KEY POINTS:
The smacking debate continues to draw a wide range of strongly expressed views. Emails continue to pour into the Online Herald on the issue debate so here is Monday's selection of your views.
Follow through the link at the bottom of this selection to read some of the other selections of views we have received on this issue.
Our political bureau has reported that smacking seems certain to be banned when MPs cast their final votes on the issue in three weeks' time.
Here is the latest selection of your views received on Monday:
Tina
These are all signs of times. It is in the Bible. Go read it if you have the time. Jesus said nations will turn against Nations, Mother against daughter, Father against son. These are just birth pains of what is yet to come. This bill will pass, sad but true. What we have to do is hope and pray that our children come out of it in one piece.
Peter Brunton
I do not think this Bradford bill has anything to do with the protection of children. Outlaw abortion and I will believe them! No, it has to with a much deeper agenda; that is the total secularization of society. The total nullification of anything Christian! The Bible in Proverbs is dead clear on how to raise children the correct way and has severe warnings of the outcome if you do not. I am a father of 16 children all with the same common law wife. We have a happy home with children all brought up on the Word of God. All disciplined according to His way not ours. Not perfect kids but children and adults who have been taught boundaries, respect and appreciation of human life. God's ways are life giving but the way of the fool is death.
Leigha
I am an independent Parent of a 1yr old. He has certain medical issues which means he has a trachy tube so he can breathe, and a gastostomy button so he can feed. As a 1 yr old, he thinks its great fun to pull these tubes. He could die if he pulled the trachy tube out. So, when I manage catch him at it, I smack his hand straight away. I hate doing it, but he has to learn. And he does know, all I have to do is raise my hand and say No and most times he will stop. I refuse to be bullied into not giving my son (who is my absolute world), a safety smack. This Bill will not stop the child abusers just like protection orders do not stop spousal abuse. They (the government) can go to hell if they think New Zealanders are going to stand for this rubbish. Imagine your child threatening to call the police because you have lightly disciplined them. Kids of today are quite often older than their years, imagine what its going to be like when they have all the power in the family. My right as a parent is to raise a respectful, law abiding, contributing member of society. I will achieve this in any way I see fitDo something about the real child abuses like harsher sentencing and preventative steps like positive parenting classes. Keep out of my life. It is hard enough as it is.
Craig
When will this country wake up? The Labour Government and its hanger ons have dismantled everything that made our country what it is and now they want to tell us how we must bring up our children. All in the name of protecting our children. This bill would not have saved Lillybing or Kahui twins etc. This bill will make 90 per cent of New Zealand parents, and voters, criminals for trying to bring up balanced well-educated future leaders and citizens. Rather than spend large sums of money on non elected Members of Parliament, we should reduce the number of MPs (as voted by NZ to do) and spend the money on social education, enforcing punishment of criminals and finding ways to keep our kids in school.
Craig
Stop this dictatorship in its tracks. Go to http://www.familyfirst.org.nz Sign the petition to stop Sue Bradford. They need just over 300,000 signatures to force a referendum. If 80 per cent of NZ are against this bill, why is it going through? Do you want to be told how to bring up your kids?
Bernie
There is a difference between smacking kids to teach them right from wrong and assaulting them. That seems to be something that the leaders of NZ forget. Political correctness going mad. Maybe that is why over 600 people a week are leaving NZ for Australia. Soon the only ones left will be immigrants and those who love the tyranny that is now rife. Look at yourselves Kiwis. You are letting the politicians make you all laughing stocks to the rest of the world.
Mary Kelly
If the powers that be think there are parents out there that do not know the difference between bashing a child and smacking, they should not be in the position of any power. Is Sue Bradford going to take responsibility for the chaos in the future? It is a sad day when parents will be made criminals for trying to bring up responsible children.
Robert (Louisiana)
I picked up on the NZ anti-smacking issue on the internet recently, and figured this was a passing fad, and not destined to go anywhere. It struck me as something I had come across in George Orwells 1984, or in some far away Communist country. Imagine my surprise, when it reared its ugly head in the state of California as well. I was not born an angel. If my Dad had not spanked me, I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, I would be in jail right now. This legislation, if it passes, will undermine the foundation of society, because it will eliminate the ability of adults to teach discipline to their children. Children are not born adults; they must be molded into adults. Anyone who had kids, or still remembers being a kid knows this. Only the radical 2 per cent of the population that lives in a fantasy world can pretend not to understand why spanking is necessary. Society begins with children. I feel New Zealanders have been attacked. Keep up the fight. Dont kick yourself. This is not some sort of symptom of NZ society breaking down. The vast majority of you obviously know this legislation is bull. You need to stand up to the radical extremists that want to destroy you and we need to do the same over here. This is a culture war. If you dont fight, you dont win.
Mark C
This is only my opinion but I think smacking children is wrong! I mean I hear parents say to their children they should not hit other people but as soon as parents do it to their children its perfectly fine. What is wrong with timeout? I think when women have children they think "goodie I can beat the crap out of my children." Do not think depression should be a excuse as there is treatment for that.
Margaret
We can legislate till the cows come home but we can not legislate for common sense. If parents are unable to deal sensibly with their children then no amount of legislation is going to help. Maybe we should be thinking about how we educate our children to become good citizens rather than agonising over the to smack or not to smack debate.
Thilal
I am really baffled to reason out how this bill passes through the Parliament books when 90 per cent people of this country do not endorse it and moreover severely criticise the way the Government is held hostage by a non representative member! Herald poll itself vouch for the opposition of people on this bill. Is it not the correct time for all of us to launce a strong civil movement to force the Government to withdraw this ridiculous law, rather than looking dumb and regret later?
Karen van Noppen
How can we trust a government that doesnt listen to the strongly felt opinions of most of its constituents. Once again this government is letting down New Zealanders with its politically correct, anti-common sense legislation. Perhaps a referendum would be a good thing. How else are the majority of New Zealanders who oppose this bill to be heard. Personally I have five great children who are confident, happy, and well behaved. They have all been smacked for the purposes of correction and safety at times (these go together as far as I am concerned). We have a much more peaceful home as a result.
Cheryl Kerridge
Please please do not take this route reasonable family chastisement is essential to maintain the lines children cannot cross. The UK anti smacking campaign together with other childrens "rights" have led to a generation that have no respect for anyone. They have forgotten that rights go hand in hand with responsibilities i.e. respect for others and their property, respect for education and teachers, respect for parents and their rules. Those who abuse their children will not be deterred but genuine loving parents will become worried about their every move to discipline their children. You may only (as in my own family) have to smack your child once or twice in their lives but the decision should be yours.
Kyle
I have young children and as yet they have not been smacked. But the last thing I want is for the government to tell me I can not discipline my children by giving them a smack. This is going to far! This proposed legislation penalises the vast majority of good parents by not only taking away an important tool in the discipling of our kids. And the argument that smacking equals child abuse is a losers argument. It is simply not true. I have seen polls saying 70-90 per cent dont want this proposed legislation - if it goods through. My sincerest hope is that New Zealanders thumb the parties at the polling booths that support this bill the same way they are sticking it to good honest New Zealand families. This bill will undermine parents and will be another tool that weakens the family. Time will prove this to be true.
Eli
Oh what a way to increase our prisons if this law is ever going ahead. It will be either way; parents go to prison for smacking their childs hand - or the kids will get clued up that they virtually can do anything without being disciplined by the parent and will go and commit more serious crimes as they get older. My children have never suffered from my smacks on the hand or bum. I do agree though that more serious "beatings" should be dealt with. Our child abuse cases are extremely high. As a parent wanting to adopt other children, I have been screened to see whether I am a fit person. Police checking, doctor etc. I do not do drugs, I do not abuse alcohol, I have no gang affiliation, I am a caregiver of CYFS. Maybe natural parents to be need to be screened also. To see whether they will be a fit parent. I have and alway will (even with grandchildren when they come along one day) warn them once, warn them twice, then a smack. As they get older its warn them once, warn them twice, take away a privilege or time out. But we were told by CYFS that time out in a corner is abuse. Our sons after the age of 5 were told to sit in the corner with hands on head for up to 3 minutes. That to me is not a long or painful punishment.
What about the armed services? They punishment regime is also strict. How about sending all would be parents on a discipline course. If they refuse to go, the law can sort out their punishment. Its safety for the child that is important but also teaching them right from wrong. Being bought up with the right moral and social standards. And if a smack helps then there is nothing wrong with that. My ex-husband's way of punishing the boys was extremely harsh. In the end, I was made to choose - leave him and save the kids or stay with him and loose the kids. I left. That was over 10 years ago. He had to go to anger management before he was allowed to see the boys again. It did not really help. He has not changed. He is still pretty violent but now the boys are older they can fend for themselves and he knows it. My 17 year old can put him on his backside in one hit. But my son knows that violence isnt a way to cure violence. So now the tables have turned. My ex knows that he has done wrong in the past and his boys will never forget it. My boys are loved and they know it. How many teenage boys tell their mother that they love them? And give them cuddles and kisses before they go to bed? Mine do. My youngest hugs his stepfather also. Tough love - yes. Beatings - no. Its like the old saying; love makes the world go around.
Jim
I believe the Bill will increase the power of the State and its hirelings to further damage our whole natural biological families. The damage has been made apparent in resent weeks from overseas stats, stats not spun to hide the reality that the NZ family is in crisis. With 300,000 children some say 400,000 deliberately separated from their own Dads and many from Mum as well by FC-CYFS-WINZ-CS, we must stop the State destroying the family.
G
The bill has one more reading. I suggest that someone should round up a bunch of kids whose unloving, politically correct parents have not trained properly (i.e. have never had a loving smack administered to their bottoms) and take these little darlings to the public gallery in Parliament for the 3rd reading of the bill. If, after the mayhem that will cause, the bill is passed then just walk out, leaving Sue Bradford to raise the little brats.
Kathleen Murdoch
I feel the need to enter this debate having raised 5 children and one grandson.My opinion is that a parent or caregiver who needs to smack is lazy or stupid. I chose to find other more effective ways of discipline. I am pleased with the results.
Anita
There seems to be something wrong with the politicians in this country. Is there no other topic more important that they can think of to debate.
Doesnt the health care system in this country need more attention or enforcing stricter laws to deal with criminals. The way the Kahui case was dealt with is enough to hang ones head in shame. Have a family first and then you will know what kind of responsibilty it brings. A family is made up of parents and children and a governing force which is God. Where do sinful people come into the picture telling you how to look after your family. I love and adore my children enough to know that they should not be hurt but when disobedience is shown there is definitely a harsh word and maybe a hit on the butt or shoulder to deter them from doing what they chose to do out of their child-like ignorance. This is the way I was brought up and this is the way I will bring up my children. And in return I can clearly see my childrens love and devotion towards their parents. I would rather stay this way than not correcting my children and end up with them either killing me or tearing their offsprings stomach with a knife at the drop of a hat. Please stop this debate and go on to do something more constructive for the better of this country.
Elsie Tubby
It is a pity the members of parliament dont do the jobs we pay them for. We had four boys and a daughter under five The first were twins, pay per week 14 pounds. I cant imagine Sue Bradford or any of the members walking away every time five children did something wrong, In our extended family we have both side of the fence and I know which side works.
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