Family Integrity

New Blog/Website

2009-12-29T11:09:00.001+13:00

New website/blogsite
Please go to http://www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz for all new updates

Some child abuse cases in NZ - since Section 59 amended - update

2008-07-04T18:10:00.000+12:00

For updates please go to:

http://familyintegrity.org.nz/category/some-child-abuse-cases-in-nz-since-section-59-amended/

390,000+ signatures

2008-06-24T11:28:00.000+12:00

Re-Presentation to Parliament of Petition against the ‘anti-smacking/anti-correction law’. June 23rd, 2008.

390,000+ signatures

Christian comedian Charles Marshall Spanking bit 1

2008-06-23T12:14:00.004+12:00

Christian comedian Charles Marshall Spanking bit 1
Rate:
5.0
Thanks for rating!

Re: Pro Choice Propaganda

2008-06-20T14:21:00.000+12:00

THANK YOU KEN ORR & RIGHT TO LIFE (and Andy)

2008-03-01T13:33:00.001+13:00

FI-342-U4L; New Total, weekend events

2008-01-25T09:17:00.000+13:00

25 January 2008 - Family Integrity #342 -- U4L; New Total, weekend events

From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 8:31 AM
Subject: U4L; New Total, weekend events

Hi All,

It's starting to happen folk.

The grand total running into the weekend is now 273,000 signatures, unfortunately, due to a technical hitch our web site won't be updated for a couple of days. We are working on the problem.

One of the main objectives of Unity for Liberty was to be a vehicle that all like minded groups on this issue could use and work through. To defeat this bad law we need to have unity which will lead to liberty. Rodney Hide from the Act Party has stepped up to the plate, he used his time on Radio Live this week to raise the issue and promote Unity for Liberty as a downloading site for the petition, we thank him for this.

Below is a short testimony and an appeal from a person who did the hard yards at the beginning of the campaign and helped to get the ball rolling, followed by some appeals from coordinators.

After being involved in fighting this 'Anti smacking bill' through organising protests, ringing Radio Live, collecting signatures etc.... I thought I'd done enough and that it was someone else's turn.

I wanted to let you know that after seeing how close we are, I'm more determined than ever to get as many as I can!

So I started today, hitting the back streets of Feilding and gathering signatures - they want to sign!!
Tonight while picking up fish n' chips I got 4 signatures from people waiting. I keep a clipboard in the car and also approached two building sites.

I'm seriously thinking of heading out to Ratana south of Wanganui -30,000 people there for the next day or so? Can anyone help?

Sandra
0272466199

Starting from the North down:

Rodney

We plan to set up a booth at Orewa's A&P show on the Western Reserve this coming Sunday 27th January with the CIR petitions and signs. We need people to man the booth and collect signatures outside the booth. 4 people per time period would be good. Please register your interest with me asap.

9.00- 12.00 Peter & Arna Mountain. (We unfortunately have another engagement at 1.00pm)
12.00- 2.00pm
2.00- 4.00
We would like the last person will be responsible to take down the gazebo and pack up the trestle tables and return them to the Mountains, 24 Duncansby Rd
Stanmore Bay.

Arna Mountain
rodney@unityforliberty.net.nz
021 166 2924

West Auckland

Helensville A&P Show has been confirmed, still waiting for Kumeu. Dates to be announced next week.
John:
027 471 7099

South Auckland

Monday night door knocking, Next Monday meeting between 6-6.15pm in the Covenant Church Carpark, 77 Rogers Road, Manurewa. Contact Gaylene gaylene@unityforliberty.net.nz or 021 076 7211. The following week will be Manukau New Life carpark as well. Also our tables will continue.

Parachute

If you wish to help please contact:

Larry Baldock
021 864 833

Hamilton

Steve, our new coordinator is going well with locations around the Waikato, there are initiatives running from Te Rapa to Cambridge. Looking for volunteers.

Steve
hamilton@unityforliberty.net.nz
021 963 626

Catlins

Taieri Show Saturday 26th January manning tables, gathering signatures in the crowd. Great team at this Show, come along and enjoy the people while getting those final signatures .

Waimumu Field Days Gore 13th, 14th, 15th February manning tables, gathering signatures, pouring the coffee!!! Great event come and help and enjoy this amazing Southland Event.

Natalie
catlins@unityforliberty.net.nz
027 217 4666

Don't forget the others who may be in your area.
tauranga@unityforliberty.net.nz
hawkesbay@unityforliberty.net.nz
lowerhutt@unityforliberty.net.nz
westcoast@unityforliberty.net.nz
chch@unityforliberty.net.nz

Thank you
Craig Hill
021746113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

"All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

Media-Smack in the middle of hysteria

2008-01-25T07:45:00.000+13:00

Smack in the middle of hysteria

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/smack-in-the-middle-of-hysteria/2008/01/23/1201024992191.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

Miranda Devine
January 24, 2008

Illustration: Ed Aragon

At the gym one day during the holidays a mother was struggling with a shrieking toddler. The child had worked himself into hysteria and the sounds of his distress gave new meaning to “piercing” for those of us caught in the maelstrom. In the shower at first I thought I was hearing a hurricane ripping off a steel roof. Apart from prompting a flash of admiration for such energy and stamina from so small a set of lungs, the sound was deeply disturbing.

It continued for five or 10 minutes. All over the gym, from the pool to the women’s changing room, concerned gym-goers tiptoed towards the source of the sound to determine the cause of distress, retreating in embarrassment when they saw the mother, sitting passively in the face of such fury.

She seemed calm, if hunkered down, not remonstrating with the child, in fact scarcely acknowledging his drama, just unemotionally absorbing the noise at close quarters. Perhaps she was deaf.

On top of the incivility of subjecting others to the noise in a not particularly child-friendly establishment, her zen-like refusal to even try to dim the din was annoying.

Everyone else was powerless to control the volume and was waiting for her to do her job, or at least to remove the child to a place where his noise would not be amplified by porcelain-tiled walls.

What was her plan? Was she so exhausted by a difficult child that she could only cope by remaining silent? Or was she merely exercising a modern form of permissive parenting?

It was obviously not what the child wanted - he needed a reaction to all his effort, though after a while he was beyond reason. It can’t have been what the mother wanted, and it sure wasn’t what anyone else in the gym wanted.

People wanted to reach out and help the wretched woman and her poor child, but were at a loss.

How do you tell a women her child needs a good smack?

Remembering the bossy older women who used to exasperate my friends and me when our children were younger by offering unsolicited snarky advice about our tots’ perceived public misbehaviour, I hesitate before casting judgment on other mothers. We even started a joke support group, “Mothers Against Meanies” (MAM) to get the nosey-parkers to back off.

But, seriously, what happened to discipline? Little in the history of parenting has ever proven as effective as a sharp rebuke or, dare I say it, a swift smack on the bottom that acts as an instant “reboot” of a naughty child.

Some people will never agree with corporal punishment. But that doesn’t mean they can’t or shouldn’t control their kids; it’s just more complicated. For their own sake as much as for the children, not to mention the rest of society, they should at least try.

In the ABC-TV program The Madness of Modern Families, on Tuesday night, a British father described meal-times in his child-led household: “There’s been times when we’ve cooked a healthy meal and plonked it down in front of the children and then seen them eat nothing and worry they’re going to wake up in the night, and think it’d be easier to cook them another meal now.”

That’s not good parenting. It’s a recipe for monsters.

This reluctance by well-meaning modern parents to enforce fair, firm, quickly administered discipline is creating havoc with the generation into which infamous Melbourne party planner Corey Delaney (aka Worthington) was born.

The 16-year-old with the pierced nipple and trademark yellow sunglasses achieved international notoriety when he threw an out-of-control party while his parents were away, attracting 500 teenagers and the police riot squad.

He doesn’t seem a bad kid, and was at least trying to sweep up the mess the next day when TV cameras descended. His refusal to be intimidated by A Current Affair’s school-marmish interviewer was commendable. It’s his ineffectual parents, Jo and Steve Delaney, who are the problem, with their posturing TV interviews, “open letter” to newspapers and utter inability to command their son’s respect.

“He’s devastated,” Jo Delaney told one program while her son was on a rival channel boasting about “the best party ever”.

Public opinion on the internet advocates a firmer approach. The website www.slapcorey.com, has an image of the spotty, barechested teen, and a hand you can click to administer the punishment. By yesterday afternoon almost 650,000 people had indulged.

The Delaneys seem typical of a subset of laissez-faire baby-boomer parents who haven’t learned to say “No”.

Data from a new NSW Government parent helpline shows a crisis in parental confidence, with 20 per cent of calls from parents tearing out their hair about how to discipline their unruly offspring. And a study last year from the Vanderbilt Medical Centre in Tennessee found a third of parents believe their discipline methods are “never” or only “sometimes effective”.

Perhaps working parents try to outsource discipline and training of their children to nannies and other carers in the mistaken hope that family time will be calm. Perhaps step-parents are reluctant to mete out discipline, concerned the child will not recognise their authority.

Meanwhile the anti-smacking lobby is flexing its muscles, with the Australian Childhood Foundation pushing for a national law, following New Zealand, to prevent parents using corporal punishment. The Federal Government last year even gave them $2.5 million to fund a campaign warning parents not to smack.

The idea is that banning smacking in the home reduces violence in society. But common sense and the facts say the opposite, that lax parenting leads to more aggressive children.

The Norwegian bullying expert and psychology professor Dan Olweus has shown that “overly permissive parenting” actually creates bullies. No one wants to go back to an era in which children were seen and not heard, or belted when they were bad. There is plenty to admire about today’s parents, who are involved and interested in their children’s lives, and treat them with respect.

But there is a sensible middle ground, in which a firm “No”, even the odd smack, or raised voice, does not make you a bad parent. At the very least, if permissive parents want to give their misbehaving children free rein, could they please do it in the privacy of their own homes. Preferably with soundproofing.

Media - Gisborne Herald

2008-01-25T00:18:00.000+13:00

Anti-smacking law likely to come under more heavy fire this year

The Gisborne Herald

http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/Default.aspx?s=3&s1=2&id=2924913200c34d588eb1b03c5ba41246Thursday, 24 January 2008

By Iain Gillies

Politicians look like being confronted, challenged and possibly embarrassed by the prospect of a referendum on the anti-smacking law later this year, almost certainly held in tandem with the next election.

Opponents of the controversial legislation initiated by Green MP Sue Bradford are now close to the 300,000 signatures necessary to force a citizen’s initiated referenda.

Almost 5000 signatures were obtained last weekend, including 1000 at the World Cup of Motorsport event at Taupo, 720 at a “blues, brews and barbecues” event in Hastings and other tallies from A&P Shows.

The current total of almost 268,000 represents a gain of 43,000 in the past two months, suggesting no diminution of public feeling on the issue.

Principal organiser Larry Baldock told The Gisborne Herald: “We’ve got to keep it moving, but we’re pretty confident we’ll be able to see this through to a referendum.”

Two petitions are being canvassed with a deadline of February 28 to obtain the signatures of at least 10 percent of registered electors and present them to the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

The first — “Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand? — is in the name of Aucklander Sheryl Savill, a mother-of-two who works with Focus on the Family and whose husband is a policeman.

The second, in Mr Baldock’s name, is “Should the Government give urgent priority to understanding and addressing the wider causes of family breakdown, family violence and child abuse in New Zealand?”

As a former United Future MP Mr Baldock has been the public face of the campaign since the petitions began circulating a year ago, with strong support from volunteers, organised groups and churches.

The terms for organising and conducting Citizen’s Initiated Referenda (CIR) are defined by legislation enacted by the Bolger administration in 1993, since when only two petitions have reached the point of forcing a plebiscite.

Interesting stuff . . . but even a referendum result is not binding on the Government.

Section 59 and Foster Children

2008-01-24T18:33:00.000+13:00

From:
http://halfdone.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/section-59-and-foster-children/

Jim Mora on The Panel (note: audit link) yesterday spoke with with Mike Williams (Labour President) and Graham Bell (ex. cop). They spoke about the concerns of foster parents, raised earlier today in other media.It sheds some light on the issue, and makes a point that we have always made - that the new legal framework puts far more power in the hands of children than parents. This is then resulting in people choosing to avoid what was already an increasingly risky proposition - caring for troubled children.

Interview transcribed below.

Jim: … does this make sense to you panel?

Mike Williams: It does make a lot of sense to me and it seems to be that it could… um, if this is a problem a) they don’t’ tell us any numbers, is this two people have dropped out of 8 people, or, you know, 200 out of 800 - what is it, we don’t know. [actually, they said at least 10, so Mike is playing with the truth here just a little - S1] But it seems to me that you do not need to smack children to bring them up, I’m sure Jim you do not smack your own beautiful children and these people need training and that’s what should be offered to them.

Jim: I suppose so, … a lot of parents talk about this, we all hear people up and down the country discuss this and especially in the wake of the recent warning in Christchurch where that bloke was given a warning for ostensibly, ostensibly flicking his son on the head - isn’t that precisely the kind of trivial breach of the law that we were told would be more or less ignored?

Graham Bell: That’s right, and I said when this thing came out that it was just totally pointless, ill conceived, and was going to create problems, and was not going to stop the ill-treatment or murder of one child - it’s not going to prevent anything. These things have continued, there’s been another couple in Auckland since the, ah, this year, the bill is ill-conceived, a waste of time and it’s having more bad effects than good ones.

Jim: I take your point too mike and Allysa, and we’ll get her on in a minute and there’s a quote from her:

“These kids are really hard. They just don’t care who they hurt, and you need really special people to take them on. If you have a kid that is yelling and screaming at you, what are you supposed to do?”

Jim: So she’s talking about life at the coal face, and she joins, Allysa Carberry joins us now. Good Afternoon Allysa.

Allysa Carberry: Hi

Jim: So how bad is it, I mean, Mike Williams says how many people involved.. in your experience have left the whole area because of the new law?

Allysa: [points out that she was interviewed on a different topic]

Jim: nevertheless you do hold those beliefs do you?

Allysa: Ah, it’s the fear of being charged should you need to restrain a child or place a child in care, in time out. That’s a real fear. But there’s also, you know, caregivers are also leaving because of the statements that Brian Perkins made, about being dissatisfied with Child Youth and Family. So it’s not just one issue of why they’re leaving. Yes section, the repeal of section 59 is there in the background, but it’s a whole number of topics of why they’re leaving.

Jim: Hm, all right, so the headline “Anti-smacking worries push foster parents out” how accurate a reflection of your views and observations Allysa is that headline?

Allysa: The anti-smacking, it’s got nothing to do with anti-smacking as it states caregivers have never been allowed to smack foster-children.

Jim: [cautiously]Officially

Allysa: Officially [hard to describe the tone here - high I guess. One gets the impression that Allysa knows it happens and needs to happen sometimes] Um, they’ve never been allowed to do that but there have been kids, children in care that have been needed to be restrained because they were going to hurt themselves or others, and that’s… a real… fear that’s a really good possibility of it happening.........

Read the rest here at halfdone:

http://halfdone.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/section-59-and-foster-children/

FI-341-U4L, attention please

2008-01-24T13:11:00.000+13:00

23 January 2008 - Family Integrity #341 -- U4L, attention please

From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 9:24 PM
Subject: U4L, attention please

Hi All,

ATTENTION

RGENT, URGENT, URGENT.

By the end of the working week, we will achieved 270,000 signatures. This means the target of 300,000 sigs is not beyond reach. These signatures will be marched up the steps of Parliament on the 29th of February, "Our politicians will be kept honest".

TWO REQUESTS

1) Keep up the work, as the deadline approaches we can not afford to become complacent. Now is the time for all to step up and be counted, our future generations depend on us making this happen.

2) Send all petitions in as soon as possible, The count is based on received mail, please do not wait till the last week.

I wish to take this moment to thank everyone for all their effort to date, well done.

Our official count is 268,095 signatures, here is last week's counts

From Larry:

Official count was 263,145
Plus
2050 from our trip to Taupo and Hastings
300 Steve and Angela in Wairoa. (bad weather halved the crowd)
1200 last week +500 this weekend from Craig
500 Andy Christchurch
400 Marion, Elspeth and team in Tauranga Friday Sat. (more than 1000 this week, and yes I am proud of them. The per capita winning city prize is looking within Tauranga's sights now Andy J ! )

This gives the grand total of 268,095. Now since this figure was released we have received notice from Renton, he collected 700 at the Golden Bay A&P Show, plus 239 from the South Auckland door knocking group, another 30 from a friend and 110 from the Papakura table today. These figures are not included in the grand total.

NOW I'M GOING TO HEED MY OWN ADVICE AND POST OURS IN.

Below are some interesting registrations for everyones encouragement:

I am an expat from Epsom electorate working in Brunei. Can i sign the petition and e-mail it to you or must it be in hard copy? AB.

Greetings, I read your Website, and agree totally with the erroneous arrogance of present day politicians. Briefly, I also work overseas, so am limited with my time commitment in assisting. Just to give me that warm fuzzy feeling, I have expedited a Petition List, and will forward this to you when I have as many names as possible, plus forwarding the same to other Friends. I have 25 signatures already the first 2 hours, and will with certainly have more to follow. Thank you for making the first Move. Regards DL.

Thank You All,

Craig Hill
021 746 113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke 1728-1797)

Media-Parent smacking ban is ruled out

2008-01-22T08:38:00.000+13:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7194015.stm
Parent smacking ban is ruled out

Wales will not have the power to ban parents from smacking their children, the assembly government has been told.

The UK government said new law-making powers for the assembly government to protect vulnerable children would not extend to a complete smacking ban.

It said this would impinge on the criminal justice system, which is not devolved to Wales.

The assembly government said it still had the right to ban smacking in childrens' homes or by carers.

This comes within the boundaries of 'social welfare', which the assembly government has control over.

The Labour-Plaid coalition had asked for the right to legislate - known as a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) - on vulnerable children.

But Welsh Secretary State Peter Hain has written to First Minister Rhodri Morgan to tell him the assembly government will not be able to introduce a blanket smacking ban, based on legal advice from the attorney-general.

Some children's charities had supported the prospect, saying a ban would clarify a confusing issue for parents.

Deputy Health Minister Gwenda Thomas also told a committee of AMs that she was in favour of Wales having its own law.

But Family and Youth Concern, which researches the effects of family breakdown, said it was wrong to pass laws on how parents should bring up children.

Under the 2004 Children's Act, which came into force in January 2005, mild smacking is allowed but any punishment which causes visible bruising, grazes, scratches, minor swellings or cuts can result in legal action.

The assembly government said: "We have only just received correspondence from the secretary of state on this issue, and will want to consider carefully all of the points raised."

Media- Anti-smacking worries push foster parents out

2008-01-21T13:59:00.000+13:00

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10487849
Anti-smacking worries push foster parents out
By Simon Collins

A South Auckland foster care group says a quarter of its foster parents have quit because of the "anti-smacking" law passed last year.

South Auckland Caregivers Association chairwoman Allysa Carberry said the repeal of section 59 of the Crimes Act, which allowed caregivers to use reasonable force to "correct" children, had made a chronic shortage worse.

"A quarter of our members have left because of section 59. I could rattle off about 10 in South Auckland. I know of many, many caregivers who have been longstanding caregivers but won't do caregiving any more. It's too dangerous.

"These kids are really hard. They just don't care who they hurt, and you need really special people to take them on. If you have a kid that is yelling and screaming at you, what are you supposed to do?"

Child, Youth and Family Services has faced mounting problems finding foster parents in recent years, as the number of children in care has grown by 18 per cent in the past five years to 5049, while the number of single-income families with one parent available at home for caregiving has shrunk.

However, other foster care groups said the smacking law was not a factor for their members.

Both Carolyn Hill, who chairs the national Family and Foster Care Federation, and Foster Care Auckland chairman Byron Perkins said they had not heard of any caregiver leaving because of the law change.

"People are leaving because they are dissatisfied with CYFS," Mr Perkins said. "It comes down to the whole area of professionalism and payments because both couples have to go to work to earn the money to pay the mortgage."

A CYFS survey published in November found that 71 per cent of its mainly-female primary caregivers now work outside the home - 20 per cent fulltime and 51 per cent part-time. Although 80 per cent of its mainly-male secondary caregivers have paid work, most are low-paid. Only 46 per cent earn more than $35,000 a year.

Three-quarters said the foster care allowance of $124 to $174 a week per child depending on the child's age did not cover all their costs such as transporting the children to school and other activities.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren convener Di Vivian said many grandparents were "frightened" by the new law, but she did not know of any who had given up caring for their grandchildren because of it.

A CYFS spokeswoman said the repeal of section 59 made no difference to the service's long-standing policy against any "physical discipline".

Also look at:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2008/01/a_quarter_of_south_auckland_foster_parents_quit.html
and
http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2008/01/anti-smacking-law-damaging-foster-care.html

Christchurch this weekend

2008-01-18T16:39:00.000+13:00

Hi team,

Re: Petition for referendum on the Anti-Smacking law.

If you are free to help out with collecting signatures tomorrow, please let me know - by email, or phone: 03 357 4599 (or) 021 1140 751.
We’ll be meeting at the corner of Cashel St. and Colombo St. - and if there are enough people, will run 2 tables.

We really need volunteers at this time, as we’re getting close to the deadline and it’s touch and go as to whether we can make it or not.

Kind Regards,
Andy Moore
http://www.equipbiz.co.nz
phone: 021 1140 751

FI-340-U4L, upcoming events W/E 19 Jan 08

2008-01-18T10:24:00.000+13:00

18 January 2008 - Family Integrity #340 — U4L, upcoming events W/E 19 Jan 08

From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 8:15 AM
Subject: U4L, upcoming events

Hi All,

Big weekends coming up, Larry Baldock is covering several events this weekend. If anyone can help with the race meeting in Taupo this weekend, please contact Larry on
021864833
There is also a Blues, Brews and BQQs in Hastings starting at 2.00pm on Saturday, if you are free also contact Larry on 021864833
And to all people who may be available to help at Parachute again contact Larry on his mobile

We also have new contacts, if you can help in the Hamilton area please contact Steve at hamilton@unityforliberty.net.nz He has tables this week that he would like help with

There is also West Coast westcoast@unityforliberty.net.nz again they are also looking for help.

Catlins is gearing up, contact Natalie at catlins@unityforliberty.net.nz

*

Gore Monday 21st January, Tuesday 29th Door knocking again in the area we will go in teams of two..

*

Taieri Show Saturday 26th January manning tables, gathering signatures in the crowd. Great team at this Show, come along and enjoy the people while getting those final signatures .

*

Waimumu Field Days Gore 13th, 14th, 15th February manning tables, gathering signatures, pouring the coffee!!! Great event come and help and enjoy this amazing Southland Event.

Don’t forget the doorknocking in Manurewa on Monday night. Last week we collected 450 signatures in two hours. Many hands make light work.
Meeting between 6-6.15pm at Covenant Church, 77 Rodgers Road, Manurewa. contact gaylene@unityforliberty.net.nz or 021 075 7211

All other areas would like to hear from anyone who can assist this coming Sat.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Craig Hill
021 746 113
http;//www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke 1728-1797)

Dominion Post Editorial

2008-01-17T12:01:00.000+13:00

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4359329a26494.html

Editorial: Labour's lesson in innovation
The Dominion Post | Thursday, 17 January 2008

When Christchurch musician Jimmy Mason "flicked" his three-year-old son on the ear he thought he was giving him a lesson about road safety. Don't ride your bike near the road when you're told not to. What he was actually getting was a firsthand look at the Government's anti-smacking legislation in operation, The Dominion Post writes.

A nearby teacher took umbrage at his actions, an off-duty policewoman rang the office and, minutes later, Mr Mason found himself surrounded by six police officers.

"They were going to arrest me and were trying to ascertain whether it was safe for the kids to go home with me," he said. "It was pretty bizarre."

In time Mr Mason may discover, like many parents before him, that there are other, more effective ways to discipline his children and keep them safe.

If the anti-smacking legislation, championed by Green MP Sue Bradford, hastens that process it will have served a useful purpose.

But just as there is no such thing as a perfect child, there is no such thing as a perfect parent. Like children, parents get tired and irritable. Like children, parents occasionally do things they later regret.

But nothing that Mr Mason did appears to warrant the attention of six police officers, at least five more than the ordinary citizen can expect to show an interest when reporting a theft, burglary or assault.

Nor do his actions appear to warrant the warning that has now been placed on his record, though that could change as a result of a police review of discrepancies between Mr Mason's story and those of witnesses.

When the anti-smacking legislation was steered through Parliament last year, Ms Bradford and her Labour allies assured the public that the law change would not criminalise parents who administered a light smack to their children.

Technically they are correct in Mr Mason's case. He has not been charged. But he has been stigmatised, something that is likely to be of almost as much concern to the Government as it is to Mr Mason.

Labour believes the initial furore over the anti-smacking legislation has died down now that it has been in place for more than six months.

But publicity about such cases revives the damaging spectre of a nanny state interfering in the private affairs of citizens.

When voters go to the polls later this year they will not recall that National voted for the legislation alongside Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party as a result of a last-minute deal with its leader John Key, but that it was Labour and its allies who pushed the bill through, just as it was Labour that took the lead in legalising prostitution, establishing civil unions, banning unhealthy food from school tuckshops and outlawing smoking in bars and restaurants.

All are initiatives that fit with New Zealand's tradition of pioneering social legislation, a tradition that began when New Zealand became the first country to give women the vote.

But politicians with long careers in mind know there is only so much innovation the public is prepared to put up with.

Labour could yet pay a price for going too far too fast.

Read Lindsay Mitchell's comments on this editorial here:
http://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/2008/01/myths-about-pioneering-traditions.html

Where is the support for good Parents?

2008-01-17T09:31:00.000+13:00

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0801/S00090.htm

Press Release: The Family Party
http://www.thefamilyparty.org.nz

Where is the support for good Parents raising their children?

Most good parents would confirm that bringing up children in 2008 brings many challenges.

“A comment by the Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro commending the public for intervening in a father’s discipline of his child is a worrying trend that concerns many good parents,” said the deputy leader of The Family Party, Paul Adams.

“I agree all the facts are not known, however let’s put our self in the fathers shoes for a moment.” Adams continued.

“Here is a father taking time out to take his two young sons on a biking outing, apparently a regular occurrence. This surely is to be commended. The younger son (2 years) has an accident beside the roadway and is hurt. The second son (3 years) does not understand the seriousness of the situation and the father being responsible for both of his sons, handles the situation in a manner he felt was appropriate for the safety of both boys.”

Adams says,” The Children’s Commissioner is NOT the authority on child raising – parents are. These parents need all the help that they can get. The emerging trend that the state knows best for all children is a dangerous fallacy.”

The Family Party has been actively door knocking in the Mangere electorate. A major concern is this anti-smacking law, which was opposed by many New Zealanders but forced through by the current Government.

“There is genuine fear and uncertainty amongst parents who have used traditional methods of corrective discipline such as smacking. Based on what I’ve seen, these are decent, law-abiding parents who know the difference between a smack and abuse. Nevertheless, there is a sense of disempowerment because parents fear being criminalised if they hold on to their traditional values and methods of discipline.

“The reality is we either encourage parents to discipline their children while they are young, or sadly, as in the case of too many New Zealanders the state will discipline them when they are older. Personally I prefer loving parental correction, rather than this over the top anti parent legislation we currently have to deal with.”

Blog-Section59

2008-01-16T14:09:00.000+13:00

Blog-Section59

From:

http://section59.blogspot.com/2008/01/anti-parental-authority-law.html

Anti-Parental-Authority Law Criminalises Loving Father

Jimmy Mason was out for a walk with his two boys - Seth, 3yrs and Zach, 2yrs. They were having a great time learning to ride the bikes that they had recieved as an early Christmas present. Making their way along Cashel Mall in Christchurch, they came up to the Bridge of Remembrance.

This magnificent memorial was built as an enduring mark of gratituded to the thousands of young men from Christchurch who selflessly gave their lives to defend our Free Land of New Zealand from the tyranous usurpers, many thousands of miles over the water. They fought and died so that the generations that came after them might live in freedom and without fear of oppression from any government, whether it be their own, or a foreign governement.

As all little boys do, Seth and Zach crouched low over their handlebars, racing down the ramp leading down from the bridge, the path leading around a sharp corner. Seth, one year older than his brother, took the corner nicely. Zach however, struggled to keep control of his bike - and losing control, he smashed into the solid brick construction of the bridge. When his father ran up to assist his 2yr old son, he found him lying on the ground, holding his hand to his eye.

Seth had stopped at the corner. He looked down at his brother, lying on the ground, slipping in and out of conciousness. He saw the concern on his dad’s face, and heard him say “wait Seth, we have to look after Zach”. Whether or not he understood how serious the situation, it was with loving fatherly discipline that Jimmy flicked his son on the ear as he started peddling away.

An off-duty police-officer stood nearby, and she immediately reported the incident. With a few minutes, six uniformed police officers stood around the Man and his two little boys. As Jimmy cradled his injured toddler in his lap, one policemen pulled out his notebook as another pulled out his radio and spoke brusquely to head-office.

One can only imagine how scared the two little boys must have been, and the terrifying thoughts rushing through their dad’s head. How was he going to tell his wife that their children were going to be put into a foster-home?…

——————————–

Sue Bradford (Green Party MP):

Ms Bradford, the instigator of the anti-smacking legislation, says if an adult whacked another adult around the ear, they would be “marched down to the slammer.”

Ms Bradford says parents need to accept that it is no longer legal to hit children. She remains confident her anti-smacking laws will change what she describes as a culture of violence.

from http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz

Cindy Kiro, “Children’s Commissioner”:

Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro says she is pleased to see people in the community making a stand against violence towards children after a Christchurch man was reported for flicking his son’s ear.

“The most common cause of death by child abuse in this country is from injuries to the head. This should never be taken lightly.”

from http://www.nzherald.co.nz

——————————–

Kiro and Bradford, are both part of the huge bireaucracy of New Zealand. Kiro’s role as “children’s commissioner” was appointed by the Labour Government, and Bradford got into Parliament as a list MP. Neither of them represent New Zealanders. Bradford puts a spin on the case, labelling the flicked ear as a whack around the ear. In a statement to the media a couple of hours later, Kiro joins in the martyrdom of the caring father, firstly by honouring the off-duty police-woman that reported the incident, and then by linking child deaths resulting from being bashed on the head with a light flick on the ear.

Jimmy Mason:

“It was pretty bizarre to tell you the truth.”

“[The police officers] didn’t know and I said to them, ‘Well, you’ve just told me what I did was wrong so you must know what is right’.”
“It needs to be on record that I disciplined him for something he deserved, not that I’m a child beater. There’s an irony there that they can spray, Taser or shoot me but I can’t flick my son in the ear to stop him getting run over at an intersection.”

He was considering legal action to have the warning removed from his record.

from http://www.stuff.co.nz

——————————–

Seth and Zach are now confused, because they know that their daddy who they love is in trouble with the police. Jimmy is angry because he now has a warning on his record, and CYFS will be faster than ever to remove his children from him and his wife if they hear the slightest little thing.

Blog-halfdone

2008-01-16T11:29:00.000+13:00

From:
http://halfdone.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/i-like-the-big-brother-society-kiro/

“I Like the Big Brother Society” - Kiro

Apparently Cindy Kiro is not only ok with the “Big Brother” dobbing in of parents trying to do their jobs, but she is actually pleased people are doing it.

Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro says she is pleased to see people in the community making a stand against violence towards children after a Christchurch man was reported for flicking his son’s ear.

“My office strongly supported the law change to section 59 because all the evidence points to physical punishment as ineffective and in the hands of some people, dangerous.”

Heh, here’s where the lie gets mixed with the truth. Physical punishment was not what was banned - reasonable force as physical punishment was banned. No one ever suggested that unreasonable force (which is not “dangerous” by definition) should not be illegal.

Dr Kiro said it was important not to jump to conclusions and view what facts had been presented in the case.

Great! so I guess we won’t be seeing more quotes like this then:

She told Radio New Zealand the school was “irresponsible” and “I don’t think
the school should be doing that.” The same criticism was reported in newspapers throughout New Zealand. On national television she described me as “seriously misguided”. All that despite not knowing what I had done. All that despite the law under which she works requiring her not to “make any comment that is adverse to a person if the Commissioner has not given the person an opportunity to be heard.” When I asked her about the illegality of her comments she would not reply. It was just one of many things she won’t include in the “discussion” she initiated.

I guess we shouldn’t examine the good doctor too carefully…

“The incident was such that at least two bystanders contacted police.

One was a teacher and the other an off-duty police officer and if they were concerned, then I believe there was something to be concerned about.”

On the other hand, the teacher may be a socialist busy-body, who bullied the policeman into calling up his mates for no reason. Yet another mark off the reputation of the teaching profession.

She said she was especially concerned when she heard the punishment included hitting the child’s head.

“The most common cause of death by child abuse in this country is from injuries to the head. This should never be taken lightly.”

Technically, the ear is on the head.

If parents needed information about how to discipline children without the use of physical punishment, they could contact the commissioner’s office for information, Dr Kiro said.

Funny how Ms Kiro doesn’t share any of that wisdom with us here. Frankly I think most parents would rather walk a mile over hot coals than walk into that office and ask for “help” from a woman who is only interested in persecuting good parents, ignoring her statuary obligation* to investigate bad ones.

Blog-darrenrickard

2008-01-15T14:41:00.000+13:00

From:
http://darrenrickard.blogspot.com/2008/01/anti-smacking-law-puts-young-boy-at.html

Anti smacking law puts young boy at risk
The New Zealand Labour Party's chickens have finally come home to roost in a monumental way. The removal of section 59 or the "anti smacking bill", as it has become commonly known, midway through last year, has had another casualty, perhaps the worst one so far.

A Christchurch father who disciplined his 3 year old son who put his younger brother at risk, and was subsequently injured, was surrounded by six police officers minutes after a teacher(who would have guessed) witnessing the flick of the ear by the father informed an off duty female cop.

The father has been left with a warning by officers and a "black mark" noted on police records for attempting to keep his children safe from harm.

Apart from the obvious overkill by the six police attending and the stupidity of the off duty officer and teacher, the trauma that the 2 kids must have gone through seeing their father subject to extreme police harassment cannot be overstated.

The father's children will be getting a lesson from the whole incident that their dad has done something wrong, and that the lessons that he is trying to teach them are not to be believed.

When you undermine a parents authority in such a public way you risk that parents ability to bring up children in an appropriate way and ultimately keep them safe from harm, be it physical, psychological or emotional.

The politicians who trumpeted this sleazy law, Sue Bradford, Helen Clark and the various state bureaucratic heads and b grade celebrities, with the moronic support of the National Party are embarrassingly silent about this latest turn of events.

Those in support of the bill said that nothing like this would happen, it has, and after all, the sensible and intelligent amongst us we know it was designed to stop what this father did.

Those that supported this law change unflaggingly, should be voted against in the 2008 Election.

Labour, NZ First, The Maori Party, Progressives and Peter Dunne's Motley Crew do not deserve your vote on this law change alone.

John Key must be true to his word and repeal this change to sensible parenting and put the control of parenting back where it belongs.

In parents hands.

Related reading on Political Animal:

Trevor Mallard's Anti Violence Advert
http://darrenrickard.blogspot.com/2007/11/trevor-mallards-anti-violence.html

Interesting blogs

2008-01-14T16:10:00.000+13:00

Some interesting blogs relating to the father giving his son a flick on the ear and 6, yes, six police turning up minutes later.

http://thepauapalace.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/father-wants-warning-removed-from-record/

http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2008/01/six_police_officers_for_smacking_complaint.html

http://big-news.blogspot.com/

http://nzconservative.blogspot.com/2008/01/doing-bradford.html
http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2008/01/is-anti-smacking-law-turning-us-into.html

http://obaldnz.blogspot.com/2008/01/slim-pickings.html
http://www.gog.org.nz/2008/01/15/another-smack-in-the-face-for-democracy/

Some Normal Families caught up with Police and CYFs since Section 59 amended,

2008-01-14T07:57:00.000+13:00

Check out earlier cases here:
http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/2007/11/some-normal-families-caught-up-with.html

Plus

DECEMER 2007

**Grandmother Warned by Police After Grabbing Grandchild Running onto Road South Auckland. This grandmother had to prevent her 2 year old grandson from running onto the road by grabbing his arm and pulling him back to the footpath. She was petrified that her grandson could be run over. A police officer witnessed her and said she was breaking the law by grabbing him. She was let off with a warning but was told that if it ever happened again, they would prosecute her. She had recently lost a friend’s child (6) to a train crash. (Takanini) She now puts him in the pram to avoid getting arrested. Her family is horrified by what's happened and she's now concerned about taking her grandchildren out in public. She feels she's been publicly humiliated. Another grandmother came up to her and said she'd been interviewed by the police for giving her 4 year old grandson a smack on the bottom in Countdown for swearing at her. The woman was taken to the police station to be interviewed. http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/cases.html

** Passerby Reports Squealing Child Auckland. Tanya had two police officers arrive on her doorstep as she was hosting visitors on a Saturday night. The police informed her that a ‘passer by’ had heard a child being smacked and subsequently screaming. They could not tell the mum what day this occurred on, what time or who the person was. She explained to them that her 9 year old daughter squeals when she plays, particularly when outside on the trampoline with her brother. She likes to play hard with her 13 year old brother – and inevitably she sometimes gets hurts – and performs! The mum says the passer-by could have heard her children 'playing' – “do I have to stop them having fun??” “We don't smack our kids (or if we have in the past, it has been minor) and this incident did not occur. I informed the officers accordingly. They insisted that they needed to see my daughter. I informed them that she was now with her father as we share custody. I gave them full contact details. They told me they would have to go around there to check she was OK.” “I have found the whole episode to be extremely distressing. I felt completely humiliated to literally be accused of child abuse and have now found it hard to sleep at night at it has upset me so much - how I look after and care for my children is being questioned. On hearsay I am now a guilty person. This new law is ending up with a lot of good innocent parents being wrongfully accused. This law needs to be changed.” http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/cases.html\

** We also know of a family where CYFs has taken the daughter because she was smacked when she swore at her mother.

** Eight year old’s Class Taught to Dob in Parents – Behaviour Deteriorates
Hawkes Bay. The police went to a local primary school and did a session on “Keeping Ourselves Safe.” During the session, the policeman told this particular class of 7 and 8 year olds that parents couldn’t smack them, and that if they did, they should immediately tell the teacher. This was not the only school in the area where this message was given. Within the next few days, this solo mum’s 8 year old daughter who had been in this session and who had had a ‘clean’ record at school all year was stood down for kicking the teacher in the leg. She also kept telling her mother “you can’t make me do anything - you can’t smack me”, following the lesson. Her older child (10) also told the mother that “you can’t make me go to school.”
The mother went to the police to clarify what they had said and to tell them the difficulties she'd had since their visit to the school. The Sergeant was obliging and said he would sort it out by sending the officer involved to speak to the girls and reinstate her authority. An angry phone call from the officer followed to the mother, questioning whether she had a problem with the smacking law. Two days later 2 male officers arrived to supposedly reinstate the mother’s authority but instead they questioned her parenting skills and told her they had investigated her background with a variety of community organisations. They had her in tears and she found them intimidating and degrading. They also proceeded to tell the children their rights. Yet amazingly the police said to the mother the daughter deserved a smack after kicking the teacher. The mother in desperation at her treatment spoke to her local MP, & was then contacted by the District Commander of the Police who told her not to go complaining to the MP because he had better things to do. The mother was traumatised by all this, and has laid a formal complaint with the Police but to no avail. http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/cases.html

**Mother Investigated After 4 Year Old Smacked For Running Out on Road West Auckland Jackie’s 4 year old ran across the road outside a busy supermarket when she saw a friend on other side of road. The mum smacked her on the bottom once to show her how dangerous her actions were. A member of the public challenged the way she had disciplined her child, took her vehicle registration, and the mum was visited by police two days later. She felt like a criminal and embarrassed by it all. She said “please don’t take my daughter” to the police. They did a police check to see if it had happened before. The Police (who had kids as well) told the mum they felt it was a waste of time. The daughter said “what’s wrong mummy,” and was upset by it all. http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/cases.html

JANUARY 2008
**Father warned for disciplining boy, 3. A Christchurch father is fuming after he received a police warning for hitting a child after he flicked his son's ear in public as a reprimand. Professional musician Jimmy Mason flicked the ear of his son, Seth, at the Bridge of Remembrance just before Christmas after the three-year-old disobeyed his instructions while riding his new bike....A nearby teacher took umbrage, an off-duty policewoman rang the incident in and in minutes later Mason was surrounded by six police officers. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4354765a10.html

FI - 339

2008-01-14T07:51:00.000+13:00

14 January 2008 - Family Integrity #339 -- U4L, update 13 Jan

From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 7:51 PM
Subject: U4L, update

Hi all,

The latest signature count is 259,385. And this doesn't include the totals from this weekend!

Last week's total:
Sth Akld Door Knocking 215
Chch fold on holiday in Akld 250
Hawkes Bay 98
Tauranga 745
Papakura 100
Howick 100
Otara Flea Market 180
Hokitika 301
Buller A & P Show 70
North Shore 235
Pukekohe 60
Total: 2354

Cheers,
Craig
021 746 113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke 1728-1797)

Media - Father warned

2008-01-14T07:43:00.000+13:00

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4354765a10.html

Father warned for disciplining boy, 3

By PHIL HAMILTON - The Press | Monday, 14 January 2008

A Christchurch father is fuming after he received a police warning for hitting a child after he flicked his son's ear in public as a reprimand.

Professional musician Jimmy Mason flicked the ear of his son, Seth, at the Bridge of Remembrance just before Christmas after the three-year-old disobeyed his instructions while riding his new bike.

The toddler took off down a ramp and was followed by his brother, Zach, two, who was also on a new bike. Seth made the tight corner but Zach did not, and injured his eye.

"Seth just wanted to go on riding. He didn't realise the seriousness of it with the youngest one slipping in and out of consciousness," Mason said.

"So I turned to Seth and flicked him on the ear and told him to shut up while we fixed up the young one," Mason said.

A nearby teacher took umbrage, an off-duty policewoman rang the incident in and in minutes later Mason was surrounded by six police officers.

"They were going to arrest me and were trying to ascertain whether it was safe for the kids to go home with me," he said.

"It was pretty bizarre to tell you the truth."

Mason said he took his sons biking every day and they needed to obey his instructions to the letter in order to stay safe.

"When I say 'stop' to the kids they have got to stop," he said. "I said to the cops that I need to impress upon him (Seth) what he did was wrong and I need to impress it on him straight away and asked them how they suggested I do it.

"They didn't know and I said to them, 'Well, you've just told me what I did was wrong so you must know what is right'."

In the end, Mason was not charged but he was told that a warning would go on his record for hitting his child.

"It needs to be on record that I disciplined him for something he deserved, not that I'm a child beater.

"There's an irony there that they can spray, Taser or shoot me but I can't flick my son in the ear to stop him getting run over at an intersection."

He was considering legal action to have the warning removed from his record.

He felt sorry for the police having to administer the amended child-discipline law which came into force in June last year.

Inspector Rick Jury said he could not discuss individual cases but the law gave the police some discretion.

"It says every parent is justified in using force if it's reasonable in the circumstances," he said. One of the specific clauses allowing some force was for the purposes of preventing or minimising harm, and the legislation allowed police to make a determination over whether it was "inconsequential" and not in the public interest to prosecute.

Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said cases like this showed the law was an ass.

"It just seems totally over the top," he said. "That's the problem with this law, it's lost the common-sense element. It's a feel-good law change but has done nothing to protect kids who are actually being abused."

A police spokeswoman said a review since the amendment found that between June and September last year police were called to three smacking incidents and 12 minor acts of physical discipline. The 15 cases were determined to be "inconsequential" and not worth prosecuting, although nine warnings were issued.

FI - 338 - U4L; This Weekend

2008-01-11T08:04:00.000+13:00

11 January 2008 - Family Integrity #338 -- U4L; This Weekend

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:59 PM
Subject: U4L; This Weekend

Hi All,

It's been a successful last two weeks, the Hawke's Bay team are leading the way and averaging 200sigs a day. Larry Baldock had a terrific day today with approx 1500sigs.

Grand total will be on web tomorrow night, still waiting for update. Will be between 256,500 and 258,000, and with a good effort this weekend, we should be at 260,000 plus.

The new equation will be something like 1125 folk x 40 sig = 45,000

This weekend most areas are all go, go to http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/summer-challenge.html for your local contacts

LETS TARGET WELLINGTON

Our man in Wellington is working overtime to drum up some action, If anyone can help this weekend please contact him at lowerhutt@unityforliberty.net.nz

Wayne's Invitation

Hi all. I trust you had a wonderful Christmas and pleasant start to the new year.

I realize that the timing and the holiday period may not be particularly good for some of us but I am planning on a big push in Wellington on Saturday 12 Jan. I propose the venue be Cuba Mall. This obviously would be weather permitting.

While we have had some success with setting up a table on the corner of Cuba & Manners mall, I feel we could do better actually in Cuba Mall itself. I am hoping to set up the table AND have folks move about the crowd with clipboards.

For this to happen we need a good number of volunteers. For the size of Wellington, this shouldn't really be a problem.

Please could you consider being available for the 12th and if you know of others who would be willing to help, please could you involve them also. I really want to push this and bring our contribution up.

Many thanks

Wayne

I thank all those for their effort so far, now lets drive this thing home, we're in the home straight and looking good.

Craig Hill
021 746 113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke 1728-1797)

A huge thanks to everyone that come door knocking last Monday night. Although the majority of the volunteers had never door knocked before, they went fantastically, and soon looked like pros.

Lets see if next Monday can go just as well. Meeting again at Grande Vue Reserve, we hope to finish off the Hill Park area. More volunteers welcome!

Hope to see you there.

South Auckland Door Knocking Group
Meeting together one night every week to assist in collecting the remaining 45,000 signatures for the Citizens Initiated Referendum (CIR) on smacking.

When: every Monday night over the Jan/Feb period. Meeting at 6pm, door knocking from 6.30pm - 8pm.
Where: around the South Auckland area. Location to be advised weekly.
Monday 14th January: We're meeting again in Grande Vue Reserve, corner of Grande Vue Road and Great South Road, Manurewa
Bring: pens, petition forms, and a clipboard (if you own one). A limited supply of clipboards will be made available each week.
Email: For more information, or to commit to one or more evenings, please contact Gaylene gaylene@unityforliberty.net.nz or 021 076 7211.

HELP DO YOUR BIT FOR OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE. We only need a weekly commitment from 40 people, in order to collect over 1,000 signatures each week. Imagine how many signatures we could collect with even more volunteers....

NEW ZEALAND BANS SPANKING

2008-01-08T07:11:00.001+13:00

http://groups.google.com/group/Bible-Prophecy-News/browse_thread/thread/8af861abe72cb932/48bb426efea41893?hl=en&q=%22Section+59%22#48bb426efea41893

NEW ZEALAND BANS SPANKING

This year three more countries banned spanking of children. In May New Zealand became the first English-speaking country to ban the practice. Over the past two months Uruguay and Venezuela have followed suit. New Zealand’s Crimes Amendment Act of 2007 abrogates section 59 of the Crimes Act of 1961 which allowed the “use of force” for correction of children. Activists such as Save the Children have fought to ban corporal punishment for decades. There are now 22 nations that ban spanking by law. Sweden was the first in 1979. Other nations are Austria, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, and Ukraine. Humanists are fighting throughout the world to ban this practice, and the United Nations is pushing this agenda. It is a direct attack on God’s Word which exhorts parents, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15).

FI - 337 - U4L; Assault Charge

2008-01-06T21:24:00.000+13:00

6 January 2008 - Family Integrity #337 -- U4L; Assault Charge

-----Original Message-----337
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 8:56 PM
Subject: U4L; Assault Charge

Hi All,

If you have not already heard through the media there was an incident at a table in Pukekohe on Friday. A woman tried to take and destroy collected signatures, the young lady manning the table managed to retrieve the signatures and was pushed to the ground in the process.

For your information, no doubt I will be accused of being negligent, however the young lady at the table is 18 years of age, not a child. Also, there was an on duty security guard who pulled the woman off the young lady. The media has already suggested the girl was only 16 years of age and was slapped.

Also, it must be noted that most of our volunteers are or have been woman and children. Sadly, the absence of men is quite noticeable. We have been deafened by their silence. It is my hope that as the deadline approaches we will see more men placing their hand to the plow.

For all those in the Auckland area, door knocking at Manurewa tomorrow night. This event will run on Monday nights until the end of February. Locations will change from week to week.
Meeting at Grand Vue Reserve (cnr Great South Rd and Grand Vue Rd, Manurewa) 6pm, door knocking from 6.30 to 8pm.
For more details, contact gaylene@unityforliberty.net.nz or phone 0210767211

Looking forward to seeing you.

Thank you,
Craig

Our Press release concerning the above incident,

Teenager Collecting Signatures Against Bradford Law Assaulted
4 January 2008

Unity for Liberty leader, Craig Hill, is stunned with the behavior of an opponent to the petition against the Sue Bradford anti-smacking law.

Mr Hill's 18 year old daughter was pushed to the ground by a woman who was trying to destroy the petition forms that had been signed at a shopping centre in Pukekohe this afternoon.

An assault complaint has been laid to the Police.

"It seems ironic that people who claim they are against abuse have no problems assaulting a teenage girl," says Mr Hill. "They seem unable to differentiate the difference between a smack and child abuse, and they also have no problem using unreasonable force on other people."

Unity for Liberty has collectors throughout NZ collecting signatures demanding a Referendum against Bradford's anti-smacking bill and demanding that the politicians tackle the real causes of child abuse.

Over 250,000 signatures have been collected already, and Mr Hill's daughter has been collecting signatures every weekend over the past 5 months and during the holiday period.
ENDS

For further details, contact:
Craig Hill 021 746 113
Unity for Liberty
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke 1728-1797)

FI - 336 - U4L; Door knocking initiative

2008-01-06T15:21:00.000+13:00

6 January 2008 - Family Integrity #336 -- U4L; Door knocking initiative

Hi All,

What a great announcement: 251,280 signatures.

As at the Jan 1st, our equation is 1293 folk x 5 Signatures x 8 Saturdays = 51,720, many numbers makes light work.

There is a new door knocking initiative starting in South Auckland, see next email. We encourage other areas to follow same format, thanks.

We still would like to see more hands on the plow, If you can help please contact your closet coordinator here. If there is no one near you contact myself at craig@unityforliberty.net.nz

Last week's total:

Hawkes Bay 691
Porirua 90
Pukekohe 370
Papakura 490
Tauranga 900
Otara Flea Market 250
Christchurch 265

3056 (This total may be short)

All hats off to the team in Tauranga and especially the Hawke's Bay team, they really took advantage of the holiday traffic. Well Done.

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 9:32 PM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L; Door knocking initiative

HELP DO YOUR BIT FOR OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE. We only need a weekly commitment from 40 people, in order to collect over 1,000 signatures each week. Imagine how many signatures we could collect with even more volunteers....

South Auckland Door Knocking Group
Meeting together one night every week to assist in collecting the remaining 50,000 signatures for the Citizens Initiated Referendum (CIR) on smacking.

When: every Monday night over the Jan/Feb period. Meeting at 6pm, door knocking from 6.30pm - 8pm.
Where: around the South Auckland area. Location to be advised weekly.
This coming Monday, 7th January, we're meeting in Grande Vue Reserve, corner of Grande Vue Road and Great South Road, Manurewa
Bring: pens, petition forms, and a clipboard (if you own one). A limited supply of clipboards will be made available each week.
Email: For more information, or to commit to one or more evenings, please contact Gaylene gaylene@unityforliberty.net.nz or 021 076 7211.

Cheers,
Craig
021 746 113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke 1728-1797)

Media - Bradford on the defence again over smacking law

2008-01-05T15:41:00.000+13:00

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=130199

Bradford on the defence again over smacking law

5/01/2008 5:56:02

Green MP Sue Bradford believes her anti-smacking legislation will eventually change what she describes as a culture of violence.

Her comments follow the death of a two-month-old who was admitted to hospital with a skull fracture, and bruising to her brain. Police are treating it as a homicide.

Sue Bradford says it is wrong for people to say her law is not working, because no amount of legislation can stop murders.

Media - Anti-smacker smacks pro-smacker

2008-01-05T12:31:00.000+13:00

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1533876

Anti-smacker smacks pro-smacker
Jan 4, 2008 4:02 PM

An anti-smacking campaigner has clashed with a woman who supports the legislation south of Auckland on Friday.

The teenager was collecting signatures for a petition against the law outside a Pukehohe mall, when she was assaulted by a woman in favour of it.

Her father Craig Hill says she is a bit shaken up by the incident.

Hill says a local mall security guard managed to wrestle the woman off his daughter.

A complaint has been made to police.

FI - 355 - CIR Update no 19 - response

2008-01-03T18:35:00.000+13:00

3 January - Family Integrity #335 - CIR Update no 19 - response

-----Original Message-----
From: Janie
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 10:33 AM
To: Craig Smith
Subject: Re: Family Integrity #334 - CIR Update no 19

Hooray for this!!!
Excellent media article by Larry!

I myself have some interesting news. Gisborne is also ripe for the picking. I have been up here doing a locum job at the hospital.

Just wandering round the beaches in my downtime I have casually asked people "Have you had the opportunity to sign this petition?" "No, about what?" they normally answer. Then I say "it is opposing the Sue Bradford anti-smacking bill that was passed earlier in the year." (last year now). 9 out of 10 of them have wanted to sign the petition, just as I've been casually wandering around the beach!!

Today at the airport I heard a middle-aged Mum joking with her grown young woman daughter about not being able to smack her without being arrested, so after the plane had left I casually asked these parents if they wanted to sign; and they did; but the woman added "You really should set up a table in town to get signatures".

Unfortunately as I am in Gisborne to work at the hospital and have very little free time, it is not really feasible for me to set up a table in town. But I would plead with anyone who has contacts here in sunny Gizzy to organise a table. The place is heaving in the summer time and nearly everyone who hasn't already signed it wants to. Do you know anyone??

Cheers,
Janie

Then in a later email from Janie:

But the main thing is, we need someone down here to canvass Gisborne. I may try to wander around a bit more this afternoon, but am on call so not that available; and tomorrow return to Dunedin.

Has anyone hit Dunedin by the way??

Cheers
Janie

So here is a challenge from Janie to grab the spare moments we have to go collect signatures. People are just waiting for you to approach them so that they can sign the petitions. we have less than 3 months left now. So print out a few petitions (http://www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz) grab a few clip boards (or large thin books and bull dog clips) and a few pens and you are all set for an afternoon of collecting signatures.

Blessings
Craig and Barbara
http://www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz

Major Milestone passed!

2008-01-02T12:49:00.000+13:00

Major Milestone passed!

Larry Baldock
Petition Organiser
Co Leader, Future NZ
Contact Larry Baldock: 021 864 833 or (07) 543 0600

A quarter of a million signatures means that New Zealander’s will finally get to have their say on the smacking debate!!

The Citizens Initiated Referendum petition to ask the question:
“Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in NZ” has now passed the 250,000 mark.

It is now well on its way to the approx 300,000 signatures required by March to force a referendum at next election.

This is a message to Sue Bradford and Helen Clark and all those who thought they could ignore good decent Mum’s and Dad’s in this country who are trying to do their best with the most important job in the world. No Helen, it’s not being Prime Minister, it is raising good kids.

We are going to have a referendum at the next election so that the 84% of New Zealander’s who said they opposed this legislation can vent their frustration at being ignored. Sue Bradford has accused us of lying and scaremongering, claiming that the police report on the first three months since her bill became law shows that nothing has changed.

We refute that. While we can agree that her bill has done nothing to reduce child abuse as we predicted, there has in fact been a change already in police procedure.
The record shows that at least 15 good parents were subjected to the indignity and embarrassment of having the police turn up at their homes with warnings and threats of prosecution if they did not stop breaking the new Bradford law.

The police have never been put in this insidious position before.

They should have been issuing encouragement and congratulations to those parents who love their kids enough to do the hard yards by occasionally using a smack to teach their children respect for authority, and the difference between right and wrong.
We know that those 15 parents are only the first of many who will become the objects of Helen and Sue’s plans to alter our culture and way of life.

When they accuse us of lying and spreading misinformation their fingers should be pointed at themselves. Helen Clark said on a Radio interview prior to the last election that she did not want to ban smacking and then went on to say, “that many don’t want to see stressed and harassed parents called in by the police because they smack a child.”

Well Prime Minister that is exactly what is now happening across this country.
Repeatedly Sue Bradford and supporters said the law had to be changed so that those who hit and beat their children could be prosecuted. Now she openly admits that her bill has failed already. As recently as Dec 21 on National Radio she said “The epidemic of child abuse and child violence in this country continues – sadly. My bill was never intended to solve that problem.”

So what was her bill intended to do? We suspect that the real intention was to undermine the authority of parents in the home.

The referendum is coming which will allow every New Zealander to have their say. If the PM, Sue Bradford and all the MP’s who supported it had any respect for democracy they would have called for the referendum themselves.

FI - 334 - CIR Update no 19

2008-01-02T00:55:00.000+13:00

2 January 2008 - Family Integrity #334 - CIR Update no 19

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Baldock [mailto:CIR.Petition@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 9:52 PM
Subject: CIR Update no 19

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I trust you have all enjoyed the Christmas holidays and New Year’s celebrations.

We start the new year of 2008 with great news!

We now have collected over a quarter of a million signatures and that is fantastic! 251,280

I have attached an article I will release to the media tomorrow afternoon, Jan 2nd along with a press release. Perhaps you may have contact with local media in your area and you could forward it to them. At this time of year many journalists are looking for stories.

It might be an idea if you are able to print some copies of it, (or make photo copies) and hand them out when collecting signatures.

The second attachment is a photo to perhaps give you some ideas about setting up a table in holiday spots. Barbara and I collected 150 the first day in 2 hrs, then 250 in 4hrs and then 650 for a whole day from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Total 1050.

We have found in recent weeks we have been able to average about 1000 per week and perhaps one of the keys to this has been the signs we use. A new sign, as you can see in the photo which say’s A SMACK IS NOT CHILD ABUSE, DON’T CRIMINALISE GOOD PARENTS,’ seems to be working really well in sending a clear message to people about what we are supporting and what we are against.

Once people approach the table all we have to say usually is, would you like to sign, the first petition says, “should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in NZ? We don’t think so, and the second petition is to address the real causes of child abuse like family breakdown, lack of parenting education etc, which would make more of a difference than banning smacking, so would sign that one as well please.

And that is normally all that is required.

You may have developed your own procedure and that is working well for you already, I simply offer this as a suggestion that might help some.

I will send another update in a week or so with the dates of events that are coming up in Jan-Mar that we hope to gather a team to go to but for starters here are some.

Steve is looking for volunteers for the Wairoa A & P show Jan 18-19th and we are very keen to get a team to the Martinborough fare in the Wairarapa Feb 2nd and March 1st.

The Dargaville field days Feb 28-March 1st is also a good gathering I am told. Anyone keen to organise that let me know.

I have arranged a site at the Parachute festival Jan 25th -28th so if you are heading there and would be willing to volunteer some time at the table there let me know.

Happy holidays, the weather is great. I hope you will be able to find a little tome at least to join

The Great Summer Challenge!
Warm regards,
Larry

Media - stuff

2008-01-01T16:54:00.000+13:00

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4342058a26430.html

Top 10 political themes for 2007
By IAN LLEWELLYN - NZPA | Tuesday, 01 January 2008

2007 was been a busy year for those interested in the world of politics, full of high, lows and the plain absurd.

During the year the NZPA press gallery wrote more than 5600 items. Here is a list of its top 10 biggest political stories or themes of the year.

Three – It's the economy, stupid:
The biggest three political stories in NZPA's unscientific survey were all so close it might as well have been a three-way dead heat. The resilient state of the economy, unemployment staggeringly low, interest rates causing pain, monetary policy seemingly ineffective and the dollar being too high for many, were never far from the front pages. The political problem for Finance Minister Michael Cullen is that it has been so long since an even mild recession, that most people have forgotten the pain it can cause. The economy and the debate over tax cuts will be a dominant feature of the political landscape in 2008, with Dr Cullen trying to shrug off his scrooge label.

Two – Labour takes a smacking:
The sleeper story of 2006 woke up with a vengeance in 2007 when Green MP Sue Bradford's bill removing the defence of reasonable force when assaulting a child re-emerged on the parliamentary agenda. The debate morphed into a many-headed row over child discipline and abuse, as well as the role of the state in family life. Labour forced its MPs to vote en masse for the bill and the point of principle caused much pain for the party. Many National MPs were horrified when their leader, John Key, did a last minute deal with Miss Clark to back the bill if it was watered down. Many in National felt it would have been better to keep kicking when Labour was down but most of those now link the move to National's rise and Labour's fall.

One – Electoral Law:
After brooding about the 2005 election for a year, Labour and its allies thrust the Electoral Finance Bill on the opposition. Labour's attempt to stamp out big-spending election campaigns came back to bite it as, once again, the debate morphed into a freedom of speech issue. It did not help that the bill was terribly written, confusing, contradictory and plain draconian in places. Labour is hoping that once voters realise it does not affect 99 per cent of people, the fuss will die; how many voters want to spend money persuading others how to vote? However Labour's failure to get wider support and undergo a much-needed overhaul of the dated Electoral Act on a bi-partisan basis may come back to haunt it in 2008.

Media - Family First

2007-12-31T08:48:00.000+13:00

MEDIA RELEASE
30 December 2007

No.1 Issue for 2008 - Government Respect For Role of Parents

Family First NZ has identified government respect for parents as the number 1 issue for 2008.

“Politicians, with the support of UN Conventions, the Children’s Commissioner and Youth Law Project to name a few, have sought to increase children’s rights without considering the vital role of parents,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “Parents understandably feel undervalued, under-resourced and under suspicion.”

Recent examples include:

* a teenager who attempted to use the Care of Children Act to ‘divorce’ her parent because she didn’t like the family rules

* the Privacy Act being quoted by the Police as justification for hiding the whereabouts of a 16 year old runaway daughter from her concerned parents

* CYF and Police failing to prosecute a 21 year old who admitted having sex with a girl under the age of 12

* the anti-smacking law which sent a clear message to parents that the State and its agencies know better how to raise children even if parents are reasonably and responsibly correcting their children. (Ironically Sue Bradford stated in an interview last week that the law was never intended to solve the problem of child abuse and violence)

* continued lack of an independent CYF Complaints Authority despite repeated calls for one and an increasing number of families being adversely impacted by the actions and decisions of social workers (acknowledged by a recently released book by senior social workers) without an avenue of appeal for the parents

* children as young as five have been told off for bringing yoghurt, muesli bars, salad rolls and juice to school as over-zealous teachers try to enforce healthy eating rules - despite parents pleading to be allowed to give their children the occasional treat

* parents concerned about the graphic nature of information regarding the meningococcal B campaign provided to children at school, mostly without consent (study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal)

* a suggestion by National’s education spokeswoman Katherine Rich that the government should penalise parents who take their children out of school for a family holiday, yet failing to identify or target dysfunctional families where ongoing truancy is condoned or ignored by the parents

* proposal by the Children’s Commissioner to screen every child’s home, threatening to refer good parents who resist this intrusion, to social welfare agencies, while failing to target the real abusers and provide the necessary services for young and new parents

* young girls (some well under the age of sexual consent) being sneaked off by schools to get contraceptives or an abortion without any parental knowledge or consent yet these same kids have to get parental permission to go on a school trip to the zoo

Mr McCoskrie says “On one hand, a parent is responsible for the actions of their child in the community and school, and meeting their emotional, financial and physical needs, yet at the same time their role is being undermined, and weakened by laws and policies which bypass the input of parents and treat them like a sub-contractor.”

“The huge irony is that the more the state undermines the role and authority of parents, the less responsibility parents will feel they should take for their children,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“If the government wants parents to be responsible parents, they must firstly respect their role.”

Family First will continue to monitor policies from all the political parties in Election 2008 and test whether they support and strengthen the role of parents, or create a ‘rights’ culture which pits children (and the State) against their parents.

ENDS
For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie JP - National Director
Mob. 027 55 555 42

Some child abuse cases in NZ - since Section 59 amended

2007-12-30T15:43:00.000+13:00

Since the passing of the amendment to section 59, there has been a continual stream of child abuse cases including:

JUNE 2007

* About 1,500 babies in their mother's womb

* Porirua mum and step-father charged with mistreating 3 children, including 5 year old admitted to Wellington Hospital with serious head injuries

* 16 month old Remuera boy dies after beating while in care of relative. Sixteen-month-old Sachin died of head injuries suffered while being cared for by a relative in June. He spent three days connected to a life- support machine in Auckland's Starship children's hospital, before dying on June 21. An autopsy revealed he died from blunt force trauma to his head. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4204745a12855.html and http://www.stuff.co.nz/4221779a10.html

* 28-year-old woman charged with murdering a newborn baby found dead in the backyard of a Te Mome Road property in Alicetown.

* Death of 22 month old Tokoroa girl from severe burns – being cared for by step-father. Claims was burnt in hot shower but 17 hour delay before arriving at hospital. Still under investigation.

*An 18-month-old West Auckland toddler is in hospital with serious arm and leg injuries suffered on separate occasions and up to a month before medical treatment was sought. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10456014

*Dad allegedly made girls fight for right not to be beaten. A Hastings father gave his daughters boxing gloves and told them to fight – with the loser to get "a hiding", a court was told. The sisters, aged 11 and 13, donned the red gloves and began punching each other in the lounge till the oldest started crying. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4199250a10.html

JULY 2007

* About 1,500 babies in their mother's womb

* Hawkes Bay father shoots daughter with air rifle. Convicted and jailed for 6 months

* Christchurch mum-of-two found at P Lab. Charged with failing to provide necessaries of life and allowing home to be used for manufacturing P

* 3-year-old Rotorua girl seriously ill after 3 weeks of abuse by stepfather and extended family - now died

* A second Rotorua child - a 12-week-old baby - is in the Starship with suspicious head injuries. http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/2007/07/30-july-2007-second-rotorua-child.html

*Boy, 8, kicked for being 'too slow' eating dinner http://www.stuff.co.nz/4189938a10.html

*Five-year-old high on P in drug house. Police found a five-year-old boy high on P during a raid on a drug house where methamphetamine was being cooked in a bedroom.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4195797a10.html

AUGUST 2007

* About 1,500 babies in their mother's womb

* Police will tomorrow arrest a Putaruru man for allegedly using weapons to beat his two stepsons aged 13 and 14, regularly over nine months, leaving them with bruises all over their upper body. http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/2007/08/media_13.html

* A five-week-old girl with multiple breaks to both arms is the latest suspected child-abuse case being investigated by Christchurch police. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4168701a11.html#Scene_1

*A woman accused of failing to provide the necessaries of life to her 6-week-old baby has pleaded with a court to get the child back.... She has been charged with neglecting her legal duty to provide necessaries for her 6-week-old son in a way that endangered his life....Police said they had been told Kahotea-Jones took the baby to the park on an extremely cold winter's day dressed only in light clothing. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4193313a11.html

*Throwing pepper in a six-year-old boy's eyes as a punishment was an unthinking act, done under extreme stress, Lower Hutt District Court was today. Craig Leslie Ozich, 31, was sentenced by Judge John Walker to 150 hours' community service after pleading guilty to assault on a child...Judge Walker said Ozich had been boarding at a house where the boy and his mother lived. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4213154a12855.html

SEPTEMBER 2007

* About 1,500 babies in their mother's womb

* Yet Another Child Abuse Story. Catherine Lawson from Jigsaw, National Consultant, National Infrastructure for Children and Youth (NICY) who Witness Family Violence, speaks out following the recent case where a small three year old girl, nicknamed “Pumpkin”, who has been identified as a 3 year old child who has been living in a family violence environment. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0709/S00292.htm

* Police investigating baby death - Jyniah Te Awa. South Auckland police are investigating two houses following the death of a 10-month-old baby girl. The girl was taken to hospital from a Manurewa address on Sunday. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4214398a10.html and http://www.stuff.co.nz/4215743a10.html and http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10466030

OCTOBER 2007

* About 1,500 babies in their mother's womb

* VICTIM OF CURSE RITUAL: Janet Moses, 22, of Wainuiomata, was the mother of two little girls. She is thought to have drowned during an exorcism ceremony. A 14-year-old girl nearly died in the ritual that killed Wainuiomata mother Janet Moses. A total of six people were exorcised last month as relatives tried to drive out a makutu, or Maori curse, thought to have been sparked by the theft of a statue. The 14-year-old - a cousin of Ms Moses - was admitted to hospital before being taken into Child, Youth and Family care. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4271124a10.html Girl's eyes gouged to get rid of devil. A 14-year-old who nearly died during an exorcism needed emergency treatment to save her sight after relatives scratched at her eyes to remove the devil. The girl is a cousin of Janet Moses, the woman who died during the October 12 ceremony to lift a Maori curse. The girl had chunks gouged from her eyeballs. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4287818a11.html

November 2007

* About 1,500 babies in their mother's womb

* A mother who left her two- and four-year-old children to wander the streets unsupervised and hungry has been sentenced to community work. They also reported the children wandering outside, unsupervised and hungry, and not being able to find anything in the house but beer. Sometimes the children had injuries, including a burn to the cheek and black eyes. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4261575a10.html

* Pregnant at 11: Kiro cites girl's case in abuse plea - 19 November 2007
The case of a girl who became pregnant at 11 and had her baby when she was 12 was cited by Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro today when she made a plea for people to speak up against child abuse. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4280826a10.html

December 2007

* About 1,500 babies in their mother's womb

*Baby clings to life as police investigate injuries A two-month-old girl is clinging to life in Auckland's Starship Hospital as police investigate how she came to receive critical head injuries. Her two-year-old sister was taken into CYF care after her parents drove the baby to Middlemore Hospital on Friday afternoon. The baby was transferred to Starship the same day, with fears she would not survive. Detective Senior Sergeant David Lynch said it was unclear how the baby received her injuries. "We're keeping an open mind at the moment." http://www.stuff.co.nz/4340462a11.html
and http://stuff.co.nz/4340732a11.html and
http://stuff.co.nz/4341634a10.html and http://www.stuff.co.nz/4346092a10.html
and http://www.stuff.co.nz/4362248a10.html

Media - tvnz

2007-12-29T08:01:00.000+13:00

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1318360/1523352

Smacking law political issue of 2007
Dec 27, 2007 7:56 AM

The smacking debate was politically the biggest issue of the year, with politicians pitted against parents who say they are sick of being told by the government how to run their lives.

The anti-smacking legislation was introduced by Greens MP Sue Bradford and she says what followed was a lesson in just how brutal politics can be.

For months, New Zealand screens were bombarded with news of the Anti-Smacking Bill, with some supporting the bill and seeing it as a means to help stop the rampant child abuse in New Zealand and many others seeing it as a means of the government controlling how parents bring up their children.

Those who were against the bill were more louder and showed their discontent by protesting up and down the country, but the protests were in vain as by May, MP Sue Bradford's anti-smacking law became a reality in parliament by 113 votes to seven.

It was a hard won fight for the Green MP and for Labour, which removed the defence of reasonable force for parents who hit their kids.

National opposed the bill but agreed to a compromise, leading to one of the strangest moments at parliament with Helen Clark sharing the podium with her number one political rival John Key.

There were a lot of whacky moments during the Anti-Smacking Bill becoming law.

Death threats were issued to Bradford and there was also a smack free town, with Ngongotaha claiming to be the first in the country.

MP Gordon Copeland quit his party because it supported the bill, but then forgot to go to parliament for the final vote and was slammed for not understanding the bill after he claimed that the average parent in New Zealand would be subject to criminal charges for even a light smack.

But nothing of the sort has happened - not yet at least.

In fact Bradford says there have been just two prosecutions since the bill was passed and one other case where police investigated but went no further.

"The law appears to be working perfectly and in line with what we intended... there were gross exaggerations and ridiculous lies about what would happen as a consequence of my bill going through. Those fears, those lies have not come to fruition," says Bradford.

But her opponents disagree.

"I think the politicians were suckered into an ideology that it felt good. It seemed like the solution to our child abuse problems but our experience is that it's had no effect on child abuse rates and we've had five child abuse deaths since the passing of the bill... In fact while the bill was being passed Nia Glassie was being hung on a washing line," says Bob McCroskie from Family First NZ.

The debate continues to goes on and many are saying it could heat up once again as a petition is already doing the rounds, which could mean the issue comes up in a referendum when voters go to the polls next year.

FI - 333 - Petitions in Christchurch on Saturday

2007-12-28T11:33:00.000+13:00

28 December 2007 - Family Integrity #333 - Petitions in Christchurch on Saturday

Here is tomorrow's Summer Challenge for those in the Christchurch area.

Craig Smith
National Director
Family Integrity
Ph: (06) 357-4399
Fax: (06) 357-4389
Family.Integrity@xtra.co.nz
http://www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz
http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/

Our Home....Our Castle

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Moore [mailto:andy@equipbiz.co.nz]
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2007 11:08 AM
Subject: Petitions in Christchurch on Saturday

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping we can run more than one table in Christchurch tomorrow.

Help us make the 250,000 mark before the end of the year... we're almost there! http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/

Up in Auckland and Tauranga they are doing a fantastic job, with someone out manning a table almost every day of the week.

Please get in touch with me asap if you can help out at a table in Christchurch tomorrow.

"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." - Paul (Galations 6:9)

Regards,
Andy Moore
http://www.equipbiz.co.nz
phone: 021 1140 751

http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz
God Defend New Zealand

FI - 322 - U4L, summer challenge

2007-12-28T11:29:00.000+13:00

28 December 2007 - Family Integrity #332 -

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2007 8:26 AM
Subject: U4L, summer challenge

Hi all,

Let the Summer Challenge Begin Click here for more information http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/summer-challenge.html

Just received this photo from Larry Baldock, he isn't wasting any time. Apparently, he even managed a swim. 150 signatures in two hours, not bad going.

Cheers,
Craig Hill
021 746 113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

"All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729 - 1797)

Join with others and take up this Summer Challenge.

Regards
Craig Smith
National Director
Family Integrity
PO Box 9064
Palmerston North
New Zealand
Ph: (06) 357-4399
Fax: (06) 357-4389
Family.Integrity@xtra.co.nz
http://www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz
http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/

Our Home....Our Castle

FI - 331- U4L, Happy Christmas

2007-12-24T22:08:00.000+13:00

24 December - Family Integrity #331 -- U4L, Happy Christmas

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2007 5:12 PM
Subject: U4L, Happy Christmas

Hi All,

GOOD NEWS FIRST

Happy Christmas to everyone. I would like to take this moment to thank all who have placed their hand to the plow.

Unity for Liberty extended the invitation to join Novembers "Great New Zealand Table Challenge" . We always knew "The Challenge" would start a little slowly but were confident that as more folk came on board and had a taste, the momentum would grow. This has happened.

Larry Baldock informs us that at the beginning of November there were 212,000 signatures in the bank, our current account is now officially 245,291 signatures. And this does not include last weeks take, see below.

There is no reason that can't achieve 250,000 signatures before New Years Day, What a milestone.

Through the hard work of many dedicated volunteers our equation will have gone from 2500 people x 10 signatures per Saturday of November = 100,000 signatures

Now it will be approx:
1325 people nationwide x 5 signatures per Saturday of January and February = 53,000 signatures.

THIS WILL BE OUR SUMMER CHALLENGE

The response from those who have already collected will be: "Hey, that's just a mornings work for the whole quota".(1hr-2hrs tops)

Here is an example: "Today 3 teens got nearly 200 sigs in the streets of Rangiora. No table, just walking around with clipboards politely asking people. You don't need to ask anyone's permission for a table spot, and by asking people I think we get a better response rate. I wish we'd got started earlier.
Is it something you could get a youth group involved in?? Promise ice creams afterwards???

Shows you how simple it is!!!

Week update:
Porirua 150
Wellington 97
North Shore 519
Tauranga 100
Henderson 88
Papakura 250
Pukekohe 240
Rangiora 200
Catlins 70
1714 Total (not included in official count)

THE BAD NEWS
Please do not be fooled by the recent Police review and the media. It has been reported that the court has not been inundated with cases so the law is working. This is not the full story.

Firstly, they claim there has only been 15 investigations, but we are almost averaging one story a week from one table. The report also goes on to say that "an absence of a notification on a Police file does not necessarily mean that no notification was made."

I was speaking to a prominent Party leader's secretary, she made this comment "The police are required to investigate all reports", this is a classic case of "If we ask the wrong questions we will arrive at the wrong answer". Read on

There is a very disturbing trend that is developing in this country, this law, rather than being tested in the courts of the land, appears that it is being enforced by fear and intimidation from our Police Force. Recently a Grandmother was threatened with arrest just for restraining a 2 yr old from running on the road. The Officer made it very clear "I will let you off this time but next time I will arrest you". But there's more, this will test the above Police review figures. When the officer moved on, another woman (unsure if she was a mum or gran) come up and said, "They aren't kidding, they escorted me to the Police Station and interviewed me for the same thing last week."

We have since been made aware of more similar stories, they have been forwarded to Bob McCoskrie at Family First, please forward all stories to Bob, for him protection of the victim is more important than the story, he is a trusted person.

The secretary above, like the rest of us, assumed the police will only be investigating reported cases, who would have thought they themselves would become proactive and start intimidating grandmothers, and this was INCONSEQUENTIAL.

A solo mum, also a New Zealand citizen, who has not broken any law, the police chose to investigate her history through social services and then chose to challenge her parenting skills. She then went to complain to her local MP about her treatment, only to receive a phone call from the Police District Commander, "don't bother wasting the MP's time".

We pay out taxes to be protected by our police, now innocent New Zealanders are being attacked.

Unity for Liberty will be presenting our own review assessed from the trail of devastation that is being left behind from this Bad Law.

Let's collect these signatures and keep the politicians honest,

Craig Hill
021746113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

"All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

radionz -MP3

2007-12-24T08:38:00.000+13:00

Here is an easier way to find the interview between Larry Baldock and Sue Bradford:

Smacking Bill Report
A three month snapshot reveals there has been no increase in the number of cases police have had to deal with.
File Size:2.1MB
Date: (Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:42:00 +1300

http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/mnr/mnr-20071221-0742-Smacking_Bill_Report-048.mp3

FI - 330 CIR Update no 18

2007-12-24T08:25:00.000+13:00

24 December 2007 - Family Integrity #330 -- CIR Update no 18

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Baldock [mailto:l.baldock@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 7:57 PM
Subject: CIR Update no 18

Merry Christmas

You may remember in my last update no 17 when we had 225,000 I said that hopefully we would be as close to 250,000 as possible before the end of the year.

Well congratulations to all those who have worked hard during December. The "Christmas in the Park" type events have been fruitful for collecting and we can now enjoy a holiday and Christmas dinner knowing that ......

.................our new Total is 245,291

We are aware that there are as many as 2,000 signatures collected already that simply have to be mailed in after Christmas, so we should be able to be very near our target of 250,000 before the end of the month. Just yesterday Barb and I collected 250 in 2.5 hrs on a busy street corner here in Tauranga.

That will be a quarter of a million signatures and as I said to Sue Bradford on Morning report last Friday, "We are going to have a referendum where all New Zealanders can have their say."

When I raised the point with her that there did not seem to be any increase in prosecutions of the real child abusers, Sue Bradford said "my bill was never meant to solve that (child abuse and child violence) problem."

If you are then left wondering what the law change was all about, you can answer that question pretty easily by listening to the rest of her comments, or should I say ranting and raving about hitting and beatings. She leaves no doubt in my mind that the plan was always to eradicate any form of parental discipline, and that it won't be long before even occasional smacking will not be tolerated by the police.

You can hear the interview from Friday 21st December on http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport

and then click on smacking bill report at 7.42am.

A special note of thanks is due to Unity for Liberty's Craig Hill along with all the volunteers that have been linked with them and what they have generated in the last two months. At the end of October in Update no 15 when we announced Craig's idea for the 'Great NZ table challenge we had 212,591.

So that's 32,000 generated so far in the last two months. (Nov 12,000; Dec 20,000)

Remember we were able to collect 200,000 in the first four months, so with the momentum building once again we can have confidence to believe we will reach our goal of 300,000 by March 1.

Our success will be due to the fact that we are working as a team with so many individuals and organisations and I am very grateful to you all for your support this year. Barbara and I have been enriched by meeting so many of you up and down the country.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas with your families and a great start to the New Year.

Warm regards.
Larry & Barbara Baldock

Media

2007-12-21T23:33:00.000+13:00

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00302.htm

Smacking Review No Measure
Friday, 21 December 2007, 11:09 am
http://www.thefamilyparty.org.nz

The Family Party says a review depicting low numbers of smacking related incidents over three months since the anti-smacking law came into affect is not necessarily a measure of the impact the controvercial law is having on New Zealand families.

The three-month review found police issued nine warnings to parents who have smacked their kids after attending 15 cases of reported smacking. The 15 cases were determined not to be in the public interest to prosecute and warnings were given out in nine cases. Two cases were referred to family violence coordinators, four were referred to Child, Youth and Family, three were referred to inter-agency case management meetings and one was referred to Family Works for family support.

Family Party leader Richard Lewis says while reported incidents don’t appear to be high, there is a genuine sense of concern amongst parents who fear unwarranted state intervention if they smack their children in circumstances that would have formerly been considered reasonable and acceptable.

“Based on this report, there are a number of families now experiencing different levels of state intervention because they have come to the attention of the police. What the report wont show is the general sense of disempowerment and vulnerability that many parents are feeling in their homes. What’s worse is that there is no longer a ‘last line of defence’ for responsible parents facing allegations of assault in the home. The irony is, section 59 would not have protected individuals who have used excessive force. The difference is police have become judge and jury, which is not fair on them and is not necessarily comforting for parents,” says Mr Lewis.

He says that those parents who had been warned would likely face prosecution if they came to the attention of the police again under similar circumstances. He also referred to a recent survey that revealed three-quarters of parents smacked; meaning the future risk of a parent being unfairly incriminated was high (Christchurch Health and Development Study).

“Despite the outcome of this review, the principle remains that the overwhelming majority of kiwi parents opposed the section 59 amendment but it was rammed through anyway, in a manner that has come to characterise this government. So any reports to justify their heavy-handed approach to New Zealand families are hardly going to be taken seriously,” he added.

ENDS

Media

2007-12-21T16:14:00.000+13:00

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/21/2124812.htmSpain bans smacking
Posted 4 hours 38 minutes ago

The Spanish Congress has passed a bill that bans parents from smacking their children.

Spanish law had allowed parents to 'reasonably and moderately correct their children'.

But the Socialist government has voted to delete that clause in order to remove any ambiguity.

The conservative opposition party voted against the change on the grounds that it would leave parents powerless to discipline their children.

Of Europe's 46 member states, 16 have already banned smacking at school and in the home.

-Reuters

FI - 329

2007-12-21T11:06:00.003+13:00

21 December 2007 - Family Integrity #329 -- Unity for Liberty: collecting signatures

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Moore [mailto:chch@unityforliberty.net.nz]
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 9:06 AM
To: chch@unityforliberty.net.nz
Subject: Re: Unity for Liberty: collecting signatures
Hi everyone,

Just a quick update (and call for volunteers) for the team in Christchurch. (Auckland & Otago people, I'm forwarding this on to you also to keep you in the loop :)

We're getting closer to having 250,000 signatures, a jump from 236,100 signatures which was how many we had when I sent out the last email. (See the "signature thermometer" on the Unity for Liberty website for the most recent count). We here in Christchurch however, can take little or no credit for these impressive numbers, as there is not much effort being made in Christchurch.

One fantastic young woman came along for the first time last Saturday, and with my dad and I, pulled in 301 signatures. Thanks Erica!

Anyway... :) would be fantastic to see you there this Saturday, 22 December. It's Dad's birthday, but he won't take the day off, because there's no-one else to help out. Just give me a buzz on 021 1140 751, 03 357 4599 or andy@equipbiz.co.nz and we will get moving!

This Saturday - lets go from about 9:30am til 2:30pm, with people most welcome to stay later if they like, but the best time is around the lunch-hour, when the city really gets bustling. I've got 3 tables, plenty of signs, plenty of petition boards and pens. We just need you guys now, so get back to me asap, as I need to book a couple of spots with the City Council.

Please make sure to forward this on to anyone else you think may be interested.

A quick note regarding the "3 month review" of the new anti-smacking law, by the Police Force. They claim that there have only been 9 "warnings" from 15 cases in the past three months. The actual number of mothers and grandmothers being traumatised by police-interference in their lives is actually much higher than this however, and we are finding that police are even pre-empting parents in some cases. Remember, the law is currently being used very carefully - in a short period of time, between two and five years, this damaging law will be being applied to it's fullest extent, resulting in many families (especially Christian/home-educating families) having their children removed from them, and in many cases never to be seen again.

Remember, "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke.

Kind Regards,
Andy Moore
http://www.equipbiz.co.nz
phone: 021 1140 751

http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz
God Defend New Zealand.

Media

2007-12-21T11:06:00.002+13:00

MEDIA RELEASE
20 December 2007

Family First Rubbishes Police Review on Smacking Law

Family First NZ is labelling the review on the smacking law released today as inaccurate and misleading.

"The police report claims that, on average, one smacking complaint is being dealt with by the police each week nationwide," says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. "This is totally false and simply reflects the fact that many calls that police are attending are being deemed so inconsequential that the police attending are not even recording the information in the database."

The report says that "an absence of a notification on a Police file does not necessarily mean that no notification was made."

"Recent research from Christchurch School of Medicine shows that up to 80% of parents are continuing to smack their children without abusing them. And people who are collecting signatures for the Referendum against the anti-smacking law are regularly being told of parents being investigated by police. In one half hour period, one collector was told of three investigations alone, two of them on grandparents.

"If there is really only one complaint a week as claimed, we really need to be asking why the politicians spent so much time, energy and debate on a law that had so little need - or effect," says Mr McCoskrie.

"And meanwhile, child abuse continues with five child abuse deaths since the passing of the law including Nia Glassie, 16 month old Sachin Dhani, and ten-month-old Jyniah Mary Te Awa from Manurewa."

"The smacking law has failed to stem the tide of child abuse, but has targeted many good parents and grandparents with the trauma and fear of police investigation and CYF involvement.

Nine cases alone notified to Family First have been documented on their website: http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/cases.html

Family First believes that the full weight of the anti-smacking law will not be felt until after the election – to avoid further political fallout. Currently, there are approximately 245,000 signatures on a petition demanding Referendums on smacking and addressing the real causes of child abuse.

ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:

Bob McCoskrie JP - National Director
Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42

Blog - section59.blogspot

2007-12-21T11:06:00.001+13:00

From Section59.blogspot:
Police Report out on "anti-smacking" law
The long awaited police review of the "anti-smacking" law is out.

There has been a slight increase in smacking cases.

Check out graph here:

http://section59.blogspot.com/2007/12/police-report-out-on-anti-smacking-law.html

Media

2007-12-21T11:06:00.000+13:00

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/3585.html

Three month review of Police activity following the enactment of the Crimes Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007(
1:57pm 20 December 2007

Police have undertaken a three month review of the amendment of section 59 of the Crimes Act (the Smacking Bill) to gauge the impact on police activity.

During the period 23 June 2007 to 28 September 2007 there was no increase in the number of smacking events Police attended with three in each three month period and an increase of two events of "minor physical discipline."

Deputy Commissioner, Rob Pope says claims that the repeal of section 59 of the Act would lead to the prosecution of parents and the removal of children from their homes as a result of minor acts of physical discipline have proved unfounded.

"While this is only a three month snapshot I am confident that police are taking the same common sense approach to these events as we always have, with officers using their discretion to ensure the appropriate action is taken."

In total over the three month period police attended 111 child assault events, three of which involved "smacking" and 12 of which involved "minor acts of physical discipline".

All of the 15 cases were determined to be inconsequential and therefore not in the public interest to prosecute. However warnings were given out in nine cases.

Two of the cases were referred to Family Violence Co-ordinators, four were referred to Child, Youth and Family, three were referred to inter-agency case management meetings and one was referred to Family Works for family support. Seven of the cases were not referred to another agency. NB one case was referred to more than one agency.

Mr Pope said Police would continue to monitor the impact the amendment was having on a six monthly basis to ensure that any issues that arose could be addressed promptly.

The review report can be accessed here:

http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2007/section-59-activity-review/
ENDS

Jon Neilson
Media
04 474 9482

Some Normal Families caught up with Police and CYFs since Section 59 amended

2007-12-18T13:27:00.000+13:00

Check out earlier cases here:
http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/2007/11/some-normal-families-caught-up-with.html

Plus

DECEMER 2007

**Grandmother Warned by Police After Grabbing Grandchild Running onto Road South Auckland. This grandmother had to prevent her 2 year old grandson from running onto the road by grabbing his arm and pulling him back to the footpath. She was petrified that her grandson could be run over. A police officer witnessed her and said she was breaking the law by grabbing him. She was let off with a warning but was told that if it ever happened again, they would prosecute her. She had recently lost a friend’s child (6) to a train crash. (Takanini) She now puts him in the pram to avoid getting arrested. Her family is horrified by what's happened and she's now concerned about taking her grandchildren out in public. She feels she's been publicly humiliated. Another grandmother came up to her and said she'd been interviewed by the police for giving her 4 year old grandson a smack on the bottom in Countdown for swearing at her. The woman was taken to the police station to be interviewed. http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/cases.html

** Passerby Reports Squealing Child Auckland. Tanya had two police officers arrive on her doorstep as she was hosting visitors on a Saturday night. The police informed her that a ‘passer by’ had heard a child being smacked and subsequently screaming. They could not tell the mum what day this occurred on, what time or who the person was. She explained to them that her 9 year old daughter squeals when she plays, particularly when outside on the trampoline with her brother. She likes to play hard with her 13 year old brother – and inevitably she sometimes gets hurts – and performs! The mum says the passer-by could have heard her children 'playing' – “do I have to stop them having fun??” “We don't smack our kids (or if we have in the past, it has been minor) and this incident did not occur. I informed the officers accordingly. They insisted that they needed to see my daughter. I informed them that she was now with her father as we share custody. I gave them full contact details. They told me they would have to go around there to check she was OK.” “I have found the whole episode to be extremely distressing. I felt completely humiliated to literally be accused of child abuse and have now found it hard to sleep at night at it has upset me so much - how I look after and care for my children is being questioned. On hearsay I am now a guilty person. This new law is ending up with a lot of good innocent parents being wrongfully accused. This law needs to be changed.” http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/cases.html\

** We also know of a family where CYFs has taken the daughter because she was smacked when swore at her mother.

** Eight year old’s Class Taught to Dob in Parents – Behaviour Deteriorates
Hawkes Bay. The police went to a local primary school and did a session on “Keeping Ourselves Safe.” During the session, the policeman told this particular class of 7 and 8 year olds that parents couldn’t smack them, and that if they did, they should immediately tell the teacher. This was not the only school in the area where this message was given. Within the next few days, this solo mum’s 8 year old daughter who had been in this session and who had had a ‘clean’ record at school all year was stood down for kicking the teacher in the leg. She also kept telling her mother “you can’t make me do anything - you can’t smack me”, following the lesson. Her older child (10) also told the mother that “you can’t make me go to school.”
The mother went to the police to clarify what they had said and to tell them the difficulties she'd had since their visit to the school. The Sergeant was obliging and said he would sort it out by sending the officer involved to speak to the girls and reinstate her authority. An angry phone call from the officer followed to the mother, questioning whether she had a problem with the smacking law. Two days later 2 male officers arrived to supposedly reinstate the mother’s authority but instead they questioned her parenting skills and told her they had investigated her background with a variety of community organisations. They had her in tears and she found them intimidating and degrading. They also proceeded to tell the children their rights. Yet amazingly the police said to the mother the daughter deserved a smack after kicking the teacher. The mother in desperation at her treatment spoke to her local MP, & was then contacted by the District Commander of the Police who told her not to go complaining to the MP because he had better things to do. The mother was traumatised by all this, and has laid a formal complaint with the Police but to no avail. http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/cases.html

**Mother Investigated After 4 Year Old Smacked For Running Out on Road West Auckland Jackie’s 4 year old ran across the road outside a busy supermarket when she saw a friend on other side of road. The mum smacked her on the bottom once to show her how dangerous her actions were. A member of the public challenged the way she had disciplined her child, took her vehicle registration, and the mum was visited by police two days later. She felt like a criminal and embarrassed by it all. She said “please don’t take my daughter” to the police. They did a police check to see if it had happened before. The Police (who had kids as well) told the mum they felt it was a waste of time. The daughter said “what’s wrong mummy,” and was upset by it all. http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/cases.html

FI - 328

2007-12-18T11:55:00.000+13:00

18 December 2007 - Family Integrity #328 -- U4L; Weekend Results

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 9:51 PM
Subject: U4L; Weekend Results

Hi All,

Gentle reminder, please post all signatures, we are after 250,000 as soon as possible. We are so close to a huge milestone. The irony is, we almost have the equivalent in signatures as the people who supported this bad law.

Gentle reminder, have you passed on "the lady in the Greens Tent email", We need all possible signatures. (if you do not have a copy of this email you can download it from http://ww.unityforliberty.net.nz) (Note: My spam filter won't let this one in, so I have been unable to forward it, sorry: Craig Smith.)

Good numbers this week

Auckland 1120
North Shore 305

Wellington 197
Hawkes Bay 182

West Coast 68
Christchurch 301
Rangiora 198
Porirua 85

2456 total

I spoke to Larry Baldock today, he had 500 plus, there were also a number of folk collecting in Hamilton. These numbers are not in the above figures.

There also seems to be more interest out there, all the hard work is starting to pay off. WELL DONE.

Encouraging news.

A lady and two teenagers took to the streets of Rangiora, this was their first time, and boy did they jump in the deep end. No tables, just with clip boards, courageous stuff.

Here's her response.

Yes, we're on the mailing list. I know, it's incredible. I wish I'd got started earlier - once I wound myself up to do it the first time it was much easier after that. Is it worth personally asking HE teens you know? Teens are more likely to see it as rather fun. Sam and Coralie were with me today (both teens). It was me who got tired first and thought it was time to stop. Coralie said "It's addictive once you get going". If you can just get people to go for an hour, once, they realise it's not so bad and are willing to go again.

Several people in Rang said they'd already signed it at the Show

We haven't tried a table - I think we get a better success rate going up to people and asking them "What to you think of Bradford's anti-smacking bill?" Then as soon as they make the first indication that they don't think too much of it, you say "Would you sign this petition asking for a referendum on the matter?" If they don't swear enthusiastically and grab the pen and clipboard from you, then only a nudge or two extra is needed (like, "so everyone can have their say, rather than just the politicians"), and they nod in agreement and sign it. My estimate is that only 5% of Rangiorians are in favour of the new law, 5% are too busy or apathetic or are unwilling to put their name on paper about it, and 90% are happy to sign.
We have 2 clipboards each in case of couples. We don't engage in any debate, just smile and walk on if people don't want to sign.

Keep up the fantastic work you're doing.

Susan

Regards,
Craig Hill
021746113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

FI - 327

2007-12-17T06:42:00.000+13:00

16 December 2007 - Family Integrity #327 -- psychological abuse

Dear Friends,

Dangerous new legislation is being suggested in this article. As some of those quoted in the article say, psychological abuse is much more difficult to define. It will most certainly be used as a weapon between warring parents, for I already hear too many of the sad stories of warring parents using home education as a weapon one against the other. And if parents can use it against each other, so can the state. If this idea goes through, watch for some state agent to start lobbying for home education and/or Christian Biblical training to be classed as psychological abuse.

Regards,
Craig Smith

New rules could instantly bar parents from kids
New weapon in tug-of-love cases
Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 16 December 2007

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4326075a10.html

Warring parents are set to gain a new lever to bar their partner from access to the children. Ruth Laugesen and Emma Page report.

Parents could be instantly banned from any contact with their children for months at a time under new proposals to allow claims of psychological abuse to be treated in the same way as allegations of violence in family breakdowns.

And, in much the same way as the anti-smacking debate divided opinion, experts are warning the proposals could cause problems for the Family Court when it tries to decide the difference between psychological abuse and normal and necessary parental control.

Under current laws, violence allegations result in an immediate, temporary ban on the accused parent from having access to his or her children, or having only supervised access, until the allegations can be heard a process which can take months. The law change would mean a claim of psychological abuse would be treated the same way.

The proposal, in a Ministry of Justice discussion paper released last week, suggests widening the Care of Children Act to recognise psychological abuse as another form of violence.

About 10,500 applications for day-to-day care are made each year and at this time of year, family lawyers are also dealing with an influx of calls over Christmas Day access arrangements.

About 125,000 Kiwi families with dependent children are headed by a solo parent and one in six New Zealand children lives in a blended family with a step-parent.

South Auckland lawyer Paul Maskell, chair of the Law Society's family law section, said it often took three months for the truth of an allegation to be settled. And he said that although widening the definition of violence to include psychological abuse had some merits, it also carried the risk that it would be used as a lever by warring partners.

"It will make that task harder for judges to determine whether children are safe when you extend that definition. Physical violence is pretty easy to identify it is or it isn't. One wants to be able to ensure the right evidence is available for the court in the first place," he said.

The paper said psychological abuse could include "intimidation, harassment, controlling behaviour, threats of physical abuse and also includes causing or allowing a child to see or hear the physical, sexual or psychological abuse of a person with whom the child has a domestic relationship".

"The nature of parental control and responsibility for children may make it difficult in some situations to determine whether a parent is abusive or simply exercising necessary parental control," the discussion paper said.

Expanding the definition might lead to an increase in allegations and counter-allegations of violence and also to an increase in orders for supervised contact or orders of no contact between the violent party and the child. "The impact of such orders can be significant, severely limiting or preventing contact between a parent and a child," the paper said.

However, Auckland family lawyer Geoff Harrison said he believed the law change would make no difference.

He said judges already took into account a wide range of information relating to a child's welfare and the parent's attitude when they decided who would look after a child or have access. This included psychological abuse.

Craig Smith
National Director
Family Integrity
PO Box 9064
Palmerston North
New Zealand
Ph: (06) 357-4399
Fax: (06) 357-4389
Family.Integrity@xtra.co.nz
http://www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz
http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/

Our Home....Our Castle

if Section59 is repealed - or replaced...
YOU CAN KISS YOUR CHILDREN GOODBYE.
http://www.storesonline.com/members/846699/uploaded/Brochure_-_Kiss_Children_Goodbye_7.pdf

FI - 326

2007-12-14T14:19:00.000+13:00

14 December 2007 - Family Integrity #326 -- Family First - Do you know just how close we are!!!

Dear All,

I know some of you already receive this, so please forgive me forwarding it again.

Craig Smith
Family.Integrity@xtra.co.nz
http://www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz
http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/

-----Original Message-----
From: admin@familyfirst.org.nz [mailto:admin@familyfirst.org.nz]
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 7:45 AM
To: Craig Smith
Subject: Family First - Do you know just how close we are!!!

To view the information below with graphics then click on this link direct to Family first website:
http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/SIGN_THE_PETITIONS

14 Dec 2007
Hi Craig,

1. DO YOU KNOW JUST HOW CLOSE WE ARE?

On March 1 2007, we helped launch the petitions to demand a Referendum on Child abuse and the criminalisation of good parents who use a smack for correction.

We need to gain 300,000 signatures by March 1 2008 on each of the following statements:
1. SHOULD A SMACK AS PART OF GOOD PARENTAL CORRECTION BE A CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN NEW ZEALAND; and
2. SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT GIVE URGENT PRIORITY TO UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING THE WIDER CAUSES OF FAMILY BREAKDOWN, FAMILY VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE IN NEW ZEALAND?

As at this week, we have approximately 239,000 signatures on each petition. Just about there!!

So, in combination with other groups, we've launched the SUMMER CHALLENGE!

If everyone who received this email alert collected just 20 signatures on each petition, we would reach our target. It's that simple.

I asked my local cafe owner to put the petition forms (CLICK HERE http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/documents/CirPetition.pdf) with an explanation sheet (CLICK HERE http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/files/LATEST%20-%20Make%20Them%20Listen.pdf) on the counter, and he has collected over 100 signatures just like that! Do you know a shop owner or retailer who can simply leave the explanation sheet and petition forms on the counter?

Family First NZ is joining with Unity for Liberty, Focus on the Family, Sensible Sentencing Trust, For the Sake of our Children Trust and other groups in inviting all concerned New Zealanders across the country to 'take up arms' - that means pens, clipboards and petition forms!

How: By being available in your own communities for NZ'ers to sign the petition. Ring up a local shop and ask to run a table outside their business on a Saturday or for a few days over the new year. Perhaps a sports field - mid-week touch - flower shows - Expos - Christmas in the Park - stockcars - wherever there's a crowd (the possibilities are endless!).

1. Print off a pile of petition forms http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/documents/CirPetition.pdf
2. Print off this sheet http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/files/LATEST%20-%20Reality%20Hits_SST.pdf which shows how harmful the anti-smacking law is to good families
3. Print off this sheet http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/files/LATEST%20-%20Make%20Them%20Listen.pdf which explains more about the petitions

IMPORTANT: By achieving 300,000 signatures, this will make parental correction and child abuse an election issue . Every voter will have to express their opinion on these 2 issues when they enter the polling booth at next year's election. The Electoral Finance Bill won't be able to stop this one.

Help us hold the politicians accountable on how they have failed to deal with the real causes of child abuse while targeting good families with shoddy law making.

Make Child Abuse and the Role of Parents an Election Issue in 2008!

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT.
http://www.familyfirst.org.nz | About us | Media Centre | Contact Us | Support Us |

Unity for Liberty

2007-12-13T19:58:00.000+13:00

Do read this link:

http://unityforliberty.net.nz/help/#real-victims

It is well worth reading.

Media

2007-12-13T17:19:00.000+13:00

MEDIA RELEASE
13 December 2007

Smacking Study Proves Resources Need to be Targeted at At-Risk Groups

Family First says that a study published in the latest NZ Medical Journal backs up the need for targeted support and resourcing of at-risk parents – especially young parents.

“The Christchurch Health and Development study, albeit a low survey group (n=155) and targeting only parents aged 25 years, shows that 77% of these parents are not abusing their children when using appropriate and reasonable physical punishment,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “This % is consistent with the total number of parents in NZ who are using physical punishment in a reasonable and effective way.”

“However, as the study highlights, the targeted group is an at-risk group in terms of child abuse. This is backed up by recent UNICEF and CYF reports. The UNICEF report released earlier this year said “the likelihood of a child being injured or killed is associated with poverty, single-parenthood, low maternal education, low maternal age at birth, poor housing, weak family ties, and parental drug or alcohol abuse.”

“This study reinforces the need for better support and resources being targeted at this young parent group – 12% of who admitted “having severely physically assaulted a child in the past year”. We must better resource and support frontline organisations and other local community organisations working with at-risk families, provide midwives and appropriate postnatal care (especially to first-time and teen mothers), and strengthen struggling families with appropriate counseling and relationship support – without criminalising the huge majority of parents who are not abusing their children but are simply using what works.”

“This study does not establish that smacking should be banned,” says Mr McCoskrie. ““The smacking ban is unwarranted, is confusing to parents, is targeting good and non-abusive parents with malicious and unwarranted complaints, has distracted police and CYF resources from at-risk families, and has done nothing to stem the flow of our unacceptable child abuse rates.”

“The law change has failed to target drug and alcohol fuelled abuse or domestic violence, family breakdown or dysfunction, teenage parenting needs, and poverty and stress issues.”

“This study highlights that exact point. As they say, It’s not the drinking – it’s the way we’re drinking. It’s not the smacking – it’s the way some parents smack.”

ENDS
For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie JP - National Director
Mob. 027 55 555 42

blog - nzconservative

2007-12-13T16:11:00.000+13:00

There is a great blog over at nzconservative

http://nzconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/efb-bit-of-wake-up-call-for-nz.html

EFB a bit of a wake up call for NZ http://www.solopassion.com/node/3723

I'm not going to comment on the details on the EFB as a number of other bloggers (and the media) are doing a brilliant job already. The only thing I want to say is that after the anti-smacking bill, this one has to be a real wake up call for New Zealanders. The anti-smacking bill was not just a blip. What we are seeing is a democratic consolidation of power by the ruling party.

While Lindsay Perigo http://www.solopassion.com/node/3723 is talking coup (as pointed out by AJ Chesswas http://matthew5-9.blogspot.com/2007/12/perigo-calls-for-coup.html) - I don't think we are at that stage - yet. Everyone needs to stay calm and see if the bill passes. If you pray, pray for NZ. If you never have prayed before in your life, now would be a good time to start. I don't think it will be enough, but it's worth a try.

No, the real test is, will NZ vote the current lot back into power next year? And if NZ doesn't, will the new lot repeal not only the EFB, but also the anti-smacking law? And my personal bugbear, is the Care of Children Act which redefines parents into caregivers - people with only responsibility towards their children, but no rights. That's the bill that made me sit up and take notice of politics in this country when I came back with my family from Australia four years ago.

Time to hang on for the ride.

Media

2007-12-13T11:02:00.000+13:00

http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000006098.cfm?eafref=1

American College of Pediatricians Supports Spanking

Family News in Focus

Doctors say reasoning and explanation don't work with young children.

Parents who feel their unruly, young children need an old-fashioned spanking now and then have the support of the American College of Pediatricians (ACP). Research from the group finds that spanking “can be a useful and necessary part of a successful disciplinary plan.”

Dr. Den Trumbull, the report's principal author, said: “Spanking is, at times, necessary with young children, because reasoning and explanation are insufficient in persuading them to have good behavior.

“Spanking should be used proactively. The child should be forewarned; it should always be administered in private, and followed by a loving embrace of the child with an explanation for the reason of the spanking.”

The ACP statement puts it in direct opposition to the American Medical Association, which condemns spanking and links it to youth violence.

Marjorie Lindner-Gunnoe, a psychology professor at Calvin College, said the ACP position is refreshing.

“It’s nice to see a little bit more balanced approach," she said. "We’re getting some multiple views. In the past, the views have been quite one-sided.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION
The American College of Pediatricians offers more information online, including guidelines that detail when spanking is appropriate.

(NOTE: Referral to Web sites not produced by Focus on the Family is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites' content.)

Media

2007-12-12T21:52:00.000+13:00

12 December 2007 - Family Integrity #325 -- U4L; Weekend events

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:36 PM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L; Weekend events

Hi All,

The new signature count is 239,000 signatures. The website thermometer will be updated tomorrow.

Urgent,

Below is an itinerary of Larry Baldock's movements across the country this week, bit late with this notice however if you can attend any of these meetings it will be fruitful. There was a meeting in Christchurch and it did link more good folk together, many hands make light work.

Dec 12th Petition training and FNZ Meeting The Silverstream Reformed Church 8 Blue Mts Rd, Silverstream at 7-45pm
Dec 13th Petition training and FNZ Meeting Masterton Community Church lounge at 7pm-9pm

Dec 14th Training session for Petition collectors Palmerston North. Contact Yvonne Walton for Details 063576646

Dec 15th Petition training and FNZ Meeting Chapel Hill Church Hamilton contact Anton Roest 078554380

regards
Larry

Below is some events this weekend, ALL COORDINATORS WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR HELP

Wellington
Contact lowerhutt@unityforliberty.net.nz

Hawkes Bay
We're looking at going to the Dannevirke Christmas Parade next Saturday
Contact hawkesbay@unityforliberty.net.nz

Christchurch
There are several tables around town,
Contact chch@unityforliberty.net.nz

West Coast
hopefully another two tables in Greymouth on the 14th. These will all be outside supermarkets, so I'm hoping frazzled, stressed-out Christmas shoppers will take the time to sign.
Contact chch@unityforliberty.net.nz

Catlins
Contact catlins@unityforliberty.net.nz
There are several tables and activities around the Auckland area, we need to know who is interested to assist as to coordinate these events. Please contact your local coordinator

Auckland craig@unityforliberty.net.nz
North Shore northshore@unityforliberty.net.nz
Rodney rodney@unityforliberty.net.nz

Thanks,
Craig Hill
021 746 113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

Media

2007-12-12T17:06:00.000+13:00

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10480677

CYFS too quick to take kids, says study
5:00AM Thursday December 06, 2007
By Simon Collins

Former CYFS chief social worker Mike Doolan.
The Government's top social workers say a "culture of blame" over child abuse is driving social workers into taking children from their families to avoid any risk of being blamed if things go wrong.

Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) chief social worker, Dr Marie Connolly, and her predecessor Mike Doolan say "sensationalist" media coverage of high-profile child deaths is making social workers less willing to trust the families of the children referred to them.

The number of children and young people in CYFS care has risen by half this decade, from 3533 in 1999-2000 to 5191 at the end of last year, despite an actual decline in child deaths from 1.07 a year for every 100,000 children in the 1990s to 0.79 a year in the first five years of this decade.

In a new book on child homicide, Dr Connolly and Mr Doolan call for a move away from the "culture of blame" to what they call a "public health model of welfare" which targets the whole range of factors that lead people to harm children.

In a foreword, the director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection, Dorothy Scott, calls for specific moves to:

* Cut problem drinking by raising alcohol prices, restricting advertising and tightening parents' control of their children's drinking.

* Make sure health services reach all new mothers and catch post-natal depression.

* Work proactively with vulnerable men in custody disputes.

A detailed study of nine cases where CYFS was involved before children were killed found that three of the cases followed Family Court custody hearings.

In one case, a father killed his child just hours after the court ordered him to transfer custody to the mother.

In another case, a mother agreed to transfer custody to the father, but the father "reported significant management difficulties with the child" and killed her two weeks later.

Although all nine case studies involved families where the parents had split, the broader analysis of all 91 children killed in New Zealand between 1991 and 2000 found that more than half the children died at the hands of their biological parents - 30 per cent fathers and 24 per cent mothers.

Only 18 per cent were killed by step-parents and the other 28 per cent were killed by other relatives, acquaintances or strangers.

Almost two-thirds of the children killed were preschoolers and a quarter were under 1 - a fact the book attributes to "their physical vulnerability, their total dependence on adults, and their capacity to cry incessantly and drive an exhausted/enraged parent to act in ways that they normally would not".

Yet despite these cases, the book strongly endorses the current law that requires social workers to keep children within the extended family whenever possible. But in the book, Dr Connolly and Mr Doolan say that every high-profile child death review has led to tightening managerial controls over social workers which have made them less willing to risk leaving children with their families.

NZ CHILD HOMICIDES
1991-2000

WHO DIED
Boys 53 per cent
Girls 46 per cent
Unknown (unborn child) 1 per cent
0-1 year old 26 per cent
1-4 years old 37 per cent
5-10 years old 19 per cent
11-14 years old 18 per cent
Maori 52 per cent
Pakeha 39 per cent
Asian 4 per cent
Samoan 3 per cent
Unknown 2 per cent

HOW THEY DIED
Battered 47 per cent
Stabbed/knifed 20 per cent
Strangled/suffocated 19 per cent
Poisoned 5 per cent
Drowned 3 per cent
Shot 2 per cent
Neglected 2 per cent
Unknown 1 per cent

WHO KILLED THEM
Men 66 per cent
Women 34 per cent
Biological fathers 30 per cent
Biological mothers 24 per cent
De facto step-parents 18 per cent
Other relatives 9 per cent
Neighbours/acquaintances 6 per cent
Non-family caregivers 2 per cent
Boarders 1 per cent
Strangers 6 per cent
Unknown 4 per cent

Source: Connolly & Doolan, Lives Cut Short.

* Lives Cut Short, by Marie Connolly and Mike Doolan, Dunmore Publishing for the Children's Commissioner, $24.95.

Family First Comment : This is an own goal for CYF and the Children's Commissioner who are marketing this book. It backs up what we have been saying - that we need an independent CYF Complaints Authority because CYF have been too quick to separate families rather than strengthen them. It also highlights that at-risk families should be resourced and supported - not dealt the heavy hand of the law through ineffective anti-smacking laws. Yes - let's target drug and alcohol abuse, support of young and solo mums, and proactive action where there is domestic violence and custody disputes. Target the real causes of child abuse and leave good parents alone!

http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/media_centre/recent_news/news/cyfs_too_quick_to_take_kids__says_study_2.html

Coming Events

2007-12-12T07:55:00.000+13:00

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update for the team in Christchurch. (Auckland & Otago people, I'm forwarding this on to you also to keep you in the loop :)

We had a motivating meeting with Larry and Barbara Baldock on Monday night where we discussed plans for serving our community by gathering signatures for the referendum in Christchurch.

We were reminded that there are thousands of people out there who want to sign, it's just up to us to go out there and put the petition in front of them so they can sign it.

We're at 236,100 signatures currently (See the "signature thermometer" on the Unity for Liberty website for the most recent count).

This Saturday - come on guys, lets hit Christchurch with at least three tables. Lets go from about 9:30am til 2:30pm, with people most welcome to stay later if they like, but the best time is around the lunch-hour, when the city really gets bustling. I've got 3 tables, plenty of signs, plenty of petition boards and pens. We just need you guys now, so get back to me asap, as I need to book a couple of spots with the City Council.

Let's get Saturday out of the way, and then we can plan for getting tables at the big events coming up in January and February.

Come on Canterbury, Let's blow Auckland out of the water with our signature count for this Saturday! Auckland guys, the pressure is on!!!

Great to meet those that were at the meeting, thanks so much for coming along, keen to get involved!

Remember, "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke."

Kind Regards,
Andy Moore
www.equipbiz.co.nz
phone: 021 1140 751 or 357 4599
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz
God Defend New Zealand.

FI - 324

2007-12-12T07:26:00.000+13:00

12 December 2007 Family Integrity #324 -- U4L; Quick update

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 8:38 PM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L; Quick update

Hi All,

A quick update, two more emails this week, one will be upcoming events and the second will be our click it, sign it, send it (nicknamed "Pass on the lady in the Greens Tent".)

Let's take our hats off to Jono from the West Coast, he emailed this week informing us of his table last Saturday. He came home with 201 signatures. Well done.

Here are the totals:

West Coast 201
Hawkes Bay 120
Porirua 100
Wellington 39
Manurewa 80
Auckland includes

Papatoetoe Parade
Mangere Parade
Pukekohe Parade
Papakura Parade
Te Kauwhata A&P
Christmas in the Park 1650

Total 2190

Cheers,
Craig Hill
021 746 113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

Media

2007-12-11T08:46:00.000+13:00

Look what the global warming myth leads to:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4318992a12.html

Should Aussie parents be taxed for extra kids?
AAP | Tuesday, 11 December 2007

Couples who have more than two children should be charged a lifelong tax to offset their extra offspring's carbon dioxide emissions, a medical expert says.

A new report published in an Australian medical journal has called for parents to be charged $5,000 ($NZ5700) a head for every child after their second, and an annual tax of up to $800 every year thereafter.

And couples who get sterilised would be eligible for carbon credits under the controversial proposal.

Perth specialist Professor Barry Walters is heavily critical of the $4,000 baby bonus, saying that paying new parents extra for every baby fuels more children, more emissions and "greenhouse-unfriendly behaviour".

Instead, it should be replaced with a "baby levy" in the form of a carbon tax in line with the "polluter pays" principle, he wrote in the latest Medical Journal of Australia.

"Every family choosing to have more than a defined number of children should be charged a carbon tax that would fund the planting of enough trees to offset the carbon cost generated by a new human being," said Prof Walters, an obstetrician at King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth.

Sustainable Population Australia suggested a maximum of two, he said.

By the same reasoning, contraceptives like diaphragms and condoms, as well as sterilisation procedures, should attract carbon credits, the specialist said.

"As doctors, I believe we need to think this way," he wrote in a letter to the journal.

"As Australians I believe we need to be less arrogant.

"As citizens of the world, I believe we deserve no more population concessions than those in India or China."

Professor Garry Egger, director of the NSW Centre for Health Promotion and Research, agreed with the call, saying former treasurer Peter Costello's request for three children per family - "one for mum, one for dad and one for the country" - was too single-minded.

"Population remains crucial to all environmental considerations," wrote Prof Eggers, a leading advocate of the personal carbon trading debate.

"The debate (around population control) needs to be reopened as part of a second ecological revolution."

Family groups have rejected the calls, saying larger families use less energy than smaller ones and therefore should not be penalised.

Media

2007-12-10T06:38:00.000+13:00

This is adding to the problems we have with dysfunctional families in New Zealand.
Fathers not carrying out their responsibilities -- hundreds of them.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4317969a10.html

Wealthy dads not paying for kids
By BEN FAWKES - The Dominion Post | Monday, 10 December 2007

Hundreds of "delinquent dads" earning six-figure salaries are shirking their child support obligations, refusing to stump up cash to provide for their children.

Information obtained by The Dominion Post under the Official Information Act shows there are 326 parents earning more than $100,000 who are behind in their child support payments.

Meanwhile, thousands more on lower incomes are in arrears, with the Inland Revenue Department chasing almost $1.2 billion in unpaid child support.

The department refused to disclose the salaries of the top10 highest-earning defaulters, citing the secrecy provision of the Tax Administration Act, but it said that income liable for child support assessment was generally capped at $104,312.

There are currently 1248 parents assessed at or beyond this upper limit, meaning a quarter of those high earners are electing not to pay.

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said he was appalled by the amount of child support debt outstanding, particularly from those on high incomes.

"I can't believe people could be so callous or indifferent towards their children," he said.

"[It is] money not going to dependent children. I don't think you can offer any excuse for people on high incomes not meeting their responsibilities."

He said new tax legislation due to be passed in Parliament this week would give government agencies greater data matching powers, to track people with child support debt who left the country.

He said the department was also looking at Australian procedures for ensuring high-earners paid child support, to see whether similar policies could be applied in New Zealand.

National Party welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins said it was time for the Government to get tough on errant fathers. The department should pursue child support defaulters more aggressively by seizing their assets, such as boats, houses and cars, in lieu of payment, she said.

The defaulters' former partners would, in many cases, be able to provide the department with information about any assets they held.

Blenheim woman Katrina Ferris said she had not received any financial support for her 12-year-old son, Duncan, from her former boyfriend since October 2006.

She believes he is in Australia, possibly working in forestry or mining. "I expect he's in Australia on good money, I'm 99.9 per cent sure of that.

"Duncan has never even received a Christmas card."

Mrs Ferris said her former partner had declared himself a beneficiary for the past 11 years, meaning she only ever received a small monthly sum.

"At the most I was only ever getting $30 to $40 a month ... it does not even buy milk."

Media

2007-12-09T21:37:00.000+13:00

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00093.htm

Questionable smacking case before the court
Sunday, 9 December 2007, 2:45 pm
Press Release: The Family Party

http://www.thefamilyparty.org.nz

The Family Party is raising concerns over the arrest and prosecution of a single father of four, who has been charged with assaulting his 11-year-old son under the new anti-smacking legislation.

The Nelson Mail reports the man ‘hit’ his son on the bottom with a wooden spoon for disobedience. He is also alleged to have ‘clipped’ the boy around the face. The boy later called the police and the father was arrested, handcuffed and put before the courts. He is now barred from associating with his son until he next appears before the court. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4315830a11.html refers.

“Without knowing the full circumstances of this case it is difficult to comment on criminal liability, particularly with regards to the ‘clip around the face’ allegation. But for all we know, it could have been a clip around the ear, which many of us got at some stage growing up from a parent, school teacher or even the local constable. My concern is that we could have a decent father trying to raise four children on his own, who is now facing the full force of the justice system for administering discipline in his own home according to his Christian values,” says Mr Lewis.

Mr Lewis emphasised a cautious approach to the case without knowing the full circumstances but noted the fathers comment about only occasionally using the wooden spoon when his son's behaviour was particularly bad. Lewis also points out that the use of emotive words (in reporting) such as ‘hit’ don’t necessarily reflect the true circumstances of the case.

“There was quite possibly a better way to handle this situation without arresting a father of four and throwing him in the clanger! But that’s what repealing Section 59 was all about,” Mr Lewis added.

ends

Media

2007-12-09T14:54:00.000+13:00

http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/08/stories/2007120853521300.htm

French parents back smacking

Emilie Boyer King

Most French children are used to the odd spank from their parents, and many think there is nothing wrong with that, a new survey suggests. An Internet poll by the Paris-based Union of Families in Europe (UFE), an organisation which defends families’ rights in France, shows that 65 per cent of children in France think la fessee — French for a smack on the bottom — is a normal part of their upbringing, with more than half thinking they de serve it.

Spanking is certainly central in a French education if the survey is anything to go by. More than 95 per cent of the 2,000 grandparents, parents, and children polled said they had been spanked at some point in their lives.

A nationwide poll carried out nearly 10 years ago revealed that more than 85 per cent of French parents spanked their children compared with 87 per cent in the new survey. While spanking may still be popular in France, other forms of punishment, such as a slap on the cheek or a kick are rarely used and are considered dangerous by many parents, the survey showed.

— ©Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2007

Blog - drlaura

2007-12-08T07:42:00.001+13:00

This is a very interesting blog from the US. It backs up what we were saying here during the Section 59 debate.

http://www.drlaura.com/blog/2007/12/06/child-abuse-more-likely-in-shack-up-relationships/

Child Abuse More Likely in Shack-Up Relationships
December 6, 2007

When a woman wishes to diminish her own value (as well as that of the covenant of marriage) by cohabitating with a man who is not willing to make the vow of committing his life to her, it’s a shame. When a woman with children does so, it too often becomes a crime.

Thirty years ago, nearly 80% of America’s children lived with both their Mommy and Daddy, who were married. Now, only two-thirds of them do. Of all families with children, nearly 30% are now one-parent families, up from 17% in 1977. The net result is instability, neglect, and the likelihood that children will be in homes with adults who have no biological tie to them.

Children living in homes with unrelated adults are nearly fifty times as likely to die of inflicted injuries as are children living with their bio-parents. (Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005). Children of single parents had a 77% greater risk of being harmed by physical abuse than children living with both parents (National Incidence Study, 1996). Children living in stepfamilies, or with single parents are at higher risk of physical or sexual assault than children living with their bio-parents (University of New Hampshire’s Crimes Against Children Research Center). Girls whose parents divorce are at significantly higher risk of sexual assault, regardless of which bio-parent they live with (Family Law, Washington and Lee University).

It is righteous to judge the lifestyles of people who have children, because the results of their choices can result in harm (psychological, physical or sexual), as well as death to innocent children. “Six year old Oscar Jimenez, Jr. was beaten to death in California, then buried under fertilizer and cement. Two year old Devon Shackleford drowned in an Arizona swimming pool. Jayden Cangro, also two, died after being thrown across a room in Utah. In each case, as in many others every year, the alleged or convicted perpetrator had been the boyfriend of the child’s mother. (Associated Press, November 18, 2007).

The recent “Baby Grace” case was no different. According to news reports, the mother’s boyfriend beat the child to death because the child didn’t address him politely.

I am firm in my beliefs and advice that young women, pregnant out-of-wedlock, need to consider adoption as in the best interest of the child, and that divorced parents should not marry again until the children are grown (and if they do, they shouldn’t marry someone with children or create more children, because they will be sidelining their own children)......

To read more go to:
http://www.drlaura.com/blog/2007/12/06/child-abuse-more-likely-in-shack-up-relationships/

Media

2007-12-07T15:08:00.000+13:00

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4315830a11.html

Dad argues for right to hit son
By SALLY KIDSON - The Nelson Mail | Friday, 07 December 2007

SPARE THE ROD: Rowan Flynn of Nelson is prepared to go to jail to assert his right to smack his four children.

A Nelson father charged with assaulting his son, in one of the region's first prosecutions under a controversial new child discipline law, says he is prepared to go to jail for his right as a parent and a Christian to hit his child.

Rowan Flynn has been charged with two counts of assaulting his 11-year-old son under the new legislation, which came into effect in June and removed a parent's right to use "reasonable force" when discipling a child.

The 52-year-old denied the charges when he appeared in the Nelson District Court this week, and has chosen to have a judge and jury hear the case.

Mr Flynn, who has four children, told the Nelson Mail his son called the police two weeks ago after he hit the boy.

Mr Flynn disputes the police summary of facts. He estimated that he hit his son five times on the bottom with a wooden spoon after he was disobedient, and said it was a "tiny issue" that blew up.

While the police visited him at home to talk to him, they did not take any action at that stage, he said.

"But I made it quite clear to the cop that if it was needed again, I would smack."

Mr Flynn said that about a week later, he "clipped" his son around the face.

Several days later, he was at home cooking dinner when the police arrived and he was arrested.

Mr Flynn said he wanted to speak out about his case because he thought he would not have been charged under the old law.

"I believe very strongly in smacking as a form of discipline. I'm a Christian, and believe it's what I've been commanded to do.

"I'm not going to lay down and take it. I'm going to kick and scream to the very end."

He said he only occasionally used the wooden spoon, when his son's behaviour was particularly bad.

He believed that passages in the Bible gave him the right to use the spoon, or "rod".

"Parents must have the right to correct their children and give them a good whack if that's what they need.

"All this law is doing is making criminals out of good parents. I'm not afraid to say `I smack my kids'."

He believed that smacking was effective because it was an immediate form of discipline.

"We have to have it there, because the kids just know they can get away with anything if it isn't there as a punishment.

"I don't beat my kids. I don't thrash them.

"This new law is going to destroy families. It's already started."

Mr Flynn, who is separated from his wife, said his son had been living with him under an informal arrangement until he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Mr Flynn was granted bail but refused to sign the bail bond because of a condition that he not contact his son. He said he was handcuffed, searched and spent several hours in a holding cell before being released. He intends to appeal the bail condition, and is due back in court on January 18.

Nelson Bays police area commander Inspector Brian McGurk declined to comment on the prosecution, other than to say it had always been illegal for a parent to assault a child.

A 33-year-old Masterton man recently became the first parent convicted under the new legislation. Last month, he was sentenced to nine months' supervision and counselling for grabbing his son and smacking him three times.

Green MP Sue Bradford, who campaigned for the legislation, said the law had changed to put the rights of a child to be free of violence before the rights of the parent.

"What the law is about is protecting babies, children and young people from violence."

Ms Bradford said there were many alternatives to hitting children.

"It's a huge fallacy to think that beating them is helping them. It's hurting and humiliating them."

FI - 323

2007-12-05T20:02:00.000+13:00

5 December 2007 - Family Integrity #323 -- U4L, More events, Two hard working teams

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 4:57 PM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L, More events, Two hard working teams

Hi All,

Urgent, Urgent, Urgent.

Signature call up, if you have any stray signatures sitting around the house could you please send them in. We will even accept signature bombs, thats 500 plus. There is a wonderful opportunity at hand, a public announcement 250,000 signatures before Christmas, YES thats a whole quarter of a million signatures, will make a good headline.
Post to C/O Larry Baldock
P O Box 9228
Greerton
Tuaranga

Encouraging news,
Just been speaking to Lynne from North Shore, the small team there are planning to work their table again, time and date to be confirmed. For those who are unaware, Lynne has a huge pre Christmas workload and certain commitments she has to meet. Truth is, Lynne really did not have the time to commit to the November challenge, however she placed her hand to the plow and their team has been rewarded with the busiest roadside table of the challenge. Well Done.

More Events this Weekend from two very hard working teams.

Here are some more events this weekend, we also encourage coordinators to use http://christiannews.co.nz/Forum/ to help advertise events. This gives you the opportunity to update and delete as required.

On this note we also encourage all recipients to use this site for updated local event information.

From Stephen and Angela

The Hawkes Bay team would appreciate volunteers for Sat 8th Dec Waipukurau Christmas Parade, 9 - 2pm, Central Hawkes Bay.

Contact hawkesbay@unityforliberty.net.nz

From Wayne

Hi Craig. We have got coming up 'Carols in the Park' at Harcourt Park in Upper Hutt, 7 -9pm.

Contact lowerhutt@unityforliberty.net.nz

Thanks for all your efforts,

Craig Hill
PS I have just finished night shift and take no responsibility for creative speling errirs, chEErs!!!!

mob 21746113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

Media

2007-12-04T18:17:00.000+13:00

MEDIA RELEASE
4 December 2007

It’s OK to Smack – American College of Pediatricians
The American College of Pediatricians (ACP), a national medical association of licensed physicians and healthcare professionals who specialise in the care of infants, children, and adolescents has released a position statement on the smacking of children.

“This research backs up the argument put forward by Family First and other pro-family groups against Sue Bradford’s anti-smacking law,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First.

“The ACP reviewed the available research on corporal punishment and concluded that disciplinary smacking by parents can be effective when properly used. They say that the evidence suggests that it can be a useful and necessary part of a successful disciplinary plan when not relied upon solely to control their child’s behaviour.”
“They say that smacking is most appropriate with children 2 to 6 years old, and when milder types of correction have failed.”

The ACP has published a one page handout for parents titled “Guidelines for Parental Use of Disciplinary Spanking.” This can be viewed here:
http://www.acpeds.org/index.cgi?BISKIT=1607656558&CONTEXT=cat&cat=10040

They have also published an extensive review of the scientific literature on smacking.

Family First is welcoming this balanced, objective and thorough research on the issue of smacking by professionals.

“It flies in the face of the blind ideology peddled by the UN, politicians, Children’s Commissioner, and child welfare agencies who have failed to identify and deal with the real causes of child abuse,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Family First continues to call on both the government and other political parties to change the current law on smacking so that parents who use the types of smacking recommended by the ACP are not committing a criminal act, and not be at the mercy of police discretion or unwarranted CYF investigation.
ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie JP - NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42

FI - 322

2007-12-04T16:53:00.000+13:00

3 December 2007 - Family Integrity #322 -- U4L; November Review & Upcoming Events

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 10:57 AM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L; November Review

Hi All,

A quick review of The Great New Zealand Table Challenge.

November started a little slow but then came home with a rush, the last two weeks tallied at 13,400 which gives us a recorded total for the month at 16,383. This total does not include others who are not on our list and those folk who have taken cards for family and friends to sign.

My November estimate tallies over 20,000 signatures. Not bad.

Can the South Island get blood out of a stone? Answer YES.

Here it is. Well done, you're leading the way. Per capita you must be well in front, congratulations from the North. Enough said, that hurt so let's move on.

The change in comments from around the country have been very encouraging, many of these are now "We can do this, We are now in the home straight and It's only 65,000 to go". We still need to place our hands to the plow, the difference is that we now know the grand total is achievable.

I give a big thankyou to all who have helped through the month of November, it is your efforts that make writing this email such a pleasure.

From a very humbled servant,

Craig Hill
021746113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

Upcoming Events

Hi All,

Announcement, Check out our new signature thermometer here http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/.

Action Alert for the Week.

Auckland (Please let me know of your availability, helps with planning, times to be confirmed)

Wednesday Night - Old Papatoetoe Christmas Parade

Thursday Night - Mangere Christmas Parade

Friaday Night - Papakura Carols in the Park
- Pukekohe Christmas Parade

Saturday -Te Kawahata A&P Show
- Christmas in the Park (AUCKLAND)
- Papakura Christmas Parade
- Papakura Movie in the Park
- Manurewa Christmas in the Park

Contact Craig on 021746113 or craig@unityforliberty.net.nz

Southland
Gore with Daniel tomorrow,
Lawrence Thusday
Dunedin Friday or Saturday in the Mall.

contact Natalie catlins@unityforliberty.net.nz

More events for this weekend with be coming out soon.

Future initiative,
Unity for Liberty will be releasing a click it, sign it, send it email. When you receive it please forward to others.

thanks,
Craig
021746113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

Media

2007-12-04T14:48:00.000+13:00

It's Okay for Parents to Spank

MEDIA ADVISORY, Dec. 3 /Christian Newswire/ -- The American College of Pediatricians carefully reviewed the available research on corporal punishment and concludes, in its position statement on the subject, that disciplinary spanking by parents can be effective when properly used. "It is clear that parents should not solely rely upon disciplinary spanking to accomplish control of their child's behavior. Evidence suggests that it can be a useful and necessary part of a successful disciplinary plan," notes the just-released position statement.

"When a child defies a parent's instruction, spanking is one of a few options parents can consider to correct the misbehavior," says Den Trumbull, MD, FCP, principal author of the statement. "Spanking is most appropriate with children 2 to 6 years old, and when milder types of correction have failed."

The complete policy and position statements with guidelines can be found at http://www.ACPeds.org

The American College of Pediatricians is a national medical association of licensed physicians and healthcare professionals who specialize in the care of infants, children, and adolescents. The mission of the College is "to enable all children to reach their optimal, physical and emotional health and well- being." We promote "a society where all children from the moment of their conception are valued unselfishly." The College further notes, "that children are the future of our nation and society."

FI - 321

2007-11-30T19:24:00.000+13:00

30 November 2007 - Family Integrity #321 -- Petition tables

-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Robinson [mailto:w.robinson@clear.net.nz]
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 4:18 PM
To: Craig Smith
Subject: RE: Petition tables

HELP!!

The Wellington region desperately needs volunteers to man tables to collect signatures for the referendum against the anti-smacking bill. At present there are too few of us trying to canvas the whole region. Some folk have taken up the challenge but we need more folk to cover various areas of Wellington city and the Hutt Valley etc.

Those of us who are doing it are spreading ourselves thin trying to get the signatures.

I will coordinate those who are willing but we need numbers on the ground to make this effective in our area.

Please help. Those who are willing and able can contact me on w.robinson@clear.net.nz ; home Ph. 9775501 or Mob 021 308 679.

Regards
Wayne

FI - 320

2007-11-30T09:23:00.000+13:00

30 November 2007 - Family Integrity #320 -- U4L; COMING ACTIVITIES

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 8:06 AM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L; COMING ACTIVITIES

Hi All,

I apologize for the late notice of events this weekend, I encourage all coordinators to also use http://christiannews.co.nz/Forum/ to advertise local events.

Friendly Reminder - If you have any signatures at home could you please post them to Larry Baldock so we can attain an accurate count. Address is on the petition forms

For the week coming starting from the South

Contact catlins@unityforliberty.net.nz to help Natalie in her efforts
Sat Dunedin/ Nat and Santa's helpers
Tues Gore/ Daniel and Nat
Thurs Lawrence/ Nat
Fri Dunedin?/ Nat/ Katie/ Anna?/ ??/

Christchurch - Targeting a cycling event and a 50's plus expo. Contact chch@unityforliberty.net.nz for more details

Larry Baldock is targeting the A&P Show at Fielding, you can contact him on 021864833

Auckland - we are trying to run tables at Howick and Pukekohe on Saturday morning, then it's the Electoral Finance Bill March at 2pm Queen St at 2pm
Contact craig@unityforliberty.net.nz

Old Papatoetoe - there is also a Christmas Parade on Wed night, time to be confirmed.

If you can assist with these events we would love to hear from you

We will be sending an update on Mon/Tues about the following weeks events, please let us know of any in your area.

Thanks for efforts of all those who have already placed their hands to the plow already.

Craig Hill

021746113
craig@unityforliberty.net.nz

"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke

Media

2007-11-29T09:42:00.000+13:00

MEDIA RELEASE
29 November 2007

Daughter (16) Hidden from Parents Under Privacy Act

Family First is blasting the effects of the Privacy Act which has meant that a Manukau City family has been unable to find out where their runaway daughter is.

“It is a disgrace that the role of parents and the right of parents to know where their children are, is being undermined by privacy legislation and the so-called rights of children,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“This is not a dysfunctional home where the child is unsafe. This is not a family who don’t care – in fact they have spent hours roaming the street since the November 6 disappearance of their 16 year old daughter. Yet despite all that, the police are protecting the whereabouts of the daughter. The parents have been left in the dark. According to the Manukau Courier the police are saying that a young person under 17 can dictate whether their parents are told where they are.”

“Politicians, with the support of the UN, Children’s Commissioner and Youth Law Project to name a few, have sought to increase children’s rights without considering the vital role of parents, and ways of strengthening families rather than splitting them.”

“On one hand, a parent is responsible for the actions and costs of their child in the community and school, but at the same time their role is being undermined by criminalising effective methods of parental correction, providing the Independent Youth Benefit, provision of contraception and abortion without the consent or even knowledge of the parents, and the recent example of a school dobbing in a parent to CYF for giving their child a light smack.”

“The Privacy Act and children’s rights are being used as a blunt instrument against parents,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“If the government wants parents to be responsible parents, the law must firstly respect their authority and role.”

ENDS
For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie JP - National Director
Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42

FI - 319

2007-11-28T18:19:00.000+13:00

28 November 2007 - Family Integrity #319 -- Good week down south

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Moore [mailto:chch@unityforliberty.net.nz]
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 3:53 PM
Subject: Good week down south

Hi Southerners,

We had a good number of volunteers at the Balclutha A&P Show.
Katie took the day - hardly staying at the table at all. She brought in 241 signatures by herself, absolutely blowing us away!
Running from 9:30am til about 4:00pm, we collected 980 signatures - approximately 20%of the 5,000 strong crowd at the Show!

Natalie, our Otago coordinator from the Catlins says...
"Very exciting week for us down here just wonderful to see people climbing on board now. Great to see people are more aware of the petition, very lucky to get lots of exposure over the radio on the lead up to the show . That is due to each and everyone of you all getting out there and spending time with the people. We had some wonderful helpers from Christchurch, Dunedin and Mosgiel at the Show.

A big thank you to each of you, we are truly grateful to have the Moore Family who are out there travelling around New Zealand. Craig thank you for your humour and encouragement.Katie great stuff you have a real gift, keep it up.Thankfully we weren't placed next to the Greens Tent , like in Christchurch Sue Bradford would have been wrapped that I had lost my vocal capacity. Just great to meet people out there with a team of great people, makes it an enjoyable day. Went to Gore last week great response and will be there next week on Tuesday 4th December, do you want a ride? I told Bill English that he would be seeing a lot more of us down his way.

I am looking for people to help in Invercargill in the next two weeks I can pick up and transport people from Balclutha or you could meet me in the Catlins and we will do the Southern Scenic Route down and make a day of it bring a packed lunch... and togs?

I will be in Blenheim, four weeks in total and I am keen to have some happy face's come along and give a hand.

Centre City Mall have plenty of free spaces for us to target the Mall next week let me know what day may suit you and I will book it and come up, they have the yummiest fudge there! ( join me and the fudge will be on me ) Let me know by Friday this week please. 03 41 58243. Looking forward to many more fun times with you all."

-----------------------------------------------

Back in Christchurch, a team of three hit the town. Late afternoon, they headed over to the Coca Cola Christmas in the Park concert, and then on Sunday morning they went to Riccarton Market. Bringing in 758 signatures, they did extremely well for such a small team! It does make you think though - how many signatures did we miss out on because we didn't have enough volunteers at the Concert?

Our strategy for the coming months is really going to be just hitting these events, such as A&P shows and other concerts.

Also, it is important to keep up the weekly tables as these keep a steady flow of signatures flying up to Larry Baldock's office in Tauranga.

If you can help - or if you know someone who might be able to help, please get back to me. What we are finding more and more, is that there are plenty of people who are happy to sign - we just need the volunteers to bring in these signatures - and it's so easy! If we don't get a few more volunteers however, the statistics are not in our favour: we will not make the required number of signatures by the cut off date.

As always, please forward this on to anyone who you think may be interested!

And remember the words of Edmund Burke: "All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing".

Kind Regards,
Andy Moore
phone: 021 1140 751
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz
God Defend New Zealand.

Coming Events

2007-11-27T23:25:00.000+13:00

27 Nov 2007

From Family First

If the Electoral Finance Bill is pushed through next week in its current form, we believe it will severely limit the speech of community organisations, special interest groups and individuals in an election year. Yet at the same time political parties will be able to take large anonymous donations and large amounts of taxpayer funding

We believe voters have the same right to be heard as political parties.

Please join us as we

MARCH against the

Electoral Finance Bill

Victoria Square Christchurch Wednesday (tomorrow) 12.30pm

Auckland Town Hall, Queen St Saturday 2pm

CLICK HERE http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/index.cfm/EFB for more details about why we oppose the Bill

Groups like Family First and other pro-family groups, churches and community groups will be significantly muzzled and restricted by this legislation - and for the whole of 2008! During an election year, we need to be able to promote and debate the pro-life, pro-family and pro-marriage messages.

Speak up now – before it’s too late

ps - if you are attending these marches and are available to assist in carrying our large banner, please email bob@familyfirst.org.nz. The last group who did it were on TV1 News!!

http://www.familyfirst.org.nz

FI - 318

2007-11-27T20:57:00.000+13:00

27 November 2007 - Family Integrity #318 -- U4L; LAST WEEKS SIG COUNT

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 6:59 PM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L; LAST WEEKS SIG COUNT

Hi All,

Previous week update, another great week for the cause. A total of 6182 signatures for the week, WELL DONE ALL.

Larry Baldock has requested everyone post in all signatures, so he can get an accurate figure which will help encourage folk to continue collecting. We'll be posting the official count on the website when we get the next total.

We'll be sending out a Table Challenge report soon.

The best news that we are hearing of others who have been quietly working away, that means that our recorded total should be on the light side. Also people who are signing the petition seem to be willing to take our cards so they can download the forms themselves for family and friends to sign. Again this will make our recorded total light.

The top three belong to Natalie, who wrote: "Wow what a super week I was in Gore today and had a good response in 2.5 hrs I got 65 signatures and the day before a dear 77 year old got 181!!!"

Catlins 80
Gore 246
Balclutha 980

Howick 320
North Shore 414
Nelson 150
Porirua 100
Christchurch 758
Henderson 600
Hawke's Bay 498
Rodney 605
Taupo 750
Wellington 34
Papakura 100
Manurewa 240
Tauranga 170
Hamilton 240

weekly total: 6,285

That's above budget

Many hands make light work, Thank you very much.
Craig Hill
021746113
http;//www.unityforliberty.net.nz

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

Blog - section59.blogspot

2007-11-26T10:21:00.000+13:00

FROM: http://section59.blogspot.com/

Herald wrong on Anti-Smacking Law conclusions

The below article appeared in The Herald Editorial http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10478159, Sunday 25 November 07. All comments in bold are my own. I will just mention here that I am most impressed with The Herald's stand agains the Electoral Finance Bill http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/08/herald_on_electoral_finance_bill.html

----------------------------------------------------

The first conviction under the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 has probably realised the worst fear of those who opposed it: that, far from bringing an end to orderly family life as we know it, the law would be applied with wisdom and common sense and people would be stopped doing something they ought not do...

Incorrect. The recent case says nothing by itself. It is foolishness to look at one case and come to a conclusion on the workability of the new Anti-Smacking law. The Government, Police and CYFS have been very quiet in the months following the bill's passing into law. However let us give it one, or two years and we will begin to see the Nanny State horror of Sweden being imposed upon New Zealand families.

...The act, before it was passed in May, was better known as "Sue Bradford's Anti-smacking Bill". But its official name is a better one because it underlines the real intent: in changing section 59 of the Crimes Act,

Incorrect. The bill was labelled by Sue Bradford herself as an "Anti-Smacking bill".

...it removed the protection available to parents - and to no one else - against a charge of assault...

Incorrect. Section (1) of the original law read:
"Every parent of a child and, subject to subsection (3) of this section, every person in the place of the parent of a child is justified in using force by way of correction towards the child, if the force used is reasonable in the circumstances."

...Opponents of the law predicted many dire consequences: that busybodies would tell on their neighbours and police would have no choice but to prosecute; that CYFS would be swamped with notifications relating to loving parents who gave a toddler a tap; that decent Mums and Dads would find the wrathful state marching through their living rooms.

But what has come to pass is precisely what Bradford had hoped, intended and predicted: Ministry of Social Development figures show no increase in numbers of notifications that can be related back to the passage of the bill (by contrast, an increase in awareness prompted by the "It's Not OK" publicity about family violence has resulted in a rise in reporting). Meanwhile police, following up neighbour reports of parents smacking their children, have determined that no assault has occurred.

Whether or not parents are prosecuted for smacking their children is almost beside the point. The fact is that it is illegal for parents to smack their children for the purpose of correction. This places families at the mercy of the State. This new law gives more power to CYFS to intervene in cases where good parents have smacked their children - not beaten them.

In some cases, these neighbour reports may have been petty or spiteful, or even the actions of people trying (and failing) to highlight what they saw as bad law. But, as child protection groups cogently argue, no harm was done: the reported behaviour might have been the tip of an abuse iceberg. Those who speak of trauma and insecurity caused to good families might want to measure it against the trauma and insecurity experienced by James Whakaruru and Delcelia Witika, among others.

Bob McCoskrie of Family First wants the National Party to change the smacking law so that good parents are not "criminalised for lightly smacking their children". But the plain evidence is that this is not happening. Certainly it is not what happened in the case of the Masterton man convicted this week. He smacked his son three times on the backside for misbehaving at school, in the process manhandling the boy sufficiently to leave bruises on his shoulder. He himself admitted that he had over-reacted and lost his temper - and he has agreed to undergo anger-management counselling for which the state will pay.

It is hard to imagine a better outcome - or a plainer demonstration of the law working as it should. Those who see here the spectre of the state intruding into private lives cannot avoid admitting that they would rather see the state clean up after a child is killed. That is the logical extension of a social and legal environment in which it is all right for parents to beat children.

Even the New Zealand Herald falls into the trap of using emotive terms to push a point. No, it was not "all right for parents to beat children" under the old law. Reasonable force is not the same as a beating.

The man's partner has commented pointedly that the young boy concerned is "playing on" his father's conviction. It is hard to imagine such smugness surviving a couple of nights without television or something similar, but in any case, as the judge said, kids can be challenging and adults have to behave responsibly if they want their children to.

This law may have been unpopular but evidence of the widely predicted unintended consequences is pitifully thin. In less than a generation, we will look back and wonder why we waited so long to pass it.

"We" did not pass this law. Our Parliament passed it against the will of approximately 83% of us. The majority of New Zealanders are still unhappy with the new law.

FI - 317

2007-11-23T19:41:00.000+13:00

23 November 2007 - Family Integrity #317 -- U4L, upcoming weekend events

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 8:23 AM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L, upcoming weekend events

Hi All,

Up coming events and news (I apologize for the late notice)

IF YOU HAVE CONTACTS IN THESE AREAS PLEASE FORWARD THESE DETAILS TO THEM, THANKYOU

Taupo- Larry Baldock is targeting the Taupo Bike Race, we have heard that this event attracts 20,000. If any volunteers are interested with helping it will be much appreciated. Please contact craighill@maxnet.co.nz for details.

Catlins- Natalie has organized a table at the Balclutha A&P Show this Saturday, and it's under cover. Any volunteers in the area please contact Natalie by e-mail catlins@unityforliberty.net.nz or craighill@maxnet.co.nz or mob 021746113

Nelson- We have a request from Jan, this is her request-Can anyone help me gather signatures for the petitions at Nelson A&P Show in Richmond this weekend, entry tickets provided. I'm 65 and not much use without support so I hope people can come while the news reports are fresh in their minds.
Yours sincerely,
Jan
Please contact me by either e-mailing craighill@maxnet.co.nz or mobile 021746113

Henderson- John is currently organising some tables at the Whanua Day Out run by the Ezekiel 33 Trust. Please contact me by either e-mailing craighill@maxnet.co.nz or mobile 021746113

Rodney- Arna is about to weave some more magic up there, she is looking at the Albany area as well. She can be contacted through rodney@unityforliberty.net.nz

Howick- Targeting a Christmas parade on Saturday at Picton Street, for more details contact me by either e-mailing craighill@maxnet.co.nz or mobile 021746113

The photos from the A&P Show are now on the web site, go and view the lady signing the petition in the Green Party tent, they were not happy. click here

Regards

Craig Hill

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

Coming Events

2007-11-23T18:33:00.000+13:00

IF YOU HAVE CONTACTS IN THESE AREAS PLEASE FORWARD THESE DETAILS TO THEM, THANKYOU

Taupo - Larry Baldock is targeting the Taupo Bike Race, we have heard that this event attracts 20,000. If any volunteers are interested with helping it will be much appreciated. Please contact craighill@maxnet.co.nz for details.

Catlins - Natalie has organized a table at the Balclutha A&P Show this Saturday, and it's under cover. Any volunteers in the area please contact Natalie by e-mail catlins@unityforliberty.net.nz or craighill@maxnet.co.nz or mob 021746113

Nelson - We have a request from Jan, this is her request-Can anyone help me gather signatures for the petitions at Nelson A&P Show in Richmond this weekend, entry tickets provided. I'm 65 and not much use without support so I hope people can come while the news reports are fresh in their minds.
Yours sincerely,
Jan
Please contact me by either e-mailing craighill@maxnet.co.nz or mobile 021746113

Henderson - John is currently organising some tables at the Whanua Day Out run by the Ezekiel 33 Trust. Please contact me by either e-mailing craighill@maxnet.co.nz or mobile 021746113

Rodney - Arna is about to weave some more magic up there, she is looking at the Albany area as well. She can be contacted through rodney@unityforliberty.net.nz

Howick - Targeting a Christmas parade on Saturday at Picton Street, for more details contact me by either e-mailing craighill@maxnet.co.nz or mobile 021746113

Blog - mandmandmandm

2007-11-23T13:36:00.000+13:00

From http://mandmandmandm.blogspot.com/

In the last 24 hours I have been following the debate over the father convicted of assault of his son. Predictably I have heard differing views from many people whose sense I respect. On the one hand I have heard that he was prosecuted for delivering three smacks. On the other I have heard that there were other factors, the man lost his temper and left bruises.

Reflecting on this has led me to wonder if there is more to this than the surface debate. Is this debate simply a symptom of a corruption of confidence that has occurred in the last few years (or even few months).

Under the old law we knew that a person accused of child abuse could argue that their act was reasonable in the circumstances. We knew also that 12 people, randomly selected from the population, screened for bias had examined the facts and we knew there were strict rules of evidence applied.

We also knew that the judiciary and police were independent of the government. And we knew that if an error was made we could appeal to higher independent tribunals if necessary. Hence if a person was prosecuted for "assaulting their child" we could have a degree of confidence they had done so unjustifiably. We also had some confidence that mistakes would be corrected. Of course the system was not perfect. It never is. But it was reliable.

Now we don't. There is no distinction between reasonable and reasonable force for correction in law. All force for correction no matter how minute is unreasonable under the letter of the law. We know that this is absurd and against common sense. However we are told that we do not have to worry because police can exercise discretion and we can trust them.

The problem is, many of the same people have just told us that the police cannot be trusted. In the last month we have been told that are police are racist and will accuse of terrorism without evidence often from the same community that supported appealing S 59.The greens have warned us that, under terrorism legislation that state have wide discretion that they can use the police to silence dissent apparently those in power can't be trusted to use commonsense in discretion. The Maori party has also told us that this police, whom can be trusted to exercise discretion, over react to allegations of violence and will proceed terrorize families and children in their zeal. Both these groups exhorted us to trust police discretion in their voting on s59. We know that only in the last 24 hours a high profile police officer, who has been dodged by rape charges for several years, has
resigned before he faced investigation on unspecified charges of misconduct.

We also know several of his colleagues have been convicted of rape. We also know that at least three MP's have committed assaults the police know it and they choose not to prosecute. We know that one of these MP's assaulted children while a teacher and this was not considered serious. We also know that the police seem to almost never prosecute labour MP's who commit crimes accept when those MP's are ones known to be offside with the PM. We also know however that they did try to Prosecute National MP Nick Smith and that merely owing 35$ to an MP warrants a police car to be dispatched to the creditors house. We also know that recently evidence suppressed by the courts was leaked to the media, and confident claims by people on the far
left is that that the police, whom these people assure us we can trust to not use their power unjustly, leaked the documents to subvert a fair trial.

As to the courts we have heard in the last 24 hours, again from the Greens, that the court may have convicted and innocent man for murder. We know also that the Privy Council overturned another murder conviction, one that had been subjected to intense review from all NZ's appeal courts, and described it as a miscarriage of justice. We also know that the privacy council has been scrapped, because the government considers it unnecessary, and that the ruling party now appoints the judges. We also are aware of evidence the court suppressed in the aforementioned police rape case may have lead to their conviction. We also suspect the courts have suppressed evidence which appears to provide a basis for thinking a group of people are terrorists.

We also have no idea what exactly our leaders consider reasonable or unreasonable force. We are told that violence is never OK. But that an MP who punches another will not face any serious ramification. We also know that a history of abusing children as a teacher does not disqualify you from being a government minister. While violence is never OK, we also are told that people who talk about killing pakeha, talk about engaging in armed insurgency, talk about assassinating people, also buy military weapons, dress as military soldiers and practice military style maneuvers are just mouthing of and it's an overreaction to think otherwise. Apparently activists on the left mouth off like this all the time. On the other hand we have heard that health professionals should should ask questions of all
women admitted to their care in order to screen for violence and abuse. And we know that these questions seem to work with a definition of abuse so broad that everyone is an abuser. Those on the left tell us that while it's unwarranted to gain warrants for phone taps and surveillance under terror legislation for the above mentioned "mouthing off" families need professionals to regularly monitor them to prevent potential violence.

We also have no clue what the law actually says or how it will be applied. We have just been informed this father would have been prosecuted even if the old law was in place. But they also told us that legislative change was necessary because the old law allowed people to beat their children with planks of wood and could get away with almost anything. They also told us that this law does not mean smacking is illegal. In addition they told us that smacking was already illegal and always had been.

And it's not just this law. We have been told that the terrorism suppression act was incoherent and impossible to apply. At the same time the MP's were voting on a slightly amended version of the act and it passed with an overwhelming majority. We have heard that the Electoral Finance Bill law is confusing and difficult to interpret and could threaten our civil liberties.

But that's OK because, you can trust the police the courts and the government to rely on the law of commonsense. As you see from the examples above what our MP's consider commonsense is difficult to discern.

In a fallen world violence is sometimes necessary. But it needs to be regulated. A civil society needs clear laws that the population can understand and which it's reasonable to think most people can obey.

Exceptions to these laws need to be understandable and not excessively complex to apply. These laws need to be applied impartially to all people regardless of their political allegiances and people who are governed by these laws need to be able to find out what they are. Most importantly we need to be able to trust those in authority to competently establish and maintain such a system. New Zealand is failing to do this. Our leaders in parliament are all over the place, and we have no idea whether those in charge can be trusted to do what they are supposed to do or even know what they are doing. For these reasons people justifiably do not trust the courts or the police to be sensible in prosecuting assaults nor do they trust legislators to pass adequate laws about assault and. And that is the real tragedy of this case.

Opportunity in Auckland this Saturday

2007-11-23T10:53:00.000+13:00

23 November 2007
To: Larry Baldock
Subject: Opportunity in Auckland this Sunday

Hi,

I just received this email from Max about a gathering in Pah’s Park this Saturday.

I realise it is short notice but can anyone respond to this opportunity??

15,000 people is a lot of people.

Hey Larry,

You might get a group to go to the Ezekiel 33 gathering at Pah's park Glen Eden this coming Saturday,...as from 10am thru to 6pm. There will be 15,000 people there..some folks in our church are running a prayer tent ,and doing outreach ...this kind of place could give you petition a great boost.

Max

Blog - nzconservative

2007-11-22T19:20:00.000+13:00

http://nzconservative.blogspot.com/2007/11/and-it-continues.html

This man's crime was to get angry. You shouldn't apply discipline when you are angry. Instead, the issue is cast as "smacking". Do you see the difference?

Is it so paranoid to expect a zero tolerance policy towards smacking in the future? One where government social workers remove children from parents immediately if the child should be physically disciplined. We wont hear about such cases, because they will not go to court. Parents will trade silence for access to their children.

In the leftist mind, physical punishment is far worse a crime than removing children from parents and placing them into the 'care of the state'. In the leftist mind, they believe smacking inevitably leads to beating children to death. Is it therefore possible to extrapolate that State intervention inevitably leads to splitting families apart in a far more damaging way than the passing sting of a smack?

Read more here:
http://nzconservative.blogspot.com/2007/11/and-it-continues.html

TV3 - CampbellLive

2007-11-22T19:15:00.001+13:00

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/CampbellLiveVideo/tabid/367/articleID/689/cat/24/Default.aspx#video

blog - couragetotremble

2007-11-22T19:07:00.000+13:00

Take a look at this blog:

This morning while I was driving to work, I was listening to Leighton Smith on Newstalk ZB. Considering that my ride only lasts 15 minutes and one must listen to several commercials as well, I managed to just catch just a little snippet of the discussion.

One caller spoke about how children needed a balance of love and firmness. Love without discipline, he explained, produced pampered and rude children. Firmness without love produced repressed children. But with the balance, you had children who respected others and who were also well liked......

read more here:
http://couragetotremble.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/newstalk-zb-one-my-way-to-work/

Media

2007-11-22T17:23:00.000+13:00

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00382.htm

Double standards on smacking law
Thursday, 22 November 2007, 2:11 pm
Press Release: The Family Party

Double standards on smacking law

Richard Lewis, leader of The Family Party, says yesterday’s criminal conviction of a Masterton father who smacked his child three times on the bottom with an open palm is a massive over-reaction and the outcome of very bad, anti-family law.

“Based on the details that I'm aware of, this father was doing the responsible thing of addressing his son’s bad behaviour at school. He’s done what many thousands of responsible kiwi dads have done in the past and probably continue to do, and that’s smack their son on the bottom with an open palm in appropriate circumstances,” says Mr Lewis.

He says parents should maintain the right to apply responsible corrective discipline in their home without fear of prosecution.

“We are all against abuse. But there is a world of difference between abuse and an open palm smack on the bottom. Most New Zealand parents know the difference. The hypocrisy of all of this is that a senior government minister can punch a fellow MP in the face and get away with it while this father is dragged before the courts and given a criminal conviction,” Mr Lewis added.

He warns that parents found in similar circumstances are in grave danger of unwarranted state intervention and prosecution.

The Family Party aims to restore parental protection by reinstating Section 59 of the Crimes Act, which allowed parents to use ‘reasonable’ force in circumstances deemed to be appropriate and reasonable.

ends

FI - 316

2007-11-22T17:02:00.000+13:00

22 November 2007 - Family Integrity #316 -- CIR Update no 17

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Baldock [mailto:l.baldock@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 3:29 PM
To: CIR.Petition@xtra.co.nz
Subject: CIR Update no 17

Hi once again,

We had a massive week last week with Andy Moore and his team collecting a fantastic total of 5610 over the three days at the A & P show. They were ably assisted on Thursday by Craig Hill and on Friday by Bob McCoskrie who flew down from Auckland to help and that was very much appreciated.

The total for the week was over 8,000!

So the new total is now 225,052!

I think what we have learnt from Christchurch is that it is worthwhile getting a table inside these exhibitions if possible and forming a team to make a concentrated effort rather than operating from outside the gates. It is not always possible to get inside, but worth the cost when we do.

I am compiling a list of all the A & P shows occurring around the country before our target date of March 1st to collect the 300,000 signatures we need.

If you want to have a look now and see if there is one near you click on http://www.ras.org.nz/ and you will find the schedules and contact details. The sooner we book a space the better.

Between now and Christmas there will be a number of cities which will have 'Christmas in the Park' type events. Do what you can to get a table set up there by contacting the organisers for permission. If it is in a public park ask the Council for permission to be on the side walk just outside where people are walking in. I have found our Council here in Tauranga very helpful with such permission so long as we do not block the path or harass anyone.

This weekend Barbara and I will head to Taupo for the Great Cycle Challenge where there are tens of thousands gathered. If anyone is interested in joining us for a fun day collecting please let me know. (my cell is 021864833)

Then on Dec 1st we have a table at the Fielding A & P show. Volunteers welcome.

All the best as you make plans for the holidays and time with your loved ones and family.

I will send one final update for this year after the Fielding show. Lets all do what we can to make that total as close to 250,000 as we can by then.

Regards
Larry

Media

2007-11-22T10:12:00.000+13:00

MEDIA RELEASE
22 November 2007

Key Must Commit to Protecting Good Families From Bad Smacking Law

Family First NZ is calling on National leader John Key to commit to changing the anti-smacking law after a father was the first parent convicted of assault for smacking his 8-year old on the bottom.

“John Key said that the law should not criminalise good parents for lightly smacking their children,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “Here we have a young family, an expectant mother, a father attempting to do his very best, and a law which treats him as a criminal rather than a system that offers the support, encouragement and resources they may need.”

“While community organisations working with at-risk families and Plunket are driven to their knees because of a lack of adequate funding, there seems to be no shortage of resources in investigating good parents who use a light smack.”

Family First has highlighted five cases already where CYF and Police have conducted intensive investigations of families simply because of supposed ‘abuse’, including a grandmother interviewed by police for smacking a swearing granddaughter in a Warehouse store, three police appearing on the doorstep of a home where a 2 year old was having a bedtime tantrum, and a mother dobbed into CYF by the local school.

There are similar cases being notified to Family First NZ on a weekly basis.

“And many parents are confirming that children are telling them “you can’t touch me or I’ll tell the police’”

“We are creating a ‘paranoid parenting’ environment,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“This case has confirmed kiwi parents’ worst nightmare. This law will target good parents while child abuse continues at the same rate, and the real causes of family breakdown and stress, drug and alcohol abuse, poverty and other significant issues are ignored.”

“The predictions made by the many community groups and 83% of NZ’ers opposing this law have, unfortunately, proved true.”

ENDS

For More Information and Media Interviews, contact Family First:
Bob McCoskrie JP - National Director
Tel. 09 261 2426 | Mob. 027 55 555 42

FI - 315

2007-11-22T09:39:00.000+13:00

22 November 2007 - Family Integrity #315 -- A&P Show: thanks guys!

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 12:05 AM
Subject: A&P Show: thanks guys!

Hi guys,

It's about 4 days since the A&P Show in Christchurch ended. I'm sorry I haven't sent this update out sooner, but I've been on dial-up internet for a week, plus been really busy, so haven't got round to it until now.

First of all, a huge thanks to our excellent team. I was especially impressed by four young ladies, who hadn't done this sort of thing before, but they launched themselves into it without any hesitation. Impressed doesn't do it justice, they had the arguments down to a T, calling out to people who were walking past and also getting out into the crowd with clipboards. You guys know who you are - so thanks heaps for your effort there!

Wednesday: 680 signatures
Thursday: 2,020 signatures
Friday: 2,910 signatures

Total for the A&P Show was 5,610. We smashed the record for all of New Zealand - thanks so much to you guys who made it happen. We went from needing 80,000 signatures to needing about 74,000 in just three days, absolutely spectacular effort!

A big thanks also has to go out to the mums who came along and helped. Five or six mums I think, from all over the south Island - fantastic!

Bob McCoskrie from Family First http;//www.familyfirst.org.nz and Craig Hill from Unity for Liberty http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz both made time to fly down from Auckland and help us out - much appreciated!

Christchurch. I need people for this Saturday (24 November).

This Saturday we plan to collect signatures first in Hagley Park near the pedestrian overbridge into the Botanic Gardens (call 03 357 4599 to let us know if you can help with this), and...
Coca Cola Christmas in the Park is also on on Saturday night. I need a team of volunteers to collect signatures from people as they go into the concert.

These are two great opportunities people, don't let us down, get in touch with me - come along for even just 2 hours if you can, it all counts!

If you read this far down the email - pat yourself on the back for your non-apathetic attitude. Apathy among Christians and other thinking people is the number one reason why our country is in trouble. If you are active yourself, please try and get those around you to get a rocket under them. If you're not active yourself... well, please think seriously about this issue - the new anti-smacking law is a direct assult upon Christians, families, Churches, the Bible, you and me.

Auckland. The challenge is there for you. If the team up in Auckland can beat 2,910signatures in one day, there will be a few big boxes of chocolates heading up your way.

Remember. All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke)

See you all again very soon at our next signature gathering event,
http://unityforliberty.net.nz/table-challenge.html has details of campaigns being run throughout New Zealand.

Kind Regards,
Andy Moore
phone: 021 1140 751
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz
God Defend New Zealand

Media

2007-11-22T07:51:00.001+13:00

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4283366a10.html

Three smacks and he's 'guilty'
By TANYA KATTERNS - The Dominion Post | Thursday, 22 November 2007

A father who spanked his eight-year-old son on the bottom three times for misbehaving at school is one of the first to be convicted of assault under the law against smacking.

The Masterton man was sentenced to nine months' supervision yesterday after admitting he had grabbed his son by the shoulder, held him on his knee and hit him with an open hand.

Green MP Sue Bradford has welcomed the conviction, saying the case is a good example of the May law change working as intended.

The controversial legislation removed the defence of reasonable force for parents who physically discipline their children.

But opponents say the conviction is a disgrace.

Family First national director Bob McCroskrie said parents had every reason to be concerned.

"It's the first of what's going to be many cases of the law targeting good parents. Our predictions have come true."

Masterton District Court judge Anthony Walsh told the man, whose wife is expecting their fourth child: "While you may have gotten away with this in the past, it is a case of not now."

The father, 33, who has name suppression to protect his son's identity, smacked his son on October 29. He had returned home from work to hear that his son had caused some problems at school.

The boy was in his bedroom and his father decided to confront him about his behaviour, the court was told.

Becoming frustrated, the father grabbed his son's clothes at the shoulder and pulled him on to the bed.

The father then flipped the boy over his knee and smacked him three times on the bottom with an open palm, before roughly sitting him back up.

The eight-year-old had bruising to his shoulder, the court was told.

The boy's mother, pregnant with the couple's fourth child, is understood to have taken a photograph of the bruise and shown it to a relative, who told police several days later.

The father admitted he had lost his temper. He refused to comment as he left court.

Judge Walsh, hearing the case in Masterton's newly established domestic violence court, said the smacking law change had redefined the way old attitudes toward disciplining children were viewed.

"Our law was recently amended to make it clear that children should be protected. There are other ways that must be taken to discipline children, short of violence, and that means time out and loss of privileges."

Judge Walsh told the father: "A lot of us are parents, we know children can be challenging - but we are the adults."

The father, who pleaded guilty to assault, and his wife had already sought help with anger management, parenting skills and relationship counselling before yesterday's sentencing.

He was sentenced to nine months' supervision - which means the state will now pay for the counselling.

The law took effect in June, after National inserted a clause stating police should not prosecute inconsequential smacking, though guidelines for officers do not define "inconsequential".

Police were told by their bosses that it would be a matter for the courts to determine in test cases.

Ms Bradford said she was pleased the case had been prosecuted.

"Hitting a child is an assault and there is no longer the protection that there used to be where a case like this would never go before the courts."

Police national headquarters had no figures on smacking-related convictions since June. A report is being prepared.

Christchurch

2007-11-22T07:37:00.000+13:00

I need people for this Saturday (24 November).

This Saturday we plan to collect signatures first in Hagley Park near the pedestrian overbridge into the Botanic Gardens (call 03 357 4599 to let us know if you can help with this), and...

Coca Cola Christmas in the Park is also on on Saturday night. I need a team of volunteers to collect signatures from people as they go into the concert.

These are two great opportunities people, don't let us down, get in touch with me - come along for even just 2 hours if you can, it all counts!

Remember. All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke)

Andy Moore
phone: 021 1140 751
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz
God Defend New Zealand

FI - 314

2007-11-20T15:14:00.000+13:00

20 November 2007 - Family Integrity #314 -- Good news of U4L update

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 8:02 PM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L update

Hi All,

I am considering traveling down to Wellington for the electoral finance march on Wednesday, is there anyone who can help collect signatures at the beginning and end of the march? We had a good response in Auckland and expect the same in Wellington.
Could you please let me know if you are available, looking forward to meeting those from the area. contact craig@unityforliberty.net.nz

Thanks,

Craig
ph 021 746 113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

Results from last week efforts....

Great week just gone:

Christchurch A&P
numbers Day one 680
Day two 2020
Day three 2910

Wellington 59
Porirua 100
Ellerslie Flower Show 213
Highland Games 280
Auckland March 530
North Shore 310
Manurewa 40

7142 Not bad, best week yet

This is what I enjoy reading....

Manning a table can be quite daunting first time up, Lynne from North Shore felt this. However that all changed quickly, she found the public very encouraging and 310signatures later she was heading home and looking forward to next week, well done.

Dear Craig,
Thank you for encouraging us to take part in collecting signatures for the petitions of Sheryl Savill and Larry Baldock for a Citizens Initiated Referendum.
We had six persons in our team, starting at 11am and finishing at 3pm. We had wonderful weather during the collection of signatures. At least 60% of the people that past us signed one or both petitions. We were situated along side the footpath near the back entrance of the Ellerslie Flowershow in the Manukau Botanical Garden at Manurewa. When we set up the table, we were told by the Traffic Warden at that point that we had to move away from the corner at the entrance to the show, as we would be a hindrance to the traffic flow to and from the show. We obeyed by moving five meters from the corner but leaving a sign on the fence at the corner. People were coming to our table as soon as we were set up. At times cued up during the day to have access to the four boards on the table. Within an half hour The traffic attendant came to us again telling us to move the signs from the fence as the bus drivers had complained about them. We moved the signs from the corner by a few meters, which must have satisfied the traffic Warden because we did not hear from him again. At 1pm I offered him an apple as we had lunch and he had not yet had his lunch. He thanked us for the kind offer but no he would get a free lunch soon. At three pm he permitted us to bring in our car to pick up the table, chairs and signs. He had also signed the petition that afternoon. We have collected 213 signatures for the Sheryl Savill petition and 194 signatures for the Larry Baldock petition. We had only positive comments from those who signed the petitions. We enjoyed the work, thanks for the opportunity.
Albert

-----

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke 1729-1797)

Media

2007-11-19T08:07:00.000+13:00

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4278853a10.html

Hands off our lives say voters
By TRACY WATKINS - The Dominion Post | Monday, 19 November 2007

Voters fear Government is exerting too much control over their lives - and they believe it has got worse in the past two years.

The finding in the latest Fairfax Media-Nielsen poll suggests the backlash over the so-called anti-smacking bill has left its mark, but could also be a response to the campaign against Labour's bid to overhaul electoral finance laws with a regime criticised as draconian and a limit on free speech.

Two thousand people protested in Auckland at the weekend against the Electoral Finance Bill, due to be reported back to Parliament today after being watered down by a select committee.

In a poll of 1082 voters, people were asked whether the Government had more control over people's daily lives than they would like and 57 per cent answered yes. A further 37 per cent of voters rejected the proposition and 6 per cent did not know.

When asked whether the level of control had increased, decreased or stayed the same over the last two years, 61 per cent said it had increased, which points to the smacking debate as a major factor.

Civil unions, Labour's push to decriminalise prostitution and even sensitivity over the recent police raids may be other factors.

Labour has come under concerted attack from National and conservative Christian groups for running a "nanny state" agenda.

Family Party co-leader Richard Lewis said the Labour Government had continued to ram through unpopular policies.

"The message I've been getting for some time now is that the Government has been stepping into areas they shouldn't be when it comes to parental responsibility and the balance of rights of New Zealanders," he said.

Labour's backing for the smacking legislation - which removes the defence of reasonable force for parents facing child abuse charges - sparked one of its biggest declines in popularity since it got into government.

The latest poll shows Labour back on the path to recovery, with 40 per cent support, just 5 points behind National. But it suggests some concerns about government interference have stuck.

Six months on from the introduction of the new smacking laws, however, those working at the coalface say fears that sparked the backlash have proved unfounded.

Police are due to release a major review of the change within weeks, but family law and child welfare experts say there has been no noticeable change to the way child violence is being reported.

There have been just two media reports of possible cases of parents being reported for smacking, with no action taken, while Child, Youth and Family reports there has been no significant rise in child abuse notifications since the law change....

Sweden

2007-11-16T18:25:00.000+13:00

15 November 2007 - Smacked 5-year old - father acquitted

Dear All,

On Nov 9, inst. Ystad District Court acquitted a father who had smacked his 5-year old daughter. I have translated an article that was published in Aftonbladet for your convenience.

This case, like the 2004 case with the 15 year old who spat in her stepfather's face, is going to get a lot of attention.

I guess people are starting to realise that "We are bringing up a generation of monsters" that Linda Skugge wrote about and that really "The children are embarrassing Sweden" to quote Roger Lord. And maybe they are beginning to realise that it is better to smack them to change their ways than have some desperate parents shoot them off in an attempt to protect their families, like the case in Rodeby http://www.thelocal.se/8756/20071011/ on October 6, inst.

Sincerely

Ruby Harrold-Claesson
Sweden
Attorney-at-law
President of the NCHR/NKMR
http://www.nkmr.org

Smacked 5-year old - father acquitted
He admitted smacking the District Court meant that the blows were not hard enough

Aftonbladet - 2007-11-14

http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article1250685.ab

A father in southern Skåne has been acquitted, in spite of him admitting to smacking his 5 year old daughter.

The District Court's views are that the blows should not be judged as abuse.

The reactions to the verdict came immediately.

A faulty verdict. I expect that it is going to be changed in the appeal, says Göran Harnesk, general secretary for Children's rights in the Society (Bris), to the Telegram Bureau.

According to the District Court, the 54 yr old father from Skåne, has smacked his daughter's bottom on several occasions. But the corrections have not been sufficiently long lasting and intense for him to be punished. The pain has not been sufficiently serious, according to the Court. Göran Harnesk thinks it is the wrong way to reason.

Zero tolerance is what it is about. A child can feel bad even if it doesn't feel physical pain. It is the belittling that is decisive, he says.

Convincing impression
The judge and one of the lay-judges gave dissenting opinions and wanted to sentence the father to fines for assault to a lesser degree. However, the Court was unanimous in acquitting the girl's 42-year old mother, who admitted that she had "flicked" her on the head on one occasion when she was stubborn. That, according to the verdict, does not meet the level of punishable abuse.

It was the girl who spontaneously started telling a nurse about her punishments when she attended her five year health examination. I a video filmed questioning the girl said "Daddy has smacked me on my bottom so it hurt when he had come home from work and was very angry. ...Also Mamma hit me on my head once so it hurt."

According to the District Court the girl gave a mature and convincing impression. Her parents have explained their actions by the girl's stubbornness.

Clear legislation
The Children's ombudsman (CO) Lena Nyberg is not allowed to comment on particular cases, but she points out that Sweden has a very clear legislation concerning child abuse.

- Adults are not allowed to use physical punishment or violence towards children.
The CO deems that there is the need for a new information campaign about adult's violence towards children like the one that was staged when the anti-smacking law was passed in 1979.

- Now there is a new generation of parents who perhaps need to be informed that it is forbidden and what they should do instead of using violence when the feel that they are not on top of the situation, Nyberg says.

The Telegram Bureau was unsuccessful in reaching the prosecutor, but the lawyer Hans Hulthén, who represented the girl, has told the Skåne Daily that he is considering an appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Facts: Previous acquittal was overturned

In 2004 a man was acquitted by the Varberg District Court, in spite of the fact that he had smacked and pushed his 15-year old stepdaughter. The verdict was changed in the Court of Appeal and the man was sentenced to fines for petty abuse.

Smacking is prohibited in Sweden since 1979. From 1980 to 2000 it seems that the number of children who were smacked declined. Since then the numbers have been on the increase. According to an investigation made by the University of Karlstad and the Children's home Charity, 1,1 percent of the parents who were interviewed in 2000 admitted that they had smacked their child. In 2006 the number was 2.3 percent.

During the first half of this year there were 714 police notifications about abuse of small children, according to the National Council for Crime Prevention. The reports have been increasing for several years.

Media

2007-11-16T18:05:00.000+13:00

16 November 2007 - The Family Party - Anti Smacking Law Poses Significant Risks

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00277.htm

Anti Smacking Law Poses Significant Risks
Friday, 16 November 2007, 11:07 am
Press Release: The Family Party

Richard Lewis, Leader of THE FAMILY PARTY, says a recent report from the Ministry of Social Development that there has not been a “huge increase in numbers of notifications,” since the law was passed in May, is no reflection of the ever-present danger the law poses to New Zealand families.

“The government is hardly in a position to make credible statements on the affects of a law they rammed through parliament despite overwhelming public opposition. What we do know is that the law has not stopped incidents of abuse in the home. And we also know the law exposes decent, law-abiding parents to significant risk of unwarranted state intervention” says Mr Lewis.

The anti smacking bill’s architect, Sue Bradford, says a public smack could be a sign of bigger problems occurring behind closed doors. A NZPA report quotes Ms Bradford as saying, “while on the surface it might appear like a simple smack…what we don’t know is what else is happening in that family with that child, or other children, or the mother or some other family member.”

Mr Lewis says Ms Bradford’s statement reveals the true intent of the law, which is to gain unlimited access into the homes of New Zealand families.

“This really is another example of state intrusion of the worst kind. Sure, there are legitimate cases of abuse that we are all concerned about. But the police and government departments were already adequately empowered to deal with such cases under the Crimes Act. Bradford’s law gives the state unlimited power to enter a home and scrutinize the lives of decent, law-abiding parents, which is inherently unjust and abusive,” he added.

Mr Lewis says The Family Party aims to protect the rights and responsibilities of parents.

ENDS

FI - 312

2007-11-16T15:34:00.000+13:00

16 November 2007 - Family Integrity #312 -- Speech made for the rest of us who share some of his values

Be great if we had such leadership as this in NZ.

Prime Minister John Howard - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to le ave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament.

"If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you", he said on National Television
"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching there are two laws governing people in Australia : one the Australian law and another Islamic law that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, dem ocracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option", Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off. Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off", he said.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy gecis monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:

"IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians."

"However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia"

"However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand."

"This idea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle."

"This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"

"We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society. Learn the language!"

"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."

"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us."

"If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it on others.

"This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,
'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'."

"If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country that accepted YOU !"

Excerpts from a speeches reported on by George Archibald, 16 September 2007, http://georgearchibald.typepad.com/george_archibald/2007/09/16/index.html
and
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/australia.asp

FI - 311

2007-11-16T11:33:00.000+13:00

16 November 2007 - Family Integrity #311 -- Sweden allows smacking

Greetings all,

This was just published in Sweden. This will not likely help us in NZ, for the anti-smacking law in Sweden is in the Civil Code, the one with no penalties! Social Workers and police there have to decide if the smack that comes to their attention is either clearly an assault under their criminal code or can come under other criminal legislation such as the infamous "disturbing of the peace" law. NZ's anti-smacking law is in the criminal code, where we will automatically face charges of assault if a smack ever comes to the attention of social workers or police. Things seem to be changing in Sweden since the recent elections that booted out the socialists and voted in a conservative government.

Regards,

Craig Smith
National Director
Family Integrity
PO Box 9064
Palmerston North
New Zealand
Ph: (06) 357-4399
Fax: (06) 357-4389
Family.Integrity@xtra.co.nz
http://www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz
http://familyintegrity.blogspot.com/

Our Home....Our Castle

if Section59 is repealed - or replaced...
YOU CAN KISS YOUR CHILDREN GOODBYE.
http://www.storesonline.com/members/846699/uploaded/Brochure_-_Kiss_Children_Goodbye_7.pdf

http://www.thelocal.se/9110/20071115/
Parents 'allowed to smack children'
Published: 15th November 2007 16:48 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/9110/

Swedish parents are allowed to smack their children, as long as they do not hit them too hard, a court in southern Sweden has ruled.

Ystad District Court was ruling in the case of a couple accused of assaulting their daughter. The pair were accused after the girl, 5, told a nurse at a medical check-up that she had been hit.

In subsequent interviews the girl told police:

"When daddy came home from work and was very cross, he hit me on the bottom and it hurt.

"Mummy also hit me on the head, and that hurt," she added.

The father admitted smacking the girl on the bottom, saying that the physical chastisement was part of her upbringing.

A unanimous court ruled that the father's smack did not constitute assault - it was not hard enough to be assault, nor was it done with indifference to the pain it would cause.

Hans Hulthén, the lawyer representing the girl, said he was considering appealing the verdict.

"This ruling undoubtedly sends very strange signals," Hulthén said.

Swedish law is widely interpreted as banning smacking of children, and Sweden is frequently cited internationally as an example of a country with a total ban on corporal punishment.

The 1979 Parenting Act states that children "may not be subjected to corporal chastisement or other demeaning treatment."

According to Sweden's Children's Ombudsman, the preparatory work for the act stipulates that corporal punishment is banned if it causes the child physical injury or pain. This is intended to apply even to a light strike or passing pain, it states.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

FI - 310

2007-11-16T11:20:00.000+13:00

16 November 2007 - Family Integrity #310 -- U4L table update

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 8:40 AM
To: Craig
Subject: U4L table update

Hi All,

GENTLE REMINDER TO ALL AUCKLANDERS,

QUEEN STREET MARCH, All these people will want to sign our petition, we plan to have tables at the beginning with a good man on a megaphone (wrapped in foam, which is now an OSH standard, makes it Labour member thump proof).

IF YOU ARE ATTENDING PLEASE BRING A PETITION BOARD WITH PLENTY OF FORMS and ALSO SOME FLYERS "Go to http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz for petition forms"(written on paper), there is a very good probability that these people will download forms for family and friends.

We also need volunteers for Tables, could you give me an indication please, contact Craig craig@unityforliberty.net.nz Thankyou.

LAST WEEKENDS RESULTS,

Rodney led the way with the collection of 520 signatures on Saturday with only 8 folk, well done Arna and the team. Porurua ticking away with 70, Pukekohe nabbed 90, Botany 110, Marton 90, Feilding 125, Hawkes Bay 126, Manurewa 150 and there are still others out there. Great work all. "More tables being added this week".

THE BIG NEWS AT THE A&P SHOW, it's a must read.

I have just arrived back in Auckland from the Christchurch A&P Show, the experience was out of this world. All hats off for Andy, also met Natalie from Catlins (have the Aucklanders worked out where the Catlins are), she traveled six hours to help, she is a real joy.

Here are the numbers:

Wednesday realized 680 in the wind and hail.
Thursday came in with 2020 signatures, it was amazing.

For those who may not have known, our stand was situated right next to the Green Party Tent, I don't think they liked us there. But there's more. On Wednesday when it was cold and windy a lovely lady grabbed a petition board so she could sign, then to give it her full attention she stepped under the tent and out of the weather. Only one problem, she did not realize she had stepped into the "Greens Tent". They were not impressed at all.

My best wishes to all who have involved themselves to date and thank you very much,

Craig Hill
m021746113
http;//www.unityforliberty.net.nz

FI - 309

2007-11-15T22:32:00.000+13:00

15 November 2007 - Family Integrity #309 -- A&P Show: Day 2

-----Original Message-----
From: Andy
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 9:57 PM
Subject: A&P Show: Day 2

Hi folks,

Our fantastic team down in Christchurch collected 2,020 signatures today. We've broken the record.

I'll let you know how Friday goes.

All strength to your arm,
Andy Moore
phone: 021 1140 751
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz

Gagging Bill

2007-11-15T17:31:00.000+13:00

Stop the Labour/NZ First/Greens Electoral Finance "Gagging Bill"

Stop the Labour/NZ First/Greens Electoral Finance "Gagging Bill"

What you can do:

Protest March: Auckland this Saturday 17 November from the Auckland Town Hall at 10.30am (assemble from 10am)

Protest: Wellington next Wednesday, 21 November, for a march on Parliament.

This is to invite you to stand up and be counted.

ACT member John Boscawen is organising marches in Auckland and Wellington to protest the Labour led Government's attack on democracy.

The Electoral Finance Bill is designed to curb political activity.

Labour and NZ First with help from the Greens and United Future are about to ram through a law to gag free speech.

This despite vociferous objection from the Human Rights Commission, the Law Society, Grey Power and concerned citizens from every sector of New Zealand society.

The plan is to give Labour freedom to say what it likes in election year and gag everyone else.

Once the Gagging Bill goes through - possibly as soon as next week - it will be against the law for me to send an email such as this.

That's why the Human Rights Commission talks about a "chilling" impact on democracy.

That's why this is a Gagging Bill by any other name and must be stopped.

Join the marches

If you want to help contact John@boscawen.co.nz John@boscawen.co.nz

FI - 308

2007-11-15T10:57:00.000+13:00

15 November 2007 - Family Integrity #308 -- Urgent - volunteers needed

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Hill [mailto:craighill@maxnet.co.nz]
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 9:23 AM
To: Craig
Subject: Urgent - volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed in Auckland this weekend for the Ellerslie Flower Show and the Electoral Finance Bill March in Queen Street.
We are co-ordinating collecting signatures in these areas and need as many volunteers as possible.

Kill two birds with one stone.
If you are already attending the March in Queen Street please take petition forms (download from here http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/petition.html), clipboard and pen, since there will be announcements on the anti-smacking law during the March and those attending will want to sign.
Those helping with the Flower show will need petition forms (download from here http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/petition.html), clipboard and pen.
If you're available to help with either event, please contact Craig craig@unityforliberty.net.nz

Other areas are also needing volunteers and assistance:

http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/table-challenge.html

Rodney District
Northshore
Howick
Mangere
Manurewa
Papakura
Pukekohe
Waiuku
Tauranga
Hawkes's Bay
Marton
Wellington
Christchurch
Catlins

If you are available in any of these areas, please look up our website http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz/table-challenge.html for contact details.

An update on last weekends table collection will be out soon.

Kind regards,

Craig
ph 021 746 113
http://www.unityforliberty.net.nz