KEY POINTS:
Anti-smacking MP Katherine Rich says a worker collecting signatures for the pro-smacking petition may be behind threats to harm her children over the issue.
Rich told the Herald on Sunday that staff at her Dunedin office had taken phone calls from a woman claiming to own the telephone line the threats had come from.
She said the calls were not made by anyone living at the address - but by a woman who was travelling the country collecting signatures for the petition, which aims to get a referendum on whether smacking should be illegal.
"The rhetoric of Larry Baldock has created a tornado of hysteria. This bill won't criminalise good parents. It removes a legal excuse for violence in the family."
Petition leader Larry Baldock said thousands of people were out knocking on doors collecting signatures.
"To suggest that it is some of our people is ridiculous. All we are is individuals. No one is collecting with my authorisation," he said.
Baldock said there was no proof the person was involved in the petition.
"Until you have the person who has made these threats actually in custody and answering questions, you don't have anything.
"Don't jump to conclusions just because the person whose phone it's been traced to has tried to finger somebody else," he said.
It's not just supporters of the bill being targeted. Christchurch More FM radio host Simon Barnett, who has spoken out against the bill, has received emails falsely accusing him of being a "mongrel child molester", a child rapist and bashing his wife.
"It's just outrageous that sort of stuff. People have resorted to pretty underhand and horrible tactics," said Barnett.
Baldock said threats to anyone involved in the argument were reprehensible.
"No one should be supporting violence or extremes. I don't think they're a suitable person if they've been found to make these threats. I think they need help. They are certainly not the sort of person I want collecting signatures."
And Baldock said he was concerned that Rich had been targeted.
"I sympathise with Katherine Rich. I think she should be left alone and free to make her own decisions."
Baldock said the petition currently has 100,000 signatures.
