Curtain rises on musical that packs a punch

The musical version of Once Were Warriors started its run in Christchurch last night and director Jim Moriarty is using the production's anti-family violence message to campaign against smacking.

Moriarty wants the law that allows parents to hit their children to be changed.

Several organisations, including Save the Children, support the drive to repeal Section 59 of the Crimes Act that allows the smacking of children.

The production also aims to increase awareness among New Zealanders of the repercussions of family violence.

Moriarty will have a petition at theatres, asking people to support the law change.

"I want to use theatre as a means for making change so that not another child dies," he said in a statement.

Save the Children executive director John Bowis said the law contravened the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by New Zealand in 1993.

"In its current form, the Crimes Act does not reflect Article 19 of the convention, which states that the Government should protect children from all types of mistreatment," Mr Bowis said.

He said the law provided a legal defence for parents and caregivers who mistreated children.

"Exposure to family violence is one of the most damaging influences on a child's development and life-long behaviour," he said.

"New Zealand has the third-worst rate of death by child abuse and murder out of 27 OECD countries."

* Once Were Warriors plays at Christchurch until March 10 and again from March 24, Dunedin from March 16 to 19, Auckland from April 10 to 28, and Wellington from May 3 to May 22.

- NZPA