In this issue (2 September 2008)...
1. Concern about Bias of Families Commission Confirmed
2. Debate rages over drug
3. Research - Poor babies breastfed less
4. Sons learn life skills from their dads
5. On the Virtues of Making Your Children Do the Dishes
6. Read to your kids

1. Concerns about Bias of Families Commission Confirmed
Family First Media Release 31 August 2008
Family First NZ says the appointment of the just-retired Chief Families Commissioner Rajen Prasad to the Labour party list confirms concerns that the Commission wasn’t independent enough to truly represent families.
“We were always concerned that the Commission wasn’t independent enough to represent the voice of families on important issues, for example the anti-smacking law,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “Despite an overwhelming number of families opposed to the law change, the Families Commission blindly supported the legislation. The appointment of Rajen Prasad to the Labour party list suggests that the Commission was more concerned with listening to the government’s agenda than to the concerns of families.”
Other perceived biases included... READ MORE

2. Debate rages over drug
NZ Herald August 31, 2008
A controversal anti-cancer vaccine to be given to 300,000 teenage girls starts this week amid criticism the project is a public experiment. ...Critics, including the researcher who helped develop Gardasil, have raised concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, while wondering if it will encourage more young girls to be sexually active. ...Family First director Bob McCoskrie said more questions needed answers. "It seems we rushed in very quickly and committed a huge amount of money," he said. "We can't find the money for Herceptin, which you could argue may have as many question marks over the effectiveness of it, but we can pour this money into Gardasil." Increasing promiscuity among young girls was another possible problem, but it was more important for parents to not be pressured into having their children vaccinated, said McCoskrie. "We all want a cure to it but we've also got to be realistic about what works best." READ MORE

Family First Media Releases
Is Taxpayer Victim of Aggressive Marketing for Gardasil?
Cervical Cancer Vaccine Ignores Moral and Safety Issues
Other articles on Gardasil
Gardasil: Pap smears still essential, say specialists
Researchers Question Wide Use of HPV Vaccines
Drug Makers’ Push Leads to Cancer Vaccines’ Rise
Schoolgirls dodging cancer vaccine offer
Giving kids our worst shot

3. Research - Poor babies breastfed less
Herald Sun (Aust) September 01, 2008
BABIES from poor families are less likely to be breastfed, giving them more chance of becoming sick and having to go to hospital, new Melbourne research suggests. READ MORE

4. Sons learn life skills from their dads
AAP 01 September 2008
A new Father's Day poll shows nearly 75 per cent of Australian dads learned their most valuable and important life skills from their own fathers. READ MORE

5. On the Virtues of Making Your Children Do the Dishes
Wall Street Journal
The benefits of children doing household chores may have longer-term implications for marriage and community life. READ MORE

6.Family First is supporting this great project

The aim of Read to your Kids is
• To raise awareness of the value of reading aloud to children.
• To help NZ children become better readers
• To improve adult awareness of their responsibility as literacy role models
• To support New Zealanders in improving the quality of family life

In this Issue (12 August 08)...
1. Labour Agenda of Recognising Polygamy ‘Disturbing’
2. Minister of Police Asked Opinion of Boobs of Bikes Parade
3. Eight Smacking Prosecutions in Six Month Period
4. Flexibility urged for sole parents
5. Two into one won't go: Cambridge survey shows new doubts over working mothers
6. Brothel bylaws may be wiped
7. Kiwi party wants to rebuild role of marriage

1. Labour Agenda of Recognising Polygamy ‘Disturbing’
Family First Media Release 11 August 2008
Family First NZ is labeling suggestions that Labour will recognise polygamy and polyamory, if it is re-elected, as ‘disturbing’. Family First were made aware of the speech delivered in May to Victoria University social policy students by the Minister of Social Development Ruth Dyson.
“The speech refers to the social development of not just traditional family groups but also relationships including triples, obviously alluding to polyamorous relationships,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.  “We were always concerned that the Civil Unions legislation would signal a move away from recognising and promoting marriage as the preferable and best environment for children to be raised. However, this speech would suggest that we are on a slippery slope to recognising any form of relationship including polygamy and polyamory.”
“Labour is redefining parenthood in a way nobody ever considered, and based on a ‘rights’ and anti-discrimination culture, we may soon be legalising incestuous relationships.” READ MORE
READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE AND SPEECH
Family First Comment: If Ruth Dyson didn't use the speech (as claimed by her office - although it begs the question, why was it posted on the website in the first place?) she should state categorically that Labour will not promote polygamy as a family form to be promoted.

2. Minister of Police Asked Opinion of Boobs of Bikes Parade
Family First Media Release 12 August 2008
Family First NZ has written to the Minister of Police Annette King (left) asking whether she supports the refusal by the police to take action against the Boobs on Bikes parade. “We know that almost 1,000 emails labeling the parade as offensive have been sent to both the Mayor of Auckland and the head of the Auckland police,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “Yet despite this strong opposition from families and the City Council themselves, the police are refusing to act.”
In the letter, Family First NZ has asked for confirmation that as Minister of Police, Annette King supports the interpretation of the Police that “..given the standards of decency observed in this day and age, a female being topless in a parade on a weekday in Queen Street will not in itself constitute an indecent act.” READ MORE 
TAKE ACTION:
Even if you have already written previously, please email brett.england@police.govt.nz and simply say:
WE OPPOSE THE BOOBS ON BIKES PARADE. IT IS OFFENSIVE AND THE POLICE SHOULD STOP IT HAPPENING.

3. EIGHT Smacking Prosecutions in Six Month Period
Family First Media Release 12 August 2008
Family First NZ says that claims that there have been no smacking prosecutions are false and misleading. Official police papers obtained by Family First NZ under the Official Information Act show that prosecutions against parents who use minor physical discipline or light smacking are being masked under a category that has no statutory definition. According to the Police Executive Meeting 6 Month Review papers, there have been no prosecutions for ‘smacking’, but the paper says that “eight ‘minor acts of physical discipline’ events against children were prosecuted with six yet to be resolved.”
“The problem is that there is no statutory definition for either ‘smacking’ or ‘minor acts of physical discipline’,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “So rather than call them smacking and draw attention, they are simply being classified under this undefined category.” READ MORE

4. Flexibility urged for sole parents
NZ Herald August 12, 2008
Conservative groups are warning the National Party to be "flexible" about making sole parents go back to work, allowing for sick children and school holidays. Family First director Bob McCoskrie, an invited guest at the policy launch, said making parents work part-time made sense, but only if implemented with discretion. "We'd want to make sure that the work requirements are within school hours and not within the school holidays. Otherwise we are going to have a lot of unsupervised kids."
Another guest, Mercy Mission founder Barbara Stone, said she agreed with the work requirement "as long as it's in school time and there is someone at home for the children for the rest of the time". She said it was hard to get jobs for sole parents, who often had low self-esteem. READ MORE
Family First Comment: That was a short comment considering the reporter spoke to us for almost 10 minutes!!! We also said...
* welfare is an important safety net
* welfare should not reward dysfunction or be a motivation for dysfunctional behaviour
* long-term welfare dependency can be demoralising and is linked with poverty. Work can bring dignity and a level of independence
* the expectation to work should not be at the expense of the important role of parents (especially sole parents) to meet the needs of their children. Part time work (with flexibility) may be a win-win situation
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THIS POLICY, WE SHOULD ALSO BE ASKING:
* why are so many women having children outside of marriage?
* why do we have the 2nd highest rate of solo parent homes in the OECD?
* why is our teenage pregnancy rate so high (up to half of current DPB recipients started on welfare as teenagers)

5. Two into one won't go: Cambridge survey shows new doubts over working mothers
The Guardian August 6 2008 
Support for gender equality appears to be declining across Britain and America amid concern that women who play a full role in the workforce do so at the expense of family life, research from Cambridge University suggests today. READ MORE

6. Brothel bylaws may be wiped
The Press 11 August 2008
Bylaws controlling brothels may be dropped by the Christchurch City Council. READ MORE
Family First Comment: Yet further evidence of problems with the decriminalisation of prostitution. With an absence of bylaws, brothels will pop up all over the city including residential areas. Prostitution is harmful to workers and communities and the association of prostitution with gang and criminal behaviour, alcohol and drug abuse, and sexual abuse and violence means that we are sentencing more and more vulnerable people to an unacceptable situation.

7. Kiwi Party wants to rebuild role of marriage
NZ Herald August 11, 2008
The Kiwi Party held its inaugural national conference on Saturday and outlined core policies it will take into the election campaign. READ MORE
Family First Comment: GREAT! A political party talking about promoting marriage.

In this issue (6 August 2008)...
1. Police Ignore Concerns of Families Over Offensive Behaviour
2. Report veils junior school violence
3. 87% Of Parents of Young Children Reject Anti-Smacking Bill
4. Police ‘Taxi Service’ for Truant Sets Dangerous Precedent
5. Parents to receive letters if children are obese (UK)
6. Why 'cotton wool' children face risk of mental problems
7. 'De facto drinking age' plummeting

Family First In The Media

1. Police Ignore Concerns of Families Over Offensive Behaviour
Media Release 5 August 2008
Family First NZ says that the police’s liberal interpretation of what is deemed ‘indecent’ means they are failing to acknowledge the concerns and failing to act in the best interests of the welfare and protection of families.
In response to an official complaint by Family First NZ to the police about the upcoming Erotica Expo advertising stunt known as “Boobs on Bikes”, the police have said “In the opinion of the Police, given the standards of decency observed in this day and age, a female being topless in a parade on a weekday in Queen Street will not in itself constitute an indecent act.”
Based on the police interpretation of what is indecent, Family First then asked for clarification, putting forward four scenarios: READ MORE
Family First Comment: Thank you to the hundreds of people who have emailed the police and the Auckland City Council on this matter.
TAKE ACTION: Please tell the police to act to stop the offensive parade CLICK HERE for further information

2. Report veils junior school violence
The Press 06 August 2008
A Ministry of Education report trumpeting a fall in school suspensions has overlooked a 37 per cent surge in primary school disciplinary actions. ...the number of primary school children stood down and suspended has grown from 4800 in 2000 to 6595 last year. In 2007, 945 primary school students were suspended and 5650 stood down ...Educators say those numbers reflect an ongoing trend for increasingly violent misbehaviour by children as young as five.

Minister of Education Chris Carter released the ministry report heralding a "concerted effort by schools supported by the ministry". Family First national director Bob McCoskrie, who pursued the ministry over the data, said he could not believe the report did not even touch on a nationwide problem. "We need to be asking ourselves some pretty tough questions about why almost 1000 kids are being chucked out of primary schools for behaviour that is just so bad that schools have got to the point where they won't even work with it," McCoskrie said. READ MORE
Also: Troubled pupils kept on at school - to make government look good! READ MORE

3. 87% Of Parents of Young Children Reject Anti-Smacking Bill
Media Release 1 August 08
Family First NZ says that the Littlies website poll which found that 87% of parents of young children don’t think the anti-smacking law is effective is confirmation that NZ’ers have soundly rejected the law change and its time the politicians listened and changed it. The www.littlies.co.nz poll asked “One year on, do you think the anti-smacking Bill has proved to be effective?” 87% said No, and a further 7% were unsure. Only 7% said it was effective. According to their website, Littlies Magazine is the country's fastest growing and only monthly parenting magazine. They reach more families with children 0-5 years than any other parenting magazine in New Zealand (81,000 families). READ MORE

4. Police ‘Taxi Service’ for Truant Sets Dangerous Precedent
Media Release 4 August 08
Family First NZ says that a dangerous precedent is being set by the police by taxiing a truanting 14 year old to school every morning, and fails to deal with the underlying problems. “The causes of truancy are predominantly a lack of parental supervision or a breakdown in the functioning of the family to the point that the parent has no control over the actions of the child,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
“The problem, which is becoming more common, is that a student is being left to fend for themselves – in this case from 6.15 in the morning. Schools are already expressing concerns that children are being dropped off at schools earlier and earlier.” 30,000 students are absent without leave every week in NZ, and the truancy rate has increased 41% since 2002. READ MORE

Other News

5. Parents to receive letters if children are obese (UK)
Guardian (UK) August 04 2008
Parents will receive official letters telling them if their children are too fat under a government initiative to tackle childhood obesity. The heaviest children will be described as "very overweight", as ministers believe parents will not accept being told that their child is obese. ...Ministers want the results to raise parent's awareness of their children's weight and the need to live a healthy lifestyle. READ MORE
Also: Lack of veggies can lead girls to a life of obesity READ MORE

6. Why 'cotton wool' children face risk of mental problems
Evening Standard (UK) 2 August 08
Children do not learn how to cope with life's setbacks because a 'cotton wool' culture stops them experiencing hardships, an education expert claimed yesterday. Sandy MacLean says there is a link between a rise in mental health problems and a culture of entitlement which promotes the belief that success and celebrity do not need effort and hard work. She said youngsters must experience adversity so they develop resilience, but are increasingly protected from life's hard knocks. READ MORE

7. 'De facto drinking age' plummeting
The Press 02 August 2008
Want to stop your 12-year-old drinking? Move away from the bottle store. Massey University research, to be published in the Addiction international journal, has found that teenagers who live within a 10-minute drive of a liquor outlet are significantly more likely to drink. READ MORE

In this issue (30 July 2008)...
1. More Evidence of Good Parents Victims of Anti-Smacking Law
2. Vigilance needed still on child abuse (should read Vigilance needed to keep smacking banned!)
3. Outrage child-porn offender living beside playcentre
4. Family loses out as Net takes over
5. 'Babies from the grave' a step closer
6. Doctors' advice to Britons: have fewer children and help save the planet
7. Divorce still damaging to children despite being more acceptable
8. More family meals mean less risky teen sex

1. More Evidence of Good Parents Victims of Anti-Smacking Law
Bob McCoskrie talks on National Radio's The Panel about the latest cases showing that good parents and families are being persecuted and prosecuted by the anti-smacking law, and featured in full-page advertisements in national newspapers.
28 July 2008
LISTEN HERE (20 minutes) - takes a minute or two to download on Broadband
Or listen from National Radio website http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/aft/2008/07/28/the_panel_part_1 starts at 6'47"
(Click on poster to read details)

2. Vigilance needed still on child abuse (should read 'Vigilance needed to keep smacking banned!')
Otago Daily Times 26 July 08
We run the TRUE OR FALSE METER through a speech given by Green MP Sue Bradford to the anti-smacking lobby conference at the weekend.
See the result! - CLICK HERE

3. Outrage child-porn offender living beside playcentre
NZ Herald July 29, 2008
The decision to grant a child-porn collector home detention next door to a children's playgroup in place of a prison term has infuriated lobby group Family First NZ. “The rights of the victims, many of them children, to see justice are being trod on,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “Ironically the judge in one of the cases said that a message needs to be sent that this offending can never be acceptable in our community. They have failed to meet their own benchmark. Their decisions are spineless and send the completely wrong message. And they are perpetuating the problem by allowing offenders to be placed where the community, children, and even the offenders themselves, are put further at risk. READ MORE

4. Family loses out as Net takes over
The Dominion Post 29 July 2008
An AUT University report on the impact of the Internet revealed that 22 per cent of the 1430 people surveyed spent less face-to-face time with the family they lived with since connecting to the Internet. .. Family First director Bob McCoskrie said the finding was cause for concern. "You can have 300 friends on your Bebo site, but you still need those deeper relationships. There needs to be engaged interaction amongst the family." READ MORE

5. 'Babies from the grave' a step closer
The Dominion Post 24 July 2008
Women could soon have "babies from the grave" or give birth after menopause using frozen eggs...The committee has also paved the way for so-called saviour siblings - whose embryos have been pre-selected to create a child to aid a sick brother or sister - to include other relatives such as cousins and also assist those with non-genetic diseases, such as leukaemia. READ MORE
READ Family First Media Release Fertility Treatment Is Not About Creating ‘Spare Parts’
Family First Comment: Children should be created without an underlying pressure to fulfil parental wants, expectations or medical needs, however great that need may be. There is a major ethical issue when we are deciding who gets to live or die according to what they have to offer. There is a possible and as yet unknown psychological effect of a child knowing that it was only brought into being for the sake of its sibling or relative.

6. Doctors' advice to Britons: have fewer children and help save the planet
The Guardian (UK), July 25 2008
British couples should consider having no more than two children to help reduce the environmental impact of the rising global population, doctors have said. READ MORE
Family First Comment: More nutty comments from the global warming 'industry'

7. Divorce still damaging to children despite being more acceptable
UK Telegraph 09 Jul 2008
A study run over several decades has shown that children whose parents split up are more likely to end up without qualifications, claiming benefits and suffering depression. ..Yet the study's data suggest that greater social acceptance of divorce has not reduced its impact on children. READ MORE

8. More family meals mean less risky teen sex
Reuters 24 July 2008
Parents who do not want their teens to engage in risky sexual behaviour should make family time a priority, a new study suggests. READ MORE

In this Issue (23 July 08):
1. Let kids be kids
2. Violence and abuse rampant in schools
3. Students need sleep to succeed
4. New daddies get a helping hand
5. Pushy parents put schoolkids off sport
6. Euthenasia petitioner beats death, hugs life

1. Let kids be kids
Bob McCoskrie - published in latest issue of Investigate Magazine
A school principal recently said that the banning of physical games like bullrush and murder-ball is bubble-wrapping boys in a ‘feminised’ school system. He’s not encouraging brawls or fights, just physicality..
The recent case of a school banning birthday cakes because of obesity concerns shows just how far this ‘risk-averse’ approach is infiltrating into our schools – affecting both boys and girls.
..The cotton wool culture is denying the child’s right to be a child. Playing freely helps kids learn to follow and understand rules, and resolve disputes. It seems ironic that at the same time that we are wrapping our kids in cotton wool and banning tag in the playground, we are consumed with concern about our kids getting too fat.
READ MORE

2. Violence and abuse rampant in schools
The Dominion Post 22 July 2008
Violent, disruptive or misbehaving pupils were suspended, stood down or kicked out of school more than 27,000 times last year... Teachers say the figures reflect growing behavioural problems and violence. Many feel under threat of physical attack. The most common offences were continued disobedience, assaulting other pupils, verbally abusing teachers or drug-related misconduct
... Boys were more than twice as likely to be disciplined as girls, Maori pupils had much higher misconduct rates than non-Maori and 14 year-olds offended the most.
..overall numbers fell by nearly 2000 compared with a year earlier, suspensions hit an eight-year low and early-leaving exemptions for 15-year-olds halved....teachers and principals reject suggestions behaviour has improved, saying schools are under pressure to cut suspension rates, even though staff often face violence and abuse. READ MORE

3. Students need sleep to succeed
Reuters 21 July 2008
Teenagers need nine hours of sleep a night and parents can help by getting them back on a school sleep schedule before classes begin, researchers suggest. .."The top students, the ones earning mainly A's and B's, went to bed earlier on both weeknights and weekends than those who received C's, D's and F's. The high achievers slept about 25 minutes longer on school nights than did the low achievers." READ MORE

4. New daddies get a helping hand
The Press 21 July 2008
New fathers will get a guidebook in a move to make them feel more involved with their new bundle of joy. The Father & Child magazine will be given to new fathers in Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin hospitals as part of a birth pack for parents. READ MORE

5. Pushy parents 'put schoolkids off sport'
The Dominion Post 19 July 2008
Children  are being driven away from the sports field by overbearing parents placing too much pressure on them to perform, a top sport and recreation official says. READ MORE

6. Euthanasia petitioner beats death, hugs life
Time of India 11 Jul 2008
Two years back Seema Sood longed for death and had even petitioned the President of India for euthanasia. But hope triumphed over despair ...."I regret the letter to the President," she said, still frail and moving in tiny steps with the help of a walker. "Everything was so dark for me earlier, but I am excited about my mobility now and I am confident I will improve." READ MORE