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Hosted by Dale Husband with one-on-one, in-depth interviews. A weekly half-hour programme in English focusing on the newsmakers of the day.
Broadcast on Radio Waatea with funding from New Zealand On Air, 603AM Auckland and broadcast throughout the Iwi Radio and Access Radio Networks in New Zealand. 10am to 10:30am every Wednesday.
Introduction and Welcome.
Guests today are;
Sue Bradford: Green Party MP and initiator of the Legislation on the Anti-Smacking Law, talks with Dale.
The preliminary results from the $9 million citizens-initiated referendum which asked: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" have just been released. A total of 1,622,150 votes were cast with 88.8 percent in favour of repealing the controversial new law.
The referendum followed a controversial law change in 2007 led by Green Party MP Sue Bradford, which repealed Section 59 in the Crimes Act, a clause which made it legal for parents to use reasonable force to discipline a child. The law change made it illegal for parents to use force against their children but affords police discretionary powers not to prosecute where the offence is considered inconsequential.
Sue also talks about Māori Seats on the Auckland Super City Council.
Dr. Hone Kaa: Anglican Archdeacon, Senior Lecturer at Te Rau Kahikatea Theological College, St. Johns and Chair of Te Kahui Mana Ririki Trust. A Trust setup by Māori to address issues of Māori violence to children.
Hone talks with Dale about the results of the Citizen's initiated referendum on smacking where 88.8 percent voted are in favour of repealing the Smacking law but Hone says the legislation is working well and we should continue with it.
Dr. Kaa says; "I am delighted that New Zealand will retain a law which effectively makes the physical punishment of children illegal. This is especially important for Māori because our child abuse rates are so high. We must continue to promote a policy of zero tolerance of violence towards our young ones."
Hone points out the Police figures released show that no one has been convicted for smacking a child over the two years the legislation has been in place.
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