The story I quoted is from ABC radio national, if you go there look up the law report and past story's.
You will find there dated 27 or 28 of last month the story.
It highlights both sides of the debate, and a story that makes it unclear if that ear flick was assault or not.
Unfortunately it is a citizens initiated referendum, what a great idea.
But wait no it is not!
Both sides of politics say no matter what the outcome they will not change the law.
My earlier thoughts stand, parenting ,unless harm can be proved is between parent and child.
AS is not alone in over emphasizing the very worst that can happen to a child, this thread is not about Ferrel parents, drugys, drunks, it is about any of us.
Often, far too often, we find ourselves debating some ones nigh mares not the subject.

Hello belly, I agree with you when you say "parenting, unless harm can be proved, is between parent and child". Surely you then must realise that this is precisely what the NZ law is about. If the physical discipline is harmless then the NZ law can do nothing about it. If the physical discipline is harmful, then the NZ law can discipline the guilty parent. Or in other words, the NZ law says "parenting, unless harm can be proved, is between parent and child". If that harm can be proved by the police or authorities, then they should intervene. If the police cannot prove that harm has been done, then NO NZ parent can possibly be convicted of any offence whatsoever. Thank you Belly.

Good NZ parents are safe from the police. They really are.

Bad NZ parents who abuse their kids are not safe from the police. That's as it should be.

StG – Kudos.

Belly:”Often, far too often, we find ourselves debating some ones nigh mares not the subject.”

Guilty. But this is what laws do don’t they? They look at worse case and what they will need if the worst case comes up?

Okay normal parents smacking, not so bad, kids will get over it; I hope/guess/imagine. Be much better if the normal parents decided to go another way. However it is only 2009 still and considering all the stuff humans continue to do to each other the smacking is the least of my worries at present.

Now and again as my two children grew up they would mention their friends getting smacked or ask me about it. I used to tell them I was saving it up and for all the naughty things they did I planned to punch them out when they are all grown up on their 21st birthdays.

Now they might have giggled about it back then but hey neither of them is 21 yet.

"Hello belly, I agree with you when you say "parenting, unless harm can be proved, is between parent and child". Surely you then must realise that this is precisely what the NZ law is about. If the physical discipline is harmless then the NZ law can do nothing about it. If the physical discipline is harmful, then the NZ law can discipline the guilty parent. Or in other words, the NZ law says "parenting, unless harm can be proved, is between parent and child". If that harm can be proved by the police or authorities, then they should intervene. If the police cannot prove that harm has been done, then NO NZ parent can possibly be convicted of any offence whatsoever. Thank you Belly.

Good NZ parents are safe from the police. They really are.

Bad NZ parents who abuse their kids are not safe from the police. That's as it should be."

If so why would they change the law in the first place? Are you saying that NZ didn't have any assault laws like the rest of the world before they changed the law? The way you put it it sounds like Australian law.

mjpb that is a good question the very heart of why I started the thread.
Sorry about my last post, knew I had lost a post in a crash so posted nearly the same post twice.
It could help to hear that ABC program, I have live and on the web page.
Kiwis do not like the law, we should not need it, true harm to a child should ALWAYS BE PROSECUTED.
And far too much true harm is done, but smacking can, to me, prove love for a child, some never have a chance to learn about boundary's and manners respect and accountability for actions.
I could forever, without stop, post about poor parenting poor handling of children by schools courts an endless list, but I do not think good parents are safe in NZ.

Good parents are perfectly safe in NZ.