Has anybody noticed that the review of changes to section 59 of the Crimes Act has missed the point entirely? The review tries to make out that the police are not using the law to persecute parents who lightly smack their children. This is probably true (though I should add “at the moment” here because [...]

Apparently the case of the mother who beat her children with multiple implements is so horrible that some of the jury have been in tears. Though, as usual, this will be portrayed as yet another example of why we needed the repeal of section 59, it is, of course, nothing of the sort. Though I [...]

Evidently, Sue Bradford thinks that an 87.6%  ”NO” majority in the smacking referendum is not a conclusive result. This morning Ms Bradford said not too much should be read into the result. “I would have a much greater respect for the referendum result if it was based on a clearer question,” she said. “The ‘YES’ [...]

Presumably six is the mental age of the sub-editor of the SST who produced this headline: ‘No’ hopers book hotel for smacking victory party Or s/he may have been smoking something interesting. The actual story is: It’s five days until voting closes in the controversial smacking referendum, but the “Vote No” supporters are so confident [...]

John Roughan has a nice little diatribe on the smacking referendum today. He sees to think that the law as it currently stands is not confusing, but that a single referendum question is (or, at least, has “sinister undertones”). He then quote the first section of the new law: “Every parent of a child, and [...]

Reader’s of this blog will know that I consider John Key to have substantially more ability and depth to him than is portrayed by Labour, the left-wing blogs or in the media. However, least you think I am a John Key Fan-boy, I vehemently disagree with him on his attitude to the anti-smacking referendum. In [...]

Any political party in power will tend to replace people in the public service to reflect their own view of things. The trick, of course, is to do this with people who will add value to the position rather than simply add ideology. Labour appeared to forget this unwritten rule and loaded positions with people [...]

In a judgement that is sure to be described as a “test case” for the anti-smacking legislation, Jimmy Mason was found guilty today of assaulting his son. It is not even remotely a test case for the new legislation. Mason apparently punched his four-year-old son in his face. You would be hard pressed to find [...]

Well the Families Commission finally got interesting, after years of depressingly toeing the Labour party line. Christine Rankin’s appointment has generated a veritable tornado of criticism, despite the fact that, on the surface, she would seem to be a reasonable choice for the commission. She is certainly passionate about stopping child abuse (although she does not follow [...]