Tag: Referendum
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Victoria University Debating Society debate 10 August 2009
MEDIA RELEASE
4 August 2009
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Do parents have the right to smack their children?
The referendum on smacking is sparking controversy nationwide, and as a result New Zealand’s premier debating society is hosting a showdown between prominent speakers as votes are cast around the country.
The debate; open to the public, with entry by koha, is being organised by the Victoria University Debating Society and is sponsored by the University.
Side affirmative will be represented by champion student debater Udayan Mukherjee, commentator and former journalist Dave Crampton (who blogs at http://big-news.blogspot.com) and former Young Nationals President Michael Mabbett. Green Party MP Sue Bradford will speak for the negative side, as will founder of Lobby Group EPOCH and former UNICEF NZ Advocacy Manager and Beth Wood. They will be joined by Victoria University Debating Society President Polly Higbee.
Each debater will have around ten minutes to speak, and a show of hands at the end will determine the winner. Tea and coffee (and heated discussion) will be served after the debate.
The debate is the second in a series of public debates on important issues organised by the Victoria Debating Society. The Society has debated a diverse range of topics, ranging from whether capitalism is in crisis to whether God is dead. Emily Bruce from the Society’s executive said, “The Society organises public debates on issues that are fundamental to New Zealanders. There couldn’t be a more fundamental issue than this one at the moment.”
The Victoria University of Wellington Debating Society, founded in 1899, is the most successful debating society in New Zealand and ranked as the 19th best in the world. It currently holds the NZ Impromptu, Prepared, and British Parliamentary debating titles, and was the runner-up at last year’s Austral-Asian championships.
“That parents have the right to smack their children”
When: Monday 10th August, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Where: Lecture Theatre One, Rutherford House, Pipitea Campus, Victoria University
Gold coin donation.
There will be refreshments after the debate ends.
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DELIVERY OF REFERENDUM VOTING PAPERS COMPLETE
MEDIA RELEASE
Saturday 8 August 2009
Chief Electoral Office – Ministr y of JusticeDELIVERY OF REFERENDUM VOTING PAPERS COMPLETE
All referendum voting papers have been delivered to voters, with over half a million votes cast so far.
“Every voter who was enrolled by 30 July should have received a referendum voting paper in the mail by today,” says Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer. “ If anyone hasn’t got their referendum voting paper yet, or they’ve lost it or made a mistake on it they should contact us to be issued with a replacement voting paper .”
Voting in the referendum opened last Friday 31 July. As at 5pm on Thursday 6 August, 570,300 votes had been received by the Chief Electoral Office’s vote processing centre. Votes will not be counted until after voting closes on 21 August.
“If anyone who enrolled by 30 July has not got their voting paper, they can get a replacement voting paper online at http://www.elections.org.nz/app/cir-reissue/ or by calling Freephone 0800 36 76 56 ,” says Mr Peden
Replacement voting papers are usually issued to people who have moved house and not updated their enrolment address details, or the voter has lost their voting paper or made a mistake and it isn’t clear which way they want to vote. The original voting paper is cancelled.
“ We recommend that people have their voting paper in the mail no later than Thursday 20 August to ensure it gets to us in time. If you’ve already made up your mind, I would encourage you to post your voting paper back today so you don’t forget or miss the voting deadline ,” says Mr Peden.
To count, voting papers from New Zealand must be postmarked no later than Friday 21 August and voting papers from overseas must be postmarked no later than Thursday 20 August (this allows for international time differences to ensure compliance with the close of the voting period).
ENDSMAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!
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Referendum Votes Pouring In
MEDIA RELEASE
7 August 2009
Referendum Votes Pouring In
Family First NZ is stoked that almost 600,000 voters have already returned their voting papers on the anti-smacking Referendum less than a week after they were sent to voters.
“Voters are obviously ignoring the attempt to dismiss this Referendum. This huge response after such a short time, and when some people have only just received their voting papers, shows just how relevant this issue is to NZ’ers. Almost double the number of people who signed the petition asking for the Referendum have now responded,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
“It has been shameful that politicians who introduced the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act in the first place have then tried to undermine the process.”
“It is now quite evident that NZ’ers understand the question and want their say.”
Family First is encouraging all NZ’ers to take advantage of the Referendum to have their say on this issue.
“There are people around the world who would love to live in a country where there is such free and open democracy. The greatest enemy to our democracy is apathy when we have this opportunity,’ says Mr McCoskrie.
ENDS
For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie – National Director
Mob. 027 55 555 42
Sign up now to received FREE email updates of issues affecting families – be informed! http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/Sign_Up -
Referendum an investment in the economy and our future.
The Kiwi Party
Press ReleaseThe TV One Colmar Brunton poll released today shows opposition to the anti-smacking law remains strong and consistent at 83%.
Referendum Petition organiser Larry Baldock said the other result from the poll was that 3 out 4 New Zealanders felt the cost of the referendum was a waste of money and that is not surprising.
“However, since the referendum requires the cost of at least two letters being posted to 3 million registered voters and the return of the voting papers by prepaid return, NZ Post will be receiving a Government investment of at least $3-4 million,” said Mr Baldock.“This cost could definitely have been avoided if the referendum had been held at the election last year when voters were going to the polls anyway.
“Given that most of the estimated $9million cost of the referendum will be spent on postage, printing, advertising and employing staff for counting etc, it cannot be considered a waste. For a start the Government will get some of the money back from its SOEs like NZ Post and TV One as well as the GST from money spent elsewhere in the economy.
“If Government spending in infrastructure is an investment in the economy and the future of our country then so is the referendum. The cost benefit ratio of reversing this ill-conceived socially destructive law will far outweigh a similar amount spent on a road, in my opinion.
“As I have been saying in my radio ads, there are now only two people who can waste this money, the voter if he does not vote, and John key of he refuses to listen.”Ends
contact
Larry Baldock 021864833 -
Is John Key deliberately misleading the public?
ANTI-SMACKING REFERENDUM
Is John Key deliberately misleading the public?
“To this point, there have been no successful prosecutions under the new law.”
John Key – TVNZ 3 Aug 09 WATCHTRUE / FALSE ?
False!
Here’s the facts..
That’s right – 13 prosecutions under the anti-smacking law ! And note the number of non-abusive families being investigated with no abuse being found (94%)!
What is the difference between ‘smacking’ and ‘minor acts of physical discipline’? Good question. The police cannot and refuse to define them and there is no statutory definition for them either. They are new terms as a result of the anti-smacking law.
Only last week, the NZ Herald highlighted a father who was prosecuted for a light smack on the leg
‘I asked for help but instead got conviction’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10586994And a case brought to the attention of the NZ Herald by Family First involving CYF forced an apology from the agency
CYFS says sorry to ‘traumatised’ family http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587740
How many other cases are there like this???Were these prosecutions warranted?
You be the judge. Here’s just 7 cases that we’ve put before the Prime Minister. We don’t know whether these were classified ‘smacking’ ‘minor acts of physical discipline’ or ‘other child assaults’ and the police won’t say either.
Here’s the bottom line .
It’s quite evident there will be a ‘no’ vote in the Referendum. What we’re asking for is a STRONG ‘no’ vote – that the Prime Minister simply can’t ignore.
Please vote – and please encourage friends, family, work colleagues to send their voting papers in.
There’s only 2 people who could waste the $9m on the Referendum. You or me – if we don’t vote, and John Key – if he doesn’t listen.
Kind regards 
Bob McCoskrie
National Director
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Smacking Poll: People v Politicians
MEDIA RELEASE
3 August 2009
Smacking Poll: People v Politicians
Family First NZ says that the latest poll on attitudes to the smacking law is a reminder that the smacking debate is essentially a battle between the huge majority of NZ’ers and the politicians.
“The One News poll shows 83% opposition to the smacking law, consistent with every other poll done both before the law change and in the two years since,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of the Family First NZ.
“But our elected representatives are adopting a ‘we know better than you’ attitude and are refusing to listen to the wishes of the NZ public. This is a disgraceful display of democracy, and shows incredible disrespect.”
“The poll also shows that those who believe that the current law may be working at the moment (25%) still don’t support the law (only 13% voting yes). The government and the police can try to paint a rosy picture on the law but the bottom line is that NZ’ers simply don’t accept it.”
Family First NZ agree with the 76% who say that the Referendum is not a good use of public money but has been necessitated because of ‘political deafness’ and a cynical postponing of the Referendum from being held at the General Election last year.
“This whole debate around the anti-smacking law has come down to a battle between the common sense of families and the agenda of politicians and government funded groups,” says Mr McCoskrie.
“Parents are doing their job 24/7 and the vast majority are doing a brilliant job. It’s time we listened to them on this issue.”
“Let’s target the real causes of child abuse – not real parents.”
Summary of polls for the past four years http://www.voteno.org.nz/polls.htm
ENDS
For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie – National Director
Mob. 027 55 555 42
Sign up now to received FREE email updates of issues affecting families – be informed!
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Yaca Interviews Rodney Hide
Simeon Brown of Youth Against Child Abuse NZ (YACA) interviews ACT Party leader Rodney Hide. Visit YACA online at http://www.yaca.org.nz -
Waikato people smack law down
Waikato people smack law down
By BRUCE HOLLOWAY – Waikato Times
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2709896/Waikato-people-smack-law-down
Waikato residents have given overwhelming support to allowing parents to smack their children. Some 92 per cent of Waikato people who plan to vote in the current postal referendum voting papers went out yesterday are against smacking of children being a criminal offence, according to a telephone survey of 409 people in a Waikato Times-Versus telephone poll. The poll was run this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. The results are a continuation of the high popularity for sanctioning smacking that has registered in national and regional polls for the past four years. But the Government has already said it won't change the two-year-old law, which Prime Minister John Key thinks is working well. The Times poll showed 70 per cent of Waikato residents planned to vote in the referendum, with that rising as high at 78 per cent within Hamilton. Females (76 per cent) were also more likely to vote. Residents were asked: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Just 8 per cent said yes. The wording, while awkward, is exactly the same as for the postal referendum. That phrasing has been widely condemned for automatically assuming a smack is part of good parental correction, and requiring those supporting smacking to vote "no". But 60 per cent of Waikato survey respondents thought the question was clearly worded 35 per cent thought it wasn't. A citizen-initiated referendum is not binding. Whatever the result, Parliament is not required to implement the will of the people. The Waikato Times asked Hamilton West National MP Tim Macindoe an opponent of the so-called anti-smacking law what pressure he would bear on his government colleagues as a result of such overwhelming support. "The figures speak for themselves, and I maintain the view that the no vote ought to be respected," he said. "But beyond that, in caucus it is a collective decision, and there is no party line on this. We are not being whipped [controlled by party whips] on this issue." Ahead of speaking at the national Toughlove conference in Hamilton last night, Mr Macindoe said the poll gave a clear indication of public sentiment. "There is a strong body of opinion coming through and all politicians will look at it closely." Asked how he felt about his Government potentially ignoring the voice of the people, Mr Macindoe said the prime minister had always said if there was any evidence it wasn't working, the Government would move to change it. Mr Macindoe conceded there was little sign the legislation was not working. Legislation was amended two years ago to remove the defence of reasonable force for the use of disciplinary purposes on children. A review of police activity shows the amendment has had minimal impact, while agencies which deal with dysfunctional families say the law is useful. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.85 per cent.