MEDIA RELEASE

17 June 2009

Latest Smacking Poll – Same Result

Family First NZ says the latest poll on smacking shows that the opposition to non-abusive smacking remains minimal and the law should be changed now rather than after a costly Referendum.

“The Yahoo online poll has had over 16,000 votes and shows huge support for parents using a smack for the purpose of correction,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “This poll simply reflects every independent poll done both before the law was changed and after the law was changed.”

The question asks “Is smacking an acceptable form of punishment for kids?”

35% (5696 votes) responded ‘Yes, if they need a short, sharp shock’ and 52% (8451 votes)  said ‘Sometimes – if the situation demands it.”

Only 11% (1870 votes) said ‘No, it’s never okay’, and 2% were undecided.

Family First is calling on the government to  establish a Commission of Enquiry into tackling the real causes of child abuse.

“We owe it to good parents to get this law right,” says Mr McCoskrie. “Let’s target the real causes of child abuse – not real parents.”

AFTER LAW PASSED

Curia Research Mar 08 83% want law changed to allow light smacking
Research International Feb 2008                       74% parents should be able to smack

Curia Research May 08                                    85% want law changed to allow light smacking

TVNZ June 08                                                  85% NO – do you think anti-smacking law should stay

NZ Herald Online Poll 25 June 2008 Should there be a referendum on the smacking legislation at this year’s election?

Yes: 3746 (81%)  No: 878 (19%)   Total Votes: 4624

Otago Daily Times 28 June 08 68% up to parents to decide

(280 votes) 21% children should be legally protected

11% depends on the case

www.littlies.co.nz/ July 2008 One year on, do you think the anti-smacking Bill has proved to be effective?
Yes (7%)
No (87%)
Unsure (7%)

NZ Herald Sep 08 Should smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in NZ 86% No

Online 90% (2800 votes)

BEFORE LAW PASSED

MARAE DigiPoll (1,000 Maori voters)               80%

Anti-smackingvote.co.nz Apr 2007                  70% (43,000 votes!)

http://www.antismackingvote.co.nz/poll+results Zenago Internet Solutions

Treasures website Apr 2007                               85% (1972 votes)

Waikato Times Apr 4 2007                                 87%

TV3 TNS Mar 29 2007                                        69% (70% support smacking)  **

TVNZ Colmar Brunton Mar 26 2007                   83%

Research NZ Mar 26 2007                                  73%

Bay of Plenty Times Text Poll Mar 26 2007 94.6%

TV3 Website poll Mar 14 2007                           89%

NZ News – Yahoo .com Mar 13 2007     92%    (7643 votes)

TV3 News Poll Mar 2007                                   83%

NZ Herald Feb 2007                                           90%      (3874 votes)

TVNZ website Feb 2007                                   87%

STUFF website July 2006                                  82%     (6700 votes!)

TVNZ website July 2006                                    88%

Bay of Plenty Times May 2006                          83%

Child Abuse Conference Feb 2006                   82%

STUFF website Feb 2006                                 84%

Dominion Post Feb 2006                                   82%

STUFF website March 2005                              86%

NZ Herald July 2005                                          71%

STUFF website June 2005                                82%

ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

Bob McCoskrie – National Director

Mob. 027 55 555 42