Family Integrity

Tag: CYFs

  • Nats won’t change child-discipline law, says Key

    Family First:

    We have been asked on a number of occasions where does National stand on the anti-smacking law, and will they change it if elected as the government.

    Here’s the answer…
     Nats won’t change child-discipline law, says Key
    The Press 26 June 2008
    National Party leader John Key has ruled out overturning the controversial child-discipline law if he becomes Prime Minister, despite championing a referendum on the issue. In Parliament yesterday, he accused Prime Minister Helen Clark of “ignoring the will of the New Zealand people” and urged a referendum be held on the so-called “anti-smacking” legislation at election time. His call came after Clark announced the Government had accepted official advice that it was too late to hold a referendum this year.

    Asked by The Press afterwards if a National government would consider revoking the law as a result of a referendum, Key said: “No. The position as it has essentially always been since we signed a compromise (with Labour) is that if we see good parents being criminalised for lightly smacking their children then we will actively seek to change the law,” he said. “But at this point, as the police report pointed out earlier this week, we haven’t seen that at all. “The test we have is a pretty simple one. If the law doesn’t work then we’ll change it.”
    READ FULL ARTICLE     http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4596934a24035.html

    Family First Comment :
    We are currently researching a number of cases where good parents have been criminalised or had children removed by CYF for lightly smacking or correcting their children.

    If you have been investigated or prosecuted by the police or CYF for ‘light smacking’, or know of someone who has, please email us in the strictest confidence bob@familyfirst.org.nz

    Kind regards

    Bob McCoskrie
    National Director

    www.familyfirst.org.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.

  • 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

  • Silence let child abuse continue

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4592829a11.html

    Silence let child abuse continue

    By KAY BLUNDELL – The Dominion Post | Monday, 23 June 2008

    Three children repeatedly beaten with a broom handle were so hungry they had to rummage in rubbish bins, and yet neighbours were too scared to report the cruelty they witnessed.

    Kylie Tekani, 30, of Porirua, has been sentenced in Wellington District Court to eight months’ home detention after pleading guilty to three charges of cruelty to a child and assault with a weapon.

    The children, aged 5, 6 and 8, were repeatedly beaten and the youngest had such a severe infestation of head lice that her hair fell out in hanks.

    Neighbours in Penguin Grove saw the children searching through rubbish bins and asking for food. Locked outside, the children would huddle under a tree, sometimes till dark.

    Though people would slip food to them as they passed on their way to school, they were too scared to report the cruelty, partly because of the intimidating presence of patched Mongrel Mob members who lived in the street. “We know it is best to keep out of other people’s business,” a resident said.

    Another, gesturing toward the gang house, said it was wiser not to get involved. Others were too fearful to speak to The Dominion Post.

    Outside the court, Tekani said she was relieved the case was over. “I want to get on with a new life.”

    The court was told that Tekani was attending a violence intervention programme, had a new job, was going to church and was seeing her children under supervision.

    “You have made a real effort to improve your life,” Judge Bruce Davidson said.

    Police became aware of the children’s plight when the youngest girl was admitted to hospital. She had been hit on the back of the head so hard that her head was forced through a bedroom wall.

    The children’s stepfather, Norman Makai, 21, was jailed this year for 5 1/2 years for ill-treatment of the children and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

    Judge Davidson said he believed Tekani had also been subjected to violence.

    “I have no doubt Makai was violent toward you … and to some extent wore you down, but you still failed to intervene to protect your three vulnerable children.”

    Makai had said he hit the girl because she had hardly eaten her dinner.

    Doctors found her emaciated and with bruising and swelling on the backs of her legs, on her buttocks and lower back from repeated beatings. The other children had similar injuries.

    The youngest survived brain surgery, but had to learn to walk and talk again and had to wear a crash helmet for six months to protect her injured skull.

    Medical staff indicated she would continue to suffer visual problems, behaviour disorders, learning and social problems and possibly seizures.

    Inspector Mike Craig said experienced police dealing with the case were shocked by the girl’s injuries and the ill-treatment the children endured.

    The children were placed in the care of Child, Youth and Family, and now live with their paternal grandmother.

    If only someone in the neighbourhood had alerted the police or CYF, the girl might not have ended up in hospital, Mr Craig said.

  • Hansard – 16 May 2007 – 3rd reading Section 59

    Hansard – 16 May 2007 – 3rd reading Section 59

    Hansard – 16 May 2007 – 3rd reading Section 59
    Hansard is now up for the 3rd reading:

    http://www.hansard.parliament.govt.nz/hansard/Final/FINAL_2007_05_16.htm

    or more specifically:

    Child Abuse—Child, Youth and Family Discretion
    http://www.hansard.parliament.govt.nz/hansard/Final/FINAL_2007_05_16.htm#_Toc167266185

    Gordon Copeland— Resignation from United Future
    http://www.hansard.parliament.govt.nz/hansard/Final/FINAL_2007_05_16.htm#_Toc167266195

    Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill
    Third Reading
    http://www.hansard.parliament.govt.nz/hansard/Final/FINAL_2007_05_16.htm#_Toc167266196

    Points of Order
    Votes—Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill
    http://www.hansard.parliament.govt.nz/hansard/Final/FINAL_2007_05_16.htm#_Toc167266198

    and

    Voting
    Correction
    http://www.hansard.parliament.govt.nz/hansard/Final/FINAL_2007_05_16.htm#_Toc167266202

    Or this link with coloured photos of MPs:
    http://theyworkforyou.co.nz/bills/crimes_abolition_of_force_justification/2007/may/16/d01