Goff to boycott smacking referendum over wording

Labour leader Phil Goff says he will not vote in the referendum on smacking because the question is badly worded.

The citizen initiated non-binding referendum asks: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"

That was "absolutely" the wrong question, he said today.

"The question implies that if you vote 'yes' that you're in favour of criminal sanctions being taken against reasonable parents -- actually nobody believes that."

The so-called anti-smacking law was working at it was intended to, he told reporters.

He said most people would not think any response to the referendum question expressed their views and would just not vote.

The question should be: "is the law working satisfactorily?" Mr Goff said.

Prime Minister John Key told reporters that while the referendum was an expensive exercise, costing nearly $9m, that was the price of democracy.

Asked if he thought the question could be confusing, he said he did not write it: "I think it runs the risk of being a little ambiguous".

Mr Key said the Government would change the law if it was not working, but he thought it was.

"It is my view that it is to date working. I accept that people are entitled to express their views and of course we'll observe those views, but the test for me is whether the law's working and at this stage I believe it is."

Mr Key said in general people did not raise the issue with him.

The referendum will be held by postal ballot from July 31 to August 21.

- NZPA