Parents divided over support for ban

By JO-MARIE BROWN

Dozens of parents with kids in tow were out enjoying the sunshine at Mission Bay in Auckland yesterday, but their opinions were divided on whether smacking should be outlawed.

Papatoetoe mother of three Jacque Nichols said she would support a ban. She felt smacking was unnecessary and alternative forms of punishment should be used.

"I think smacking is just an easy quick fix. It doesn't solve the problem," she said.

David Lee, of Remuera, has an 11-year-old son and agreed that smacking should be prohibited.

"Once people start smacking they can easily loose control.

"People don't realise their own strength and, after all, a kid's just a kid. Half the time they don't understand why they're being smacked."

But primary schoolteacher Fetaui Iosefo, of Mt Wellington, believed the issue created a catch-22 situation.

"An anti-smacking law will set up boundaries to stop abuse that's happening in our society," she said.

"However, I think it then becomes a threat to parents' autonomy in their own households."

Ms Iosefo said she preferred the "I'm counting to three" technique when disciplining her 9-year-old son, Joshua, but he thought smacking was okay.

"It depends what they [children] do, really," he said.

"If they do something really bad then I think you should smack them. Otherwise you should just growl or ground them."

Those in favour of smacking youngsters included full-time mum Debbie Gordon, who said responsible parents should be allowed to use their discretion.

"I don't think the Government should be dictating how we should be bringing up our children - especially Helen Clark. How many children does she have?"

British tourist David Overton, holidaying with his two youngest children, aged 6 and 4, said a quick smack around a child's legs was the most effective form of discipline.

"I have always believed that a short, sharp shock is the best way of applying your standards to your children. And, after all, they are your children."