months to see whether the 285,027 signatures were valid.

  • Sports & Fielddays Crowds Give CIR Petition Huge Boost

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0806/S00175.htm

    Sports and Fielddays Crowds Give

    Anti-Smacking Petition Huge Boost

    Family First Media Release 15 June 2008

    Family First NZ says that the numbers of signatures on the petition against the anti-smacking law and demanding a Referendum at the upcoming Election has been hugely boosted by a number of large events over the past 2 weekends.

    “ Over 12,000 signatures have been collected at the two recent All Blacks tests, a Warriors game, the Waikato Fielddays, and other sporting and community events ,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

    “ The signature count from the Fielddays alone was a whopping 8,700. It has certainly reinforced to us the strong feeling against this unpopular and ineffective law by typical NZ’ers who are attending these events. There is no shortage of people wanting to sign the petition.”

    The organisers originally had a shortfall of 18,027 signatures after the audit of the original 324,216 signatures submitted in April. However, since then, more than 50,000 signatures have been collected. These will be submitted before the deadline of the end of the month.

    “This confirms that a Referendum will be held on the anti-smacking law at the same time as the Election, it confirms that a huge proportion of NZ’ers want the law changed to protect good parents, and it sends a very clear and loud message to the politicians that they should listen to the views of the voters who will be making a choice at the upcoming Election.”

    “It’s time to tackle the real causes of child abuse, violence and crime without criminalising the efforts of good parents raising productive and law-abiding citizens of the future,” says Mr McCoskrie.

    “There is good reason that only 23 of the almost 200 countries have adopted this law. NZ can lead the world by being the first country to reverse this flawed law before its effects are fully felt by families and the community.”

    ENDS

    www.familyfirst.org.nz