Clarification on smacking bill urged

Police and Child, Youth and Family (CYF) need to ease fears parents will be prosecuted for smacking their children if Section 59 was repealed, advocates for parents and families say.

Speaking at today's "Every Child Counts" conference in Wellington, the heads of Barnardos, Plunket, Unicef and Save the Children say fear of criminalisation is preventing parents from seriously examining the arguments for ending the practice of smacking children.

A joint statement from the conference leaders pointed out police today did not arrest parents, or social workers remove children from their homes simply because their parents had smacked them.

"There is no reason for this to change," the group said. "In fact, our organisations would be outraged if police and CYF did change their current behaviour," the statement said.

Prosecution and the removal of children from homes were only used as last resorts. "We want assurances that this will not change if Section 59 is repealed," it added.

However, New Zealand's culture of violence and in particular its "horrific rates" of family violence needed to be addressed, the conference leaders said.

This was something agreed on by all political parties, CYF, the police, national leaders and most New Zealanders.

The group said it was important parents learnt to discipline their children without using physical punishment because "no healthy relationship involves people smacking and hitting each other".

Children's commissioner Cindy Kiro, NZ First MP Ron Mark and Innes Asher of the Child Poverty Action Group are all addressing the conference.

- NZPA