Recent News

Family dinners, sleep and less tv reduces obesity - study
Telegraph (UK) 08 Feb 2010
Young children should live as they did a generation ago to help prevent obesity, a new study shows. Four-year-olds who ate dinner with their siblings and parents, got a lot of sleep and had their TV viewing rationed were found to have a reduced risk of becoming seriously overweight. Children who followed these routines – more in line with children 25 years ago - were almost 40 per cent less likely to be obese than those from less disciplined households.

Dr Sarah Anderson, from Ohio State University in the US, said: "The routines were protective even among groups that typically have a high risk for obesity. “This is important because it suggests that there's a potential for these routines to be useful targets for obesity prevention in all children." Each routine on its own was associated with lower obesity, but their effect was greater when combined. Scientists analysed data collected as part of a major health study on 8,550 US children born in 2001. The researchers focused on three particular family routines: eating an evening meal as a family more than five times a week, getting at least 10-and-a-half hours sleep a night, and watching less than two hours of TV per day on weekdays.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/7188204/Pre-school-children-should-live-as-they-did-25-years-ago---study.html

Want happy children? Spend less time trying to be perfect parents and prioritise own relationship instead, says book
Daily Mail Online (UK) 07th February 2010 
Couples who want to raise happy and successful children should spend less time striving to be perfect parents and prioritise their own relationship instead. In a new book, U.S. family therapist David Code warns that children become demanding and dissatisfied if parents obsess over all aspects of their lives. Couples who want the best for their children should focus less on becoming the ideal parent and spend more time nurturing their own relationship. Devoted parents do not necessarily produce happy children, Mr Code argues in the book To Raise Happy Kids, Put Your Marriage First. The claims are the latest salvo in an increasingly fiery debate over child-rearing.

..'Today's number one myth about parenting is that the more attention we give our kids, the better they'll turn out,' said Mr Code, a family therapist and writer for the Wall Street Journal. 'But we parents have gone too far: our over-focus on our children is doing them more harm than good. Families centred on children create anxious, exhausted parents and demanding, entitled children. We parents today are too quick to sacrifice our lives and our marriages for our kids. Most of us have created child-centred families, where our children hold priority over our time, energy and attention. But as we break our backs for our kids, our marriage and self-fulfilment go out the window while our kids become more demanding and dissatisfied.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1249176/Want-happy-children-Spend-time-trying-perfect-parents-prioritise-relationship-instead-says-book.html#

Teen girls sucked into crime by older men
The Nelson Mail 06/02/2010
 More teenage girls are turning to crime and violence after becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol through their older boyfriends, a Nelson lawyer says. His observations are backed up by groundbreaking research being done by social anthropologist Donna Swift, who says the teenage girls in trouble with police for violence or anti-social behaviour she deals with, often have boyfriends four or five years older. Lawyer John Sandston said during the past year he had noticed a pattern emerging where in "case after case" the girls aged 14-16 coming before the Youth Court on violence and dishonesty charges were hanging around with much older men, who were giving them drugs and alcohol, initially for free.

..Dr Swift is a third of the way through ground-breaking research looking at the use of violence and anti-social behaviour in girls aged 13 to 17, called The Girls' Project. As part of her studies Dr Swift is gathering information from 3000 young girls in the Tasman police district, which covers the top of the South Island. Ad Feedback Dr Swift said a pattern had emerged in that many of the girls in trouble she spoke to had older boyfriends. The girls were often physically mature and did not fit in at school, or have other interests. Often the older boyfriend was the only thing that made them feel good. She said what concerned her was that the relationships the girls had with their older partners often had a level of dating violence that was similar to a domestic violence type relationship.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/3300231/Teen-girls-sucked-into-crime-by-older-men

Kahui case: When will twins get justice?
Sunday Star Times 07 February 2010
The inquest into the deaths of one of New Zealand's most high-profile child killings has been postponed indefinitely. Three-month-old South Auckland twins Chris and Cru Kahui were killed in June 2006, and their father Chris Kahui was acquitted of their murders in 2008. Since then the case has stalled, and the murders remain unsolved. Last October the chief coroner set an inquest date of February 22 in the Auckland District Court, but according to the court that date has now been "vacated". No new date has been set.

It is understood a large number of groups are taking part in the inquest – including two district health boards, GPs, the Families Commission, children's commissioner, the Ministry of Social Development as well as police, the Crown, Kahui, the twins' mother Macsyna King and lawyers. The scale of the inquest meant more time was needed to prepare. But the Sunday Star-Times has learnt of misgivings among lawyers familiar with the case over what, if anything, an inquest will achieve. Chief Coroner Judge Neil Maclean has previously said an inquest would take a wider view of the deaths and look at whether anything could be done to prevent similar events in the future. However, those with knowledge of the case say public focus is likely to remain on debating who killed the twins rather than any lessons to be learnt from their deaths.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/3300642/Kahui-case-When-will-twins-get-justice

Smack those kids - a new US bestseller says we have it all wrong about parenting
The Sunday Telegraph February 07, 2010
ALL that firm but gentle persuasion and all those time-outs may have been a waste of time - you really should have been smacking your children. At least, that's a theme of NurtureShock, a US bestseller that will enrage the touchy-feely school of parenting.

It's subtitled "Why everything we think about raising our children is wrong" and authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman also note over-praising can demotivate children. To work, praise must be occasional - and sincere. If you want to be a role model for your kids, the authors suggest arguing in front of them. Most controversially, they cite new research suggesting that smacking not only has a place in child-rearing, but that it can be essential - provided it is delivered in the correct way.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sunday-telegraph/smack-those-kids-a-new-us-bestseller-says-we-have-it-all-wrong-about-parenting/story-e6frewt0-1225827427261
See also http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/nurtureshock/archive/2009/12/30/never-been-spanked.aspx

Counseling helps moms-to-be with abusive partner
Reuters Health 4 Feb 10
In a large study conducted in Washington, D.C., a short intervention reduced repeat episodes of domestic violence among a group of pregnant African-American women. The intervention also made it less likely for the pregnancy to end in very premature births. The intervention involved counseling sessions during prenatal care visits. Trained psychologists or social workers advised women in abusive relationships on safety behaviors and preventive options like filing protection orders, and provided information on types of violence and violence cycles. Information on smoking cessation and depression care was also provided. "Many programs intervene on a single risk and I think it is important to address multiple problems at once," Dr. Michele Kiely, of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland, told Reuters Health. "I think that was part of our success. If I were to do it again, I would consider adding interventions on alcohol and on illicit drug use. "

In the study, Kiely and colleagues randomly assigned 1,044 pregnant African-American women to receive either usual care or the intervention. At the first interview, 169 women in the intervention group and 167 women in the usual care group said they had been abused by their partner. Overall, the intervention cut the chances of recurrent episodes of violence by more than half, according to a report in the medical journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6134YD20100204

Abstinence classes might work: study
NZPA 03/02/2010
Educators are being asked to take another look at sex education for 11 to 13-year-old students in light of a recent study from the United States that suggests abstinence programmes could persuade young people to delay sexual activity. The report, written by researchers from Pennsylvania University and published in the Archives of Paediatric & Adolescent Medicine, found only a third of the 662 students who completed an abstinence programme started having sex within the following two years. Whereas nearly half of the students who attended other programmes, including ones that combined contraception and abstinence, became sexually active within the two-year timeframe.

...New Zealand lobby group Family First has welcomed the study and has called on the education sector to take another look at the sex education curriculum. "New Zealand parents have long supported their children being taught abstinence, self control and good choices rather than the flawed 'we don't want you to but here's how anyway' method currently short-selling our young people," national director Bob McCoskrie said. "With New Zealand having one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the OECD, it's time we acknowledged the importance of giving our teens the real facts of life - that postponing sexual involvement is in their very best interests. This is further evidence that abstinence-only intervention can help teenagers delay sexual activity," he said. "The current sex education curriculum is failing to meet national standards, parental expectations, and is based on a false assumption that everyone is doing it - which they're not. It's time the current approach was ditched."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/3289378/Abstinence-classes-might-work-study

Children taught sex education are more likely to have intercourse younger, says study  
Mail Online (UK) 2 February 10
Children given lessons in safe sex are more likely to have intercourse younger, a study has found. Those who have sex at a young age can also lack the maturity to use contraceptives, exposing them to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Teaching abstinence is the best way to avoid pregnancy and STDs, according to researchers. Children aged between 11 and 15 who were taught about safe sex were more likely to have sex in the following two years than those given a lesson on abstinence. In a study involving 600 African American students, half of the group taught sex education reported that they had sexual intercourse over the next two years compared to one third of the group given the abstinence lesson.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1247954/Children-taught-sex-education-likely-intercourse-younger-says-study.html#

Abstinence-only programs might work, study says
Washington Post February 2, 2010
Sex education classes that focus on encouraging children to remain abstinent can persuade a significant proportion to delay sexual activity, researchers reported Monday in a landmark study that could have major implications for U.S. efforts to protect young people against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Only about a third of sixth- and seventh-graders who completed an abstinence-focused program started having sex within the next two years, researchers found. Nearly half of the students who attended other classes, including ones that combined information about abstinence and contraception, became sexually active.

The findings are the first clear evidence that an abstinence program could work. "I think we've written off abstinence-only education without looking closely at the nature of the evidence," said John B. Jemmott III, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who led the federally funded study. "Our study shows this could be one approach that could be used." The research, published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, comes amid intense debate over how to reduce sexual activity, pregnancies, births and sexually transmitted diseases among children and teenagers. After falling for more than a decade, the numbers of births, pregnancies and STDs among U.S. teens have begun increasing.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020102628.html
READ the study

Young families most likely to break up, research shows
The Australian February 01, 2010
Couples who separate tend to be poorer, less educated and more likely to be unemployed or suffer from mental illness than couples who stay together, according to new research. Separated couples are also more likely to have infants and preschoolers in their care, as opposed to older children. The findings, from the Australian Institute of Family Studies report on the family law system, launched for public discussion last week, show that the Family Court is grappling with custody arrangements for very young children, born into the most dysfunctional and often violent families.

The authors of the report, led by Melbourne academic Rae Kaspiew, found that parents who ended up in court tended to be younger than average couples, with the common age range for mothers between 25 and 34. Fully half had children under three and only 7 per cent had a child older than 12. The report found that "educational levels were lower than those found among parents who were together," with one in three having failed to attain a Year 11 education. Half the women were not doing any paid work, and while 84 per cent of the fathers were in paid employment, the employment rate was lower than that found among parents who stay together. The study found extremely high levels of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, mental illness and gambling in families that ended up before the court, with half the mothers saying that one or more of these issues were present.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/young-families-most-likely-to-break-up-research-shows/story-e6frg6nf-1225825232839 

Fat parents to blame for childhood obesity epidemic by over-feeding under-fives, study finds
Telegraph (UK) 31 Jan 2010
Overweight parents who simply feed their children too much at a young age are to largely blame for Britain’s childhood obesity crisis, a report will warn this week. The Government's policy of tackling childhood obesity by encouraging primary school children to take more exercise has been challenged by scientists who say childhood obesity is on the increase because parents are over-feeding their children when they are. The study claims that the Government may be misguided in its policy of trying to tackle the problem through expensive projects aimed at persuading children in primary school to eat healthily and exercise more. Instead, the report suggests, they should focus on educating new parents and parents-to-be to feed their children less before they start school, so they do not become overweight in the first place. Parents must learn to reduce portion sizes it suggests.

 The findings from one of the few long-term studies on childhood obesity in Britain show that daughters of overweight mothers are 10 times more likely to be obese by the time they reach the age of eight than a daughter born to a slim mother. Sons of obese fathers are six times more likely to be overweight, according to the research from scientists working on the EarlyBird Diabetes Project at the medical school in Plymouth. Children of fat parents tended to be over-fed and under-exercised, setting them on a trajectory towards obesity, it found. The chief cause of weight gain, the report said, was “over-nutrition” of children by their parents.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7103587/Fat-parents-to-blame-for-childhood-obesity-epidemic-by-over-feeding-under-fives-study-finds.html

Studies point to latent problems in childcare
NZ Herald Jan 28, 2010
An escalating trend to place pre-verbal infants into childcare has sparked an inquiry by Children's Commissioner John Angus. The number of children under 2 in childcare leaped 47 per cent in the nine years to last July and now includes 25 per cent of all infants under 2. With 57 per cent of 2-year-olds also in care, New Zealand's total of 36 per cent of all those under 3 in childcare is now among the highest in the world - in 2005, when the NZ figure was 32 per cent, we were seventh-highest out of 28 OECD nations. Dr Angus has raised concerns about the resulting risks for reduced breastfeeding, disrupted attachment to parents, more exposure to infectious diseases, more stressful interactions and aggressive behaviour.

National Women's Hospital paediatrician Simon Rowley, a trustee of the Brainwave Trust, says research has found that levels of the stress hormone cortisol rise during the day for infants in childcare, in contrast to the normal pattern of being high in the morning and falling through the day. "The first two years of life is when you develop one of the most important relationships in your life, the attachment relationship you have with one or two primary caregivers," Dr Rowley says. "That relationship then becomes a template for your subsequent relationships. "You can't do that if you're being looked after by mostly disinterested multiple caregivers, which is what sometimes happens in childcare. My hunch is we're going to look back in 25 years and say, how could we have got it so wrong?"
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10622724

Married men earn a third more than their single counterparts
Mail Online (UK) 30th January 2010
Married men earn nearly one third more than single males because they work harder, new research reveals. Tying the knot means men get paid seven per cent more than unmarried men even if differences in age, education and experience are taken into account. They also earn four per cent more than men who live with their partners, according to a 12,000-strong survey.

Experts say the pay gap could be because men develop a stronger work ethic after they marry. ‘Results indicate that a lower level of pay satisfaction induces married men to put more effort into their work, which leads to higher wages,’ said academics at the University of Bielefeld in Germany. They analysed data from 12,245 interviewees on a wide range of subjects including household composition, employment status, working hours, income and time spent on household tasks.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1247317/Married-men-earn-single-counterparts.html#

Student offers her virginity for sale online
Herald on Sunday Jan 31, 2010
A cash-strapped Kiwi student is selling her virginity to the highest online bidder. Unigirl, a 19-year-old from Northland, has placed an ad on Hamilton-based website I Need under the heading Relationship for Sale. "I am desperate for money to pay my ongoing fees. I have never had a sexual relationship and am still a virgin. I am offering my virginity by tender to the highest bidder as long as all personal safety aspects are observed," reads the ad. "This is my decision made with full awareness of the circumstances and possible consequences. I am fit, healthy and have no medical conditions of any nature. I am a keen athlete and have a trim physique."

David Do, co-president of the New Zealand Union of Students Associations, said the union sympathised with Unigirl's financial situation. "Many students are hard-up given the recession, which means it's been harder to find jobs." Bruce Pilbrow, CEO of family organisation Parents Inc, thought it was "horrifically sad that a young lady feels that to get into university, she has to give away something so valuable and precious". Catherine Healy, of the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective, said she hadn't heard of anyone else in New Zealand selling their virginity and found Unigirl's listing "extremely worrying". Healy urged the student to contact NZPC for "practical information" on the realities of sex work. But sexologist Blair Bishop said he saw no problem with Unigirl's offer. "It's just a novel form of sex work."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10623293
Family First Comment: It's every parent's worst nightmare that their daughter would prostitute herself to pay fees, or that their son would act as a pimp to raise funds to study. When the politicians decriminalised prostitution, it still didn't make it right. There is huge stigma against prostitution and quite rightly. But when the MP's foolishly decriminalised it, the underlying message to younger people was that we condoned it - which was completely out of sync with public sentiment. We'd encourage the 19 year old to keep her virginity and her dignity. The website should also remove the ad.

GST rise will hurt poor the most
NZ Herald Jan 30, 2010 
Raising GST to 15 per cent would increase living costs for the poorest New Zealanders more than twice as much as for the rich, unless low income tax rates are cut to compensate. A Weekend Herald analysis of figures in last week's tax working group report shows that the proposed GST increase would cost 2.9 per cent of the net after-tax incomes of the poorest tenth of households - but only 1.2 per cent of the net incomes of the richest tenth. The analysis confirms that raising GST by itself would be highly "regressive", bearing most heavily on the poor. This is mainly because low-income families spend even more than they earn, whereas richer households save much of their incomes and do not pay GST on what they don't spend. But Professor Bob Buckle, the economist who chaired the tax working group, said yesterday the Government should cut income tax rates on low incomes, as well as high incomes, to compensate for raising GST.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10623168

Working for Families tax trap
NZ Herald Jan 30, 2010
Nearly 378,000 New Zealand households get a bit more money each week through Working for Families tax credits. But a system designed to help young families actually punishes them as extra income earned from hard work is taxed at rates as high as 90c in the dollar. For some families, the dole is a better option.
David Hall and Anne Mason opted to put Ryan, 5, and Sophia, 3, before their careers, a decision with economic implications. The first reason is, ironically, because the Government helps them with $125 a week in tax credits through Working for Families. Although the credits are reducing as Hall moves up the teaching salary scale, they will not disappear completely until the couple's joint income reaches $90,457. "Right now those benefits are great," says Mason. But clawing back those credits takes 20c out of every extra dollar that either Hall or Mason earns. Piled on top of the standard tax scale, that means Hall ends up keeping less than half of any extra dollar. That "tax trap" was identified by the Government's tax working group last week as a key factor holding back New Zealand's economic growth. Three-quarters of all our families with children, 377,800 families at last count, receive Working for Families tax credits.

And the second reason Mason and Hall pay a price for their choice to keep one parent mainly at home is that the tax system treats their incomes as completely separate. Hall pays tax at the second-to-top rate of 33c in the dollar just as if he was single, even though his income is shared with his wife and children. Mason has joined a lobby group, Parents as Partners, which sees this as a kind of "tax trap" too. The group wants to let two-income families split their incomes for tax purposes. For Mason and Hall this would mean paying tax on $31,000 each, lowering Hall's tax rate sharply to just 21c in the dollar.

The tax working group found that the combination of tax rates and welfare clawbacks, especially for Working for Families, doesn't just hold back thousands of people from increasing their incomes. It also diverts their efforts into finding ways to hide whatever they do earn. "Expansion of the Working for Families tax credits in 2005 has increased the incentives for people to shelter or split income, undermining the integrity of the system," it said. Economist Gareth Morgan, a member of the group, is blunter. "The thing is completely broken," he says. "Many people with low taxable incomes are actually rich people who are getting benefits just by spreading their incomes across different entities. The system works like a sieve."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10623121

Women's virginity 'a precious gift', says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott
Herald Sun January 26, 2010
Australian women are capable of making their own sexual choices and do not want to be told what to do by Tony Abbott, says Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Her comments come after the Opposition Leader said he believed women should regard their virginity as "a gift' that should not be given away lightly. Ms Gillard said Mr Abbott’s comments confirmed the worst fears Australian women had about him. “Australian women want to make their own choices and they don’t want to be lectured to by Mr Abbott,” Ms Gillard said.

The Opposition Leader says men and women tempted by sex before marriage should try to abide by "the rules" but at least use contraception if they can't wait. But Mr Abbott confessed today his daughters have told him to keep his lifestyle advice on sex and drugs to himself, saying they've told him "Dad, you did all of those things ... and I did". Mr Abbott, who has previously admitted to once drinking “some sort of hemp yoghurt” that left him “away with the fairies for about 12 hours” told 3AW today he had a chequered past, saying he is “no one's parish priest” and he did not want to offer sexual counselling to the nation. The Liberal leader fleshed out his advice on virginity, urging men to not act in ways that “demean others” but suggesting young women should not “give themselves away lightly”.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/womens-virginity-a-precious-gift-says-opposition-leader-tony-abbott/story-e6frf7jo-1225823430036

See also - Opposition leader Tony Abbott vilified for being a dad
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/opposition-leader-tony-abbott-vilified-for-being-a-dad/story-e6frfhqf-1225824475812

Marriage IS what matters most to family stability as only 3% of unmarried couples stay together until their child is 16
Mail online 21st January 2010
Marriage is more important than all other factors in family stability, according to new research which demolishes Labour's central argument against tax breaks for wedded couples. As the main parties went to war over how to support families, Ed Balls's rejection of the importance of marriage was branded 'demonstrably untrue'. Attacking the Tories' pledge to bring Britain into line with most of Europe by introducing tax breaks for married couples, the Children, Schools and Families Secretary conceded that the evidence suggested marriage helped 'children do better'. But he insisted: 'Once you adjust for the fact that people who are married tend to marry older, be better educated and have higher incomes, you find it is not the legal form, it is the strength and stability of the relationship which is most important.'

That assertion was promptly challenged by research suggesting marriage is in fact the number one factor in relationship stability. Harry Benson, of the Bristol Community Family Trust, said: 'Based on data of 15,000 new mothers, marriage is the single biggest predictor, above and beyond the effects of income, education, age, ethnic group, benefit receipt and birth order.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1244699/Only-3-couples-stay-child-16-unmarried-study-reveals.html#ixzz0dUjMPVNT

Victims dad applauds law change
Bay of Plenty Times 20 January 2010
A Tauranga man whose daughter was murdered five years ago has welcomed the government's three-strike policy annouced yesterday. Brian Brown whose daughter Natasha Hayden was strangled to death by Michael Curren at McLaren Falls in January 2005, said the policy was a step in the right direction and "a little bit of victory" for victims of serious crime.

...While the policy has been blasted by critics including the Maori party and Corrections lobby groups, Family First NZ has welcomed it. National Director Bob McCoskrie said the policy would help ensure the safety of families from repeat violent offenders. “The best and most obvious way to protect women, children, and the elderly from repeat violent offenders is to incapacitate them. The purpose of this law will be to warn ‘career criminals’ to find a new job or else they will become ‘career inmates’. They are effectively being given two chances to stop their violent behaviour. Some would argue this is still one too many.”
READ MORE

Crown to appeal decision that carer parents should be paid
NZ Herald Jan 22, 2010
The long-standing battle by eight families for financial help to look after their severely disabled adult children will continue with a Crown appeal. Solicitor General David Collins, QC, has said the Crown will appeal the landmark Human Rights Review Tribunal decision, delivered earlier this month, that found in favour of the families after the Ministry of Health said they were not eligible for caregivers' payments. Mr Collins said the decision to appeal was "in the public interest" because of the potential fiscal impact of the finding and its flow-on effect to other policy. The tribunal said the parents were discriminated against by the ministry because "they are not allowed to be paid for the services they provide to their child (or children) while anyone else providing the very same care to their child (or children) is able to be paid."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10621674

Kindy loses out to all-day care
Sunday Star Times 17/01/2010
The Kiwi tradition of sending pre-schoolers to kindy is losing favour, as growing numbers of parents seek all-day care for their children. The latest annual census of early childhood education services shows the number of children enrolled in kindergartens has fallen to fewer than 40,000 – a drop of 12.4% since 2005. At the same time the number of children enrolled in daycare centres has jumped from 83,889 in 2005 to 101,425 in July 2009 – an increase of nearly 21%.

The figures go to the heart of the long-running debate over what is best for children – and for parents – in the preschool years. In recent decades, preschoolers have spent more and more time being cared for by people other than their close relatives, and they have been starting younger. Whereas kindys take children aged three and up, there is concern that putting young children into care, especially in the crucial first two years when their brains are developing at phenomenal speed, could hamper later development. But other observers say there is nothing wrong in putting children into long hours of daycare as long as that care is good quality, with consistent of staffing levels and low staff-to-child ratios.

The Ministry of Education census shows the number of children aged three and under enrolled in licensed early childhood centres has jumped in the past five years: there has been an increase of 21% in the number of babies (under one-year-olds); 18.4% for one-year-olds; and 15% for two-year-olds. Home-based services have also gained in popularity, growing 54% in five years.

On average, children enrolled in daycare centres are now spending 23 hours a week there. Most children are enrolled part-time, but since 2005 there has been a 37% increase in the number of fulltime enrolments (more than 27 hours a week). The number of children now classed in fulltime care has jumped from nearly 25,000 five years ago to just over 34,000.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/3235535/Kindy-loses-out-to-all-day-care

Porn less immoral than piracy - survey
NZPA 12/01/2010
Three times as many New Zealanders think it is morally acceptable for a single person to view pornography on the internet than to download copyrighted video, according to a new poll. The survey also indicates gender differences in what is morally acceptable behaviour, with women being overall less approving of viewing pornography, using dating services, downloading copyrighted material and flirting with others on the internet. The results are the second in a series of UMR polls on morality. One thousand New Zealanders were surveyed online in November. The poll indicated 41 per cent of New Zealanders think it is morally acceptable for a single person to view pornography, compared with 13 per cent who see downloading copyrighted video as acceptable and 18 per cent who consider downloading copyrighted music acceptable. Twenty one per cent thought it was morally acceptable for a married person to view pornography online without the knowledge of the person's spouse.

Although 69 per cent thought it was acceptable for a single person to flirt with another internet user, just 6 per cent thought it was morally acceptable for a married person to flirt with another internet user without their spouse's knowledge. The survey showed up substantial gender differences. Fifty-six per cent of men thought that it was acceptable for a single person to view pornography online, compared with 26 per cent of women. Similarly, 31 per cent of men were comfortable with married people viewing pornography online without the knowledge of their spouses, compared with just 10 per cent of women.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/3223485/Porn-less-immoral-than-piracy-survey

Watching TV for hours could shorten your life - study
Reuters 12/01/2010
Couch potatoes, beware. Sitting in front of the television for hours daily could shorten your life, according to an Australian study. Researchers from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in the state of Victoria tracked the lifestyle habits of 8,800 adults and found that each hour spent in front of the TV daily increased the risk of dying earlier from cardiovascular disease. The study, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, found every hour in front of the TV was associated with an 11 percent increased risk of death from all causes, a 9 percent higher risk of cancer death, and an 18 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) related death.

"Compared with people who watched less than two hours of television daily, those who watched more than four hours a day had a 46 percent higher risk of death from all causes and an 80 percent increased risk for CVD-related death," the researchers said in a statement. The researchers said this association held regardless of other independent and common cardiovascular disease risk factors, including smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, unhealthy diet, excessive waist circumference, and leisure-time exercises.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3223300/Watching-TV-for-hours-could-shorten-your-life-study

Naughty corners are a bad idea for kids, according to Melbourne expert
Herald Sun January 11, 2010 
Time could be up for time out. A Melbourne expert says naughty corners and time out in bedrooms are inappropriate because they shame and humiliate. A Melbourne expert says naughty corners and time out in bedrooms are inappropriate because they shame and humiliate. The same goes for smacking, which education and parenting consultant Kathy Walker says makes children feel resentful. Ms Walker also buckets bribes, which she says children work out pretty quickly and soon need to be "bigger and bigger". Her new book, Parenting: A practical guide to raising preschool and primary-school children, covers a range of behaviours

..."Labels such as 'bad' or 'naughty' shame and humiliate children," she said. "Even when this strategy is framed as a request for children to 'sit and think about what they have done and then apologise', it is inappropriate. A child's bedroom should be a safe happy place of relaxation." Instead Ms Walker, who thinks smacking is unnecessary and ineffective, advocates "chilling out" where a child sits quietly "away from the scene of the crime" to calm down. She said some parents spent too much time and energy forcing young children to say please, thank you and sorry, when their own behaviour was more important.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/naughty-corners-are-a-bad-idea-for-kids/story-e6frf7jo-1225817899003

Hyperactive children given theme park queue jump passes
Times Online (UK) 1 Sep 2009
Hyperactive children and those with attention-deficit disorders can now queue jump at theme parks because they cannot cope with the stress of waiting. Tourist boards are offering the privilege so that they can skip the queue with their friends. Teachers have criticised the scheme, saying that it undermines their efforts to encourage patience and it would be better for children with ADHD, attention deficit and hyperactive disorder, to learn how to wait. Children with ADHD, which was recognised as a psychiatric condition 15 years ago, are given passes in most theme parks in the UK and many abroad if they can prove that they have the condition. Andrea Bilbow, chief executive of the National Attention Deficity Disorder Information and Support Service, said that the scheme avoided tantrums.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6816994.ece

Grieving mother blames cancer vaccine
NZ Herald Jan 9, 2010
Rhonda Renata is in no doubt about what caused the death of her daughter Jasmine. The 18-year-old died last September 22 at her family home in Upper Hutt, apparently in her sleep. It was six months since she had received the last of the three injections of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil. Her grieving mother is still waiting for official answers on what happened to Jasmine but she doubts the medical investigations will provide them. Her own inquiries have led her to cases overseas which she considers similar to Jasmine's clutch of symptoms before she died.

In the United States, it has been alleged more than 10 deaths are linked to Gardasil. Several lawsuits have been filed relating to paralysis of teenage girls, one of whom died. CSL, which markets Gardasil in New Zealand, said it was unlikely the investigations would find the vaccine caused Jasmine's death. No causal relationship had been established between Gardasil and any deaths or cases of paralysis, said CSL spokeswoman Rachel David. There was an established risk of severe allergic reaction immediately after the injection, but cases were rare. The Ministry of Health said it was important not to jump to conclusions about Jasmine's death until more information was available. "Information from immunisation programmes overseas has not raised any concerns over the safety of this vaccine, in which over 44 million doses have been distributed worldwide," said Dr Stewart Jessamine, group manager of the ministry's medicines safety authority Medsafe.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10619244

Payroll donation scheme begins tomorrow
TV3 News 06 Jan 2010 
Payroll giving allows employees to donate money directly from their pay packet to approved charities. From Jan 7, employees can receive an immediate tax break if they donate money to charities from their pay packet, provided their employers have signed up to the scheme. Payroll giving allows employees to donate money directly from their pay packet to approved charities. They will then get a tax credit directly each payday, rather than have to collect receipts and submit claims at the end of the tax year. A Charities Commission spokeswoman said the immediate tax credit did not apply to one-off donations
http://www.3news.co.nz/Payroll-donation-scheme-begins-tomorrow/tabid/423/articleID/136305/Default.aspx

Child porn victims getting younger - Internal Affairs
NZ Herald Tuesday Jan 5, 2010
Children as young as a few months old are being targeted by New Zealand's child pornography offenders, as they continue to seek even younger victims. According to the Department of Internal affairs, which prosecute child pornography cases, the average age of a victim is just five years old compared with 13 to 15 years old in the 1980s. The average age of offenders has risen from between 27 and 30 to people in their early 40s. Internal Affairs Censorship Compliance Unit manager Steve O'Brien said the material is becoming more violent and the abuse of very young children more frequent. "What's really disturbing is that victims are getting younger - a lot of what we're getting now features children from a few months to five years old."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10612529&pnum=2

Suicide link to a lack of sleep

New Research: Why Never Spanking Might Be Worse for Kids Than Spanking Them
Newsweek Blog December 30, 2009 By Po Bronson
In NurtureShock, we described some extensive cross-ethnic and international research on spanking by Drs. Jennifer Lansford and Ken Dodge. Their data suggested that if a culture views spanking as the normal consequence for bad behavior, kids aren’t damaged by its occasional use. To explain this shocker, the scholars suggested that in cultures or communities where spanking is common, parents are less agitated when administering spankings. Spanking almost never—when combined with losing your temper—can be worse than spanking frequently.* 

But what about the third option: not spanking them at all? Unfortunately, there’s been little study of this, because children who’ve never been spanked aren’t easy to find. Most kids receive physical discipline at least once in their life. But times are changing, and parents today have numerous alternatives to spanking. The result is that kids are spanked less often overall, and kids who’ve never been spanked are becoming a bigger slice of the pie in long-term population studies.

One of those new population studies underway is called Portraits of American Life. It involves interviews of 2,600 people and their adolescent children every three years for the next 20 years. Dr. Marjorie Gunnoe is working with the first wave of data on the teens. It turns out that almost a quarter of these teens report they were never spanked. So this is a perfect opportunity to answer a very simple question: are kids who’ve never been spanked any better off, long term? Gunnoe’s summary is blunt: “I didn’t find that in my data.”

...What she discovered was another shocker: those who’d been spanked just when they were young—ages 2 to 6—were doing a little better as teenagers than those who’d never been spanked. On almost every measure.

..Gunnoe doesn’t know what she’ll find, but my thoughts jump immediately to the work of Dr. Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, whom we wrote about in NurtureShock. Schoppe-Sullivan found that children of progressive dads were acting out more in school. This was likely because the fathers were inconsistent disciplinarians; they were emotionally uncertain about when and how to punish, and thus they were reinventing the wheel every time they had to reprimand their child. And there was more conflict in their marriage over how best to parent, and how to divide parenting responsibilities.
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/nurtureshock/archive/2009/12/30/never-been-spanked.aspx
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article6974059.ece
http://www.3news.co.nz/Smacking-may-be-beneficial---study/tabid/370/articleID/136025/Default.aspx

Trend in babycare 'scary'
The Nelson Mail 22/12/2009
A big increase in the number of under-ones in childcare is due to the fact it has become socially acceptable, says the head of a home-based childcare organisation. New figures in an Education Ministry report show a 21 per cent increase in four years to nearly 8000 under-ones in daycare. Porse managing director Jenny Yule said the increase was because childcare centres had become visible. "People see them like McDonald's; there's one on every corner. "It's become the norm and it's socially acceptable. It's OK to have your baby in childcare." However, she believes the trend has lost sight of what is best for the baby. Porse's in-home childcare was about a baby needing an attachment relationship and was an alternative to large group-based childcare centres, she said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/3186559/Trend-in-babycare-scary

Scandalous show pulled from Christmas stage
Northern Advocate 20th December 2009
A play depicting Santa raping  a reindeer has been pulled from a Whangarei stage for fear of shocking seasonal sensibilities. Professional theatre company Pohutukawa had already booked the Old Library for its performance of the Reindeer Monologues.
"It's a Christmas show but we chose not to put it on because it's scandalous," producer Jarrod Martin said. "We didn't want people feeling like we'd pulled the rug out from under them, or getting the idea that it was a family affair only to find out what Santa had been up to." Reindeer Monologues, by American playwright Jeff Goode, includes eight monologues, each of which represent a different attitude to rape. "It doesn't make a joke out of rape. Rape is no laughing matter - at one stage we were sitting around crying," Mr Martin said. During a rehearsal, the eight-member cast realised the play was gritty and people  might come along with the wrong expectations. The show will now be performed next year from March 23 to April 3 at the Old Library.

Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said he was "struggling to find the link between rape and Santa - it's tenuous". At Christmas it's a dark issue to be raising and you walk a fine line by bringing humour to the serious issue of rape. There's a danger you trivialise the issue." Mr McCoskrie said portraying sexual violence in a humorous way minimised its effect. The play needs to be reviewed by the chief censor so a warning can be put on for families."
http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/scandalous-show-pulled-from-christmas-stage/3907839/

Parents hit back over smacking
The Dominion Post 19/12/2009
Parents whose smacking cases were investigated in a review of the anti-smacking law say they were ignored in the "one-sided" report. The cases were used by Family First to argue that good parents were being turned into criminals. But as part of the three-month review, clinical psychologist Nigel Latta, police commissioner Howard Broad and Social Development Ministry chief executive Peter Hughes examined 11 of the cases. They found all had other aggravating features and were not as they were reported on the lobby group's website. None stood up to scrutiny. Mr Latta said the responses by police and Child, Youth and Family in the cases were appropriate and proportionate.

In a statement issued by Family First, the parents said they rejected claims they had misrepresented the facts, and they rejected the report's findings. Their accounts were "ignored and the only opinion that matters has been that of the police and CYF", they said. The "one-sided report" had glaring errors, did not consult parents and contained alleged actions that had no basis in court. "We are not child abusers, yet this report continues to make that accusation," they said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3177953/Parents-hit-back-over-smacking

New laws to protect children
NZPA 18/12/2009
A raft of new laws to protect children at risk of assault in their homes has been proposed in a report from the Law Commission. The report, tabled in Parliament today, included a law that would hold adults living in a household with a child they knew to be at risk of death, serious injury or sexual assault legally liable if they did not take reasonable steps to protect them. ..Liability for offences involving "cruelty to a child" would also be strengthened under the proposed changes, with a recommendation to increase the maximum penalty from five years' jail to 10 years, and another to remove the defence that meant a person was not guilty if an offence was done out of ignorance or thoughtlessness.

Lobby group Family First spokesman Bob McCoskrie said his group agreed with the Law Commission's conclusion that the existing laws did not sufficiently protect children, and that there was no legal duty for adults to intervene to protect a child in their home. But the right to silence afforded to family members who may have witnessed child abuse should also be removed, he said. "The police acknowledge that the closing of ranks by the families and the 'right to silence' and refusal to be interviewed has stonewalled a number of investigations into child abuse deaths."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3176796/New-laws-to-protect-children
http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/news/govt-plans-to-strengthen-law-to-protect-children-welcomed/11/13374

Joseph and Mary in bed billboard decried 
TVNZ News December 17, 2009
A mischievous billboard about to be hoisted by an Auckland church and intended to provoke conversation about spiritual matters at Christmas has raised the ire of a Christian lobby group. Family First NZ labelled the billboard to be put up by St Matthew-in-the-City Church as insensitive and objectionable to many people. The billboard ..was intended to challenge stereotypes about the way that Jesus was conceived and get people talking about the Christmas story, the church said. Archdeacon Glynn Cardy said it had already generated plenty of discussion in its conception phase.

But Family First national director Bob McCoskrie describes the church's plan as irresponsible. "The church can have its debate on the virgin birth and its spiritual significance inside the church building, but to confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary," he said. "The church has failed to recognise that public billboards are exposed to all of the public including children and families who may be offended by the material."
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/st-matthews-billboard-deliberately-provocative-3312856

Australia plans to censor internet
Sydney Morning Herald 16/12/2009
The Australian government has announced it will proceed with controversial plans to censor the internet after government-commissioned trials found filtering a blacklist of banned sites was accurate and would not slow down the internet. But critics, including the online users' lobby group Electronic Frontiers Australia and the country's Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam, said the trial results were not surprising and the policy was still fundamentally flawed.

The country's Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, said he would introduce legislation just before next year's elections to force ISPs to block a blacklist of "refused classification" (RC) websites for all Australian internet users. The blacklist, featuring material such as child sex abuse, sexual violence and instructions on crime, would be compiled using a public complaints mechanism, government censors and URLs provided by international agencies.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/technology/3165707/Australia-plans-to-censor-internet
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/green-light-for-laws-to-block-child-porn-bestiality-websites/story-e6frf7l6-1225810943334

Children are being spoilt with too many toys, parenting experts warn
Herald Sun (Aust) December 16, 2009
CHILDREN are being spoilt with too many toys, parenting experts warn. Leading psychologists say well-meaning mums and dads are breeding a handout mentality in kids as young as three. They say the mountain of toys can stifle creativity and lead to children missing out on learning important values. Too many parents are caught up in the myth that materialism buys happiness, clinical psychologist Renee Mill said. "It is far more important for children to feel related to, loved and remembered than overloaded with toys," Ms Mill said. Research shows some parents are buying toys all year round to reward better school performance and as bribes for good behaviour.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/children-are-being-spoilt-with-too-many-toys-parenting-experts-warn/story-e6frf7jo-1225810745953

Parents reject smacking review findings
TVNZ News December 16, 2009 
A group of parents at the centre of a review into the anti-smacking law say they reject the findings of the report. Television psychologist Nigel Latta, Police Commissioner Howard Broad and Social Development Ministry chief executive Peter Hughes carried out the three-month review and concluded that none of the cases highlighted by pro-smacking lobby Family First stacked up. Family First had used them as evidence that the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act, effectively banning smacking for the purposes of correction, had failed. Latta reviewed several individual cases highlighted in the media and said he was personally reassured the law change made no difference to the way the police and social workers did their job.

But those parents today said they were never consulted during the review. "It appears that our accounts of what happened, and the supporting documentation we provided, including court, police and Child Youth and Family documents, to Family First has been ignored and the only opinion that matters has been that of the police and CYF," they said in a joint statement. "This is a one-sided report and fails to objectively hear the evidence from both sides." The families said they rejected the notion they had misrepresented the facts to Family First, and that the group was one of the few organisations willing to hear their side of the story.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/parents-reject-smacking-review-findings-3310764

Marriage is good for you
NZPA 15/12/2009
Getting married is good for you, according a New Zealand-led international study of nearly 35,000 people across 15 countries. Tying the knot was positive for the mental health of both men and women, reducing the risks of the likelihood of most mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse, the study found.

The world-first study, led by clinical psychologist Kate Scott from the University of Otago, Wellington, was based on World Health Organisation mental health surveys across developing and developed countries in the past decade, and published in the UK journal Psychological Medicine. By contrast, separation, divorce or being widowed was associated with substantially increased risk of mental health disorders in both genders; particularly substance abuse for women and depression for men.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/wellbeing/3161839/Marriage-is-good-for-you
READ the Full Research

Teen sex lessons change the rules
NZ Herald Dec 12, 2009 
A new state-funded experiment is turning traditional sex education on its head - abandoning lectures on the dangers of sexual activity and teaching young people how to get better sex through "ethical relationships". The "sex & ethics" course, funded by $164,000 from the Ministry of Justice, is being piloted with people aged 16 to 25 at Victoria and Massey universities and two youth centres in Wellington. Auckland-based Rape Prevention Education director Kim McGregor said she hoped it could be modified for eventual use in schools. Parents Inc co-founder Ian Grant also welcomed the programme yesterday as "a step forward", but still advised teenagers to delay having sex for as long as they could. The programme was developed by Australian criminologist Moira Carmody after young people told her in a survey that sex education focused too much on the risks of sex and did not prepare them for "the complexity of sexual intimacy".

Mr Grant, whose "Attitude" teen health programme runs in 86 per cent of New Zealand high schools, said it was great that the new programme was teaching about communication rather than just "being careful". "Teenagers today are being ripped off because nobody is teaching them that intimacy is what they're looking for, and sex is only part of that," he said. "We have to instil into our young people that committed intimacy is vital. This is a step better than the usual course, which just told you how to put a condom on a banana."
The old way
Delay, but if you're going to do it, practise safe sex.
The new way
Find out how to get good sex in an intimate relationship.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10615048&pnum=0

Experts checking if NZ death linked to cervical-cancer jab
NZ Herald Dec 11, 2009
An investigation is under way into a possible connection between a controversial cervical cancer vaccine and the death of a girl. Health Minister Tony Ryall's office has confirmed that the Otago University-based Centre for Adverse Reaction Monitoring (CARM) had been asked to see if there is any link between the girl's death and the Gardasil vaccination. CARM director Michael Tatley yesterday told the Herald an investigation was under way, but details of the girl's death were "really scant stuff". The matter was still before the coroner. The girl is believed to have died in the past couple of months.

Her death had come within six months of receiving the Gardasil vaccination, but it was not known if she had completed the course - generally three shots administered six weeks apart.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10614748

Only 6pc using abortion pill
The Press 12/12/2009
The abortion pill should be more widely used in New Zealand, the Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC) says. In its annual review, tabled in Parliament this week, the committee said it was concerned that less than 6 per cent of abortions in New Zealand were carried out using the drug Mifegyne. In other countries where medical abortions were available, the rate was between 20 and 30 per cent, it said. Known as the abortion pill, Mifegyne allows women who are less than nine weeks pregnant to get an abortion without going to hospital for surgery.

...Right to Life spokesman Ken Orr said the group was against wider use of the abortion pill because it killed an unborn child by starving it. If Family Planning's 30 clinics were licensed to give the pill it would double the number of places women could get an abortion in New Zealand, he said.
ABORTION FACTS
* 53 per cent of women who had abortions last year were not using contraception.
* 98.7 per cent of abortions were carried out on mental health grounds.
* 196 certifying consultants were paid nearly $5 million in fees for abortions last year.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3154158/Only-6pc-using-abortion-pill

Mixed reaction to Easter trading bill defeat
NZPA 10/12/2009
Trade unionists are thrilled by the defeat of a bill that would have opened up Easter trading laws but Auckland's Chamber of Commerce says the vote was crazy. Rotorua MP Todd McClay's member's bill went down 62-59 on a conscience vote in Parliament last night after he made an impassioned plea for it to at least be sent to a select committee for public submissions.

Mr McClay, a National MP, wanted local authorities to be allowed to decide whether shops in their area should be allowed to open on Easter Sunday, saying Rotorua desperately needed the right to trade on its busiest tourist weekend of the year. He said Easter trading laws were a mess, with Taupo allowed to open while Rotorua, 80km away, wasn't. "It won't compel workers anywhere to work on Easter Sunday if they don't want to," he said during the first reading debate on his bill.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3146194/Mixed-reaction-to-Easter-trading-bill-defeat

Watchdog unhappy with Michael Jackson billboard 
 Sunday Star Times 06/12/2009
A Tui beer billboard erected next to a Dunedin school playground that poked fun at Michael Jackson's death and the sexual abuse allegations he faced has sparked a complaint to the country's advertising watchdog. The billboard carried the wording "Don't worry, MJ touched me too. Yeah right" and was painted on the wall of a building neighbouring George Street Normal School, in central Dunedin, after the sudden death of Jackson in July. The school's board of trustees received complaints from children, parents and teachers. The board, concerned particularly about the message the billboard was sending the community about child abuse, complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

In considering whether the billboard breached the advertising standards, the ASA unanimously expressed concern about the location of the billboard next to the school. However, it was divided on whether the billboard crossed the boundaries of good taste. The ASA said while the majority of its members were of the view that most children, and many members of the public, would interpret the message at face value and not be knowledgeable about its double meaning, a minority thought the advertisement did have "sexual implications" and had been inappropriately published in a highly visible manner
http://www.stuff.co.nz/3130498/Watchdog-unhappy-with-Jacko-billboard

Get teen out of bed with water says judge
The Dominion Post 09/12/2009
A judge has suggested a mother throw a glass of water over her daughter next time she refuses to go to school. Judge Lindsay Moore made the suggestion in Napier District Court yesterday sentencing Ataraiti Watson on a truancy charge. Watson pleaded guilty to failing to ensure her daughter Atareta, 14, attended an alternative education course for 25 days between January and May without excuse. The charge carries a maximum penalty of a $300 fine. Watson's lawyer, Mike McAleer, said she had tried getting her daughter out of bed, without success. "I indicated that section 59 of the Crimes Act gave her a defence to pull her daughter out of bed and to drag her out to the street so she could be picked up," Mr McAleer said. The judge replied: "Why indulge in such violence when a small container of cold water will do the same job. There are more ways than one to get a reluctant youngster out of bed ... Bedclothes soon dry out in the Hawke's Bay sun if you put them on the line."

Barnardos national chief executive Murray Edridge said he assumed the judge's comment was a joke, but he still found it extremely unhelpful. Parents needed to be sensible and appropriate in their discipline, he said. "Discipline other than physical can still cause harm to the relationship between the parent and the child – psychological pressure, for example. "Throwing cold water at a child might not come under section 59 but it is still unhelpful." Family First director Bob McCoskrie said the case showed the stress on parents caused by the section 59 legislation. "Parents are telling us that kids are saying, `You can't tell me what to do, you can't touch me'."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3141006/Get-teen-out-of-bed-with-water-says-judge

PM: It's okay to give light smacks
NZ Herald Dec 8, 2009
Prime Minister John Key says a new review gives parents the go-ahead to lightly smack their children without the fear they will be investigated and prosecuted for doing so. Mr Key yesterday presented the findings of the review into how the anti-smacking law is being used, ordered after a referendum heightened calls for the legislation to be repealed.

The review panel - child psychologist Nigel Latta, Police Commissioner Howard Broad and Ministry of Social Development chief executive Peter Hughes - found police and social workers were acting proportionately and one-off complaints about light smacking were not investigated unless other circumstances were at play. Mr Key said it showed parents were still able to lightly smack and he personally believed it was already acceptable, despite the strict letter of the law. If that changed, he said, he would change the law, as he had promised. "Lightly smacking a child will be in the course of parenting for some parents and I think that's acceptable. It is up to individual parents to decide how they're going to parent their children ... Some people will continue to lightly smack their child for correction, some will not. It is up to them to decide."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10614102

Lobby Group Has Been Misled, Latta Says
NZPA  8 December 2009
Lobby group Family First is often not given the full story when it champions parents it feels have been prosecuted for minor child discipline offences, psychologist Nigel Latta says. That can lead it to throwing weight behind parents who don't deserve it and in so doing mislead the public, he told Radio New Zealand today...

Family First spokesman Bob McCoskrie rejected any suggestion it had been misled. It had not relied simply on what prosecuted parents told it, but in some cases had provided the police statement of facts, and sentencing notes. Despite the review finding the opposite, he still did not accept the law was working. He said the review didn't look at effect of the law on the general confidence and psyche of parents, or whether children felt parents now had less power over them. His "general feedback" indicated there had been changes in parenting.
http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/news/lobby-group-has-been-misled-latta-says/11/13076

LISTEN National Radio Morning Report Bob McCoskrie responds to the Latta review

Swearing, sexual themes cause shock in CYF play
Stuff.co.nz 07/12/2009
A play performance arranged by Child, Youth and Family for foster parents and children in CYF care has caused shock after sexual themes and swear words were used. One hundred and thirty two Wellington CYF children aged between six and 17 were treated to a performance of An Adagio Christmas at the Downstage theatre at the weekend. The play's audience saw one one character calling another by an obscenity, and another refer to losing their virginity and miming an orgasm in a slapstick-style, Radio New Zealand reported. Despite the audience for the play, Downstage Theatre said it left the adult themes in as it did not want to be condescending to children. Child Youth and Family deputy chief executive Ray Smith, who was in the audience, admitted to being shocked but defended the performance.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3131416/Swearing-sexual-themes-cause-shock-in-CYF-play

Pregnant woman sells her body
Sunday News 06/12/2009
A young mother, eight months pregnant with her second child, is selling her body and the unborn baby’s dad is acting as her pimp. He also often joins in on the money-for-sex sessions. Child welfare advocates are shocked by Sunday News’ discovery and are demanding authorities investigate the couple, who have been offering their joint services for the past fortnight.

“That’s an absolutely horrific and shocking story. As a child advocate, I would say, ‘What on earth does that mean for that baby’?’ families commissioner Christine Rankin said. "For that baby, I just despair because what kind of world is it being brought into in terms of its parents?," said Rankin. "That's what's wrong with us (New Zealanders), we think anyone's allowed to do anything they like in terms of their children. Well, they're not and I'm sure CYF will be very interested in this case and surely have huge concerns for the baby." CYF can apply for custody of the couple's unborn child through the Family Court if they believe it's at risk. "This isn't about judging this woman. It's about making sure her children are loved and protected," CYF chief executive John Harvey told Sunday News. Children's Commissioner Dr John Angus said without knowing the couple he "cannot comment on the situation".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3130487/Pregnant-woman-sells-her-body

Pillow-attack case thrown out
NZ Herald Dec 4, 2009
A judge has thrown out an assault case against a man who threw a cushion at his nephew's head following an argument with the boy's mother. George Taylor was accused of assault last New Year's Eve following an argument about whether the mother of the 6-year-old was being overprotective of her children. He threw a small decorative cushion at his nephew's head, and although the mother did not see the incident, she called the police. During a depositions hearing in July, the mother told the Wellington District Court that although there were no injuries, it was "definitely not" just a pillow fight.

At the hearing, the boy, who was speaking from behind a protective screen shielding him from the accused, told the court that the pillow strike had not really hurt and that he felt no ill-will towards his uncle. The boy said he had been hit on the top of the head, had not been injured and had not been sore. Yesterday in court, the judge said a trial would potentially damage the boy and dismissal of the case was in the overall interests of justice. The judge also blasted the police as "ridiculous" and "petty" for bringing action against Mr Taylor. Mr Taylor later said the whole situation had been ridiculous. "It's just a waste of taxpayers' money, my time and the police's time."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10613357

Schools allow children to call teachers by first names
Stuff.co.nz  04/12/2009
Tradition has gone out the classroom window as an increasing number of primary schools allow children to address teachers by their first names. The move away from honorifics - reflected across other aspects of society too - has sparked debate among education experts. Teachers say it removes an unnecessary level of authority and encourages more curious and questioning students. Critics say it gives children more freedom than they are prepared for.

Wellington's Mt Cook School principal Sandra McCallum said using Christian names changed the learning dynamic. Instead of passively accepting what they are told, children are not overawed by authority and are more questioning. "The old adage that children are there to be seen and not heard - that has changed," she said. But Victoria University anthropologist James Urry argues that removing the age-based hierarchy is empowering kids before they are ready. "The consequences of this usage in schools is a collapse of authority and a lack of respect which also extends beyond school. Children are empowered often without the social skills to handle their empowerment," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/3125628/Schools-allow-children-to-call-teachers-by-first-names

New scheme aims to shield children from violence
NZ Herald Thursday Dec 3, 2009
Preventing two-year-olds witnessing family violence is at the heart of a new First Response pilot launched today. The country's largest violence prevention agency, Shine, has partnered with police and will go into violent homes where children under two live. Last year police dealt with 50,000 reports of family violence across the country. At a launch in Auckland this morning, Shine client service director Jill Proudfoot said the pilot would run until June next year and serve 500 children aged under two. She said the programme would see trained Shine advocates going to homes across Auckland City where domestic violence has taken place. "We'll see them before it becomes an ongoing problem," Ms Proudfoot said. She said a violence assessment would be carried out in the homes and would look at possible alcohol, drug and gang problems that could be leading to domestic violence.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10613204
But here's the concern:
In July, Jill Proudfoot says, “It is time to stop minimizing and denying the seriousness of violence towards children in our society. Words like ‘smacking’ sound very different from words like ‘hitting’, ‘beating’, and ‘assaulting’, but what in fact is the difference? Calling a ‘hit’ a ‘smack’ may make the parent feel better, but it doesn't help the child at all.” http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/print.html?path=PO0907/S00304.htm

Advertisers to investigate sexual images of children (Aust)
Sydney Morning Herald December 1, 2009
Advertisements featuring children made to look like sexy adult models or that are loaded with sexual imagery may be harder to get on air or in print if a study concludes the advertising industry is out of step with the public on the issue. The self-regulatory body that deals with complaints about advertising intends to ask the public if ads are promoting sex to children or are making them into sexual objects.

Two years ago a survey by the Advertising Standards Bureau found that it was more permissive than the public about risque ads featuring nudity and sex. The bureau's chief executive, Fiona Jolly, said the study would review whether recent bureau decisions met a key clause in the advertiser's code, which states ads 'shall treat sex, sexuality and nudity with sensitivity to the relevant audience and, where appropriate, the relevant program time zone'. It would also explore if billboard ads should be allowed, given that no control can be exercised over when the ad is seen and by whom.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/advertisers-to-investigate-sexual-images-of-children-20091130-k178.html

Stress affects mums, kids
Herald Sun (Aust) December 03, 2009
Highly stressed working mothers love their jobs but are risking their health, research reveals. Their children also have poorer social and emotional outcomes, although other factors such as parenting style also play a part in this. Benjamin Graham and Ibolya Losoncz, from the federal Department of Housing, Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, conducted the study of 1366 working mothers. Their Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children survey found that highly educated mothers were more likely to experience an extended period of work-life tension
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/stress-affects-mums-kids/story-e6frf7l6-1225806345495

Today's lesson: condoms in the classroom cause controversy (Aust)
Sydney Morning Herald December 3, 2009
A privately run sex education program operating in NSW public high schools questions the effectiveness of condoms for preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Real Choices Australia operates the program, Choices Decisions Outcomes, mainly in government schools across Australia. One of its directors and spokeswoman, Debbie Garratt, has links to the Catholic Church and has worked with anti-abortion groups. The program is used at Ulladulla High School. Teams are trying to promote it in the Newcastle, Kempsey, Macksville, Port Macquarie and Taree regions. On the Choices Decisions Outcomes' website, students are warned that condoms are not 100 per cent effective in stopping sexually transmitted infections. It highlights that children who engage in sexual activity are 'flirting with danger'.The website goes on to say there is 'no scientific evidence that condoms prevent the transmission of most sexually transmitted diseases'.

The NSW Greens MP John Kaye said the program compromised the State Government's public health strategy, which says the use of condoms during casual sexual encounters 'significantly' reduced STI transmissions. 'The program is using subterfuge to infiltrate the classroom and indoctrinate young people with a minority viewpoint, putting their sexual health at risk,' Dr Kaye said. Ms Garratt said the program, which catered for the first four years of secondary schooling, encouraged adolescents to make healthy lifestyle choices regarding their sexuality as well as health and relationship issues. Asked whether the website was designed to dissuade students from using condoms, she said some readers may have inferred the wrong meaning. 'The message is that condoms are not 100 per cent safe,' she said. 'We don't promote abstinence as the preferred option.'
http://www.smh.com.au/national/todays-lesson-condoms-in-the-classroom-cause-controversy-20091202-k6fc.html

Call for four weeks' leave for new dads
The Dominion Post 02/12/2009
Fathers need four weeks' paid parental leave of their own, the Families Commission says. In a Supporting Kiwi Dads survey almost half of fathers said they were unable to take paternity leave when their children were born. And Labour Department figures show that from January to October 22,581 mothers received paid parental leave. But, only 218 had transferred leave to fathers. The Families Commission is calling for four weeks' paid parental leave. The Government says it is not affordable.

Paid parental leave was introduced in 2002, and working mothers can now qualify for 14 weeks' leave. Fathers are entitled to take two weeks' unpaid leave or have the mother transfer leave to them. Last year, 26,324 mothers received paid parental leave and 239 transferred some leave. New Zealand's paid parental leave provisions rank 23rd out of 25 developed nations in a 2008 Unicef report.

HOW PARENTAL LEAVE WORKS
* Mothers in employment for more than six months are entitled to $429.74 a week for a maximum of 14 weeks and 38 weeks of unpaid leave.
* Father/partner entitled to two weeks of unpaid leave.
* Mothers can transfer up to 14 weeks of paid leave to the father/partner.
HOW WE COMPARE
* Britain: Fathers get two weeks' paid parental leave
* South Africa: Fathers get three days' paid family leave; mothers get 4 months
* Australia: From January 2011, mothers will get 18 weeks at $543 and be able to transfer it to fathers
* Canada: Mothers get 15 weeks' maternity leave plus 35 weeks of parental leave she can share with the father.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/politics/3116458/Call-for-four-weeks-leave-for-new-dads

Italian Senate Delays Sale of RU 486
LifeSiteNews.com November 27, 2009 
 The Italian Senate has blocked the sale of RU 486 in the country pending investigations into the abortion drug's safety. Antonio Tomassini, the leader of the committee studying the issue cited the "many doubts" surrounding the drug and the panel voted to postpone its distribution. This summer the Italian Pharmaceuticals Agency (AIFA) approved the drug, stipulating that it must be administered by physicians in hospitals up to the 49th day of pregnancy, but not sold over the counter in pharmacies. This decision came despite AIFA documentation that noted the deaths of at least nine women who had taken it. In 2008, the Italian Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics reported 16 maternal deaths associated with RU 486.

The committee said it is also concerned with the drug's compatibility with Italian law that allows abortion on demand up to 90 days of pregnancy. Maurizio Sacconi, the Welfare and Health Minister, said, "Italy's abortion laws were not conceived with a pharmaceutical solution in mind."
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/nov/09112702.html

Vaccine rumours do rounds
East And Bays Courier 27/11/2009
Myths and legends about the effectiveness of the new cervical cancer vaccine are circulating around Auckland schools. Gardasil helps protect women against human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and 90 percent of genital warts. The three dose vaccine is for women aged nine to 26, with girls who were in years 8, 12 and 13 this year receiving it for free through school programmes. But experts say it is this very group of Auckland school girls who are spreading misconceptions, resulting in many choosing not to get the vaccine.

The Auckland University Immunisation Advisory Centre is conducting a study on the factors that contribute to minor injection site reactions. Helen Petousis-Harris, director of research and senior lecturer in vaccinology at the centre, is working on the study for her thesis. She says while trying to recruit girls, many myths and rumours have surfaced which seem to have had an effect on the uptake of the vaccine. Some common misconceptions are that the vaccine is only effective if the girl has never been sexually active, they are too young to have it and it will make them infertile. Mrs Petousis-Harris says girls also think the vaccine is being tested on them and they are "guinea pigs".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/3098918/Vaccine-rumours-do-rounds

Expert: ask baby before changing nappy
Sunday Star Times 29/11/2009
Parents should be treating babies and toddlers with more respect, a visiting academic says, and that means talking to infants as if they are adults, never putting them in high chairs or leaving them in car seats, and steering clear of many popular toys. From day one, early childhood expert Polly Elam says, parents should also consult their baby before picking them up, changing their nappy or taking them on outings. That means talking the baby through what you are about to do, before you do it – and waiting for their response. If parents skip this consultation, they should later apologise to the baby and explain why they acted hastily.

Critics say the strategy, called Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE), is a waste of time for busy parents. But Elam says it leads to confident, happy children with high self-esteem who can solve problems. California-based Elam travels the world teaching parents and childcare staff about RIE, which first took hold in Los Angeles in 1980 after being developed by Magda Gerber, an early childhood expert and paediatrician who ran an orphanage in Hungary. Gerber based RIE on earlier work by paediatrician Emmi Pikler. RIE is now taking off in New Zealand, with more than two dozen early childhood centres here already using aspects of it, or its sister philosophy, Pikler. These centres are receiving glowing Education Review Office reports, and aspects of RIE have also been written into New Zealand's early childhood curriculum Te Whaariki.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/3106418/Expert-ask-baby-before-changing-nappy

Webcams may keep eye on childcare
The Dominion Post 30/11/2009
Parents worried about their children at childcare centres may soon be able to keep an eye on them from home or work. A company is advertising a "parents' eye" security camera that allows them to monitor their children via a cellphone or computer. The company, which has just started marketing the technology in New Zealand, says the webcams will make pupils and teachers more accountable for their actions.

"A lot of vulnerable children can really be exposed, especially if a teacher or another kid does something to harm them. This will stop that from happening," said Tyrone Voigt of Australian technology firm Syron. But the assistant privacy commissioner has warned childcare centres that they need to be careful about using the technology.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3107666/Webcams-may-keep-eye-on-childcare

Easter Sunday Trading Bill to Parliament
7 April 2009, Press Release: New Zealand National Party 
Rotorua MP to introduce Easter Sunday Trading Bill to Parliament. Rotorua MP Todd McClay is to introduce a Member’s Bill to Parliament asking MPs to change the law to allow local communities to choose whether or not they can open on Easter Sunday. Mr McClay said that for a few tourist destinations in New Zealand like Rotorua the chance to open shops on Easter Sunday was extremely important.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/print.html?path=PA0904/S00082.htm
Family First Comment: Unfortunately this bill was drawn out of the ballot in November and will be debated early 2010

White Ribbon Day highlights domestic violence
One News November 25, 2009 
International violence against women day is being marked in New Zealand with nationwide events. White Ribbon Day on Wednesday aims to highlight the problem of domestic violence. This major event being held this year is the white ribbon Motorcycle ride, starting in Wellington and finishing in Northland.

Meanwhile, Family First Director Bob McCoskrie says the anti-violence message is being undermined by the media culture. He says the media, pornography and advertising industries are normalising unacceptable behaviour while the country is trying to tackle it. McCoskrie says the use of violence against women as the punch line in television comedies such as Family Guy and American Dad also trivialises the seriousness of the issue. He says higher standards around violent and sexual content in the media are needed if we are to tackle family violence.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/white-ribbon-day-highlights-domestic-violence-3183670

Families appointee opposes law on smacking
The Dominion Post 25/11/2009
Smacking law opponent Bruce Pilbrow is being promoted to deputy chief families commissioner as the Government continues to shake up the Families Commission. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett confirmed yesterday she intended to promote Mr Pilbrow, whom she hand-picked for the commission this year alongside Christine Rankin. The appointment of Ms Rankin, who is also an opponent of the child discipline law that the commission officially endorses, caused controversy, but Mr Pilbrow's selection was more low-key.

Mr Pilbrow is chief executive of Parents Inc, a conservative, Christian-based parent-support group set up by Ian and Mary Grant. Ms Bennett said she had promoted him because he represented a cross-section of parents and had a "different set of skills" from Chief Commissioner Jan Pryor. "Bruce represents a broad bulk of what day-to-day parents are going through. He concentrates on what matters, instead of working on fringe issues," Ms Bennett said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3094029/Families-appointee-opposes-law-on-smacking

Blinkered parents fuel childhood obesity, says report (UK)
guardian.co.uk, 23 November 2009
Seven out of 10 parents think their child takes plenty of exercise, despite only one in 10 doing enough, a poll found today. Research for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) found there was a "reality gap" between what parents believe and what actually happens in day-to-day life. The charity released a report called Couch Kids on how a lack of exercise is fuelling childhood obesity. Children are taking no more exercise than a decade ago and obesity levels have risen dramatically over the same period.

In 1995, 11% of boys and 12% of girls were overweight or obese, rising to 17% of boys and 16% respectively in 2007. NHS data shows about one in three young people are currently overweight or obese. The BHF survey of more than 900 parents found 71% believe their children are "active enough" but only 11% of youngsters are active for 60 minutes a day, as recommended by the Government.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/23/parents-childhood-obesity

'Useless stay-at-home men' a female myth
The Observer, Sunday 22 November 2009 
Working women who claim partners don't pull their weight do so to feel more feminine and in charge in the home

If there is one thing on which many working mothers agree, it is that their partners do not pull their weight on the domestic front. But research to be published this week reveals that men are being unfairly accused and working women are advancing the myth of the "useless man" so they can feel more feminine. "Working women who provide the majority of the household's income to the family continue to articulate themselves as the ones who 'see' household messes and needs as a way to retain claims to an element of a traditional feminine identity," said Dr Rebecca Meisenbach, whose research paper, The Female Breadwinner, will be published this week in the journal Sex Roles
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/nov/22/working-women-husbands-housework

Boozy mums risk babies
Herald Sun November 21, 2009
Mums who drink heavily during early pregnancy are more likely to have babies with anxiety or depression. An Australian study has found the amount, timing and pattern of drinking by expectant mothers can affect child behaviour. Women who drank "heavily" - at least two standard drinks a session and more than seven a week - during the first trimester were nearly three times more likely than average to report that their child suffered anxiety or depression and general aches and pains. And "moderate" drinkers - three to four drinks a time and no more than seven a week - were twice as likely as the average to report problems.

Heavy or moderate drinking late in pregnancy increased the child's risk of developing aggressive behaviour, a Telethon Institute for Child Health Research paper found. Low levels of alcohol - one to two drinks a time and fewer than seven a week - did not increase the risk of harm to the baby, according to the study, published online in the journal Addiction. More than 2000 mothers were quizzed three months after giving birth, and again when the child was two, five and eight years old.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/boozy-mums-risk-babies/story-e6frf7jo-1225800699816

Marchers want to meet PM
NZPA 22/11/2009
The organisers of this weekend's "March for Democracy" say the Government's response will determine how far and wide they take the campaign. They have requested a meeting with Prime Minister John Key this week to present the "Marchers' Statement", endorsed by the 6000 who attended the event in Auckland yesterday. "We have contacted the prime minister's office today and have requested a meeting this week to present the marchers' statement and to ask for a response," said Auckland businessman Colin Craig, who funded the march. "To get thousands of people to give up half a day to express their view and march shows just how strong the feeling is amongst New Zealanders that they want to see politicians deliver what the people ask for. It's time to honour the citizens and do what the people want," Mr Craig added. Locally-based marches may take place around New Zealand if the Government refused to talk, he said. "We are willing to take this campaign through to the General Election in 2011 if that is what is required," Mr Craig said.

....Bob McCoskrie of Family First NZ said it was time Mr Key demonstrated his commitment to democracy. Mr McCoskrie cited a note Mr Key sent to marchers at a demonstration against the Electoral Finance Bill when Mr Key was leader of the opposition. That note said: "I will listen to what people like you, and many thousands of others are saying. You are fighting for a principle. You are fighting for the most important principle. You are fighting for democracy. I salute you.".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3086337/Marchers-want-to-meet-PM

Anti-smacking march may move to other cities
NZ Herald 23 Nov 09
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10611015

One arrest as thousands join 'March for Democracy'
NZ Herald Nov 21, 2009 
Between 4000 and 5000 people marched through central Auckland this afternoon, urging the Government to act on referenda. One person was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and attempting to leap onto the makeshift stage erected across from the Auckland Town Hall. The crowd made its way from Fort St to the Town Hall, chanting "John Key, listen to me". The march was billed as a "family event", with people encouraged to bring their children and many pushing strollers down Queen St.

Shane Haylock, 47, marched with one of his daughters and said the Government was not paying attention to the voice of the people. He said holding a referendum and "completely ignoring" the results was a waste of money and time. Fellow protester Ross, in his 60s, said the Government's dismissal of so many people's opinions displayed "sheer arrogance". "It's there to govern, but also to listen."Protesters also waved placards aimed at the Prime Minister, some reading "JK listen to me" and "JFK, John Fuhrer Key".
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610750

Protesters March on City Herald on Sunday 22 Nov 09 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610869&pnum=0

MEDIA COVERAGE:
TV3 News http://www.3news.co.nz/Protesters-march-up-Queen-St/tabid/209/articleID/130650/cat/87/Default.aspx
TV3 News Full Interviews http://www.3news.co.nz/March-For-Democracy---full-interviews/tabid/315/articleID/130654/Default.aspx
TVOne News http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/marchers-demand-government-listen-3170829/video
NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10610869&gallery_id=108318
Newstalk ZB Bob McCoskrie talks to Larry Williams before the March http://www.familyfirst.org.nz/files/1120%20Newstalk%20ZB%20Larry%20Williams.mp3

Law could force adults to talk in abuse cases
NZ Herald Nov 21, 2009
Momentum is building for a law change to prevent families from stonewalling police when a child has been assaulted or killed. Public outrage over cases such as the unsolved death of 3-month-old twins Chris and Cru Kahui has thrust the issue into the spotlight, and the Government will soon have a report from the Law Commission suggesting what should be done. Meanwhile, a senior Christchurch policeman who has overseen child murder cases has put forward his own proposal. This would see New Zealand follow in the footsteps of Britain, where parents and caregivers who withhold crucial information can be jailed.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610710

Parents know better than you, Children's Commissioner told
NZPA 20/11/2009
The man behind a protest march in Auckland tomorrow has told the Children's Commissioner that parents know better than him about disciplining their children. The "March for Democracy" along Queen Street has been organised to protest the Government's failure to respond to three citizens-initiated referendums including one calling for the repeal anti-smacking legislation. Auckland businessman Colin Craig, who is funding the march, said it would focus on the Government's failure to respond to referendums on reducing the number of MPs; a more victim-centred justice system; and amending the anti-smacking legislation. But Children's Commissioner Dr John Angus said today the march was not in the best interests of children and parents would be better to spend more time with their children. He said the march was also poorly named.

But Mr Craig said parents knew better than Dr Angus what was best for their children. "What worries me is that this tax-paid bureaucrat is trying to dictate once again to good parents what is best for their children. "He needs to wake up and realise that 87.4 percent of New Zealander voters have enough common sense to know he is wrong, and have already decided this matter in the recent referendum."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3083241/Parents-know-better-than-you-Childrens-Commissioner-told

Call for child abuse right to silence abolition
Otago Daily Times 20 Nov 2009
The latest coroner's inquest into the violent death of a baby in Christchurch presents a good case for abolishing the right to silence for family members suspected of abuse, a families lobby group says. Christchurch Coroner Richard McElrea said at an inquest yesterday that the death of seven-month old Staranise Waru in February 2006 was not accidental, but due to an injury inflicted on her. Police are still holding the file open but no one has been charged over the death. Her parents, Nyree Hopa and Robert Waru, maintain their innocence, but closed communications with police several months into the investigation.

Family First said today laws surrounding the right to silence for families suspected of child abuse should be dumped. The Staranise case was an example of why that should happen, as was the case of the death of the Kahui twins in 2006, where police had a hard time getting answers from family members and a court case involving the twins' father, Chris Kahui, ended with an acquittal.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/82602/call-child-abuse-right-silence-abolition

Canadian parents win legal battle against homework
guardian.co.uk, 18 November 2009
Usually it is the children, not the parents, who are loath to spend their evenings practising spelling and learning times tables. But a Canadian couple have just won a legal battle to exempt their offspring from homework after successfully arguing there is no clear evidence it improves academic performance. Sherri and Tom Milley, two lawyers from Calgary, Alberta, launched their highly unusual case after years of struggling to make their three reluctant children do school work out of the classroom. After waging a long war with their eldest son, Jay, now 18, over his homework, they decided to do things differently with their youngest two, Spencer, 11, and Brittany, 10. And being lawyers, they decided to make it official.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/18/canada-homework-milley

Social networking sites criticised for failing to protect children
guardian.co.uk, 18 November 2009
The head of a government body responsible for keeping children safe has criticised social networking sites for not doing enough to protect youngsters. Jim Gamble, chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop), said sites such as Facebook and MySpace had "no legitimate reason" for not using a new tool for reporting abuse. His comments came after Bebo introduced a "Ceop report" button for users to log abuse. Clicking on the tool, which appears automatically under users' profile pictures, opens a window inviting victims to log "violations of Bebo's terms of service" – including bullying, hate speech and sexually explicit content.

The Ceop button was added across Bebo's website yesterday. As well as functioning as a bullying deterrent, the tool can be used to report inappropriate behaviour toward a child directly to specially trained Ceop officers. Facebook and MySpace are yet to install the Ceop tool, and Gamble criticised such sites for not taking up the free service.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/18/social-networking-sites-criticised

Judge links suicides to family break-ups
NZ Herald Nov 19, 2009
A top judge has called for more mental health support for people involved in Family Court cases after finding 18 suspected suicides by people involved in the court in the 13 months to June. Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier, in a speech to be delivered in Blenheim this morning, also proposes a new specialist agency to refer victims and offenders in domestic violence cases to counselling and to chase up offenders who drop out of programmes. "A radical rethink is required in the delivery of both prevention and intervention in domestic violence," he said. He identified 22 people involved in Family Court cases who died between May 2008 and June this year as a result of either suicide or homicide. "Of these 18 (82 per cent) were suspected suicides, and 41 per cent of the deceased had been, either directly or indirectly, involved in domestic violence proceedings," he said. Three-quarters were also involved in court battles over care of children. He said New Zealand should learn from an Australian system where court staff are trained to identify possible mental health issues during separation and refer people to counselling services.

..Judge Boshier repeated criticisms he made in February of programmes for domestic violence offenders. He said then that one-off acts in situations such as a marriage breakup should not be treated the same as "continuous or systematic" violence. Only half of all offenders completed programmes, and he called for a new specialist agency to refer and monitor offenders and victims on counselling programmes. "I consider that part of the explanation for this low completion rate is the fact that courts are in the business of hearing cases and making judicial determinations, but are not in the business of providing long-term social oversight of offenders' rehabilitation," he said.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610207
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3076689/Judge-urges-more-family-support

How mothers rely on just nine recipes to feed their families
Daily Mail (UK) 16th November 2009
The average mother relies on just nine different meals to feed her family, a study has found. Researchers found that hectic lifestyles, fussy children and partners who work long hours mean mothers are stuck in a rut when it comes to experimenting in the kitchen. Nine in ten mothers polled admitted cooking the same meals over and over again while one in four make the same meals on the same day of the week.

The most common meal among the nation's mothers was spaghetti Bolognese followed by roast dinners, a shepherd's or cottage pie and a pasta dish.And nine most relied-upon meals are....
1. Spaghetti Bolognese
2. Roast dinner
3. Shepherds Pie/Cottage Pie
4. Pasta dish
5. Meat and two veg
6. Pizza
7. Casserole/stew
8. Sausages and chips/mash
9. Indian/Curry 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1228162/Mothers-rotate-recipes-feed-families.html

Pregnancy 'less risky' in relationship
NZPA 16/11/2009
Women in longterm relationships apparently have healthier pregnancies - possibly because of longterm exposure to the sperm of the baby's father, an Auckland survey has found. Being in a long-term relationship before becoming pregnant gave the woman's body time to build up immunity to "foreign" proteins in her partner's sperm, according to Auckland University researchers. If she became pregnant early in the relationship, she lacked this protection.

The survey also found women having single, long-term partners were less prone to developing pre-eclampsia - raised blood pressure that can be life threatening and cause serious harm to both mother and baby. Pre-eclampsia affects about 3000 New Zealand women and their babies every year - varying between 3 percent and 7 percent of pregnancies. It can also involve water retention that causes swelling in the feet, legs, and hands, and protein in the urine, a sign of possible kidney damage. The only successful treatment for pre-eclampsia is delivery of the baby - often prematurely.

The researchers, led by Associate Professor Lesley McCowan, asked 2507 first-time pregnant women how long they had been with the baby's father. The results of the study, published in the Journal of Reproductive Immunology, were adjusted for the lifestyle and background of the women including their weight, whether they smoked and their general health.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/wellbeing/3067192/Pregnancy-less-risky-in-relationship

Call for smacking to be made illegal (France)
The Connexion November 15, 2009 
Smacking a child serves no purpose and should be banned in France, a Paris MP and child welfare expert has recommended. Edwige Antier, who has 38 years' experience as a pediatrician and has written extensively about child behaviour, has put forward a proposed bill in parliament banning the practice.

According to Ms Antier, 18 European countries have already banned smacking - Sweden outlawed it 30 years ago - and the Council of Europe has encouraged other states to follow. She wants the law to be added into the Code Civil - meaning fines for those who ignore it rather than a prison sentence. The law should be made clear to couples when they marry. UMP general secretary Xavier Bertrand told BFM radio that he was against the proposed law and that it was a matter for parents to decide.
http://www.connexionfrance.com/news_articles.php?id=1204

Group calls for veto of referendum
NZ Herald Nov 17, 2009
A high-powered government committee has called for a veto of a proposed referendum aimed at making citizen-initiated referendums binding. The Legislation Advisory Committee, chaired by former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, says the proposed public vote should not be allowed because it would contradict the fundamental purpose of the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993, which provided for non-binding referendums. Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock, who is promoting the vote, accused the committee of "trying to shut down democracy".

Organisers of a "march for democracy" hope to stage New Zealand's biggest-ever protest on Auckland's Queen St this Saturday to demand that the Government carries out the wishes of the 87 per cent of people who voted in August that smacking should not be a criminal offence. The march was endorsed yesterday by Wellington superannuitant Margaret Robertson, who initiated a 1999 vote on reducing the number of MPs from 120 to 99, and by Norm Withers, who initiated a vote in the same year for better treatment of victims and tougher sentences for violent offenders after an intruder smashed his 71-year-old mother's skull. Both said successive governments had ignored those votes.
CITIZEN-INITIATED REFERENDUMS - OUTCOMES SO FAR
1995: Should the number of professional firefighters employed fulltime in the NZ Fire Service be reduced below the number employed on January 1, 1995? No: 87.8 per cent Outcome: Firefighter numbers were cut from 1819 on January 1, 1995, to 1573 by 1998. There are now 1702.
1999: Should the size of the House of Representatives be reduced from 120 members to 99 members? Yes: 81.5 per cent Outcome: House remains at 120 (now 122 due to extra Maori Party seats).
1999: Should there be a reform of our justice system placing greater emphasis on the needs of victims, providing restitution and compensation for them and imposing minimum sentences and hard labour for all serious violent offences? Yes: 91.8 per cent Outcome: Victim impact and reparation now required, minimum non-parole periods 10 years for murder, five for other serious offences.
2009: Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in NZ? No: 87.4 per cent Outcome: Review team due to report by December
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609727&pnum=0

National Radio Checkpoint http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ckpt/2009/11/16/scope_of_auckland_protest_march_broadens

Past referenda organisers lend weight to march
NZ Herald Nov 16, 2009
Organisers of past referenda ignored by governments have lent their weight to Saturday's march over the anti-smacking referendum, billed as "the biggest march in New Zealand's history". The march is being organised to protest the Government's lack of action against on the removal of Section 59 from the Crimes Act. Some 87 per cent of the respondents to the referendum in August agreed that "a smack as part of good parental correction should not be a criminal offence". Organisers from past referendums - including Garth McVicar who led the referendum on Law and order, Margaret Robertson who campaigned for 99 MPs and the organiser of the last anti-smacking referendum Sheryl Savill - appeared at a media conference this morning.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609597

Lack of household chores making children less responsible, claims survey
The Observer (UK) 15 November 2009
Children should be given chores to help them develop a caring attitude and keep them grounded, according to a survey that found parents are now reluctant to ask children to do household tasks. A study of the articles, advice and letters published in more than 300 parenting magazines between 1920 and 2006 has found that most modern-day children are only asked to take on trivial responsibilities, such as feeding a pet, clearing the table after dinner or tidying up after themselves.

"In earlier generations, children and adolescents were given meaningful opportunities to be responsible by contributing not only to their households but also to their larger communities," said Markella Rutherford, assistant professor of sociology at Wellesley College in Massachusetts and author of the new study, Children's Autonomy and Responsibility: An Analysis of Child Rearing Advice. "This was seen as especially important for adolescents," she said. "Until very recently, greater autonomy and responsibility were emphasised as antidotes to teenage listlessness and rebellion."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/nov/15/child-development-chores-responsibility

Faults flagged in $29m family project
NZ Herald Nov 16, 2009
The Government's biggest home visiting programme is under review after researchers found its US counterpart failed to reduce child abuse. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has called for an evaluationof the former Labour Government's flagship Family Start programme, which costs $29 million a year. It follows the discovery by American researchers that Healthy Start in Hawaii - the model for the New Zealand version - did not prevent abuse, mainly because workers did not have enough training to recognise the danger signs and take action.

The researchers also found the strategy had shifted from home visitors identifying the key triggers of abuse - such as violence, drug and alcohol abuse and post-natal depression - to "strength-based" goal-setting by the families themselves. One mother's goal, approved by the home visitor, was "to be happy". A more limited evaluation of Family Start in New Zealand recorded similar concerns that some workers had not been sufficiently prepared.

FAMILY START * Cost: $29 million a year * Created by Labour in 1998 * Goal: Providing home-based support for families with high needs and identifying key triggers before problems occur. * Problem: Lack of training to recognise danger signs of child abuse. * Researchers found that Healthy Start in Hawaii, on which Family Start was based, did not prevent abuse and merely allowed families to set their own targets.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609487&pnum=0

READ Maxim Institutes report "Broken Boughs" which highlighted these concerns

Many still believe depression comes with motherhood
Sydney Morning Herald November 16, 2009 
Most people think depression is a 'normal' part of pregnancy and women do not need treatment, according to a survey by the mental health group beyondblue. The nationwide survey of 733 men and women also found that 57 per cent of people believed women get postnatal depression because they have unrealistic expectations of motherhood. One-quarter thought postnatal depression did not need treatment and would go away on its own.

Beyondblue's deputy chief executive officer, Nicole Highet, said the results were concerning. "If people think that depression is a normal consequence of pregnancy, they're less likely to seek help. This has important implications for the detection and treatment of depression, given that one in 10 women will experience this illness while pregnant.' Dr Highet, a psychologist, said there was confusion between postnatal depression and the baby blues, where women felt teary and emotional for up to 10 days after giving birth.
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/many-still-believe-depression-comes-with-motherhood-20091115-igdp.html

Small-time offenders to get just a warning
NZ Herald Nov 14, 2009
Drunks, shoplifters, cannabis smokers and other minor offenders may be given a warning by police rather than prosecuted to help cut the number of minor cases clogging courtrooms. The decision to issue a formal warning will be at the discretion of senior police officers for anyone arrested for a crime with a penalty of no more than two years in prison, except in the case of family violence. The official caution will be recorded, but is not a criminal conviction. ...Garth McVicar, of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, said he supported anything that sped up the court process for victims of more serious, violent crimes. But he was worried that warnings, rather than charges, could remove accountability from offenders, and he pointed to the success of the "zero tolerance" policies in New York.
WHAT'S INVOLVED
Offences with maximum penalties of two years in prison or less:
Disorderly behaviour. Shoplifting. Possession of cannabis. Common assault. Possession of knives. Intimidation. Possession of burglary tools.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609247&pnum=0

Violent offenders getting off scot-free
Herald on Sunday Nov 15, 2009
New figures show a sharp increase in the number of violent offenders escaping without criminal conviction. Information from the Justice Ministry and Statistics New Zealand reveal the number of violent offenders being discharged without conviction has tripled over the past 15 years to more than 1400 a year. Violent offending increased by a third over the same period.

Wellington barrister Robert Lithgow said the rise came from police putting more trivial matters before the court, which didn't justify the stigma of a conviction. "The courts are saying this is out of all proportion." Former Auckland District Law Society head, barrister Gary Gotleib, said a "reasonable percentage" of domestic violence cases were resolved by discharge without conviction. He said victims often advocate for counselling, or told the court the offender had changed as a result of attending a course.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609323&pnum=0

Crusade to save our children
NZ Herald Nov 14, 2009
Bennett is on a mission to tackle child abuse and she knows she has her work cut out. An average of eight children are killed each year, and many more end up battered in hospital at the hands of family members. Children under two are especially vulnerable; each year 59 are admitted to hospitals for what doctors call "non-accidental head injury" (often known as shaken baby syndrome) and more than 2000 confirmed cases of child maltreatment come to the attention of Child Youth and Family. New Zealand has the fourth-worst child murder rate in the OECD at 0.9 deaths for every 100,000 children.

Tackle the wider issues
Angus says that if the Government is serious about reducing child abuse it has to tackle root causes such as violence and drug and alcohol abuse. "Our rate of child abuse does appear to be high and I think that has got to be related in some way to the general level of violence in NZ society." Family First spokesman Bob McCoskrie's wishlist includes tougher sentences for abusers and making changes to family structure. He points to research commissioned by the group which found a child was 50 times more likely to be abused by a mother's live-in boyfriend than by her husband.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609140&pnum=0

Bennett challenges 'whanau first' rule
NZ Herald Nov 14, 2009
Abused Maori children in state care will be monitored to see whether they do better with their own whanau or another family. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has asked Child Youth and Family to compare the progress of the 50 per cent of children placed with extended family and the 50 per cent placed elsewhere - normally with foster families or permanently with a new family - to see what works better. The idea stems from her concern at the high re-abuse rate for Maori children and anecdotal evidence that some placements with extended family can do more harm than good. Last year almost 1800 children were re-abused within six months, an average of five a day. Almost half of all abused children are Maori.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said it was commonsense that sometimes an extended family could not help but often the wider iwi could. "They're there - it's a question of finding them. The extended family can almost be tribal or sub-tribal, so that's where you've got to look." But health researcher David Fergusson, one of the experts Paula Bennett has tapped for ideas, said the re-evaluation was well overdue. "It is blatantly a false assumption to imply families are always capable of solving their problems. The system ... has probably emphasised the role of the family too much, relative to the role of professionals." Family First spokesman Bob McCoskrie agreed: "We've operated on the basis that kids are always better off with their extended family. You've only got to look at the Kahui case to see that that's not always necessarily the case." http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609228&pnum=0

Planned Parenthood leader resigns after watching abortion ultrasound
Telegraph (Uk) 2 Nov 09
The director of a Planned Parenthood outlet in Texas has resigned after watching an ultrasound of an abortion procedure. Abby Johnson told the KBTX television station: "I just thought I can't do this anymore, and it was just like a flash that hit me, and I thought that's it. "I feel so pure in heart. I don't have this guilt, I don't have this burden on me any more, that's how I know this conversion was a spiritual conversion.

She now supports the Coalition For Life, an anti-abortion group down the road from her old pro-choice group. Volunteers from Coalition For Life regularly pray outside the offices of Planned Parenthood. Miss Johnson and the Coalition For Life have been issued with a temporary restraining order following her defection.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6489418/Planned-Parenthood-leader-resigns-after-watching-abortion-ultrasound.html

Call for coaches to help parents
The Press 05/11/2009
A Family Commissioner is calling on courts to assign one-on-one coaches to work alongside parents accused of cruelty to their children. A 33-year-old mother of eight was yesterday ordered to undertake a parenting programme as part of a six months home detention sentence after admitting one charge of cruelty by wilful neglect. Her husband, 37, was earlier jailed for two years and nine months for assaulting and neglecting their children. The couple have name suppression to protect the children.

Commissioner Bruce Pilbrow said he was pleased courts were turning to parenting courses. "Never underestimate the power of teaching people how to parent. I am pleased the court has seen that, because in many cases a lot of people don't know how to parent," he said. However, he said cases such as this needed more intensive intervention. Courts should assign a parenting coach, psychologist or counsellor to identify underlying causes of problems. "Unless they are addressed everything else is just a sticking plaster over the top," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3032500/Call-for-coaches-to-help-parents

Abortion link to mental illness
NZ Herald Nov 04, 2009
Researchers who examined the medical history of more than 500 women have concluded abortion "leads to significant distress in some". Women reporting adverse reactions were up to 80 per cent more likely than women not exposed to abortion to have mental health problems, the Otago University study found. That finding has raised questions about justifying abortions on the basis of mental health. The study, reported in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found the risk of mental illness was "proportional to the degree of distress" associated with the abortion.

Professor David Fergusson, of the department of Psychological Medicine, and his team studied data from women who had been interviewed six times between the ages of 15 and 30, each time being asked whether they had been pregnant and, if so, what the outcome of that pregnancy had been. More than 85 per cent of women reported a least one negative emotional reaction, including sorrow, sadness, guilt, regret, grief and disappointment.

The report concluded: "This evidence raises important questions about the practice of justifying termination of pregnancy on the grounds that this procedure will reduce risks of mental health problems in women having unwanted pregnancy. There is no evidence to support the assumptions underlying this practice, and the findings of the present study suggest that abortion may, in fact, increase mental health risks among those women who find seeking and obtaining an abortion a distressing experience."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10607135

Inquiry into how schools respond to violence
The Dominion Post 03/11/2009
The Ombudsmen's Office is investigating how schools and government agencies respond to bullying and violence. The investigation follows international research revealing a high level of incidents here compared with overseas. The rare step was sparked by parents of Hutt Valley High School pupils complaining about the actions of the school's board of trustees, Child, Youth and Family and the Education Review Office after nine boys were violated by six classmates in 2007. Assaults at schools or universities – including knife attacks – continued to climb in the past year. Latest alleged incidents include:

..The Ombudsmen's Office, which revealed the investigation in its annual report, cited a report made public in January showing New Zealand children had the second-highest reported incidence of bullying. The study, which investigated year 5 pupils in nearly 40 countries, including 5000 New Zealanders, found Kiwi children reported bullying incidents at twice the international average. A report by the children's commissioner and Human Rights Commission in March found "glaring gaps" in the national guidelines that schools used to deal with bullying.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/3024007/Inquiry-into-how-schools-respond-to-violence

Ratings urged for cell games
The Dominion Post 02/11/2009
Offensive and risque mobile phone games and applications could soon be censored in New Zealand. Games for the Apple iPhone that contain soft pornography and promote racism, alcohol and child abuse have drawn widespread flak. Chief censor Bill Hastings says mobile phone games and software downloaded from the internet should be subject to the same classification laws as films and video games. The Office of Film and Literature Classification is working with the Justice Ministry and the Internal Affairs Department to reform the law so electronic and computer files, including mobile games and software, can be given ratings, he says. He has no specific concerns at present about the content of particular mobile games and applications.

"But that's not to say the application providers shouldn't think about voluntarily submitting for classification any applications they think might have restrictable content. My view is that video games should be treated all the same regardless of which medium they're conveyed on." A paper on the proposed change to the Films, Videos and Publications Act is due to be completed by the end of the year, and a bill will be introduced to Parliament.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/technology/3019777/Ratings-urged-for-cell-games

"Family friendly" viewing saturated with violence
Newstalk ZB 31/10/2009
Media regulators are being told to get their act together, and clean up the so-called "family friendly" viewing time on TV. Lobby group Family First says the evening peak period is becoming saturated with bad language, sexual innuendo and promos for adult shows later in the night.

Director Bob McCoskrie says US research shows an alarming rise in violence, in a lot of American programmes that are playing here. He says programmes like Family Guy and American Dad are out of line, and they are undermining the the Government's "It's not OK" campaign, because they depict teenage girls as victims and focus on violent themes. Mr McCoskrie says these shows trivialise violence against women, by making a joke out of it. Mr McCoskrie says it is time the Broadcasting and Advertising Standards Authorities stepped in, as they are not doing their job.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=165488
AUDIO from Newstalk ZB

Up to viewers, says BSA
Newstalk ZB 01/11/2009
The Broadcasting Standards Authority is defending its stewardship of standards on TV, saying it is up to viewers to say what is acceptable. http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=165514
AUDIO from Newstalk ZB
Family First Comment: So the BSA says that if you don't like the programme - complain. But then they admit that they won't uphold it! And apparently, according to the BSA, that proves that the tv channels are doing a good job!!!!! Yeah right.

Teens 'don't see enough of parents'
The Press 31/10/2009
More than half of Kiwi teenagers believe they do not see enough of their parents. The Social Report figures, released this week by the Ministry of Social Development, were worse than previous statistics. They have led an Auckland University expert to suggest parenting programmes for all Kiwi parents. "Parents are looking for something that is practical and effective," Professor of Parenting Studies Matthew Sanders said. "Most Government investment in parenting programmes are for families who are already experiencing serious problems. "That sort of investment in an individual parenting programme is never going to solve the problem."

Sanders said some families needed lighter interventions, while some needed more help. "We need a suite of evidence-based programmes that fits the needs of the different types of families." The Social Report 2009 said 46 per cent of teenagers believed they got enough time with their mothers, while 39 per cent felt they had enough time with their fathers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/3017236/Teens-don-t-see-enough-of-parents

Call for minimum age of 14 to own cellphones
The Press 31/10/2009
Teenagers who prefer texting to talking have driven some parents to call for a minimum cellphone ownership age of 14. "Parents are worried teenagers are losing the ability to properly communicate with eye-to-eye contact," said Shanti Ravichandran, of Auckland's Unitec, who has surveyed parents' attitudes to teenage cellphone use. She said the use of text language was "overpowering" among teenagers, with some even using it in school examinations. Ravichandran, a Master of Computing graduate, said 52 per cent of the 115 parents or caregivers she surveyed felt there should be a minimum age of 14 for cellphone ownership.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3017255/Call-for-minimum-age-of-14-to-own-cellphones

Smacking law march aims for huge turnout
NZ Herald Oct 28, 2009
An Auckland property manager who is spending $450,000 to promote a march against the smacking law says he hopes it will be the biggest protest march in New Zealand history. Colin Craig, 41, and his wife Helen own companies which manage high-rise apartment buildings including Nautilus at Orewa and the Sentinel at Takapuna. He says he has never belonged to or donated money to a political party, and had never given money to the Family First lobby group until Prime Minister John Key refused to change the smacking law when 87.4 per cent of voters said in a referendum that smacking should not be a criminal offence.

But yesterday he teamed up with Family First leaders Bob McCoskrie and Bev Adair to announce plans for a "march for democracy" in Queen St at 1.30pm on Saturday, November 21.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10605777

March to call for action on smacking referendum
NZ Herald Oct 27, 2009
A march to protest the Government's lack of action following the so-called anti-smacking referendum has been announced today. Colin Craig, an Auckland businessman, said he would fund the November 21 march, which will cost up to $450,000. He said the march is about democracy and the government has so far ignored the majority of referendum respondents who voted against the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act.

...Family First director Bob McCroskie said his group wanted to tackle "rotten parents" but the repeal of Section 59 was not the answer. "A bad law is still a bad law even if law abiding citizens follow it," Mr McCroskie said.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10605638

Trafficked women 'used as prostitutes' (Aust)
AAP October 23, 2009
Almost all people trafficked into Australia are forced into the sex industry, a new report reveals. Fully 95 per cent of trafficking victims were females made to work as prostitutes, and most came from Southeast Asia. Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor responded to the report from the Australian Institute of Criminology by saying much was being done to combat people trafficking from Asia and the Pacific.

"Australia has adopted a whole-of-government response to people trafficking which includes a national policing strategy and specialist police investigation teams, enhanced visa arrangements, a victim support program and regional cooperation efforts," Mr O'Connor said in a statement. The report said not enough was known about trafficking and more research was required.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/6382601

Girls and Gardasil: the protection game
MercatorNet 22 Oct 09
Deirdre Fleming is a former Science Teacher, currently pursuing postgraduate studies in Public Health at Curtin University, Perth, Australia. A mother and public health student offers ten reasons not to vaccinate children against a sexually transmitted disease.

Imagine this. You are the parent of an eleven year old daughter. Early in the school year you receive a consent form for the standard Year 7 immunisations: Hepatitis B, Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Chickenpox and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Do you just tick all the boxes, or do you spend time considering the implications of your decision? The last one on the list deserves special attention. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection, a point that the consent form neglects to mention. It merely states, “HPV is the name for a group of viruses that cause skin warts, genital warts and some cancers.” The arguments for and against this particular immunisation are rarely provided by schools, yet parents, for the sake of their children, need to consider carefully the messages they are conveying by agreeing to this vaccine.
http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/girls_and_gardasil_the_protection_game/

Topless teacher on Penthouse website
Sunday News 25/10/2009
A primary school teacher who appeared naked on Australian Penthouse's website is being investigated by the New Zealand Teachers Council. Rachel Whitwell, girlfriend of pornographer Steve Crow, is featured in six saucy photos, including two totally nude shots and two topless poses. The 27-year-old boasts of what she does for a living and that she is from New Zealand in the "New Aussie Babes" section. "I am a 26-year-old single school teacher from New Zealand that would love to get into modelling," Whitwell, who uses the nickname Lexy, is quoted as saying. "I've written erotic stories for an R-rated magazine and run my own pole dancing studio."

Families (sic) First's Bob McCoskrie said the images were "not a good look". "Teachers are role models and having a teacher linked with Penthouse is taking things too far," McCoskrie said. "This is something the teachers council should be having a very hard look at."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/news/2998188/Topless-teacher-on-Penthouse-website

Right-to-lifers protest medical abortion plan
Waikato Times 24/10/2009
An anti-abortion group is outraged at what it calls Hamilton Family Planning's plan to "kill on premises". Voice for Life protesters staged what they called a "peaceful yet powerful protest" yesterday outside Family Planning's clinic in Anglesea St, which could become the first centre of its kind in New Zealand to offer medical abortions. Unlike surgical abortions, medical procedures meant pregnant women would take a three-day course of Mifegyne, a drug that protest organiser Robyn Jackson said caused severe side-effects. Until now no Waikato health service provider had offered medical abortions.

Voice for Life Waikato president Kathryn Marelich said if Family Planning was granted the licence it would provide what she called an unnecessary licence to kill using chemicals she believed could do more harm than good. "We want those women to be better informed about the side-effects of taking those types of chemicals. Twelve people have died in the US from complications like excessive bleeding and infection," Ms Marelich warned.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2996498/Right-to-lifers-protest-medical-abortion-plan

Parents to get progress charts
The Dominion Post 23/10/2009
Parents will be able to follow their children's progress on the Government's new national primary school standards with a Plunket-style chart that shows strengths and weaknesses and alerts parents to problems. The reports, which will come out twice a year, will also include sections with teachers' comments, practical steps parents can take to help their children improve, learning goals and whether they need extra support at school. But education groups are warning against standards data being turned into publicly available league tables comparing schools.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/2992086/Parents-to-get-progress-charts 

For Some Parents, Shouting Is the New Spanking
New York Times October 22, 2009
Many in today’s pregnancy-flaunting, soccer-cheering, organic-snack-proffering generation of parents would never spank their children. We congratulate our toddlers for blowing their nose (“Good job!”), we friend our teenagers (literally and virtually), we spend hours teaching our elementary-school offspring how to understand their feelings. But, incongruously and with regularity, this is a generation that yells.

Familial screamers have long been a beloved part of American pop culture, from the Costanzas of “Seinfeld” back to the Goldbergs of radio and early television, but they didn’t yell at small children. And though previous generations of parents may have yelled in real life — Dr. Spock called shouting “inevitable from time to time” — this generation of parents seems to be uniquely troubled by their own outbursts.

To research their book “Mommy Guilt: Learn to Worry Less, Focus on What Matters Most, and Raise Happier Kids,” the three authors, Devra Renner, Aviva Pflock and Julie Bort, commissioned a survey of 1,300 parents across the country to determine sources of parental guilt. Two-thirds of respondents named yelling — not working or spanking or missing a school event — as their biggest guilt inducer. “What blew us away about that is that the one thing you really have ultimate control over is the tone of your voice,” said Ms. Pflock, a child development specialist. Parental yelling today may be partly a releasing of stress for multitasking, overachieving adults, parenting experts say. “Yelling is done when parents feel irritable and anxious,” said Harold S. Koplewicz, the founder of the New York University Child Study Center. “It can be as simple as ‘I’m overwhelmed, I’m running late for work, I had a fight with my wife, I have a project due — and my son left his homework upstairs.’ ”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22yell.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Cervical vaccine letter upsets mum
The Dominion Post 17/10/2009
A letter sent to a 13-year-old girl offering her a free cervical cancer vaccine has outraged her mother, who accuses health authorities of going behind parents' backs. Rangiora mother Nancye Price said the letter from her family's medical practice was addressed to her daughter, Hannah, who has just turned 13. "She just twisted her face up and handed me the letter saying, 'I don't know what they want."' Mrs Price said the unsigned letter included no information about the Gardasil vaccine, except the fact it was free. "It was like they were inviting kids in for a lollipop," she said. "My concern is they have bypassed parental consent. They don't know anything about our family or our children or our lifestyle."

...Mrs Price said she did not hold the clinic responsible, as she assumed it was were acting on a national directive. "It's a decision with life-long implications and I don't believe a child should have to make a decision like that without the support of her parents." Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said parents were "right to be offended and completely outraged". "It is incredible that a parent has to sign a letter for their child to go on a trip to the zoo or to be excused from wearing their PE gear at school, but can be completely ignored when their daughter is accessing a vaccine, contraception, or even an abortion ... "Some teenagers may simply not have the maturity or knowledge to make these important health decisions."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2973205/Cervical-vaccine-letter-upsets-mum

Calls for girls to fight ad sexism
The Mercury (Aust) October 16, 2009 
Tasmanian schoolgirls are being told to boycott their favourite brands in a fight against the "pornification of culture". Author and activist Melinda Tankard Reist told students at Rose Bay High School yesterday to take a stand against advertising campaigns demeaning to women. She named Pepsi and Dove among the brands that should be rejected for their offensive ads.

"We know that eating disorders are at an epidemic level in this country, one in 100 with anorexia, one in five with bulimia, significant numbers of girls using vomiting and fasting to lose weight, we know that self-harm is the highest cause of hospitalisation for girls aged between 13 to 19," she said. "The research tells us that all of these things are linked to the objectification of women and sexualisation of girls." She slammed Pepsi for a new iPhone application, which purports to teach men to "score" with female stereotypes such as "sorority girls" and "treehuggers".
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2009/10/16/103605_tasmania-news.html

Principal bitten by student pleads for help
The Dominion Post 17/10/2009
A principal is pleading for extra support in primary schools after an out-of-control 10-year-old bit a chunk of flesh from her shin and attacked two other staff. Shirley Maihi, from Finlayson Park School in Manurewa, needed stitches and a tetanus shot after the "horrific" incident. The decile 1 primary school was ordered to take the troubled pupil after he was kicked out of another school, she said. But she maintains that her school was not given enough support from the Education Ministry to handle the child's "short fuse". "His attack has left me with stitches in my leg from a bite which ripped the flesh from my shin, and several large bruises from kicks and punches. "There was no indication the attack would happen. He just snapped."

Ms Maihi is calling on the Government to fund a counsellor and social worker at all low-decile schools, saying staff are in serious danger every day. But Education Minister Anne Tolley said it would cost more than $60 million a year and the cash was not available. A letter from Ms Maihi to Mrs Tolley, provided to The Dominion Post under the Official Information Act, details her concerns about the June attack and the lack of available resources. Schools that were "directed" to take troubled pupils were not given enough support.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2973409/Principal-bitten-by-student-pleads-for-help

A smack works, says Kevin Rudd
Herald Sun Oct 17 09
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has admitted he smacked his children for discipline. "I think I would be absolutely misleading your listeners to suggest that I had not. I have," he said on radio 3AW on Friday. "And the rule that's been applied in our family ever since they were tots is that if they're doing something dangerous they'll get a, you know, whack across the knuckles."

Mr Rudd said a gentle tap on his children, Jessica, now 24, Nicholas, 22, and Marcus, 15, had been effective when they were young. "The key thing is a gentle tap on the wrists which is usually, if you know anything about two and three-year-olds, the cause of the quivering bottom lip and the general collapse into tears. It usually registers the message that sticking your finger into that power socket is generally a bad idea, don't do it."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/a-smack-works-says-kevin-rudd/story-e6frf7l6-1225787725767

Kiwis praising but still smacking kids
The Dominion Post 17/10/2009
Kiwi parents are choosing to praise rather than punish, a survey suggests. But almost half of the families surveyed still smacked their children, despite few believing it was effective. The Families Commission study interviewed 100 "ordinary families" – 117 caregivers – about the way they disciplined their children under five. The report, Discipline in context, published this week, said the parents were three times more likely to use positive reinforcement, praise and affirmation than punishment. But when parents did discipline, they were most likely to use "time out" – used by 82 per cent, although only half believed it was effective – or the withdrawal of privileges. Discipline was about getting their children to "behave in a socially acceptable way".

Chief commissioner Jan Pryor said the results were encouraging and family violence messages were working. "Parents told us they preferred to use positive reinforcement with their kids because that is what they think works best." But the study found smacking and shouting were used by 41 per cent, though often as a "last resort". However, only 9 per cent believed it was effective. The study was done last month after the August referendum in which 87 per cent of respondents said no to the question: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said it confirmed that nearly "half our parents are flouting the anti-smacking law".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2973134/Kiwis-praising-but-still-smacking-kids

The Spoilt Generation: Parents who fail to exert authority breeding youngsters with no respect for anyone
Mail Online (UK) 14th September 2009
A growing lack of adult authority has bred a 'spoilt generation' of children who believe grown-ups must earn their respect, a leading psychologist has warned. The rise of the 'little emperor' spans the class divide and is fuelling ills from childhood obesity to teenage pregnancy, Aric Sigman's research shows. Attempts to 'empower' children and a lack of discipline in the classroom have also fostered rising levels of violence, at home, at school and in the street.

Dr Sigman, a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, said nursery-age children are becoming increasingly violent and disrespectful towards their teachers, 'parent battering' is on the rise and the number of policemen attacked by children is soaring. Dr Sigman said: 'Authority is a basic health requirement in children's lives. 'Children of the spoilt generation are used to having their demands met by their parents and others in authority, and that in turn makes them unprepared for the realities of adult life. 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1213236/The-spoilt-generation-Youngsters-lack-respect-authority-attacking-parents-police-teachers.html#ixzz0Tx5EruWB

Sex education should touch on emotions, survey suggests
NZ Herald Oct 13, 2009
Most New Zealanders would have liked to learn more about the emotional side of sex during their sex education, says a survey by condom maker Durex. Sex education in New Zealand was dominated by "facts of life" topics such as puberty, pregnancy and menstruation, according to the latest Durex Sexual Wellbeing survey, released today. However, 63 per cent of New Zealanders surveyed said they wished their sex education had covered the emotional side of sex as well.

Also featuring high on the wish-list was abortion, with 39 per cent wishing this topic had been covered, and more than a third wished they had been taught more about HIV/Aids (37 per cent). Half wished relationships had been covered.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10602997

54% of cot death babies shared a bed with parents
guardian.co.uk, 14 October 2009
More than half of all cot deaths take place when the baby is sharing a bed or sofa with a parent or parents, and may be linked to the mother or father having been drinking or taking drugs, a new study shows. The issue of co-sleeping has been controversial. Many mothers want to take their baby to bed with them to feed them easily in the night. But the study suggests there is a real risk when a parent falls asleep with the baby, particularly on a sofa, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The new paper, published by the BMJ, was written by researchers at the universities of Bristol and Warwick, who studied all unexpected infant deaths from birth to two years in the south-west of England from January 2003 to December 2006. The team investigated the circumstances of 80 deaths and interviewed the parents shortly after each one, collecting information about drink and drug use.

More than half the deaths (54%) occurred when one or both parents were sleeping in a bed or on a sofa with the baby. In similar groups used for comparison, 20% of parents slept with their infants. But much of the risk, say the authors, can be explained by the parent having been drinking or taking drugs, which happened in 31% of cases in which babies died, compared with 3% of the control group. The biggest risk appeared to be falling asleep after drinking or drug-taking on a sofa, which happened in 17% of cases but hardly at all (1%) in the comparison groups.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/14/cot-deaths-sharing-bed-parents

Drink raises risk of harm for young, ministry says
NZ Herald Oct 14, 2009
Young people are more at risk than other groups of harm related to drinking alcohol, a Ministry of Health survey says. The Alcohol Use in New Zealand report issued yesterday said Maori men and women, Pacific men, and people living in poorer areas were also likely to suffer harm from their own or others' drinking. Nearly 7000 people aged between 16 and 64 were asked about how often they drank, whether they had suffered harm related to drinking and if they had sought any help about their drinking.

Director of Public Health Mark Jacobs said 85 per cent of respondents had drunk alcohol in the past year and while many drank in moderation, it was common to drink large amounts on "drinking occasions". People aged 18 to 24 were likely to drink large amounts, of more than six standard drinks for men or more than four for women on one occasion. People in that age group experienced higher levels of harm from their drinking and other people's drinking than people in other age groups.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10603076

Children can 'imagine away' pain  
BBC News 12 Oct 09
Children can be taught to use their imagination to tackle frequent bouts of stomach pain, research shows. A relaxation-type CD, asking children to imagine themselves in scenarios like floating on a cloud led to dramatic improvements in abdominal pain. The US researchers said the technique worked particularly well in children as they have such fertile imaginations. It has been estimated that frequent stomach pain with no identifiable cause affects up to one in five children.

The research, published in the journal Pediatrics, follows on from studies showing hypnosis is an effective treatment for a range of conditions known as functional abdominal pain, which includes things like irritable bowel syndrome.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8299719.stm

Almost one in three young people 'lack parental support' (UK)
Guardian (UK) 12 October 2009
Almost one in three young people in the UK do not receive the support they need from their parents, a study published today shows. Just under a third of the 1,109 young people aged 16 to 25 who took part in The Prince's Trust charity's study said neither of their parents had witnessed or celebrated the proudest moment of their lives with them. For many, their proudest moment was getting into university, passing their driving test, getting married or having a baby. Just over one in eight said neither of their parents had even noticed their proudest moment.

The trust said their study showed a high proportion of parents underestimated how important a parent's approval was to their children. More than half – 54% – of the young people said they valued their parents' opinions more than anyone else's. Just under a quarter of the young people valued their partners' views more than anyone else's.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/12/young-people-parental-support

Friends may care for each other's children (UK)
Guardian (UK) 12 October 2009
Friends who look after each other's children will no longer have to undergo criminal record checks and take childcare courses to make their arrangements legal, the children's secretary, Ed Balls, revealed today. He has written to the children's services watchdog, Ofsted, saying the law should not interfere with reciprocal childcare arrangements between parents where money is not involved.

Regulations introduced in 2006 make it compulsory for anyone who babysits for another person's child for more than two hours at a time, or on more than 14 days per year, and receives a "reward" – either money or simply free babysitting in return – to register as childminders with the authorities. That involves going through criminal record checks and taking childcare courses. Ministers have been trying to clear up confusion over the regulations in England in recent weeks, after two police officers were told they were breaking the law by looking after each other's young daughters.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/12/friends-childcare-legal-balls

Fears for children on ADHD drug (Aust)
AdelaideNow.com.au October 13, 2009
CHILDREN as young as five have attempted suicide or are severely depressed while on drugs to treat ADHD. The Advertiser has obtained reports from the Therapeutic Goods Administration showing at least 30 children have had severe psychotic episodes and wanted to kill themselves. One boy, 7, became so depressed last year while on Ritalin he tried to commit suicide. Serious reactions to ADHD drugs have doubled in three years, up to 827. But the true extent of the side effects is unknown, with many doctors and parents under-reporting.

Use of heavy stimulants has been questioned by child experts who believe the drugs, including the failed adult anti-depressant Strattera, could be masking the true psychological problems of children. It is also difficult to know if the drugs made a child suicidal or if the tendencies already existed, said Dr Jon Juriedini, head of psychological medicine at the Women's and Children's Hospital.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,,26201604-2682,00.html

Time to toughen up against binge drinking mentality, says new poll
Sunday Star Times 11/10/2009
ATTITUDES ARE hardening against the country's drinking culture, with three-quarters of New Zealanders wanting the legal drinking age put back to 20 and nearly two-thirds supporting instant fines for public drunkenness. They say the legal age of 18 is having a negative impact on New Zealand society, according to a new Research New Zealand poll, which comes as the government prepares to rewrite laws governing the consumption and sale of alcohol, and road safety. Research NZ managing director Emanuel Kalafetelis said the new figures will be difficult for the government to ignore as it reforms the liquor laws. The telephone poll of 500 New Zealanders was carried out in September, and Kalafetelis said the results reflected broad concern about the country's binge drinking culture, especially among younger people.

The Law Commission, which will make its final report to the government in March, has recommended a split alcohol buying age – 18 at bars and restaurants and 20 from shops. The Alcohol Advisory Council also supports increasing the legal age to 20. It argues that the current age of 18 is allowing 16-year-olds to buy alcohol, exposing school age children to alcohol, and has led to more binge drinking and other social problems among teenagers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/2952004/Time-to-toughen-up-against-binge-drinking-mentality-says-new-poll

Frightening pressure is putting young girls in in bras
Herald Sun (Aust) October 06, 2009
FRIGHTENING pressure on young girls to grow up is seeing them wearing bras, nail polish and lipstick before they even start kindergarten. Child development experts say young girls are now entering their "tweens" - those years between childhood and teenagers - at the tender age of six. The Herald Sun found crop-top style bras for toddlers aged two to three on sale at Target, sparking outrage from parents. Experts said that by age six girls needed branded clothes, at seven they wanted styled hair, by eight they were beginning diets, at nine they were styling their hair and by their early teens girls were engaging in "sexting" or sex. The trend is taking a heavy psychological toll, said Dr Louise Newman, Professor of Developmental Psychiatry at Monash University.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/frightening-pressure-is-putting-young-girls-in-in-bras/story-e6frf7jo-1225783100531

Few in sex cases convicted
The Press 02/10/2009
 Few men charged with serious sex offences are convicted, new research shows. The Ministry of Women's Affairs yesterday released the findings of a two-year study analysing all adult sexual violation cases recorded by the police between July 2005 and December 2007. Research manager Denise Lievore said the study looked at why sexual violation cases did not continue through the different stages of the criminal process. The study found the overall conviction rate, based on 1955 recorded cases, was just 13 per cent. "It should be a wake-up call for everyone in New Zealand for the fact so few victims of sexual violation who go to court actually have cases that result in convictions," Lievore said.

The study said that if a case got to court, reasons why it might not proceed through the system included a lack of corroborating evidence, the ability of the defence to discredit the victim, the inability of the prosecution to challenge the right of the accused to remain silent, and jury members' lack of understanding of the nature of sexual violation and the legal definition of consent. "Only about one in 10 sexual violation offences are even reported, so we are really only seeing the tip of the iceberg of sexual offending when we look at the conviction rate," Lievore said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2923524/Few-in-sex-cases-convicted

Lollies could lead to later-life violence: Study
Otago Daily Times 1 Oct 2009
Willy Wonka would be horrified. Children who eat too much candy may be more likely to be arrested for violent behaviour as adults, new research suggests. British experts studied more than 17,000 children born in 1970 for about four decades. Of the children who ate candies or chocolates daily at age 10, 69% were later arrested for a violent offence by the age of 34. Of those who didn't have any violent clashes, 42% ate sweets daily. The study was published in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. It was paid for by Britain's Economic and Social Research Council.

The researchers said the results were interesting, but that more studies were needed to confirm the link. "It's not that the sweets themselves are bad, it's more about interpreting how kids make decisions," said Simon Moore of the University of Cardiff, one of the paper's authors. Moore said parents who consistently bribe their children into good behaviour with candies and chocolates could be doing harm. That might prevent kids from learning how to defer gratification, leading to impulsive behaviour and violence.
http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/76043/lollies-could-lead-later-life-violence-study

Drug-test kit for use on kids draws flak
The Dominion Post 30/09/2009
A new kit that allows parents to drug-test their children using hair has drawn a barrage of criticism from welfare organisations. A $225 one-use kit requires parents to cut between 90 and 120 strands of hair – about the thickness of a pencil – at scalp level from their children. The sample must be between 4 centimetres and 4.5cm long so there is enough to determine the frequency of drug use in the past 90 days. It is packaged at home by parents and sent to a lab, where it is tested for seven illegal drugs: marijuana, cocaine, opiates such as codeine and morphine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and PCP (Phencyclidine). A drug history report of the child is available to parents via a secure website within two days of the lab receiving the sample.

Health Ministry statistics from 2007 show that one in five 13 to 17-year-olds had used cannabis in the previous 12 months. Children's Commissioner John Angus said it was right that parents were concerned about possible drug use by their children. "However, if they are going to help them with drug issues, then they need to do that in the context of having an honest relationship with them. I don't think this would be helped by surreptitiously doing a drug test."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2917232/Drug-test-kit-for-use-on-kids-draws-flak

Births out of wedlock rise
The Press 30/09/2009
The record number of babies born out of wedlock last year was almost equal to the number born within marriage. Statistics New Zealand figures show that in 2008 about 31,000 babies were born to unmarried women, up from about 17,000 in 1988. About 33,000 babies were born to married women last year, compared with about 40,000 in 1988. The proportion of babies born out of wedlock has jumped from less than a third in 1988 to nearly half last year.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/2915361/Births-out-of-wedlock-rise

Back to class for bad kids' parents
The Dominion Post 30/09/2009
More than 12,000 parents of violent or misbehaving children will be sent back to school in an effort to crack down on bad behaviour. The Government will announce today that parents will be sent on courses lasting between 12 and 20 weeks that include homework assignments on how to play with children, and teaching parenting skills such as rewarding good behaviour, setting boundaries and discipline. More than 5000 teachers from low-decile schools will also have training in handling children who lash out or misbehave in the classroom. Officials hope the $45 million Education Ministry-led project will help to save billions of dollars by preventing an unchecked slide into unemployment, mental health problems, substance abuse, crime and prison.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2915253/Back-to-class-for-bad-kids-parents

Kids Who Get Spanked May Have Lower IQs
Time Magazine 26 Sep 09
The debate over spanking goes back many years, but the essential question often evades discussion: Does spanking actually work? In the short term, yes. You can correct immediate misbehavior with a slap or two on the rear end or hand. But what about the long-term impact? Can spanking lead to permanent, hidden scars on children years later? On Sept. 25, a sociologist from the University of New Hampshire, Murray Straus, presented a paper at the International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma in San Diego suggesting that corporal punishment does leave a long-lasting mark — in the form of lower IQ. Straus, who is 83 and has been studying corporal punishment since 1969, found that kids who were physically punished had up to a five-point lower IQ score than kids who weren't — the more children were spanked, the lower their IQs — and that the effect could be seen not only in individual children but across entire nations as well. Among 32 countries Straus studied, in those where spanking was accepted, the average IQ of the survey population was lower than in nations where spanking was rare, the researcher says.

...Still, it's not clear if spanking causes lower cognitive ability or if lower cognitive ability might somehow lead to more spanking. It's quite possible that kids with poor reasoning skills misbehave more often and therefore elicit harsher punishment. "It could be that lower IQ causes parents to get exasperated and hit more," Straus says, although he notes that a recent Duke University study of low-income families found that toddlers' low mental ability did not predict an increase in spanking.

...One problem with Straus' data is that some of the parents who tended to spank may also have been engaging in actual physical abuse of their children. Researchers define corporal punishment as physical force intended to cause pain — but not injury — for the purpose of correcting a child's behavior, not simply hurting him. Studies have shown that very few parents who use corporal punishment also beat their kids, but Straus can't rule out the possibility that his data are confounded by the presence of child abuse, which past research has shown to affect victims' development.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1926222,00.html

Sue Bradford resigns after a decade in Parliament

Birth certificates should move with times - report
National Radio 25 September 2009
A Families Commission report on gay and lesbian parenting recommends birth certificates allow for more than two parents to be listed. Many of the 19 families interviewed for the study were worried about the lack of security they have if things go wrong. The report's co-author, Alex Gunn, says the study's participants did not find the law helpful or secure. Dr Gunn, an education lecturer at the University of Canterbury, says though private contracts can be drawn up, under current laws the parents who are more involved with the child will usually get custody. She says allowing all parents to be on the birth certificate would ensure the child's inheritance rights.

But national director of the Family First organisation, Bob McCoskrie, says the report avoids asking what is best for the child. Mr McCoskrie says allowing "teams" of parents could leading to some worrying social engineering.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/09/25/1245c8754fdd
National Radio Checkpoint http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0005/2076719/ckpt-20090925-1740-Report_suggests_birth_certificates_move_with_the_times-m048.asx 

Alcohol link to most assaults
The Press 29/09/2009
More than half the assaults in New Zealand involve alcohol, a new study shows. A Massey University study of 16,500 people published in the New Zealand Medical Journal found that nearly 7 per cent of men and 3 per cent of women had been physically assaulted in the previous year. One in 100 women had been sexually assaulted, and one in 200 men. More than half the physical and sexual assaults were by people who had been drinking. Alcohol consumption also increased people's chances of being a victim. The research suggested there were more than 62,000 assaults every year by people who had been drinking alcohol.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2911044/Alcohol-link-to-most-assaults

Top cop ignored abuse warning
The Dominion Post 28/09/2009
Police bosses as senior as the deputy commissioner ignored reports that hundreds of child abuse cases were languishing uninvestigated for years. Now staff feel they are being set up to take the blame. A Wairarapa detective wrote to deputy commissioner Rob Pope and other senior staff in 2006, saying she was unable to cope with the 140 "probably more" uninvestigated child abuse cases in the district and pleading for help. Police bosses publicly apologised last month for "unacceptable" delays, admitting they had a backlog of more than 100 child abuse files in Wairarapa, with one complaint laid 11 years ago. Other files languished for on average five years without investigation. Some children remained living with those alleged to have harmed them for all that time. The Independent Police Conduct Authority is investigating.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/2907712/Top-cop-ignored-abuse-warning

Proposal on young foreign students slammed
NZ Herald Sep 25, 2009
A proposal for the relaxation of guardianship rules to allow primary-school-aged foreign students to study here without their parents or guardian has been slammed as "exploitation of young children for commercial gain" by education union NZEI Te Riu Roa. "I think most people would find the idea of young children, particularly primary-aged students, being dropped in a different country and culture, and being separated from their parents for weeks at a time, pretty difficult to comprehend," says president Frances Nelson. The Ministry of Education is behind a drive to review the pastoral care code for international students, and relaxing the rules that required those aged 13 and under to live with a parent or legal guardian while studying here.

...Family lobby group Family First is calling for the Government to reject the proposal, and instead provide the funding to schools. "The welfare of children is playing second fiddle to the financial needs of cash-strapped schools who see foreign students as a cash cow," said the group's national director, Bob McCoskrie.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10599440

Foreign pupils wanted at nine
The Press 24/09/2009 
Schools desperate for more cash have asked the Government to let nine-year-olds move to New Zealand without their parents. Education Minister Anne Tolley announced yesterday that she was considering the proposal and opened submissions on the plan. "Greater flexibility could potentially allow more international students to be enrolled in New Zealand primary schools," Tolley said. A Ministry of Education discussion document on the change said some schools had argued for the guardianship policy to be relaxed so they could enrol pupils aged 10 and under without having a parent or legal guardian living with them. "It could alleviate some pressure on schools to unlawfully enrol young students on visitor visas or avoid compliance with the guardianship policy," it said.

The ministry suggested three alternatives to the current requirement that international pupils under 13 live with a parent or legal guardian. International pupils in Years 5 or 6 (aged 9 or 10) could be allowed to study and live in New Zealand under the same circumstances as intermediate-age pupils. They could live with close family members resident in New Zealand or at a newly designated "quality-assured" provider. Another alternative was to maintain the status quo.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/national/2896400/Foreign-pupils-wanted-at-nine

Act dilutes "three strikes" policy in talks with National
NZ Herald Sep 23, 2009
A diluted but still hardline version of Act's three strikes policy is now on the negotiating table with the National Government. Act MP and three strikes architect David Garrett said Act would support any amendment that would have impact, citing a "three strikes and the max" version. Instead of the third strike offence leading to the offender being "struck out" with a 25-year-to-life sentence, they would instead get the maximum sentence for the offence.

Mr Garrett said this would see an offender whose third strike offence was aggravated robbery serving 14 years - the maximum prescribed in the Crimes Act - rather than the four or five years such an offender would likely serve now. The sentencing judge's discretion to give a lower sentence for mitigating circumstances would be removed. Mr Garrett said this version could avoid many of the "supposed" human rights issues arising from the 25 to life sentence.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10599008

Preschoolers suffer from excessive noise - survey 
The Dominion Post 22/09/2009
At least one in five preschoolers are being exposed to excessive noise levels while they play, a survey by the Deaf Foundation has found. The survey of 65 early childhood centres found 20 per cent of children were so distressed by noise they put their hands over their ears or cried. More than a third of teachers reported buzzing or ringing in the ears and some hearing loss possibly the result of years of working in a noisy environment. Deaf Foundation spokesman Nigel Murphy said current legislation was failing to protect children and teachers, and noise-level monitoring was needed.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/2887716/Preschoolers-suffer-from-excessive-noise-survey/

Parents should eat with their children rather than cook their own special meals.
Herald Sun (Aust) 21 Sep 09
That's one of the key recommendations of the authors of a new guide to healthy eating and lifestyles for families, created by the team behind the best-selling series of CSIRO diet books. The CSIRO Wellbeing Plan for Kids, released on September 28, is not focused on weight-loss or diet plans. Instead, it contains practical tips and solutions to common dilemmas with children, such as not liking vegetables, skipping breakfast or spending too much time watching TV . It also has more than 100 recipes, from breakfast to slower meals, as well as takeaway alternatives. These are dishes not just for children but for the whole family.

The importance of parents as role models is a recurring theme. And sitting down to the same meal is seen as vital. "The same basic healthy food should make up what children eat and what an adult eats," co-author and research dietitian Dr Jane Bowen said. "The whole family should eat the same thing. Children don't need special food. That reinforces to children picky-eating behaviour, and it's also a lot of work for parents."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/csiro-tips-keep-family-food-on-track/story-e6frf7l6-1225777207650

Smacking debate won't be going away in hurry
NZ Herald Sep 21, 2009
The Government's hopes of putting the divisive smacking debate behind it in the next month have been dashed with a move by Act's John Boscawen to delay his doomed private member's bill and start a public campaign to support it. The bill would legalise smacking for the purposes of correction. But with the opposition of both National and Labour it was expected to be voted down when it reached its first hurdle in Parliament either on Wednesday this week or in a fortnight's time.

Mr Boscawen confirmed last night that he would write to the Clerk of Parliament, Mary Harris, tomorrow asking for the bill to be delayed indefinitely. Instead he will hold meetings in different electorates every fortnight to seek public support for his bill to put pressure on National and Labour MPs to drop their opposition. Mr Boscawen believes the whole issue is damaging National and that the five-point slump in National's support in Friday's Roy Morgan poll could be down to its non-response to the citizens initiated referendum.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10598624

Call for commission of inquiry into child abuse
Newstalk ZB 19/09/2009
Family groups are calling for a commission of inquiry into child abuse. More than 50 family focused organisations attended a conference in Auckland yesterday. Organiser Bob McCoskrie says the conference acknowledged that there was still a lot of work to be done in the whole area of child abuse and a commission of inquiry was necessary. He says the inquiry should target the real causes, the harder issues of drug and alcohol abuse and family breakdown and dysfunction and the contribution poverty and stress may make to that as well. Mr McCoskrie says there was frustration that the real causes of child abuse has not been identified and tackled.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=163389

Goff, Key stand firm on smacking
NZ Herald Sep 19, 2009
Organisers of the recent referendum on the smacking law confronted the leaders of both major parties yesterday - but failed to win a single concession to review the law. Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff both told a Family First forum in Manukau that the current law was, respectively, "a dog's breakfast" or "a sideshow". But both refused to change the law despite the 87 per cent "no" vote in last month's referendum on the question, "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"

Questions from smacking supporters actually pushed Mr Key into a stronger defence of the law than he has given before, saying the 2007 ban on any use of force against children for "correction" was important to "send a message" that violence against children was unacceptable. The forum, Family First's fourth annual "Forum on the Family", was also attended by Mr Key last year. Former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark was the only party leader who turned down an invitation then, and Family First director Bob McCoskrie welcomed Mr Goff's presence yesterday as a sign that Labour had changed.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10598289

United action can beat child abuse, says expert
NZ Herald Sep 19, 2009
New Zealand's top child advocate is urging people to offer practical help to families where children are being abused, instead of simply calling in child welfare officers. Children's Commissioner John Angus, a former social worker with what is now Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS), said he was shocked at the number of grandparents who rang CYFS about their grandchildren without having spoken with the parents first. "There were other situations where they had tried their best. But picking up the phone to CYFS as a first response to concerns about how the grandchildren are getting on doesn't seem to me a way to get ahead of the problem."

He told a forum organised by Family First that grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbours who feared that children were being abused or neglected could do something about it themselves. "It might be really practical things, like who cares for the children when the parents go out drinking on a Friday night," he said.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10598290

Women who have just one abortion face 35% increased risk of having a premature baby
Mail Online (UK) 16th September 2009
Women who have abortions could be posing a risk to future children, according to research published today. A Canadian medical study found that those who abort a pregnancy could run the risk of giving birth to premature of low-weight children in subsequent pregnancies. It discovered that women who had undergone more than one abortion had a 72 per cent increased risk for low birth weight and 93 per cent risk of prematurity. It also found that women who had an abortion in the first or second trimester had a 35 per cent increased risk of giving birth to a low-weight birth baby and a 36 per cent increased risk of having a premature baby,

The study was set up to investigate why babies are born premature and underweight. The researchers looked at 37 studies around the world carried out between 1965 and 2001 to determine whether previous abortion may be one of the factors. The authors of the review, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1213784/Abortions-pose-risk-future-babies-says-study.html#ixzz0RIXgCoQ6

Winning the food fight
Herald Sun (Aust) September 15, 2009
STRESSED parents are going into battle every mealtime with children who refuse food. Dieticians say the number of children fussy about what they eat has more than doubled in the past decade, forcing many parents to admit they resort to bribery or add sugar to get their child to eat. With a link between learning to chew and developing speech, parents are seeking professional help to conquer the kitchen nightmares. Dietician Kate Di Prima says parents feel they are largely to blame, but there is always a reason children refuse food.

In her latest book, More Peas Please: Solutions for Feeding Fussy Eaters, Ms Di Prima and speech pathologist Dr Julie Cichero reveal the top reasons children refuse food and what parents can do to win over their fussy kids. It is the first book explaining to parents how children chew and swallow, and the psychological reasons behind food aversion. In researching the book, the pair found 79 per cent of parents were stressed at meal times, a quarter admitted to bribing their child to eat food and a quarter reported their child refused to eat slimy or textured food.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/winning-the-food-fight/story-e6frf7l6-1225774058555

League great speaks out on violence
NZ Herald Sep 16, 2009
A new, more activist Families Commission began to emerge yesterday with the appointment of league great Ruben Wiki as an "ambassador" against domestic violence. Wiki, 36, spoke at Manukau's Friendship House about his own experience as a 10-year-old, when his mother was "beaten up and thrown against the wall" by her partner.

Parents Inc chief executive Bruce Pilbrow, who was appointed a Families Commissioner at the same time as Christine Rankin in May, said bringing in big names was part of a shift in the commission's focus from research towards "action" on key social issues. "It's the acting part that I'm interested in - getting something like this, strong advocacy, actually standing up for families," Mr Pilbrow said. He is also lobbying the Government to extend paid parental leave from 14 weeks to a year - a cause promoted in a commission report two years ago but not yet endorsed by either major political party.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10597579

Backlash ends sexpo plans
Taranaki Daily News 15/09/2009
Boobs on Bikes and the Erotica Lifestyles Expo are not coming to New Plymouth this year following a public backlash. "It was going to happen but with all the controversy we've been copping and all the negatives from everywhere, it's not happening now," Erotica's owner and porn mogul Steve Crow said from Auckland yesterday.

...When contacted by the Taranaki Daily News yesterday, Mr Crow admitted that the expo, which would have been at Te Ara, included strip shows. However, recent bad publicity and a public backlash from New Plymouth people have caused him to pull the pin. "I just think it's going to backfire if we do," Mr Crow said. And, as a result, the expo's associated controversial street parade, Boobs on Bikes, would also no longer be staged, Mr Crow said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2864885/Backlash-ends-sexpo-plans

Condoms on Labour's new to-do list
NZ Herald Sep 13, 2009
Taxpayer-funded condoms at supermarkets, dairies and service stations are on today's Labour Party agenda. But its rainbow sector group says it should only be for "basic" condoms - meaning the subsidy would not extend to the flavoured and ribbed varieties. The party's rank-and-file will today vote on the proposal, which its promoters say would help cut down on unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Condoms are presently subsidised only on prescription, but the suggestion that this be shifted to retail was put forward by both the health and rainbow sectors at the party's national conference in Rotorua yesterday. Labour's health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson said the party wanted to look at innovative ways of stopping unwanted pregnancies.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10596944

Phil Goff apologises for PC 'sideshows'
The Dominion Post 13/09/2009
Labour leader Phil Goff today apologised for mistakes made by the last Government and and its focus on "politically correct" issues. In his keynote speech to 500 delegates at the party's annual conference in Rotorua, he said Labour had done a lot that was right - including Kiwisaver, Working for Families tax relief and lowering unemployment. But those were not the things that cost it a fourth term.

"Labour lost office last year because we didn't make clear enough that our priority was to help ordinary New Zealand families make progress in their lives," he said. "We were voted out because they thought we were getting distracted by sideshows. The Winston Peters' funding saga, the Electoral finance Act. Errant MPs. Smacking. Light bulbs. Shower heads."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/politics/2859521/Phil-Goff-apologises-for-PC-sideshows
Goff apologises for Labour's past 
Sorry for the smacking laws, sorry for changes to campaign funding, sorry for the Winston Peters saga and sorry for digging dirt on John Key.
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/goff-apologises-labour-s-past-2988612

Grandparents struggling to care for children
The Press 10/09/2009
Some grandparents are going to bed hungry or visiting food banks to feed abused and neglected grandchildren in their care, a new study shows. Former Massey University social work lecturer and researcher Jill Worrall has studied how couples who have custody of their grandchildren are coping. Her research found almost 50 per cent of the 200 families surveyed were earning less than $29,000 a year and were struggling to pay their food and electricity bills. Some told of giving up much of their food for their growing grandchildren, not going to the doctor because they could not afford it and being physically abused by their young charges.

The report recommends giving grandparents with permanent custody access to free counselling and medical care for their often deeply disturbed charges, which would put them on more of an equal footing with the entitlements of Child, Youth and Family foster parents. Worrall, a trustee of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group, which commissioned the research, also recommends that the Government pay for more school-related costs, respite care and specialist training for elderly people earning under $30,000 and looking after their grandchildren.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2849572/Grandparents-struggling-to-care-for-children

Quarter of NZ students quit early
The Press 10/09/2009
More than a quarter of Kiwi teenagers quit school early, new figures show. New Zealand has the second-worst drop-out rate in the developed world. However, a visiting American expert says a mentoring scheme could improve those figures. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) yesterday released its annual Education at a Glance report. It shows 26.9 per cent of New Zealanders aged 15 to 19 are not in education. The OECD average is 15.7 per cent, and only Turkey (55.4 per cent) is higher. In New Zealand, 17.6 per cent of 15 to 19-years-olds are in employment more than double the 8.6 per cent OECD average.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2849581/Quarter-of-NZ-students-quit-early

Poll ranks naughty kids by name
NZ Herald Sep 08, 2009
Teachers in the UK say they can identify which children are likely to be troublemakers by their names. A poll of 3000 teachers run by the parenting club website bounty.com, found the names Jack, Kyle, Courtney and Brooke were among those thought to denote a naughty child. Callum was identified as the naughtiest boy's name, while Chelsea indicated a female troublemaker, according to the poll.

More than one-in-three of the teachers surveyed "expect" children with certain names to cause more trouble than others, The Sun newspaper reported. But 57 per cent of respondents said the naughtiest children were also the most popular and the best at making friends.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10595946

'Boys should get cervical cancer vaccine'
Herald Sun (Aust) September 07, 2009
THE vaccine that is expected to cut rates of cervical cancer in Australian women should be given to young men as well, says Professor Ian Frazer. Prof Frazer headed the development of Gardasil, which is now given to Australian schoolgirls to protect against strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) known to cause cervical cancer. However, HPV infections in men are also known to cause a range of anogenital cancers, as well as cancers of the mouth and throat.

"One of the major issues is the prevention of 10 per cent of HPV-associated cancers that are in men and, obviously, boys are entitled to be protected like girls are," Prof Frazer said. "Men are also the vector that pass the virus to the woman and so if you immunise men then you reduce burden of viral disease in the community ... for the women as well." Tests on the vaccine show it induces the same protective response in men as in women, though regulators in some countries including the USA and Canada are yet to approve its use in both sexes.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,26038864-662,00.html

Big queues to get into preschools
The Press 08/09/2009
Mothers returning to work are fuelling a surge in preschool waiting lists, with some centres booked up to almost four times their capacity. The issue has reignited calls to extend paid parental leave. Figures released yesterday by the Ministry of Education show an extra 23,026 children including 15,872 under the age of three have joined early-childhood centres in the past eight years. Two-thirds of centres have waiting lists and the wait is more than six months at almost a third (28 per cent) of those catering to children aged three and four well up from 11.9 per cent in 2002 and 17.3 per cent in 2006.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2842431/Big-queues-to-get-into-preschools
Dom Post http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/2842256/Long-wait-for-early-childhood-education-centres

TV host to join review panel on smacking
NZ Herald Sep 08, 2009
Television host Nigel Latta, who openly voted against the law in the recent referendum on smacking, has been chosen by the Government to review policies relating to the issue. The law bans smacking for the purposes of correction but the police have the discretion not to prosecute for inconsequential smacks. In the referendum last month, 87 per cent of those who voted said no to the question, "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"

Prime Minister John Key yesterday released the terms of reference for a review of policies and procedures used by Child, Youth and Family and the police when investigating smacking.Mr Latta, a clinical psychologist and host of The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show on TV One, will conduct the review with Social Development Ministry chief executive Peter Hughes and Police Commissioner Howard Broad. It will look at procedures, including the referral process, and identify any changes that are necessary or desirable. It will also "consider any other matters which, in the reviewers' opinion, will assist in ensuring that parents are treated as Parliament intended", the terms of reference say.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10595856

What Nigel Latta said http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/print.html?path=PO0909/S00075.htm

Call for new smacking referendum
The Press 07/09/2009
Smacking referendum campaigner Larry Baldock wants a referendum, to run in conjunction with elections in 2011, on whether the results of referendums seeking repeal or amendment of any law should be binding. The Kiwi Party leader and a leading organiser of the smacking referendum said the refusal of Prime Minister John Key to act on the result of that referendum raised questions about the abuse of executive power.

On Friday, ACT MP John Boscawen challenged MPs to turn up at public meetings he was organising in their electorates to protest the decision not to change the law that bans smacking. His targets include Key and Labour leader Phil Goff. "This is no longer just about the smacking referendum, it's about the whole democratic process in New Zealand." Boscawen strongly supported holding the referendum. He is championing the 87.4 per cent of voters who said they did not think "a smack as part of good parental correction" should be a criminal offence.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2839323/Call-for-new-smacking-referendum

Victims of trafficking 'need to seek help'
The Dominion Post 07/09/2009
A high-profile Auckland lawyer says human trafficking is happening in New Zealand, but the Labour Department says it can do little unless victims come forward. Jeremy Bioletti, who represented two clients he says were brought to New Zealand from Ukraine to work as prostitutes, said police should have protected them instead of prosecuting them. His first client endured three jury trials with no convictions after she was found to be in possession of a false passport. She had been accompanied to New Zealand by a "minder" and had been put to work as a prostitute before she was arrested. "She came to me after depositions in her first trial because she'd been advised to plead guilty. We felt that as a victim of trafficking she shouldn't have been prosecuted, so that's how we defended her."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2839309/Victims-of-trafficking-need-to-seek-help

Parents liable for absences
The Marlborough Express 03/09/2009
A new truancy programme that makes parents accountable for their children's school attendance has been applauded by police and schools who say anecdotal evidence show it is working in Marlborough. Police say 15 Marlborough students have so far been referred to Rock On, a programme between schools, police, Child Youth and Family and other social services, that aims to educate parents and children that attending school is compulsory by law. The programme began in Marlborough at the start of this school year.

...Once a student is referred to Rock On by their school, police hand deliver a letter to the student and their family and talk about Rock On. Mr Young said that sometimes having a police officer turn up at the door was enough to make students see the serious nature of the situation. Ongoing problems then lead to an informal family hui at school. Mr Young said the meetings often raised simple causes for truancy, such as parents who started work early and did not make sure their child got out of bed in time for school. If the student continued to wag, the school sent another letter referring the matter to a family group conference with Child Youth and Family and police. The final step was Family Court action.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/2830904/Parents-liable-for-absences

Schools may leave pupils to brawl
The Dominion Post 04/09/2009
Teachers who feel unsafe breaking up fights may leave brawling pupils to it, as schools try to cope with a surge in incidents involving weapons. The warning from teachers' unions comes after two incidents this week in which groups of pupils stormed schools with weapons and started fights. The latest incident involved a lunchtime school invasion between two Porirua secondary schools on Wednesday. About 20 pupils from Mana College, armed with a baseball bat and metal bar, went to Bishop Viard College and threatened pupils on the rugby field.

..Post Primary Teachers Association president Kate Gainsford wants Education Minister Anne Tolley, who is in the United States, to "step up and help", saying the matter was already out of control. She was concerned teachers were being put at risk when fights broke out. "There's a lot of tension out there in communities and that manifests itself in schools. "If it is getting to the stage where teachers are continually confronting this, then we would have to take advice from police about how to deal with that."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/2833123/Schools-may-leave-pupils-to-brawl

CBD children 'at risk of stunted development'
NZ herald Sep 04, 2009
Children's development may be put at risk by being crammed into cheap, central Auckland apartments, a public health researcher says. City planners aiming for more urban intensification must start taking into account the needs of children, such as by providing adequate play areas, Massey University Associate Professor Karen Witten told a Public Health Association conference in Dunedin.

Professor Witten showed her audience examples of the cramped, poor-quality housing built in Auckland's rush to encourage inner-city living before authorities demanded better standards and more living space. She said the 16,000 apartment units built between 1991 and 2007 were intended for students and couples without children, "They are often very small, very cheaply built and poorly designed. They weren't built for families, but families have moved in." Nearly 3000 under-15s lived in the inner-city, after several years of growth that had far outstripped the population growth in that age group across Auckland City. Almost half of the families living in the CBD were one-parent households.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10595075

Mike Moore: Smacking-referendum hoax John Key's biggest mistake
NZ Herald Sep 03, 2009
The expensive, puerile, futile controversy over the ill-considered anti-smacking legislation is a monument to political cowardice and opportunism. The legislation was never going to achieve what its promoters claimed, and was never going to send good parents to court, as its opponents suggested. Monsters who harm babies are not going to consult the Law Library, and no sane court is going to convict a parent because of a gentle, corrective pat.

Why the multimillion-dollar political hoax of a referendum? Because a series of dreadful child abuse cases hit the headlines and some politicians needed a headline and wanted to be seen to be doing something. The tears of some politicians on television would have shamed a weeping crocodile. So, someone reached for the law book, wound up the lobby groups and the media.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10594819&pnum=0

Families must 'pay attention' to child safety
Manawatu Standard 02/09/2009
Families need to think carefully about who they put in charge of their children, Children's Commissioner John Angus says. Although he could not speak specifically about the recent death of 3-year-old Cash McKinnon and the 21-year-old man charged with her murder, New Zealand child homicide rates were "too high" at about eight each year.

"I think it certainly is an issue ... It is disturbing, the number of serious injuries and deaths of toddlers over the recent weeks." Things needed to change, Mr Angus said. "How fair is it to leave toddlers in the charge of young people ... often young men who have enough difficulties controlling their own lives, who are really unprepared and not in a good space to deal with the frustration of looking after children." Those with a history of violence, alcohol and drug abuse and anger management issues often became perpetrators of child homicide. Over the last decade, the numbers of children dying as a result of non-accidental injuries and assault had gone down, he said. In the 2000-2006 period, there was an average of eight child homicides a year. In the 90s it was 10.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/2827944/Families-must-pay-attention-to-child-safety

NZ fares poorly in child report
NZ Herald Sep 03, 2009
New Zealand is spending considerably less on child welfare than other OECD countries, a report from the organisation says. The report, Doing Better for Children, was the first time the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development had reported on the wellbeing of children in its 30 member countries. It identified New Zealand's biggest shortfall as its limited spending on children under the age of 5, which it said was less than half the average among OECD nations.

New Zealand was also struggling in dealing with child health. It had the highest youth suicide rate in the OECD and an above-average child mortality rate. Children lived in poor conditions, average family incomes were low by OECD standards and child poverty rates were high. New Zealand children had high rates of educational achievement, but the gap between top and bottom performers was large. Immunisation rates for measles were the second-worst in the OECD, and for whooping cough, the fifth-worst. The report said the Government should be spending considerably more than it does on younger, disadvantaged children.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10594887

KIWI CHILDREN
* The average disposable income in homes with children is US$17,200 (NZ$25,500), below the OECD average of US$19,200, placing New Zealand 21st out of 30 countries.
* Fifteen per cent of Kiwi children live in "poor households" where the income is below half of the median.
* This is 11th worst of 30 countries and ahead of the OECD average of 12.4 per cent. Thirty-three per cent live in overcrowded conditions, ahead of the OECD average of 30 per cent.
* Infant mortality in New Zealand is 5.1 per 1000 live births, below the OECD average 5.4.
* There were 23.4 births per 1000 women aged 15 to 19, which is fifth highest in the OECD. The average is 15.5.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2828766/Poor-sacrifice-a-lot-for-children

Figures reveal horror tales of late terminations
Herald Sun (Aust) September 01, 2009
A GROWING number of induced babies are born alive following failed late-term abortions. New Queensland Health figures show 19 babies were aborted at 20 weeks or more in 2007, but rather than dying at birth as intended, the newborns were able to breathe unaided. The babies, some as advanced as 26 weeks, were aborted using drugs to induce labour. Once born, no medical help was offered and they died soon afterwards.

Former Queensland Health obstetrician Dr Caroline de Costa, now a professor at James Cook University in Cairns, said it was extremely distressing for parents and medical staff when terminations went wrong . "If babies are born alive after this they are likely to die within a few minutes, although it can take up to half an hour," she said. "We can only keep them wrapped up warm. It is up to the parents whether they want to see the child." The figures - obtained under the Freedom of Information Act - reveal one in four abortions performed at 20 weeks and more went wrong in 2007, up 20 per cent on 2003.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,26009561-662,00.html

Drop price of good food - study
The Press 02/09/2009
Discount cards or vouchers for cut-price, healthy food have been proposed for the poor and chronically ill. Research by an Otago University health economist proposes a food-discount system similar to the food stamps distributed to the poor in the United States. Des O'Dea will present his Government-funded research today at a public health conference in Dunedin. His investigation was commissioned by the Labour government. O'Dea and colleagues from Otago University's Wellington campus considered whether the GST on fruit and vegetables should be scrapped, but decided that would be difficult to administer.

The Ministry of Health will consider the findings and recommendations. The voucher or discount-card system has been supported, in principle, by dietitians and health lobby groups. However, some believed it would be better to drop the GST on fruit and vegetables.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2824420/Drop-price-of-good-food-study

Butt out, teachers tell Families Commission
The Dominion Post 02/09/2009
The Families Commission has been told to butt out of primary schools' business after it criticised them for expelling and suspending too many pupils. The commission said yesterday that primary schools needed to rethink how they handled badly behaved pupils as the number of suspensions and expulsions skyrocket. Commissioner Kim Workman said the problem needed to be addressed before the pupils reached secondary school, where behaviour was more entrenched and difficult to turn around.

But teachers' unions have criticised the commission for airing its opinion, saying the comments were bizarre and disappointing. Mr Workman said part of its role was to promote debate.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2824325/Butt-out-teachers-tell-Families-Commission

Move on from smacking distrations: Salvation Army
Press Release: Salvation Army 27 August 2009
Salvation Army says move on from anti-smacking distractions. The Salvation Army hopes the nation will not be distracted further by the ongoing debate over New Zealand’s anti-smacking legislation. The Salvation Army is pleased the Prime Minister is not supporting attempts to prolong the debate. “As a country we need to focus on the critical social and economic issues facing New Zealand,”says Salvation Army spokesperson Major Campbell Roberts. It is time to move on and give attention to the problems impacting the most vulnerable of New Zealanders, he says.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0908/S00350.htm

Depression found in 15% of preschoolers
Sydney Morning Herald August 31, 2009
ALMOST 15 per cent of preschoolers have abnormally high levels of depression and anxiety, and a difficult temperament at five months of age is the most important early warning sign, a study has found. Highly strung or tense four and five-year-olds are also more likely to have mothers with a history of depression than children who are not anxious or depressed. The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, was based on annual interviews with 1759 mothers about their children's behaviour from five months to five years of age.
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/depression-found-in-15-of-preschoolers-20090830-f3zj.html

Dads weigh in over child support
The Press 31/08/2009
 Fathers are backing a Families Commission proposal for more shared parenting ahead of a review of the child-support scheme. Inland Revenue will shortly release a discussion document on possible changes to the child-support scheme. In response, the Families Commission has released an issues paper that suggests child support should be based on the needs and costs of the child, rather than on the income of the liable parent, and payments should be passed on to the parent who is getting the domestic purposes benefit or other social security benefit.

Jonathan Young, a former Father and Child Trust social worker and father of one, said the Families Commission proposals made sense and would be fairer for fathers. He said most fathers with whom he had dealt wanted to support their children, but objected to paying money to Inland Revenue which did not help their children. "A lot of these guys were having the kids a couple of days, paying school fees and clothes, and then paying child support on top," he said. "That child support wasn't benefiting the children; it was just going into the government coffers because the mother was on the DPB. They would much rather pay that money if they knew it was going to be spent on the kids."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2816109/Dads-weigh-in-over-child-support

MICHAEL LAWS - Smacking debate proves both parties want to play nanny
Sunday Star Times 30/08/2009
Is John Key thick? Or does the prime minister think that we are? These are the only two possible explanations, after a week in which the National Party leader exposed a hubris that has taken him only nine months to acquire. By contrast, Helen Clark took nine years. The pro-smacking referendum result of nine days ago was the most significant defeat of Wellington liberalism since McDonald's ended the reign of "nouvelle cuisine". And yet Key keeps finding new ways to forestall and frustrate democracy.

His latest effort has been his unilateral declaration that National will not support Act MP John Boscawen's private member's bill that seeks to enact the public will on the smacking issue. Why? Because the law is working properly, replied the PM. Which is a nonsense. Because it is not working at all.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/opinion/2814873/Smacking-debate-proves-both-parties-want-to-play-nanny

Passive parents make for fat kids
Sunday Star Times 30/08/2009
Children are more likely to be fat if their parents are inactive, according to a new study that rigorously measured the movements of Kiwi families. The study has proven parents' activity levels are critical in determining those of their children, and has reignited the debate about whether parents or schools should be taking the lead in the obesity fight. The Auckland University of Technology (AUT) study, unlike past ones, did not rely on self-reported activity levels from parents but instead used accelerometers (advanced pedometers) to track the movements of Auckland pre- schoolers and their parents.

The 78 children, 62 mothers and 20 fathers who took part had their height, weight, and waist circumference measured and wore accelerometers for a week. The parents were also quizzed about how physically active they were that week with their child or whether they took their child out to a playground, park, beach or similar setting. Results showed children are more likely to be physically active if their parents were. However, researchers say more detailed work needs to be done to determine exact reasons.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/2815399/Passive-parents-make-for-fat-kids

Young Kiwis cling to carefree youth
NZ Herald Aug 29, 2009
Young New Zealanders are postponing the usual commitments of adulthood, just like their international contemporaries in what has been called the "Peter Pan generation". A study has found that "Generation Y" Kiwis aged 20 to 24 are more likely to be still studying and living at home with their parents, and less likely to be working or living with partners, than preceding generations of young people born 10, 20 and 30 years earlier.

Legal marriage has almost disappeared in the age group and religious affiliation has almost halved. But welfare dependence and sole parenting, which peaked when the previous "Generation X" reached adulthood amid record postwar unemployment between 1985 and 1999, have declined among today's youth as jobs again became easier to find in the first years of this century.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10593899

Change drink laws, say young
The Press 29/08/2009
More than two-thirds of people want the alcohol purchase age returned to 20, including half of young respondents, a survey of Press readers shows.

...A survey of 450 Press readers showed 50 per cent of those aged under 30 want the purchase age returned to 20. Seventy per cent of this group said the lower drinking age contributed to greater numbers of teenagers having access to alcohol. Twenty was a more responsible age, as those younger were still subject to the "hormonal rush of the teens", one reader said. Support for raising the purchase age was higher in older age groups, with about 70 per cent overall agreeing this was a good way to reduce harm among teenagers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/2813352/Change-drink-laws-say-young

Violence blamed on removal of corporal punishment
NZPA 29 Aug 09
A big increase in the number of primary school children suspended for violent acts is being blamed on the removal of corporal punishment in schools. Figures from the Ministry of Education show a 88 per cent increase in suspensions of eight-year-olds from 2000 to 2008 for assaults on classmates, a 73 per cent rise for seven-year-olds, a 70 per cent increase for six–year-olds while the suspensions over the same period had increased by 33 per cent for five-year-olds.

"It is significant that as schools have removed corporal punishment, schools have become more violent," Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said today. "School yard bullying by pupils on other pupils and staff is now the new form of 'corporal punishment' in schools. We have a generation of children who have been victims of a social experiment of how best to raise our kids and the role of correction. And it continues with the smacking debate – another example of undermining parental authority and `state knows best how to raise your kids'." Mr McCroskie said student behaviour would continue to deteriorate "for as long as we tell them that their rights are more important than their responsibilities".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2814572/Violence-blamed-on-removal-of-corporal-punishment 

More kids lash out at school
NZ Herald Aug 29, 2009
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10593922

Offensive baby clothes off shelves
Otago Daily Times 26 Aug 2009
Clothing retailer Cotton On has withdrawn a line of controversial baby clothes after public outcry, several protest groups say. The Cotton On T-shirts and suits, which featured slogans including "i'm a tits man", "the condom broke" and "they shake me", went on sale in New Zealand last month. Last week the T-shirts were removed from Australian shelves and the company said it "recognised that certain references are not appropriate, and will sincerely endeavour to not cross these lines again".

Lobby groups including Family First New Zealand , the National Council of Women (NCWNZ), Vision Network, and Child Alert NZ (ECPAT) called for a boycott of the company and today reported that the line had been withdrawn from New Zealand shelves. Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said Cotton On had emailed his group saying production would be stopped on the line and that existing items would be withdrawn. "The Cotton On Group is an organisation that respects family, social and moral values and as a result would like to announce that the issue has been taken seriously and in agreeance, willingly extends an apology to those who have been affected by the slogans," the company said.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/71485/offensive-baby-clothes-shelves

Garth George: Law change has not stopped child abuse
NZ Herald Aug 27, 2009
If Prime Minister John Key is to maintain his and his party's credibility in the eyes of the public, he has no choice but to return Section 59 of the Crimes Act to Parliament and have it amended again. Only by doing that can he and his National-led Government bring this red-herring anti-smacking controversy to an end.

It has been going on now for more than two years and all it has served to do is to take all the emphasis away from the real issue - the dreadful epidemic of child abuse we are suffering in New Zealand. There is no question the law change has had no effect whatsoever on child abuse. This month alone, two little ones have been killed and two put in hospital shockingly injured.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10593382&pnum=0

Key scuttles move to change smacking law
NZ Herald Aug 27, 2009
Prime Minister John Key moved swiftly yesterday to stop a new smacking bill going beyond its first reading and reigniting a debate he believed could consume Parliament. He is confident his move will not be seen as thumbing his nose at the 87.4 per cent of voters in the citizens-initiated referendum who did not support the present smacking law. By coincidence, a measure legalising smacking was drawn from a ballot of 29 private members' bills yesterday, less than a week after the referendum. The bill is in the name of Act MP John Boscawen, and its first reading debate and vote are likely to be on September 23. The present legislation outlaws smacking for punishment or correction but says the police should not prosecute minor transgressions. Mr Boscawen's bill would allow smacking for correction and define the type of force that could be used. Act's five votes and National's 58 would be enough to send it to a select committee, re-opening the debate that gripped the country in 2007.

* The Boscawen bill
Would allow smacking for the purposes of correcting a child's behaviour.
Defines unreasonable force as force that causes the child to suffer an injury that is "more than transitory and trifling"; is inflicted by any weapon, tool or implement; and is inflicted by cruel or degrading means.
The term "transitory and trifling" is already established in common law to mean force that causes redness for more than a few minutes, or bruising.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10593435&pnum=0

Key made 'stupid mistake' - ACT
Otago Daily Times 25 Aug 2009
Prime Minister John Key has made "a huge mistake" by refusing to change the law that bans smacking and National will suffer for it at the next election, the ACT Party says. "He is making exactly the same mistake as Helen Clark made - he is putting himself above the overwhelming wish of the majority of New Zealanders," MP John Boscawen told NZPA. "I think he's making a very stupid mistake." Mr Key yesterday said he was going to ensure parents were not prosecuted for an inconsequential smack, but he wasn't going to change the law in response to the referendum result.

..Mr Boscawen said the referendum result was a clear, emphatic vote for the law to be changed. "I think he's taking a very grave risk in ignoring such a massive mandate for a change to the law," he said. "I think he's being very foolish, his response is totally inadequate and he's making a huge mistake." Mr Boscawen said National's poll ratings would drop and the impact would carry through to the next election. Family First, one of the referendum's main promoters, said MPs and ministers were receiving floods of emails demanding a law change. "The referendum wasn't about recommendations, guidelines or comfort - it was about a law change," said Family First director Bob McCoskrie.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/71289/key-made-039stupid-mistake039-act

CYF to be given smacking guidelines
The Dominion Post 25/08/2009
Social workers will be told to change the way they deal with parents referred to them for smacking. Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that Child, Youth and Family had never given its social workers guidelines on how to deal with smacking cases after the 2007 law change removed the defence of reasonable force in cases of child assault. The Government announced a series of measures yesterday to reassure parents that they would not be dragged before the courts or have social workers knocking on their doors after Friday's referendum reflected widespread unease over how the law was working. Nearly 90 per cent of voters supported the right of parents to smack. But Mr Key rejected another law change, saying it would "consume and derail" Parliament when there were more important issues to deal with.

..."If the law shows ... that New Zealand parents are being criminalised, or their children are being taken off them in some bizarre case for what could only be described as minor or inconsequential smacking, then the law has to be changed." But there was no evidence that was the case, although he said it was clear the law was "not necessarily well understood by every New Zealander", given that it clearly included grounds for parents to legitimately smack their children.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2783385/CYF-to-be-given-smacking-guidelines

Key gives parents comfort
The Dominion Post 25/08/2009
Prime Minister John Key says he doesn't want Parliament "derailed and consumed" by another smacking debate, after rejecting a law change in the wake of the referendum. ..However, Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said more pressure would be placed on the Government for the law to be repealed. "The referendum wasn't about 'recommendations', 'guidelines' or 'comfort' it was about a law change
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/politics/2783384/Key-gives-parents-comfort

One-in-3 women face violence
The Dominion Post 25/08/2009
Almost a third of Kiwi women and one in five men will experience violence and abuse at the hands of their partners. The statistics are in a report made public today that will guide a crackdown on family violence. The Families Commission's Family Violence Statistics Report aims to be a "one-stop shop" and create a benchmark to measure against. Data collected from agencies dealing directly with victims and perpetrators covers the four years to the end of 2006.

The report shows that family violence offences have been rising, with more than 32,000 recorded by police each year. More than half were serious assaults. Between 2001 and 2006, family-related offences reported to police increased by more than 50 per cent. Men reported psychological abuse from their partners more than women.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2783396/One-in-3-women-face-violence

Emotional violence growing the most 
NZ Herald Aug 25, 2009
Physical abuse of children has levelled off in the past five years, according to Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS). CYFS figures included in the Families Commission's latest report on family violence show almost all of the rise in substantiated cases of child abuse in that time is due to "emotional abuse". The commission's principal analyst, Radha Balakrishnan, said the major factor in all the increases was a police decision in 2003 to refer all children present at family violence incidents to CYFS. "There is a lot of evidence that that was attributable simply to a police change of practice rather than any underlying increase in the levels of child abuse," she said. "While people wring their hands about our children, if you look at the physical abuse, it's flat. Even the neglect figures are plateauing out, but there is some issue in terms of emotional abuse."

The report shows that the number of children and young people found to have been physically abused jumped from around 1900 a year up to 2003 to around 2300 a year after the police started telling CYFS about every family violence case involving children in 2004, and has stayed there ever since. The numbers found to be sexually abused jumped from around 1200 a year before 2004 to 1378 in that year, but have since tailed off. Those found to be neglected jumped from around 2700 a year to 3573 in 2004 and crept up further in the following two years. But those found to be emotionally abused trebled in just three years, from 2244 in 2003 to 6640 in 2006.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10592999

Cabinet Minister hails smacking vote
The Nelson Mail 22/08/2009
The anti-smacking referendum result reflects a strong reaction against the "nanny state", says Nelson MP Nick Smith. ....Dr Smith said today there was a clear message in the referendum that the public thought the law had gone too far, and government ministers would need to reflect on that message when Cabinet met on Monday. "I think it reflects a strong reaction against the nanny state, which was also reflected in last year's election, but equally the Government needs to be cautious it does not react the other way too much."

Dr Smith said he did not vote in the referendum because he felt in a privileged position as a lawmaker in Cabinet, and that the referendum was an opportunity for the public to have its say. Dr Smith said there were many parents in Cabinet, and as many theories on what was good child-rearing. "I always thought the previous wording in the law, allowing parents to use reasonable force to discipline a child, needed reform, but the message from this referendum is the change went too far," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/2778092/Smith-hails-smacking-vote

The people have spoken: now to stop the violence
By MICHAEL LAWS - Sunday Star Times 23/08/2009
 IF THERE is one thing that Friday's anti-smacking referendum will never influence it is those morons who believe that a corrective smack on a child's bottom constitutes child abuse.

The country has rejected this absurd correlation. But it remains a favourite of liberal pressure groups who agitate that any physical punishment equates to assault. The Plunkets, Barnardos and Greens honestly think that preventing white middle-class parents from smacking their kids on the bum for being naughty will somehow save poor, brown kids from being killed by their feckless whanau.

As all the child beatings and deaths of 2009 prove, the anti-smacking legislation has failed. It hasn't stopped one beating, one abuse, one death. And it never will. You can't reason with drugged, drunk, violent parents, acting out their inadequacy, with an act of parliament. If you could, we would all be living in Utopia.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/opinion/2778309/The-people-have-spoken-now-to-stop-the-violence

Key signals protection for parents
Sunday Star Times 23/08/2009
Police and Child Youth and Family officials will be warned to not prosecute parents for lightly smacking their children. Prime Minister John Key told the Sunday Star-Times in Sydney yesterday he was planning to introduce "increased safeguards" to prevent parents who gave their children "minor" or "inconsequential" smacks from being either investigated or prosecuted. Key's move is designed to appease the "Vote No" campaigners, who were yesterday celebrating an overwhelming win in the citizens-initiated referendum asking: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"

..What I am wanting to ensure," Key said, "is that parents have a level of comfort that the police and Child Youth and Family follow the intent of parliament, and that they can feel comfortable that in bringing up their children they are not going to be dragged before the courts for a minor or inconsequential smack." Key said that although police had statutory independence from the government, cabinet had some options to direct them, which would be outlined tomorrow.

...Family First, which led the "Vote No" campaign, said the result was clear-cut and justified changing the law "so that good parents are not treated as breaking the law for light smacking". It also wants the government to establish a Royal Commission into child abuse to identify and target the real causes. "The 87.6% of New Zealanders who voted no are not people who are demanding the right to assault and beat children," says Bob McCoskrie, national director of Family First. "They are simply Kiwis who want to tackle the tougher issues of family breakdown, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, violence in our media, poverty and stress, and weak family ties." McCoskrie also urged the Families Commission to represent the voice of families, not politicians, and call for the anti-smacking law to be amended.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2778529/Key-signals-protection-for-parents

Smacking referendum: No vote wins
Stuff.co.nz 21/08/2009
Almost 90 percent of people who participated in a referendum asking New Zealanders whether smacking should be illegal have voted no, preliminary results show. A total of 1,622,150 votes were cast with 87.6 percent in favour of repealing the controversial new law. The preliminary results from the $9 million citizens-initiated referendum which asked: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" have just been released. The Chief Electoral Office said it would now complete checks and count voting papers still to be received, before releasing the final result. Based on the preliminary results there was a 54 percent voter turnout. Prime Minister John Key said he had listened to the result of the referendum and plans to take some proposals to Cabinet on Monday.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2776567/Smacking-referendum-No-vote-wins

Call to give birth parents contact rights under law
NZ Herald Aug 21, 2009
Adoptive parents are welcoming a call to rewrite New Zealand's 54-year-old adoption law - but say the most urgent need is to legislate for "open" adoptions where birth parents can keep in touch with their children. Acting Principal Family Court Judge Paul von Dadelszen called this week for a review of the 1955 Adoption Act to remove discrimination against de facto and gay couples, who are currently barred from adopting.

But groups representing the country's dwindling numbers of adoptive parents said adoption was now so rare that they had had inquiries from only a handful of de facto and gay couples wanting to adopt. Simon Kingham of the Adoption Option Trust in Christchurch said the biggest problem with the law was that it was written at a time when adoptions were "closed", meaning birth parents gave up all contact with their children. Today virtually all adoptions are "open" and birth parents actually choose the adoptive parents for their babies - and stay in touch.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10592161

Brothels urged to move
North Shore Times 20/08/2009
Brothel owners setting up shop in residential Shore suburbs are being convinced to move to industrial locations. A lack of power to deal with the problem has forced the council to "think outside the square", says environmental protection team leader Warwick Robertson. A brothel must have a major impact on the surrounding neighbourhood before the courts will uphold a prosecution under any council’s brothel bylaw, he says. High Court and Appeal Court challenges have knocked back other councils’ attempts to prosecute.

One of the ways North Shore deals with the problem is to persuade brothel owners to move to an industrial area. The council also involves Inland Revenue, police, and immigration and health officials if needed, Mr Robertson says. The Tenancy Tribunal has also been involved where a lease didn’t allow a business to operate from the property. In the past the council has had up to 10 brothels in residential areas creating problems, now it is dealing with about two, he says. Most problems involve cut-price Chinese brothels, he says.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/2767710/Brothels-urged-to-move

Timaru unhappy with smacking law poll
The Timaru Herald 20/08/2009
Many Timaruvians think smacking should be legal and are casting their vote to say so. The Timaru Herald spoke to people on Stafford St at lunchtime yesterday to gauge feelings about the citizens initiated referendum on smacking and discovered many had already returned their voting papers. The referendum asks voters to consider this question: should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand? Nationally more than 1,330,900 votes had been returned.

Pensioner Fred Wederell, 76, is one of those who has already returned his voting papers. "I think this is important. People aren't happy with the new law. I think people are wanting change." Eight of the 12 people who responded to the poll said they would vote. Seven of those said they had ticked "no".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/2769721/Timaru-unhappy-with-smacking-law-poll

Govt still backing cancer vaccine
NZ Herald 19 Aug 2009
Women are still being advised by the Government to use the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil after a United States report raised some minor concerns about it. The vaccine blocks four types of the virus that causes cervical cancer and the reports show it mainly caused mild side effects in adolescent girls such as fainting, dizziness and nausea. There were very low rates of more serious problems after girls were given the vaccine. There were one or two cases per million girls of death, severe allergic reaction, dangerous blood clots or nerve injury that can cause paralysis. Health Minister Tony Ryall said the safety of the Gardasil vaccine was being continuously monitored in New Zealand.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10591858

A safety review published in the latest Journal Of The American Medical Association said 12,424 Gardasil vaccine recipients in America had suffered a number of side effects and even death since June 2006. Of those recorded cases, the study found 772 were considered serious and 1900 involved fainting.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25955503-662,00.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/health/research/19vaccine.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=gardasil&st=cse

'Pro-arrest' policy disregarded
Otago Daily Times Thu, 20 Aug 2009
Police make arrests in little more than 20% of domestic violence incidents, despite a policy to arrest wherever there is evidence of violence in the home, a study has found. A Canterbury University study says the "pro-arrest" policy of police is not being followed because of the difficulties facing frontline officers, and officers are becoming cynical and providing incomplete or false information in their reports to avoid being criticised.

Masters student Jenny Cross and Associate Prof Greg Newbold were given access to hundreds of police reports from domestic violence incidents, and interviewed and rode along with police in conducting their research. The Christchurch-based study will be published soon in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/70612/039pro-arrest039-policy-disregarded

Judge: Time to let gay couples adopt
NZ Herald Aug 20, 2009
The acting head judge of the Family Court has called for gay and lesbian couples to be given rights to adopt children, just as a private member's bill on the issue goes into the ballot for Parliament's order paper today. Paul von Dadelszen says New Zealand is lagging behind many other countries and should allow both homosexual couples and de facto heterosexual couples to adopt children.

A bill proposing this, sponsored in the last Parliament by Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei and now taken up by gay Green MP Kevin Hague, is in a queue of 30 private member's bills that will go into a ballot today to choose the next members' bills on the parliamentary order paper. Former Labour Government Justice Minister Annette King said the issue was "on our work agenda" before the election but she ran out of time before losing office. But the National Government's Justice Minister Simon Power said the issue was not on his work programme.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10591948

LISTEN Bob McCoskrie talks to Newstalk ZB's Larry Williams about the proposal 19 Aug
LISTEN Judge Paul von Dadelszen on Newstalk ZB
LISTEN National Radio coverage Morning Report 20 Aug

Smacking – beneficial or harmful?
Dr Philip Wescombe is a concerned father of three boys, a Microbiologist by trade and stood as a candidate in Dunedin South for the Kiwi Party at the 2008 general election.

With the referendum looming there has been increasing scrutiny of the wording “Should a smack as part of good parental discipline be a criminal offence in New Zealand?” Many commentators have derided the “good parental discipline” component, saying they don’t believe good parents smack their children. I would challenge these commentators to come up with the scientific research to back up their opinions. As will be outlined below, there is considerable solid evidence in the scientific literature that supports the use of spanking/smacking as a useful and beneficial tool for loving parents who raise healthy, well adjusted children.
READ MORE

Parents 'ignoring eye sun danger' 
BBC News 18 Aug 09
Three in four parents are risking their child's eyesight by exposing them to bright sun without appropriate protection, experts warn. Nearly a third of parents in Britain do not buy their children sunglasses, a poll of 2,000 people for the College of Optometrists revealed. Of those who do, nearly half put price before protection and only a quarter buy sunglasses from a trusted brand. The College recommends choosing dark glasses with a CE mark for quality.
 
People with light coloured eyes are most at risk from sun damage and those with blue eyes should always wear sunglasses, the experts advise. UV rays from sunlight can damage the retina and the lens of the eye and can lead to long-term damage. Too much exposure is linked to conditions like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8204956.stm

Families who play board games are winners
Herald Sun (Aust) August 19, 2009
FAMILIES that play board games together improve their social, educational and life skills, new research has found. Playing board games at least weekly helped improve the children's concentration, social interaction and co-operation with siblings. It also boosted their patience, concentration, teamwork, sharing, social interaction, communication, sportsmanship, critical thinking skills, maths and spelling.

OMD Insights got 125 families around the nation with children aged five to 12 to down the Nintendo and play board games at least once a week for a month. Family relationships improved and parents were amazed children did not need to be glued to the TV.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25948025-662,00.html

Boobs parade offer called hijacking
Central Leader 19 August 2009
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation’s decision to turn down money from the Boobs on Bikes parade has divided public opinion. Porn king Steve Crow planned to donate $7500 to the foundation if he could get 200 men and women to take part in the parade. The foundation turned down the offer and thanked people for their support over the decision. "We have been overwhelmed at the level of support from our valued donors and the multitude of calls from new supporters keen to work with us. "We would like to reiterate that our decision is not based on any perceived moral argument but from a conscious decision not to have our cause hijacked by a publicity stunt." 

Family First NZ also added its support to the foundation by pledging a $1000 donation. "The Breast Cancer Foundation has taken a principled stand and Family First would encourage the public to show their support by donating to the foundation," says national director Bob McCoskrie.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/central-leader/2763866/Boobs-parade-offer-called-hijacking

SWEAR - AND YOU'RE OUT!
Rotorua Daily Post 18th August 2009
A Rotorua principal has threatened to ban students for up to five school days if they are caught swearing in class or at teachers. In a new tough stand, Rotorua Lakes High School principal Bruce Walker has put students on notice - if they swear or act in a disrespectful way, they face being stood down. The school is yet to stand anyone down for these reasons but wants to put a stop to any potential bad behaviour early. A stand down is the formal removal of a student by a principal for a set period. It cannot be for more than five school days. The school's stance has won praise locally from people who work with youth and say swearing is a form of violence.
http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/local/news/swear-and-youre-out/3902999/#print

Teachers to get help to curb pupil violence
The Press 18/08/2009
The Government plans to curb schoolyard misbehaviour as new figures reveal a growing number of attacks on teachers and pupils. Ministry of Education figures released yesterday show expulsions as a result of physical assaults on other pupils rose from 9.4 per cent of all expulsions in 2000 to 25.3 per cent last year. Expulsions for assaults on staff have increased from 3.1 per cent of the total in 2000 to 6.5 per cent last year. Last year, 15,930 pupils were stood down a total of 20,279 times. The rate of stand-downs 28.5 pupils per 1,000 was lower than in 2007 but equal or higher than in five of the previous eight years.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2761290/Teachers-to-get-help-to-curb-pupil-violence

Bottle-fed babies being put 'at risk' due to lack of information for mothers
Telegraph (UK) 15 Aug 2009
The obsession with promoting breastfeeding could be putting babies health at risk as mothers are not being given enough information about how to bottle feed their children, according to researchers. Despite recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, very few mothers are shown how to make up feeds on the postnatal ward

For more than a decade, expectant mothers have been left in no doubt about how the medical establishment wants them to feed their babies. Midwives, doctors, nurses and successive health secretaries have all lined up behind the "breast is best message" to persuade women to breastfeed their babies rather than use a bottle.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6033595/Bottle-fed-babies-being-put-at-risk-due-to-lack-of-information-for-mothers.html

Fury over 'they shake me' baby T-shirt
Christchurch Press 16/08/2009
A baby's T-shirt bearing the slogan "they shake me" has sparked an angry online response from parents. A complaint about the T-shirt was posted on the popular parenting blog Mamamia this morning, sparking an email and Twitter campaign against the company responsible, Cotton On Kids. "What the hell are you people thinking and how dare you try to turn children into the sickest kind of human billboards to advertise your smart arse and grossly insensitive slogans?" read the blog post on Mamamia.

"What's next Cotton On? Kids t-shirts that say 'My Parents Sexually Abuse Me'?" The subsequent flood of comments on Twitter accused the popular children's clothing and accessories company of making jokes about child abuse and called for it to stop selling the T-shirts.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/technology/2756983/Fury-over-they-shake-me-baby-T-shirt
TAKE ACTION: Boycott their NZ stores and tell their head office of your intention http://www.cottonon.com.au/contact

What drives a mother to kill her own child
Sunday Star Times 16 August 09
Professor Sandy Simpson is clinical director of the Auckland Regional Forensic Psychiatry Service. ...he says it is not out of the ordinary for mothers who kill while mentally ill which is the case in roughly a third of cases to be described as model parents. 

The symptoms of illness envelop the child and themselves."The ironic thing to get your head around is that the woman's judgement is so seriously troubled by illness that she thinks she's doing the right thing even though she's doing a horrendous thing." In 2000, Simpson was co-author of a study in which he and colleagues interviewed six women who had killed their child or children while mentally ill. Most of the women had been found not guilty on the grounds of insanity, and none had previously been child abusers; there was no history of repeated abuse, and all had a clear intent to kill. As the women recalled the circumstances leading up to the homicides, the theme of trying to be an ideal parent was common. They talked of the special efforts they made for their children, such as mincing steak instead of buying mince, putting aside time to play with their child to make up for taking them shopping, or of choosing to stay home with the children rather than working....

When Simpson and colleagues interviewed New Zealand women who had killed children while mentally ill, they learnt that a number of them had been in touch with GPs or mental health services, but had felt unable to talk about their fear that they would harm their child. Others had discussed their fears but "the meaning of what they said wasn't fully understood". The lesson, says Simpson, is that if a mother says she if fearful she will harm her child "it's a big deal". "A complaint like that isn't a sign that a child needs to be immediately uplifted; that's the thing that people fear and it's a big barrier to seeking the help that they need. The best way to help is not to diminish that but to say, good on you for telling us how you feel, and let's see how we can support you."Z
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/2756497/Love-and-death

Cost revealed: $250k to raise a child
NZ Herald Aug 16, 2009
Raising a child to the age of 18 will cost the average parents almost $250,000. The calculation, included in a draft study for the Inland Revenue Department, covers only expenses. It doesn't count parents' loss of income or childcare costs. The income lost by one parent staying at home during that period would be almost $165,000, based on the national average wage calculated by Statistics New Zealand - pushing the true total to almost a quarter of a million dollars. The report, Costs of Raising Children, by Iris Claus, Geoff Leggett and Xin Wang, will be included in a Government review of the formula used to determine child-support payments.

The authors concluded that parents on a high income would spend almost three times as much on a single child as those on a low wage. They also found costs for second and subsequent children could be reduced by the use of hand-me-downs - raising four children would cost parents on a middle income $686 a week. Not surprisingly, children aged 12 and under cost less than teens. But the figures covered only basic expenses, such as food, clothes and vital equipment.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10591070

Who can protect our children?
NZ Herald Aug 16, 2009
Our state services fail to protect some of New Zealand's most severely abused children and allow them to be "revictimised", according to research published in an international medical journal. It says the child protection system could be seen as a "poorly controlled experiment" through the inability of government agencies to work together on cases of child abuse. It follows two cases of alleged child abuse last week in Northland, one of which ended in the death of a 2-year-old. The child in the other case - a 17-month-old - was severely injured. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett met the families of the two children on Friday. "Protecting our most vulnerable children is of the highest priority to this Government," she said afterwards.

...The report, published in the Child Abuse & Neglect International Journal, was written by two Starship doctors Patrick Kelly and Judith MacCormick, and an Auckland health board social worker Rebecca Strange, who works with child abuse victims. It studies the fate of 39 children aged under two who were treated at Auckland Hospital for "shaken baby syndrome" during the 1990s. It follows their health and development for up to 17 years. The "syndrome" has become a term for traumatic brain injury in infants. One of its common causes is hard, physical shaking of the child.

..It is particularly critical of the former Child Youth and Family service, now part of the Ministry of Social Development. Investigations of "doubtful quality" by CYF meant reports to the agency of fresh abuse against children - even in front of witnesses - would be treated as unproven, when they likely indicated serious risk.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10591094&pnum=0

READ Full Report

What your kids get up to online
Reuters 14/08/2009
Children are using the internet to watch YouTube videos, connect with friends on social network sites and look up "sex" and "porn," according to a study of the top web searches by youngsters. Computer security firm Symantec identified the top 100 searches conducted between February and July through its family safety service OnlineFamily.Norton, which monitors children's and teenager's internet use.

It found the most popular search term was for YouTube, the video sharing website owned by Google, with internet star, Fred Figglehorn, a fictional character whose YouTube videos are popular with children, coming ninth in the top searches. The search engine Google was the second most popular search term and Yahoo came seventh, while social network site Facebook ranked third and MySpace came fifth in the list. But the words "sex" and "porn" also made it into the top 10, ranked numbers four and six respectively. Other popular search terms included Michael Jackson, eBay, Wikipedia, Miley Cyrus who plays Hannah Montana in the hit Disney series, Taylor Swift, Webkinz, Club Penguin, and the Black Eyed Peas' song "Boom Boom Pow." California-based Symantec's internet safety advocate Marian Merritt said the list showed that parents needed to be aware what their children were doing online.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/2752044/What-your-kids-get-up-to-online

Abortion body ruled by Parliament, not courts - judge
The Press 14/08/2009
Parliament is the proper authority to oversee the activities of the Abortion Supervisory Committee and not the courts, a judge has ruled. Christchurch anti-abortion group Right To Life had sought High Court orders regarding the powers of the committee, but Justice Miller has declined to do so. "The committee is supervised by Parliament, which can hold it to account if it does not administer the law honestly, and is the proper body to assess where the public interest lies in this field," the judgment said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2750822/Abortion-body-ruled-by-Parliament-not-courts-judge

$1.5b owed in child support
The Dominion Post 14/08/2009
Almost a third of liable parents are shunning child support obligations, the highest rate in five years. At June 30, the child support hole totalled $1.5 billion. Inland Revenue is chasing more than $527 million owed by parents, with more than $1 billion owed in penalties. Fathers in Manukau and Gisborne and mothers in Invercargill and Dunedin were the worst offenders. A third of all debt is from Kiwi parents living overseas. Figures issued under the Official Information Act show more than 127, 000 parents have child support obligations but 37,702, or 29.5 per cent, fail to pay. And the debt owed by 547 parents earning six-figure salaries has nearly doubled in three years to $10.9m.

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said the level of child support debt was unacceptably high. It was of concern that a significant proportion was penalties rather than the principal. Children's Commissioner John Angus said parents had a moral and legal obligation to pay. Parents were not meeting their responsibilities to their child when they elected not to pay. "Children can get a message the non-custodial parent doesn't care about them and how they are getting on, because they don't care enough to make a financial contribution for them," Dr Angus said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/2750502/1-5b-owed-in-child-support

Charity declines boobs on bikes offer
NZ Herald Aug 14, 2009
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation has declined a $7500 pledge from the controversial Boobs on Bikes parade - prompting a rebuke from porn king Steve Crow. Mr Crow, the parade's organiser, said he would donate $5000 to the foundation if he could get 100 women to participate in next month's parade down Queen St and would add another $2500 if 100 men also got their tops off. But the foundation was unaware of the pledge and said it would neither accept money from the event nor endorse it, the Auckland City Harbour News reported.

Mr Crow responded in an email to the foundation saying he was "gobsmacked" it would refuse a donation from a "perfectly legal and valid source". "What right do you, or anyone else in your organisation, have to turn down funding much needed by the women of this country?" He questioned whether the foundation had so much cash that it did not need money to help New Zealand women fight the disease.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10590724

Distinguishing between correction and violence
• Dr Michael Reid is a parent, teacher, and author of the 2006 book From Innocents to Agents: children and children's rights in New Zealand.
Otago Daily Times 13 Aug 2009
Most parents do not seek to harm their children but want the best for them, writes Michael Reid. What does that imply with respect to the "smacking" referendum? "When war comes, the first casualty is truth." In the debate over smacking and the associated referendum, the definition of violence is the casualty. Advocates of the "yes" vote get away with using the word "violence" all the time.

They don't distinguish between responsible parents who use a light smack from those using implements to inflict severe pain. Emotive words like "belting", "beating" and "whacking" all blur the distinction. But the difference between parental correction and violence is critical.
http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/opinion/69422/distinguishing-between-correction-and-violence

Punishment has its place : Latta
Taranaki Daily News 13/08/2009
Nigel Latta has hit a nerve with some viewers with his bring-back-punishment methods for bringing up your kids. The star of The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show: The First Decade on TV One which is stealing the ratings on Wednesday nights, revealed yesterday that he is getting hate mail. "Being on TV is great. You can p.... off people you have never even met." But the clinical psychologist, from Dunedin, told the Taranaki Daily News he did not advocate hitting your kids. If he did, he would be struck off his professional body, the New Zealand Psychological Society. He personally had never advocated smacking, he says. The current referendum on smacking was "hopelessly political", had been left in a no-win situation, and was a waste of $9m. "I think the referendum is dumb and the law change was dumb. The whole issue for me is a nightmare."

But he is a strong advocate for a return to commonsense punishment in this PC world, he says. "We've got rid of punishment. We don't do it any more. But I think there's a value in punishment. It makes you think about what might not be a good idea," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2746685/Punishment-has-its-place-Latta/

Most mainstream churches back 'Yes' vote in smacking referendum
NZ Herald Aug 12, 2009
Most of New Zealand's mainstream churches are supporting a "Yes" vote in the referendum on whether smacking should be a criminal offence. The heads of the Anglican and Methodist churches say the current law, which bans the use of force against children for "correction", is working well and should not be changed. The Catholic Bishops Conference referred questions to the church aid agency, Caritas, which recommended a "Yes" vote on the basis that the current law was close to the compromise which the bishops sought in 2007 between a complete ban on physical restraint and allowing "violent" discipline.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10590197
Family First Comment: Perhaps they should ask their members what they think!!!!!

Children better off with less TV: expert
The Southland Times 10/08/2009
If you don't want an obese child who is likely to smoke and flunk school, then turn off the television and put them to bed, a childhood researcher says. At the Early Childhood Education conference in Queenstown on Saturday , Dr Bob Hancox said excessive television watching was as bad as a poor diet or inactivity when it came to obesity. Speaking to The Southland Times yesterday, Dr Hancox said if all children watched less than two hours of television daily, obesity would be cut by about 15 per cent.

"If people are watching television they are not exercising," he said. "There is also evidence that people eat more and eat different things while watching television." Every hour of television children watched beyond two hours meant they were about 15 per cent more likely to leave school without a qualification and about 25 per cent less likely to get a university degree.

Dr Hancox also said for obesity, lack of sleep was as bad as television. Children between 5 and 11 who had less than 11 hours' sleep were far more likely to become obese, he said. Dr Hancox is the deputy director of Otago University's Multidisciplinary Heath and Development Research Unit, which is tracking the lives of 1000 New Zealanders born in 1972 and 1973. The study's previous check on the group was at age 32 in 2005. Another check would be done next year, he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2734438/Children-better-off-with-less-TV-expert

Struggling Asian wives 'health timebomb'
NZ Herald Aug 10, 2009
Asian migrant men hit by recession are moving overseas to look for work - but are leaving their wives and children in New Zealand. The situation is developing into a "mental health timebomb" for these "suddenly single mothers" in the Asian community, and stigma and fear of "losing face" are preventing them from reaching out for help or even sharing their problems with friends, says a University of Auckland expert.

Dr Amritha Sobrun-Maharaj, director for the university's Centre for Asian Health Research and Evaluation, says urgent research is needed to understand how widespread the problem is and its impact on New Zealand. She said the lack of research into mental health issues facing Asians in New Zealand had left authorities and health officials here at a loss on what needed to be done - or even how to reach such mental health sufferers.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10589767

Parents help families tackle social problems
NZ Herald Aug 10, 2009
Manurewa parents have formed a charitable trust to help families tackle the social problems that have led to children going to school hungry. From a prefabricated hut provided by a parent at decile 2 Leabank School, the Parents of Schools in Manurewa (POSM) Trust offers parents courses in life skills such as hygiene, nutrition, cooking, budgeting and gardening, as well as sports and cultural programmes and basic literacy and numeracy.

"We are offering programmes, along with other organisations, to help upskill the parents," said chairwoman Angela Opai, a dynamic social worker who brushes aside questions about the root causes of the district's poverty.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10589769

Hide warns of public backlash on smacking
Sunday Star Times 09/08/2009
ACT party leader Rodney Hide has warned Prime Minister John Key of a public backlash if the government ignores the result of the controversial smacking referendum. Snubbing the referendum result sends a message that politicians know what's best for the people and that the government is running a "nanny state", Hide wrote in a letter delivered to Key's office on Friday.

...In the letter to Key, Hide, who said he had been shocked by the number of parents who had been unfairly treated under the new law, urged the prime minister to act on the result of the referendum, a sign that the "no" campaign believe they will score a decisive victory. Hide told Key the law change two years ago had driven a wedge between parent and child and although some people might disapprove of the way others behaved, it did not give them the right to make the others criminals, "unless their behaviour is demonstrably causing harm". Hide said one of the reasons Labour lost the last election was because people were sick of being told how to live their lives by politicians and "it would be a tragedy if, six months into your government, a nanny state tendency emerged once again in ignoring the clear wish of the people... " "The referendum gives an opportunity for the public to speak. Their views must be respected."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/2733370/Hide-warns-of-public-backlash-on-smacking

John Roughan: Still completely confused
Whatever happens, the hiding has had its day
NZ Herald Aug 08, 2009
The men behind the smacking poll are so confident of its result they have prepared their next move. They have drafted a bill that would allow parents to use reasonable force for "correcting" a child's behaviour. They expect the vote for their "good parental correction" to be so decisive that John Key will have to surrender his stated wish to leave well-enough alone. When they sent me the bill this week they said, "This is what government will adopt after the referendum." So definite.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/child-abuse/news/article.cfm?c_id=146&objectid=10589329
Family first Comment: John quotes email banter between us during the week - move over Nicky Hagar!!
But he makes some classic statements – especially 
* "A smack delivered in the anger and frustration of the moment is likely to be a more healthy and harmless act, mentally at least"& (this from a yes vote supporter!!!)
* "Law cannot always be "clear" in the sense that it is immune to the imaginative interpretations of lawyers for the purposes of litigation or academic discussion."
But then says
"But judicial rulings, to my untutored reading of them, have a genius for resolving most things in accord with common sense"!!

Celebrant issue prompts marriage legality warning
The Press 08/08/2009
You may think you are happily married, but you might just be happy. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has warned that non-registered celebrants are taking the lead role at some weddings, raising concerns that the legality of several New Zealand marriages or civil unions is uncertain. In a letter written last month, DIA registrar-general Brian Clarke reminded registered celebrants that they must "officiate the ceremony" and "not be a bystander".

"Instances continue to be brought to my attention of persons other than marriage or civil union celebrants taking the lead role in the solemnisation of marriages and civil unions," he wrote. Several Christchurch celebrants said they knew of cases where registered celebrants were allowing non-registered people to officiate at weddings before stepping in to sign legal papers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2732003/Celebrant-issue-prompts-marriage-legality-warning

Preschool assaults growing national problem
Invercargill child, 3, eye-gouged playmates
The Southland Times 08/08/2009
A three-year-old who was removed from an Invercargill preschool for assaulting children in "spasms of anger" this past year is part of a growing national problem, early childhood workers said. Early Childhood Council chief executive Dr Sarah Farquhar confirmed this week the child was removed last month because of "extreme behaviour problems" that threatened the safety of other children.

Children in early childhood centres with severe behaviour problems were now a serious issue, she said. "We hear of three and four-year-olds who punch other children hard enough to leave bruises, spit and kick for no reason, damage equipment, kick doors, and swear at teachers," she said. "It's more than just acting up that's usually a fight over a toy this goes beyond. It's children throwing rocks at windows, it's being bad for the sake of being bad."

The problem had grown during the past decade as the number of three to six-year-olds enrolled in early childhood education had risen to 92 per cent, she said. That had introduced children from a wider variety of socio-economic backgrounds but no one group was at fault, she said. "Sometimes it's children from bad families but other times it's children with good parents who just don't set enough boundaries."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2732187/Invercargill-child-3-eye-gouged-playmates

Toddlers in group care 'damaged'
The Press 07/08/2009
A generation of children has been "disenfranchised" by being put in preschool group care, an early-childhood education leader says. Controversy erupted in the early-childhood education sector yesterday after The Press revealed Children's Commissioner John Angus was investigating childcare for under-threes. PORSE managing director Jenny Yule, who has worked in the sector for 30 years, said group-based care for toddlers caused long-term damage. PORSE is an in-home childcare service with about 3000 children enrolled nationally.

Yule said international and New Zealand research showed that babies needed one-on-one attachment and an environment that was not big and busy. "The last 20 years has funded a group-based model, which is great for three and four-year-olds, but the trouble is we've sucked in all of the babies," she said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2728606/Toddlers-in-group-care-damaged

No letup predicted in violence against children
The Press 06/08/2009
Violence against children is unlikely to drop over the next three years, Children's Commissioner John Angus says. In his first statement of intent since being appointed in May, Angus said violence was "endemic in too many of the families, schools and other settings in which children live". It was unlikely that levels of violence and neglect would "drop dramatically" over the next three years. "Indeed, it may be that more instances of violence come to notice and that household overcrowding and economic hardship lead to increased levels of neglect," his statement said.

..Chief Families Commissioner Jan Pryor said stress, poverty and disparity were all factors in family violence. "If the economic recession continues, it could well impact on vulnerable families," she said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2724477/No-letup-predicted-in-violence-against-children

Inquiry into care of under-5s
The Press 06/08/2009
An investigation has been launched into the risks of New Zealand's world-leading rates of out-of-home care for preschoolers. The inquiry by Children's Commissioner John Angus comes amid concerns about growing numbers of five-year-olds arriving at school ill-prepared to cope. Angus said the current generation of youngsters was the first in which most spent a large part of their early childhood in some form of out-of-home care and education.

He was concerned at the high numbers of children aged two and under in daycare. "The opportunities and risks in these new patterns of care need to be carefully explored and conveyed to parents," he said in his first statement of intent since taking up the commissioner's role in May. Childcare rates for New Zealand's under-fives are among the highest in the world.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2724475/Inquiry-into-care-of-under-5s

Jim Evans: New section 59 is clearly a mess
NZ Herald Aug 06, 2009
* Jim Evans is emeritus professor of law at Auckland University.
John Roughan is a good political commentator, but he is not right about section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961. The law it lays down is far from clear. Since much confusion exists about the section, let me try to clarify its effect as briefly as possible.

..This is not clear legislation. In creating this law, Parliament abandoned its constitutional responsibility to say with clarity just which conduct is criminal. The section results from a political fudge. Whatever other views one takes about the topic of smacking, that much at least ought to be kept clear.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10588870&pnum=0

'Sexting' trend of explicit photo exchange among teenagers, charity warns
UK Telegraph 04 Aug 2009
More than a third of secondary school children have been sent messages containing sexual content, a survey showed. Researchers found youngsters were regularly being sent sex texts or "sexts" - often by their school friends. The messages contain images of sex acts involving young people but more generally of boys and girls exposing themselves.

Material is sent to mobile phones via texts, transferred using Bluetooth or uploaded to social networking groups. The research, carried out by children's charity Beatbullying, found it was most often not strangers sending the images. Seven out of 10 of the 11 to 18 year-olds surveyed said they knew the sender personally.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5970094/Sexting-trend-of-explicit-photo-exchange-among-teenagers-charity-warns.html

EDITORIAL: Smacking law misses real target
GARTH McVICAR - Sensible Sentencing Trust
Hawkes Bay Today 4th August 2009
Child abuse is the scourge of New Zealand; it is like a plague on the horizon, hanging over us like a ticking time-bomb waiting to explode. When will the next case occur and how horrific will the child's injuries be? Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand? That is the question Hawke's Bay people are being asked in the referendum. Hitting a child with a pipe or a piece of 4x2 was never allowed and the perpetrators should always feel the full force of the law _ but banning smacking hasn't and will never stop the person who would commit such an act.

Let's face it; the calibre of person who would do such a thing probably can't read the law, anyway. And if they could they wouldn't give a toss! Most of them only get a slap on the hand with a wet bus ticket, anyway. I want child abuse stopped. But Sue Bradford's anti-smacking law has not done that, in fact child abuse is as rampant today as it was before the legislation changed.
http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/local/news/editorial-smacking-law-misses-real-target/3902325/

Self-harm tops CYF injury list
The Press 05/08/2009
More than 40 serious injuries to young people in Child, Youth and Family (CYF) residences have been recorded in the past three years. In April 2006, CYF introduced a national database to record the number of serious injuries that occur in its seven secure care and protection and youth justice residences. Figures released to The Press under the Official Information Act show 12 of the 43 injury incidents were due to assaults by residents on other residents, and two occurred when a resident was being put into a restraint by CYF staff. Fifteen were from self-harm, eight from sports, four from illness and two from accidents.

In the reply to the information request, Social Development Ministry chief executive Peter Hughes said young people may "inadvertently injure themselves when staff are trying to make them safe". "I am confident that my staff only use an acceptable and reasonable level of force on the very rare occasions when they are required to restrain residents," he said. Family First national director Bob McCoskrie called for an independent CYF complaints authority. "We think there should be an external check on CYF, both for the benefit of families who are coming under CYF and also for the accountability of social workers to ensure appropriate policies and procedures are being followed."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2720722/Self-harm-tops-CYF-injury-list

Not enough time to play, say parents (UK)
guardian.co.uk, 3 August 2009
Only around a quarter of parents in England have enough time to play with their children, researchers said today. Half of parents questioned also said there are not enough places where children can play safely without adult supervision. One in two blame work for limiting their time to support their children's play, the ICM survey of 1,037 parents commissioned by the charity Play England showed.

..Nearly three quarters of parents questioned wanted more time to play with their children. The research also found that children are facing pressures on their free time too, from homework and extra-curricular activities. A third of children and a quarter of seven to eight-year-olds reported that homework often stops them playing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/aug/03/play-time-limited-parents

Housework 'makes British men more attractive'
Telegraph (UK) 03 Aug 2009
Experts claim that women are more attracted to men if they believe they will help out with household chores and make an equal contribution towards childcare. The study, which looked at relationships in 12 countries, ranked British men as the third most likely to win women's hearts through their apparent commitment to domestic life. Swedes and Norwegians topped the table while Australian men – stereotyped for their love of beer, sport, and the great outdoors – came in last, rated as the least attractive in terms of pulling their weight around the house.

The Oxford University study examined marriage and cohabitation rates across the developed world and compared them to attitudes towards the roles of men and women at home. Researchers questioned 13,500 men and women aged between 20 and 45 from each country about gender, housework and childcare responsibilities. Based on their responses, each country was given a rating on an "egalitarian index", which was then compared against the number of couples living together. The study found there was a correlation between the ratings on the index and proportion of citizens who were married or shared their home with a partner. Women in less egalitarian countries were found to be between 20 and 50 per cent less likely to settle down with a man.

The full list of countries' rankings on the egalitarian index is as follows:
1. Norway
2. Sweden
3. Great Britain
4. United States
5. Netherlands
6. Republic of Ireland
7. Spain
8. New Zealand
9. Japan
10. Germany
11. Austria
12. Australia
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5967792/Housework-makes-British-men-more-attractive.html

Lazy Kiwi males lose points
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10588745

Key coy on smacking law change
TVNZ 2 Aug 09
The Prime Minister is refusing to say if he will act on the results of the anti-smacking referendum. A ONE News Colmar Brunton poll shows over 80% of New Zealanders believe a smack should not be a criminal offence and just 13% think it should. Key says the test is whether the law is working. He says he has seen the most recent six-monthly report to the police minister and it shows there have still been no cases taken under the anti-smacking legislation. WRONG!

"I take referendum seriously, I'm not dismissive of it," he says. "I've laid out the way I want to approach this, I think if the law doesn't work, in other words if the law starts taking criminal cases and criminalises parents for lightly smacking their children, I'll change the law," he says.
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/key-coy-smacking-law-change-2884871

Referendum envelopes raise fear of transparent democracy
The Dominion Post 04/08/2009
The Electoral Commission is confident the integrity of the $9 million smacking referendum is not in danger, despite concerns that "see-through" envelopes could compromise the secrecy of the vote. Postal voting in the citizen-initiated referendum on the question "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" opened on Friday and runs until August 21. Once the voting paper has been filled in, it is possible to see through the white back of the envelope which box has been ticked. However, voters' names cannot be seen through the orange front.

Family First spokesman Bob McCoskrie, whose group wants the anti-smacking law thrown out, said he had received a couple of calls from people concerned about the transparency of the envelopes. "I suppose the only potential problem is if someone in the post office decided to winnow out `yes' or `no' votes, and there are a few conspiracy theories going around. "But we certainly don't have agents in the post office and I doubt the Yes Vote Coalition does either." He urged anyone who was concerned to courier their voting paper to the Electoral Commission.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/politics/2716320/Referendum-envelopes-raise-fear-of-transparent-democracy

Phil Jackson: Parents, not governments, are responsible for children
NZ Herald Aug 04, 2009
Parliament tends to attract those that are unable to ferret out the principles of important issues. The Electoral Finance Bill and the Microchipping Bill are two good examples of bits of subjective legislation that should have stayed submerged. Members of Parliament know that they can get away with many things because they have denied the public the means to direct them on issues important to them. The Privy Council as the last means of appeal was abolished by a government that wanted its legislation to be interpreted in a particular way and despite the overwhelming number of submissions against this, decided that is what it wanted anyway.

The referendum on smacking has come about because ordinary New Zealanders and many decent mums and dads have felt that the law change was wrong. Support for the original law has hovered around 80 per cent and it comes as no surprise to the cynical amongst us that Prime Minister John Key is not interested in changing the new law. A disrespect for democracy is a hallmark of many politicians. Although they depend on it to get power, once it has been gained they flaunt it with impunity.

It is an extreme rarity for a politician to articulate a deep understanding of any issue and this debate shows that this is still the case.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10588462

Poll: Smacking shouldn't be a crime 
TVNZ August 03, 2009 
Over 80% of New Zealanders believe a smack should not be a criminal offence and just 13% think it should. That's according to a ONE News Colmar Brunton poll. The poll found 83% of New Zealanders think it is okay to smack children under certain circumstances. Those more likely to say it's okay under any circumstances were older New Zealanders, over 55, and those living in non-urban areas. But one in seven say it's not acceptable under any circumstances. And only a quarter believe the current law is working as it relates to smacking and child discipline. 

Meanwhile, over three quarters of New Zealanders believe the smacking referendum is not a good use of public money. The poll found 76% of people polled say the $9 million price tag is unjustified, while 20% say it is. The poll sampled 1000 voters and has a margin of error of 3.1%.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/poll-smacking-shouldn-t-crime-2882855

Hotline for reporting child porn sites
The Press 03/08/2009
A new tool in New Zealand's fight against child pornography will be launched today. A hotline allowing internet users to report child pornography websites is available at www.childalert.org.nz. There has been "an alarming increase" in people viewing child porn sites, according to ECPAT New Zealand, an organisation that fights against child prostitution and pornography.

The Child Alert Hotline allows internet users to download software that helps authorities identify suspect sites. On noticing a suspect website, an internet user can pass it on with the click of a button. The address goes to the Child Alert Hotline office and then to the Department of Internal Affairs. ECPAT Child Alert director Alan Bell said New Zealanders needed to be more aware of the number of illegal sexual images online.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2712735/Hotline-for-reporting-child-porn-sites

New Zealand votes on smacking law - BBC Coverage
BBC News 31 July 09
Voting has begun in New Zealand in a controversial referendum on whether a law prohibiting the smacking of children should be abolished. It's the country's first citizen-initiated referendum. New Zealanders have three weeks to answer the question: 'Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence?'

A BBC correspondent says many parents believe smacking is acceptable and that politicians should not tell them how to bring up their children, but others feel children are entitled to the same protection as adults. Prime Minister John Key described the question as ridiculous and the government said the referendum's result would not be binding.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2009/07/090731_smacking_wup_ap.shtml

INCLUDES AUDIO INTERVIEW OF PARENT PROSECUTED FOR LIGHT SMACK ON LEG
LISTEN HERE

Referendum waste of time, say MPs
NZ Herald Aug 01, 2009
A significant number of MPs will not vote in the smacking referendum, saying it is a "waste of time", a "waste of money" and the wording is "nonsensical". In a Weekend Herald survey of 122 politicians, nearly half of the 62 who responded said they would not vote in the referendum and two planned to spoil their ballot papers in protest. Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff had earlier announced they would not vote because the wording of the question was too ambiguous. Most of the 25 MPs following suit also said they were unhappy at the "ambiguous" nature of the wording. Others were not voting because they believed it was a chance for the public to have their say on their issue - not MPs.

Other than the Act MPs - who have opposed the changes to section 59 from the start - only two others openly said they would vote "no" - National's Tim Macindoe and Cam Calder.

NOT/ PROBABLY NOT VOTING
National: David Bennett, Jackie Blue, Chester Borrows, David Carter, Judith Collins, Chris Finlayson, Tim Groser, Nathan Guy, Tau Henare, Steven Joyce, Nikki Kaye, John Key, Todd McClay, Tony Ryall, Katrina Shanks, Nick Smith, Anne Tolley, Chris Tremain, Louise Upston, Michael Woodhouse.
Maori Party: Tariana Turia.
Labour: Phil Goff, Annette King, Trevor Mallard, Damien O'Connor.

* Spoiling ballot paper: Clayton Cosgrove, Rajen Prasad.

VOTING YES
Labour: Steve Chadwick, Charles Chauvel, Kelvin Davis, Darien Fenton, Parekura Horomia, Moana Mackey, Su'a William Sio, Maryan Street. Progressives: Jim Anderton.
United Future: Peter Dunne.
Green Party: Sue Bradford, Keith Locke, Kennedy Graham, Metiria Turei, Russel Norman, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Sue Kedgley, Kevin Hague, Catherine Delahunty.
Maori Party: Te Ururoa Flavell (if votes), Hone Harawira, Rahui Katene.

VOTING NO
National: Cam Calder, Tim Macindoe.
Act: John Boscawen, David Garrett, Heather Roy.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587931

Waikato people smack law down
Waikato Times 01/08/2009
Waikato residents have given overwhelming support to allowing parents to smack their children. Some 92 per cent of Waikato people who plan to vote in the current postal referendum voting papers went out yesterday are against smacking of children being a criminal offence, according to a telephone survey of 409 people in a Waikato Times-Versus telephone poll.

The poll was run this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. The results are a continuation of the high popularity for sanctioning smacking that has registered in national and regional polls for the past four years. But the Government has already said it won't change the two-year-old law, which Prime Minister John Key thinks is working well.

The Times poll showed 70 per cent of Waikato residents planned to vote in the referendum, with that rising as high at 78 per cent within Hamilton. Females (76 per cent) were also more likely to vote. Residents were asked: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Just 8 per cent said yes.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2709896/Waikato-people-smack-law-down

Shake-up targets drink culture
NZ Herald Jul 31, 2009
Any more than two drinks should put drivers over the legal limit, says a report heralding the country's biggest alcohol law reforms in 20 years. "By international standards New Zealand's record in this area is lamentable," says the Law Commission report, which suggests a raft of law changes to curb binge-drinking.

The report, Alcohol in Our Lives, says the country needs to consider sweeping changes, including more taxes on alcohol, greater restrictions and powers around licensing, shorter opening hours for pubs and changes to the purchasing age.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587763

CYFS says sorry to 'traumatised' family
NZ Herald Jul 31, 2009
Child, Youth and Family Services says a Christian couple are "good parents" even though they smack their children. Agency head Ray Smith said CYFS "could have done a better job" in the way it handled an allegation that the couple, Erik and Lisa, had abused their 10-year-old daughter Abigail. The father, Erik, had smacked the girl after she had a "massive meltdown", banging her bunk against the wall and calling her mother "evil". He said the smack was aimed at her bottom, but she wriggled and he left two red fingermarks on her back.

He said the family were "traumatised" when the agency told them on a Friday afternoon to send their two daughters to stay with friends until social workers had time to investigate the allegation on the Monday. Mr Smith said the agency "could have done a better job of talking through other options".
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587740

Theft fears as referendum papers hit letterboxes
NZ Herald Jul 31, 2009
A record roll of just over 3 million New Zealanders will start receiving voting papers today for the country's first citizens-initiated referendum to be conducted by postal vote. The ballot, asking whether smacking should be a criminal offence, raised fears yesterday that enthusiasts on both sides may try to corrupt the vote by stealing voting papers from letterboxes over the next few days. Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden urged voters to alert him to any possible interference by ringing his office's tollfree number if they have not received voting papers by next week. He warned that anyone interfering with ballot papers faced a fine of up to $40,000 or up to two years in jail.

..Family First director Bob McCoskrie, who helped to gather the 300,000 signatures required to obtain a citizens-initiated vote, said the whole campaign was timed for the election. He said Prime Minister John Key had also tried to undermine the referendum by questioning its wording, but heavy enrolments suggested his comments had backfired. "I think it actually rarked people up again," Mr McCoskrie said. "They thought, 'Here we go again, nobody's listening.' So what I'm picking up is that there's a mood to send a strong message."

"Yes Vote" spokeswoman Deborah Morris-Travers also urged people to vote. "There's been a lot of talk about people abstaining or possibly even spoiling their vote, but I think it is important for people to vote because it's an issue that is fundamental to the wellbeing of children and of families and society."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587760

Teens' 'biggest fear'
Waikato Times 28 July 2009
While most teenagers might prefer to do anything but hang out with their parents, new research shows they wouldn't want to live without them. Information being collated by Waikato University researchers showed teenagers' biggest fear was losing their parents.

Supervising researcher Dr Kathrin Otrel-Cass, of Waikato's Centre for Science and Technology Education Research, said the results were surprising. "We are talking about teenagers who are keen to explore their boundaries and spend less time with their parents. So we were surprised to have that as the highest fear."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2680543/Teens-biggest-fear

Attitude shift leads to smacking bans 
The Press 29 July 2009
For years smacking was seen as a parent's right, vital in the discipline of a child. However, since the 1980s, a shift in attitude spreading from Scandinavia through Europe has led to legislation outlawing the spanking of children. In 1979, Sweden led the way, prohibiting all corporal punishment of children. It was followed by Finland and Norway, and the ban spread to Europe and Latin America. Now 24 countries, including New Zealand which in 2007 removed parental discipline as a defence against an assault charge have banned punishing children with a smack.

However, smacking remains legal to some degree in some of the world's most influential countries. Australia allows corporal punishment in all states, but it must be "reasonable". In New South Wales, parents or caregivers cannot apply force to a child's head or neck, or apply harm that lasts more than a short period.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2683787/Attitude-shift-leads-to-smacking-bans

Youth crime 'unexploded time-bomb'
The Press 29 July 2009
Hard-core youth offenders are "unexploded human time-bombs" threatening the heart of New Zealand society, the top youth judge has warned. Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft told the Local Government conference in Christchurch that it was likely some New Zealand streets would follow the trend of central London and the United States west coast for alcohol-fuelled knife violence. "We need to know that, because it could become an issue in your local communities."

..."life-course persistent offenders" committed 80 per cent of youth offending, even though they made up only 5 to 10 per cent of the total youth offenders. This group had severe behaviour problems from an early age and came from dysfunctional families and communities where violence and abuse were rife. Eighty per cent were male, at least half were Maori, 80 per cent were not at school and about 75 per cent had drug or alcohol problems. These "unexploded human time-bombs" were "hugely challenging". "You can never underestimate how difficult it is to work with that group," Judge Becroft said.

While youth offending was falling, violent offending among young people was increasing, especially for the most serious violence offences, such as aggravated robbery and assault with a weapon. The judge said New Zealand needed to get tough on alcohol, which was a factor in as many as nine out of 10 cases of youth crime. Lowering the minimum drinking age from 20 to 18 had made alcohol more accessible to 14 and 15-year-olds and increased their binge-drinking, Judge Becroft said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2683897/Youth-crime-unexploded-time-bomb

Children recall younger, naughtier days
NZ Herald Jul 29, 2009
Children's accounts suggest that most smacking is confined to a young age group of around 2 to 8. Eleven of the 14 Rangeview Intermediate pupils interviewed by the Herald who have been smacked say it was well before their present age of 11 or 12 - in three cases so far in the past that they can't remember it at all. Only two have been smacked this year and one about a year ago.

A 2005 Otago University masters study by Terry Dobbs, based on focus group interviews with 80 children aged 5 to 14, also found that physical punishment declined with age from 58 per cent of children aged 5 to 7 to 42 per cent of those aged 9 to 11 and 29 per cent of those aged 12 to 14. Her study also found that support for physical punishment increased with age. Asked "Is it okay to smack or not okay to smack?" none of the 5- to 7-year-olds said it was okay, but this increased to 20 per cent of those aged 9 to 11 and 58 per cent of those aged 12 to 14.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587251

Spanking has its uses, say pupils
NZ Herald Jul 29, 2009
Nineteen years after physical punishment was banned in schools, a sampling of children suggests that while most want the ban, there is still some support for smacking as a form of discipline. Ten out of 17 Year 7 pupils at Rangeview Intermediate in Te Atatu said they would vote no in the referendum which says: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Six would vote yes, a higher proportion than the mere 11 per cent of parents voting yes in a Herald/DigiPoll survey last weekend, but still a minority. One student was unsure.

The sample is tiny and makes no pretence to be representative beyond the fact that Rangeview is ranked decile 5, in the middle of the parental income scale. An intermediate school was chosen on the basis that the students, all but one of them aged 11, are old enough to have opinions but young enough for discipline to be fresh in their memories. The sample is likely to be biased against smacking because only 17 parents out of the class of about 30 returned permission slips for their children to take part. The chances are that parents who smack heavily were less likely to give permission.

Yet 14 of the 17 children still report having been smacked and, despite the official doctrine of non-violence at school, most believe their parents were right to smack them.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587246&pnum=0

GP's grim diagnosis for parents
NZ herald Jul 29, 2009
An Auckland doctor says a quarter of New Zealand parents can't control their children. Dr Robyn Theakston, a general practitioner in Three Kings, says the 2007 law banning the use of force for "correction" has made things worse by restricting parents' disciplinary choices. "As a GP I am sometimes appalled by the results of poor parenting I see - excessive laxity, neglect and cruelty," she wrote in a Herald online forum on the smacking referendum yesterday.

She told the Herald later that she saw many good parents, but she estimated that about a quarter of the parents she sees do not know how to control their children - far more than the number who treat their children too harshly. "You can tell a good parent because they can calm the child. The child trusts the parent. They feel the parent is in control," she said. "Other children come in and the parents don't know what to do. The child is not used to being told what to do so they wreak havoc." She said many parents were too insecure to say no to their children.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587270

Mother menaced with knife by son, 12
Bay of Plenty Times 24th July 2009
A frightened Tauranga mother had to lock herself in the bathroom after her 12-year-old son tried to stab her with a knife in one of the latest incidents of a new type of family violence escalating in the Bay. The incident - revealed this week - escalated after a minor confrontation, Relationship Services said.

It was one of many recently that has required parents to seek police intervention or help from social agencies after being assaulted or threatened with weapons, including knives. Children injuring their parents or using "standover tactics" were both escalating issues, the Bay of Plenty Times has been told. ...He said the family counselling service was seeing more angry and aggressive adolescent males who did not have a lot of coping skills. Unprovoked attacks were the most disturbing.
http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/local/news/mother-menaced-with-knife-by-son-12/3901833/#print

Drugs, abuse, children don't mix: judge
The Age (Aust) July 28, 2009
A VICTORIAN County Court judge has said drug addicts who abuse their children should lose care of them. After hearing a plea of guilty from a father who banged his two-year-old son’s head against a wooden paling, Judge Frances Hogan yesterday said such ‘grossly irresponsible’ people would be punished.

‘A message has to go out to the community that people who are so grossly irresponsible that they use drugs in this fashion, that they should not be in charge of children — and if they do and they injure them, they will meet condign punishment,’ Judge Hogan said.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/drugs-abuse-children-dont-mix-judge-20090727-dys4.html

Divorce is bad for your health
Herald Sun (Aust) July 28, 2009
DIVORCE has a huge impact on your health, even if you remarry, a study has found. Divorced or widowed people have 20 per cent more chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer than married people, and also suffer more mobility problems such as having trouble climbing stairs and walking. Research to be published in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour reveals that interviews with more than 8000 people found they entered adulthood with a "stock" of health and each time a person divorced or was widowed they lost a chunk, putting them at risk of chronic illness.

The Chicago University study found divorcees who didn't remarry suffered the greatest ill-health due to a drop in income, and a rise in stress related to shared child care and possible custody issues. Researcher Linda Waite said people who never married suffered 12 per cent more mobility limitations and 13 per cent more depressive symptoms than married people but reported no difference in the number of chronic health conditions.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25844401-662,00.html

Funding complaint about Families Commission
Dom Post 28 July 2009
Supporters of the smacking referendum which kicks off this week are crying foul over what they say is the use of public money to back a vote supporting the present law. Family First spokesman Bob McCoskrie said the Families Commission was campaigning for a "yes" vote in the referendum, which asks whether a smack "as part of good parental correction" should be a crime. Commission chief executive Paul Curry rejected the claims, saying the commission had long made its views on the law clear, and was not doing so in a way that encouraged a vote either way.

Mr McCoskrie said campaigning by the agency included an editorial in its latest newsletter, written by chief commissioner Jan Pryor, and material on its website. He said the material flew in the face of the Government's decision to keep the law intact regardless of the outcome of the referendum, which will be held by postal ballot between July 31 and August 21. "One minute the Government's saying they're going to take no notice of the referendum, but then the Government's coffers are paying for newsletters and organisations running courses to basically promote the law."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2679313/Smacking-group-in-funding-complaint

'I asked for help but instead got conviction'
NZ Herald Jul 28, 2009
The Herald is running a week-long series on the smacking debate. A Wellington solo father says he went to Child, Youth and Family Services for help - and ended up with a conviction for smacking his daughter.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10586994

CYFS probe traumatises family
NZ Herald Jul 28, 2009
The Herald is running a week-long series on the smacking debate. A father says his family were left traumatised and his elder daughter tearful after Child, Youth and Family Services investigated a smack.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10586993

Adults see discipline differently
NZ Herald Jul 27, 2009
It was every parent's nightmare. Steve Boyd, 41, was wheeling his 4-year-old daughter Reikura in a trolley at Countdown in the Manukau City suburb of Botany. "She was playing up, pulling things off the shelf and putting them in the trolley, and pulling things out of my trolley and putting them in other people's trolleys," Mr Boyd says. "I said, 'Reikura, you are not going to do that again!' "She pulled out another thing. I slapped her hand. This lady went nuts. She told me I should have given her 'timeout' in the supermarket. She suggested I find a corner somewhere in the supermarket!" The suggestion seemed so absurdly impractical that Mr Boyd just carried on with his shopping. But he also knew that he could be formally guilty of assaulting Reikura by slapping her hand, breaching subsection 2 of the new section 59 of the Crimes Act which states: "Nothing in subsection (1) or in any rule of common law justifies the use of force for the purpose of correction." "I gave this lady a $2 coin to go and complain," he says. Nothing came of it. The smack worked, and Reikura settled down. She knows what's right and wrong. She sat back in the trolley."

Mr Boyd is among 35.5 per cent of New Zealand parents of 4-year-olds who smack their children at least once a month, according to a DigiPoll survey in the Weekend Herald. He's also among the 85.4 per cent of the DigiPoll sample planning to vote "No" in the referendum which starts at the end of this week asking, "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10586818&pnum=0

Outrage over risque slogans
Herald on Sunday Jul 26, 2009
Child advocates have slammed a risque range of baby clothes that created a storm of controversy in Australia and are now on sale in New Zealand. The T-shirts and suits are on sale in Australian chain Cotton On Kids' 17 Kiwi stores and feature slogans including "I'm a tits man", "The condom broke", "I'm living proof my mum is easy" and "Mummy likes it on top". Family groups and child psychologists in Australia said they sexualised children and called for them to be withdrawn.

National Council of Women of New Zealand president Elizabeth Bang agreed and said the slogans were "awful". "We've noticed more and more of this and we think it's time it stopped. There's quite a lot of research showing the sexualisation of children can be harmful to their mental and physical health." Moyna Fletcher, of anti-child abuse trust CPS, said the clothing exploits children for adults' entertainment. Clinical psychologist April Trenberth, who works with child sex abuse victims, said the range seemed "cute" and "harmless", but was actually "insidious and dangerous".

A Cotton On Kids shop assistant in Auckland said a few shoppers had complained, but most were amused. A company spokeswoman in New Zealand was not aware of any complaints and directed enquiries to the company's Melbourne headquarters. They did not respond, but in a statement to an Australian newspaper, Cotton On's marketing manager said the range had attracted "sporadic complaints" and would not be withdrawn.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10586681
TAKE ACTION: Boycott their NZ stores and tell their head office of your intention http://www.cottonon.com.au/contact

Smacking rate way down on decades past
NZ Herald Jul 25, 2009
New Zealand parents have turned away from smacking their children frequently as the country prepares to vote on whether the practice should stay a criminal offence. Four surveys of parents of 4-year-old children by Waikato University psychologists Jane and James Ritchie, from 1963 to 1997, found that about half of all parents throughout those four decades smacked their children at least once a week. But a Weekend Herald-DigiPoll survey, which put the same questions this month to 200 parents of 4-year-olds, has found that just 9 per cent of mothers and 8 per cent of fathers now smack their children that often.

About two-thirds of both mothers and fathers still smack at least occasionally, despite the 2007 law promoted by Green MP Sue Bradford that banned using force against children for the purpose of "correction". But the number who never smack, which stayed below 10 per cent for four decades, has leaped to 39 per cent of mothers and 33 per cent of fathers. Despite this, in line with other recent polls, a massive 85.4 per cent still plan to vote "No" on the referendum question, "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Only 10.8 per cent plan to vote "Yes", with 3.8 per cent undecided.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10586548&pnum=0

Parents 'to blame' for measles
The Dominion Post 21/07/2009
Middle-class parents worried about the possible side effects of vaccination are partly to blame for an "epidemic" of measles, a child health expert says. The claim comes as the Health Ministry said there were 90 measles cases notified so far this year, more than seven times the total number of cases for all of last year. The ministry is preparing a national measles strategy as fears grow that a Canterbury outbreak will spread across the country.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians paediatrics chairman, Johan Morreau, said even one case of measles was considered an epidemic because it showed immunisation rates were too low and there was no "herd immunity". "This is because of kids falling through the system and missing out on vaccinations, and also because of middle-class parents who are worried about side effects."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/2611259/Parents-to-blame-for-measles

Divorced fathers need help: study
NZ Herald Jul 22, 2009
A study on the effect marriage break-ups have on fathers highlights the need for specialised male counselling, says Relationship Services. The Families Commission released a report yesterday that found fathers who did not live with their children needed extra support from community services. The Pathways Through Parental Separation report, a small study which spoke to 20 fathers, was funded to find ways to support men through the process of separation.

Researchers David Mitchell and Philip Chapman said focus groups revealed men were unprepared for the separation process and their inability to find the right support when they most needed it. The study contradicted many service providers' views that they were present for all family members, Mr Chapman said.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10585821

Celebs go toe-to-toe on smacks
NZ Herald 21 July 09
(Simon Barnett and Robyn Malcolm) have lined up as rival celebrities for the "No" and "Yes" votes in next month's referendum on the question, "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" On the Vote No website, Barnett fronts a video saying, "Kiwi parents know the difference between a light smack and child abuse." But at the Auckland Town Hall yesterday, Malcolm filmed a statement of support for the "anti-smacking" law with former TV One newsreader Judy Bailey, Kidzone host Kayne Peters, author Brian Edwards and others. "I'm supporting this because I believe that any type of violence towards children is completely unacceptable," she said.

Barnett has smacked his four daughters "on the odd occasion" and resents being labelled a child abuser. He and wife Jodi decided early on to use a smack "as a consequence for certain behaviour" until each child turned 10. "My wife and I would always say, 'I'm going to count to three, and if Dad gets to three then there's a consequence'," Barnett said. "It might not be a smack. It might be timeout. It might be missing out on the $1 bag of lollies that we get for each of them when we watch a family movie on TV on Saturday night." But it was a smack, for example, when one daughter aged 6 ran across the road when a car was coming. "But I didn't smack her in anger," Barnett said. "I told her, 'We've told you so many times not to cross the road by yourself,' and I smacked her on the hand. She's never done it again."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10585695

Referendum needs no correction
By John Tamihere - Sunday News 19 july 2009
 OPINION: NEXT month the country will be confronted by the smacking referendum. The question is simple: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" You vote Yes or No to this question. The only drongos confused by the question are statists. A statist is a person who will manipulate the power of the state to achieve the implementation of their world view based on their values. The blunt instruction, direction and force of the state, backed by Parliament, police, courts and jails, is used to enforce their world view.

You have to hand it to those who obtained the right to actually run this referendum. Parliament's clerk must approve the wording of the petition, and further, he must get a checked sample of 10% of enrolled electors to sign. This is a high threshold to overcome but has been achieved. The referendum should have been conducted at our last general election and would have saved over half the money being spent now.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/opinion/2606744/Referendum-needs-no-correction

Mother-daughter, father-son links in obesity
BBC News 12 July 09
There is a strong link in obesity between mothers and daughters and fathers and sons, but not across the gender divide, research suggests. A study of 226 families by Plymouth's Peninsula Medical School found obese mothers were 10 times more likely to have obese daughters. For fathers and sons, there was a six-fold rise. But in both cases children of the opposite sex were not affected. The researchers believe the link is behavioural rather than genetic. They say the findings mean policy on obesity should be re-thought.

Much of the focus so far in the UK - in terms of targets and monitoring - has been targeted at younger age groups in the belief that obese children become obese adults. But the researchers said the assumption ignored the fact that eight in 10 obese adults were not severely overweight when they were children. In fact, they said their findings suggested the opposite was true - that obese adults led to obese children, the International Journal of Obesity reported. Study leader Professor Terry Wilkin said: "It is the reverse of what we have thought and this has fundamental implications for policy. "We should be targeting the parents and that is not something we have really done to date."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8144376.stm

Children outsmart law on smacking
NZ Herald Jul 15, 2009
Parents are telling truancy officers that they don't know how to make their children go to school because they can no longer smack them. Manukau truancy officer Therese Luxton yesterday told a forum on next month's smacking referendum that there were not enough education programmes to teach parents alternative disciplinary techniques. "I work with high Maori and Pacific populations in decile 1 [the poorest] communities," she said. "The majority are incredibly good people. They love their kids dearly. Surprisingly, they are the ones who have taken this anti-smacking law to heart. They all say to me, 'Before I could have hit my kid, now I don't know how to teach them any more."'

The forum was one of the first public meetings about the postal referendum starting on July 31 which will ask the question, "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Family First lobbyist Bob McCoskrie, who helped to gather more than 300,000 signatures on a petition to force the referendum, attacked the organisers because they included two speakers from the campaign for a "yes" vote and did not invite leaders from the "no" campaign.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10584541

Talking Smack With Bob
Article: Salient 13 July 2009
 
Salient Editor Jackson James Wood talks to Family First National Director Bob McCoskrie about smacking, smacking children, and smacking the anti-smacking law.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0907/S00138.htm

Anti-smacking law waste of time
Newstalk ZB 11 July 2009
The head of a family lobby group says innocent parents are being victimised for the sake of a stupid law. It follows the latest police report showing minor assaults on children went up from 32 a month to 45, after the anti-smacking law came into effect. Family First Director Bob McCoskrie says non-abusive parents are being investigated and given warnings with less than 10-percent prosecuted, which he says is a waste of police time and resources. He says with such a small number of prosecutions it is clear the law is in the wrong and does not stand for anything.

Mr McCoskrie says the country is struggling with drugs, boy-racers and violent crimes yet police continue to channel their energy into stupid laws such as this one. He says we need to address the real problems which cause child abuse and not focus on a parent giving their child an innocent smack. Mr McCoskrie says proof that the law is not working is that the number of deaths related to child abuse have not gone down. Even Sue Bradford admitted the law was never there to solve child abuse which Mr McCoskrie says is further proof the law is a complete and utter waste of time. Mr McCoskrie says to tackle the issue of child abuse, the real cause of family violence needs to be addressed.
http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=102467&fm=newsmain,nrhl 

Big jump in child assault reports NZ Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10583839

New law has minimal impact Christchurch Press
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2584357/New-law-has-minimal-impact
Bob McCoskrie, a spokesman for Family First, the promoter of the petition that sparked the referendum, said the latest police review showed the law was a "complete and utter waste of time". "While the country strug-gles with the problem of the P drug, violent crime, includ-ing armed holdups, and boy racing, which is killing our young people, the police are having to waste time running around investigating parents who use a smack," McCoskrie said.

ﾣ6m drive to cut teen pregnancies sees them DOUBLE (UK)
Daily Mail 08th July 2009
A multi-million pound initiative to reduce teenage pregnancies more than doubled the number of girls conceiving. The Government-backed scheme tried to persuade teenage girls not to get pregnant by handing out condoms and teaching them about sex.
But research funded by the Department of Health shows that young women who attended the programme, at a cost of ﾣ2,500 each, were 'significantly' more likely to become pregnant than those on other youth programmes who were not given contraception and sex advice. A total of 16 per cent of those on the Young People's Development Programme conceived compared with just 6 per cent in other programmes.

Experts said the scheme failed because it introduced girls 'at risk' of becoming pregnant to promiscuous girls they might not otherwise have met. Because of peer pressure, the more timid teenagers were more likely to have sex and become pregnant.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1198228/6m-drive-cut-teen-pregnancies-sees-DOUBLE.html#

Porn king's empire shrivels
Stuff.co.nz 08/07/2009
Creditors of two of Steve Crow's failed companies are unlikely to see any of their money again, although the porn entrepreneur has transferred the firms' assets into another company and continues to trade. Vixen Direct, an importer and wholesaler of adult DVDs, and Erotica Expo, the operator of the Erotica sex expos, were both put into liquidation in May at Mr Crow's request. He was the sole director of both companies, which have since been renamed Z4K74D and Malibu Media. Lloyd Hayward of accountants Meltzer Mason Heath, the liquidator for both companies, said Vixen Direct owed $262,000 to unsecured creditors and Erotica Expo owed about $145,000.

There was not much chance of creditors getting money back, he said. "There's not a lot of money available in the first place if you look at the book value of the assets." Mr Crow blamed the demise of Vixen Direct on parallel importing and piracy. Erotica Expo was hit by poor attendance at its last two shows, in Wellington in November and Christchurch in March, he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/2573271/Porn-kings-empire-shrivels

Chch police: More smacking prosecutions
TVNZ July 07, 2009 
Christchurch police say they are prosecuting more people as a result of the anti-smacking law. The Human Rights Commission on Tuesday stated there was very little reason for a parent who gives a child a slap or a smack to be concerned they will be prosecuted. However, the head of the Canterbury police child abuse unit says that is not entirely so.

Detective Sergeant Jenkins says the new law has made a difference and they are now prosecuting where they once would not have. He said police are now probably prosecuting about once a week now and the child abuse unit deals with about 400 cases a year - about 30% of which are for varying levels of violence. Jenkins says each case is examined individually and police cannot rule out prosecutions for trivial smacks. But, he says police take the discretion they have been granted seriously and apply it where they can.http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/chch-police-more-smacking-prosecutions-2833189

Family First questions funding
Newstalk ZB 05/07/2009
Lobby group Family First is furious about a taxpayer-funded newsletter promoting the so-called anti-smacking law. The Families Commission is promoting the law in a two-page spread in the latest Family Voice magazine, which is paid for by the government.

Family First national director Bob McCoskrie says it makes a complete sham of claims by the government that the referendum will not make any difference. He says the Families Commission should be taking a neutral stance on the issue and instead be examining why so many people are opposed to the law change. Mr McCoskrie says it is not fair that the taxpayer has funded the article when Family First is limited to a $50,000 budget to promote its 'no-vote' campaign. He adds that his group can raise that $50,000 only through donations.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=159707

How your fighting is damaging your kids
Sunday Star Times 05/07/2009
A TOP academic has warned parents they risk long-term psychological damage to their children by arguing frequently or even giving each other the silent treatment. Professor Gordon Harold, the new chair of a ground-breaking family research unit at Otago University, says while all parents fight, the way they treat each other could set children up for emotional, social, behavioural and academic problems later in life.

Harold's research, which has been influential in the United Kingdom and United States, could revolutionise New Zealand parenting courses, and could also be used by our Family Courts. Harold has found that when parents quarrel in a positive, non-hostile way, children "tend to do OK". But when parents argue often, and use negative tactics anything from being physically violent to shouting, ridiculing one another or using dismissive body language children are at "distinct risk". Less obvious hostility between couples, such as not speaking, or treating each other coldly, could also damage children. The biggest factor was when arguments were not resolved, and when children blamed themselves for parents' fights.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/2565858/How-your-fighting-is-damaging-your-kids

Long-term relationships ward off Alzheimer's - study
Herald Sun (Aust) July 04, 2009
BEING in a long-term relationship protects you against Alzheimer's disease in later life, researchers say. People with a partner in middle age have half the risk of developing dementia of those who live alone. Getting divorced and becoming widowed in mid-life raises the risk threefold. The study, by Swedish researchers, is one of the first to focus on marital status and the risk of dementia.

Researchers interviewed 2000 people aged about 50 in the 1970s and '80s. About 1400 were re-examined in 1998, when their ages ranged from 65 to 79.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25730106-662,00.html

Outrageous ads not so outrageous
The Wellingtonian 2 July 09
An advertising campaign targeted at central Wellington has outraged some, and left others simply speechless. The campaign features billboards and buses promoting TV3's drama/comedy Outrageous Fortune. The advertisements are emblazoned with suggestive, partially-worded slogans. Bob McCoskrie, national director of family advocacy group Family First, said the billboards were offensive and "leave little to the imagination". He said that while the advertisements were not "in your face" offensive, they made it difficult for parents to explain to young children.

TV3 spokesperson Kerry Stubbing said the advertisements were "obviously meant to be in keeping with the risque language and themes used within the show", but were designed to minimise offence. "We were very conscious of making sure we brought these themes across without offending the public," said Stubbing.

...McCoskrie said the words did not need to be specifically spelt out to imply an offence. However, he would not be taking the matter further, because he felt the standards authority was "useless" and "it seems a waste of time to complain". Advertising law expert Dr Selene Mize, of Otago University, said that if there was a complaint, legal issues could arise, depending on where the billboards were located. For example, they could be in breach of the Advertising Standards Authority if they were near a school or kindergarten.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/communities/the-wellingtonian/2555827/Outrageous-ads-not-so-outrageous

Bill to ban liquor ads on radio and TV defeated
TV3 News 02 Jul 09
A bill that would have banned liquor advertising on radio and television was defeated by a conscience vote of 80 to 36 in Parliament tonight. The Green Party bill proposed a total ban, with exceptions covering broadcasts from outside New Zealand or those that might appear in films. MP Metiria Turei said liquor advertising associated it with desirable lifestyle. "It is New Zealand's most widely used psycho-active recreational drug," she said. Ms Turei said the social cost was between $1 billion and $4b a year and it cost the health sector $655 million a year.

Broadcasting Minister Dr Coleman said liquor advertising was already restricted to between 8.30pm and 6am. He said he did not believe the bill would achieve its objective and would seriously affect broadcasters by removing advertising revenue. Dr Coleman said that during the last four years, alcohol advertising on television reduced from $24 million a year to $15.8m, and across all media it went down from $40m to $36m. "This bill ignores the fact that New Zealand is in a global media market," he said. "It's bad for New Zealand companies, bad for advertisers and bad for broadcasters."
http://www.3news.co.nz/News/NationalNews/Bill-to-ban-liquor-ads-on-radio-and-TV-defeated/tabid/423/articleID/110909/cat/64/Default.aspx

Australian family dinners end in arguments
Herald Sun (Aust) July 02, 2009
FOR years families have been told not to eat dinner in front of the television but a survey of mothers shows it may be the least volatile mealtime option. The survey of 16,579 Australian mums found dinnertime for more than 40 per cent of families descends into arguments and acrimony. Asked what they normally did during dinner, 26.22 per cent said they discussed the day's events or talked about topical issues, while 15.59 per cent quietly watched TV.  Almost eight per cent (7.74 per cent) said they told stories, the latest Voice of Aussie Mums survey conducted for Nestle found. However, for 40.45 per cent of families, dinner is an unpleasant experience, with the meal usually ending in an argument.

Despite the friction reported, former netball champion and Nestle spokeswoman Liz Ellis encouraged families to make an effort and try to eat together at the dinner table. More than 76 per cent of mums said sit-down meals strengthened their family's communication, while 47.28 per cent believed it helped foster family traditions.

A total of 61.84 per cent said they usually ate dinner at the dining room table, 17.85 per cent in front of the TV, and 15.41 per cent at the kitchen bench or table. A small percentage, 4.9 per cent, eat on a sofa, reading the news or in other informal ways. But when asked where their kids usually had dinner, the numbers eating at the dinner table dropped dramatically.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25721450-662,00.html

Greens' medicinal cannabis bill voted down
Otago Daily Times 1 Jul 2009
The Green Party's three-year campaign to allow cannabis to be used for medicinal purposes came to grief in Parliament tonight. Their bill failed on its first reading, voted down 86-34 on a conscience vote. Its promoter, Metiria Turei, pleaded with MPs to let it through so it could go to the health select committee which could hear evidence of how cannabis eased the suffering of seriously ill people. "Many people already use it and they live in real fear of the law," she said. "Sick and vulnerable New Zealanders are being jailed ... let MPs hear their stories, let these people have their say."

Under the bill, seriously ill people would be able to apply for a cannabis card, issued on a doctor's authority and registered with the police, which would allow them to grow small amounts of it. Ms Turei said they didn't have to smoke it, they could use it in other ways to help relieve their pain such as making tea with it or using it as oil to rub into their limbs.

National MP Jonathan Coleman, a doctor, said it would bring cannabis into mainstream society. "You can't make out it is a good thing, we need less drugs in society," he said. "We would be sending a signal that it's okay." He said doctors would be swamped with demands for cannabis cards from people insisting they were seriously ill and needed it for pain relief. Dr Coleman, and other MPs, said there were prescription drugs available which used THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/63678/greens039-medicinal-cannabis-bill-voted-down

Child abuse reports increase
The Press 01/07/2009
Reports of child abuse and findings of emotional abuse and neglect have more than doubled in Christchurch over the past five years. Experts say the numbers will continue to rise as communities become more aware of child abuse. There are also fears that cases of neglect and emotional harm will escalate during the recession.

Child, Youth and Family (CYF) figures show the number of children found to be emotionally abused in Christchurch rose from 128 in 2004 to 421 last year an increase of more than 300 per cent. The numbers suffering neglect more than doubled from 211 in 2004 to 454 last year, while the number of children found to be suffering sexual abuse dropped dramatically from 93 to 37. The number of children being physically abused was at its highest in 2008 at 150 cases, compared with 129 five years ago. CYF southern regional director John Henderson said the rise in notifications was due to an increased awareness of child abuse in the community.

Five years ago, 90 per cent of all notifications to CYF required further action. This dropped to 37 per cent last year. Henderson said many of the cases with "no further action" were in fact referred to community groups or other agencies.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/2553911/Child-abuse-reports-increase

Smacking lobby offer rejected
The Press 01 July 2009
The Government has rejected a conditional offer from the promoters of the smacking referendum that would have enabled the unpopular ballot to be called off. Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock wrote to Prime Minister John Key offering to call off the $9 million referendum, which asks: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"

Referendum instigator Sheryl Savill is the only person who can call off the referendum, and it must be done by Friday, before Governor-General Anand Satyanand gives assent for the ballot. Baldock said Savill would do so, but only if the law was amended to again allow reasonable force for the purposes of correction. Key said he would not agree to such a deal, and even if he did he could not guarantee Parliament would back it. "If it wasn't whipped [a party vote], I can't be sure that all National members would vote for a law change," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2553967/Smacking-lobby-offer-rejected

Kids lose if child abuse team goes, say agencies
NZ Herald Jul 01, 2009
Child advocates say children's lives will be at risk because of a Government decision to close down a specialist team promoting public awareness of what to do about child abuse. Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) said yesterday that the team of 18 community social workers would be dismantled as part of cuts axing up to 200 jobs in the wider Ministry of Social Development. The staff work with schools, preschools, health services and other agencies dealing with children, CYFS head Ray Smith said the team's public education role would move to "every one of our 3000 staff". The agency's call centre would check frequently with important services partners, such as schools, to ensure they were receiving all the support they need".

But Liz Kinley of the national child abuse prevention network Jigsaw and a former CYFS social worker, said other CYFS staff struggled with urgent caseloads and would not have time for public education.

Mr Doolan, now an academic at Canterbury University, said the teams had gradually dwindled to the present staff of 18 and he supported the decision to hand the work back to frontline social workers. "Now that the protocols have had 10 or 15 years to bed in, we're no longer talking about something that's new, we're talking about the maintenance of those protocols," he said. "I think every social worker has that responsibility and every social worker should be talking with their communities."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10581755

Smacking poll in hands of mother
The Dominion Post 30 June 2009   
The dark-haired, bespectacled woman talking forcefully across an outdoor table laden with scones, cake and drinks on Family First's pro-smacking website does not have a bionic arm and cannot run faster than a speeding car. But Sheryl Savill is New Zealand's $6 million woman. The mother of two and policeman's wife will have the final say this week on whether another $6m is spent on a referendum that Prime Minister John Key says the Government will ignore. That is because the petition calling for a referendum on the anti-smacking law was submitted in her name.

A spokeswoman for the chief electoral officer said yesterday that $700,000 had already been spent preparing for the August referendum and a public information campaign costing $2.2m had also begun. If the referendum goes ahead it will cost another $6m. However, if Ms Savill withdraws her petition before the governor-general issues the writ, the last day for which is Friday, the referendum can be cancelled. Family First director Bob McCoskrie and petition organiser Larry Baldock say that will not happen unless the Government agrees to decriminalise smacking. "The consequences of this law remaining in New Zealand are far too serious and will cost the country far more than the cost of the referendum," Mr Baldock said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/2550600/Smacking-poll-in-hands-of-mother

Woman behind smacking referendum 'concerned' mum
Otago Daily Times 30 June 2009
The one woman with the power to halt the $9 million "anti-smacking" referendum is a "concerned" South Auckland married mother of two.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/63271/woman-behind-smacking-referendum-039concerned039-mum

Poll says $8.9m smacking referendum 'a waste of money'
NZ Herald Jun 28, 2009
Three out of four New Zealanders believe the upcoming "anti-smacking" referendum is a waste of money, a survey has found. The Research New Zealand poll of 481 people found 77 per cent didn't support spending money on the non-binding referendum which will cost $8.9m. Eighteen per cent felt it was a good use of taxpayer dollars, while five per cent were unsure.

Of all the demographic differences in the poll, the only significant difference was between the sexes. Eighty per cent of female respondents believed the referendum was a waste of money, compared with 70 per cent of male respondents.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10581221

Schools hiring debt collectors
The Dominion Post 29 June 2009
Cash-Strapped schools are flouting Education Ministry advice and turning to debt collectors to chase "voluntary" fees from parents. Principals say the tactic shows that schools are under-funded and want the Government to stop "playing games". The Dominion Post has obtained documents under the Official Information Act that reveal cases brought to the attention of the education minister, including a school which published a list of parents' names who had paid the donation. Education Minister Anne Tolley has promised to take a tough approach to schools not following the rules. "I am concerned when I am informed of unacceptable financial practices occurring in our schools. I am not prepared to condone such practices and will instruct ministry officials to address these with schools concerned when they are brought to my attention."

Baycorp general manager Joe Nel said the agency had about 300 private and state schools on its books, slightly up on last year, with an average debt of $650 for things such as school trips, uniforms and stationery.A number of schools had also asked the agency to collect the donation. "They can be quite sneaky and lump it in with other debt and hope we don't notice." By law, every New Zealand child has the right to a free education from age five to 19. But state schools say they cannot survive on government funding and ask parents for an annual donation on top of compulsory fees for everything from art and cooking supplies, homework books, school camps, sports gear and photocopying.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/2547502/Schools-hiring-debt-collectors

Young women shun Gardasil
NZ Herald Jun 28, 2009
Less than a third of New Zealand schoolgirls have received the controversial cervical cancer vaccine, as health concerns persist around the $177 million programme. The Labour Government launched the Gardasil programme in September last year, with the aim of immunising 300,000 Kiwi schoolgirls over the next two years. Latest figures show 26 per cent of 12 to 16-year-olds and 35 per cent of 17 and 18-year-olds have received the first of three Gardasil doses.

One advocate conceded the numbers are "very low". The introduction of Gardasil has not been without controversy. Some accused the Ministry of Health of rushing an expensive vaccine programme of which the effectiveness had not been proven. Concerns from religious groups have centred on the fact the vaccine protects against a virus that is sexually transmitted. The vaccine is most effective if administered before sexual activity begins, which is why girls as young as 12 are the focus. Some parents fear this will encourage sexual promiscuity. Christy Parker, policy analyst for Women's Health Action, said the trust was concerned that Gardasil had been marketed as "the cervical cancer vaccine" when it doesn't protect against all forms of cervical cancer, and fears it may undermine the importance of three-yearly cervical smears.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10581178

Family in strife after kids left alone in park
Sunday Star Times 28 June 2009
A Christchurch dad who let his nine-year-old son and four-year-old daughter play at a school park unsupervised is furious the government's child welfare agency is now investigating his family. The case highlights the dilemma parents face in striking a balance between protecting their children and risk them becoming bubble-wrapped kids and giving them a taste of the freedom and independence parents themselves enjoyed as youngsters.

Christchurch dad George Kenton, who has raised four other children, believes it is important children are given early opportunities to take on responsibility and says he allowed his young son to take his younger sister to a nearby park only after he had proven himself capable of the task. He was stunned and angry when his wife received a visit from Child, Youth and Family (CYF) social workers who were concerned about the children's safety and wellbeing when it was discovered they were playing alone at the Elmwood School park for up to an hour or two.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2546657/Family-in-strife-after-kids-left-alone-in-park

Parents took 'risk' letting kids play alone
The Press 29 June 2009
Christchurch parents who allowed their nine and four-year-old children to play in a park alone were "taking a risk", the Children's Commissioner says.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/2547706/Parents-took-risk-letting-kids-play-alone

Court ban over 8-year-old 'stripper'
Sunday News 28/06/2009
A judge has banned a stripper associating with the daughter of her new boyfriend after a complaint the eight-year-old danced nude at her grandparent's Christmas celebrations. But a senior National Party figure has backed the erotic dancer in a family court battle between the girl's parents over custody. The professional stripper who cannot be identified for legal reasons formed a relationship with the father of the eight-year-old last year. The businessman had an informal custody arrangement with the girl's mother, a primary school teacher, which allowed him to see his daughter every second weekend.

But the girl's mother told Sunday News she approached Child Youth and Family after the eight-year-old began exhibiting "bizarre overt sexual behaviour". The matter went to the Family Court, which in March issued an interim parenting order banning the businessman's girlfriend from seeing the girl. The order permitted the father to see his daughter only "on the condition that [the child] is not to be in the company of [the stripper] until further order of the Court". In her affidavit to the family court, the girl's mother said of the eight-year-old's actions at the Christmas party: "She started strip dancing in front of the family.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2546864/Court-ban-over-8-year-old-stripper

Kiwi woman to carry mother's baby
Herald on Sunday Jun 28, 2009
A New Zealand woman will carry and give birth to her own sibling, after being given approval to act as a surrogate for her mother. It was believed to be the first approval by the Ethics Committee for Assisted Reproductive Technology (Ecart) of an application from a daughter to carry her mother's child, although there had been approvals for women to carry their own grandchild, The Sunday Star Times reported today. The surrogate was one of four siblings and had two children of her own.

Fertility New Zealand chief executive Michelle Collyer praised the woman's decision to be a surrogate for her mother, calling her an "admirable daughter". She said the case highlighted the growing problem of "social infertility", assuming the older woman had waited until too long in life to have another baby, possibly with another partner.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10581205

Family back rugby dad who pushed 7-year-old 
NZ Herald Jun 25, 2009
The family of the man convicted of common assault after pushing his 7-year-old son over on a rugby field say the charge was "sheer stupidity". Glenn *******'s fiancee and mother, who are standing by him, toldthe Herald the police charged him based on the complaint of a passerby who saw "one minute of something that went on for 30 minutes".

They said G***** pleaded guilty to the common assault charge only because he could not afford to hire a lawyer to defend it, which they were told could cost thousands. As he and his fiancee both work, they did not qualify for legal aid. Having just bought a home in suburban Lower Hutt, they could not afford the fees.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10580607

Children eager to have say on custody: study
The Age (Australia) June 23, 2009
THEY are the innocent onlookers caught up in their parents' bitter conflict. But research suggests children of separating couples usually want to have some say in post-marital arrangements — they just don't want to be forced to choose between their parents. The extent to which children are involved in making decisions about where they live and how much time they spend with each parent depends to some extent on how much their parents allow it.

But an Australian study suggests that although most children want to be part of the discussion, they concede that it puts them in a "difficult position". They were unwilling or unable to choose between their parents because they were concerned about the consequences of choosing, particularly about being unfair or upsetting one of their parents. Only in cases involving allegations of violence or abuse did children have strong views about choosing between parents. Most parents thought it was reasonable for their children to have a say, but about half thought children were possible victims of manipulation by the other parent or, less commonly, "potential manipulators". Co-author Patrick Parkinson, professor of family law at Sydney University, said it was important to listen to children's voices and understand how they were experiencing the separation. But the ultimate decision should rest with the judge or parents, not the child, he said. The study, published this week in the journal Family Matters, is based on interviews with 90 parents and 47 children and teenagers.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/children-eager-to-have-say-on-custody-study-20090622-ctzp.html

Referendum question 'weird' - Key
Otago Daily Times 22 Jun 2009
Prime Minister John Key has called a referendum on so-called anti-smacking legislation ridiculous as his government looks at ways of tightening up wording of questions in future. Proponents of the upcoming referendum, which asks "should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" today launched a campaign to promote a "no" vote. They want the 2007 law sponsored by Green MP Sue Bradford, which removed the defence of reasonable force in child abuse cases, to be repealed.

Mr Key was scathing today about the $9 million referendum. People who support the status quo might vote no, thinking that was what the question was reflecting, he indicated. Mr Key believes the current law is working and good parents are not being prosecuted for smacking. At his post-Cabinet press conference Mr Key described the referendum question as weird and the situation, where the meaning of answers was unclear, as ridiculous. "You've got a referendum question that could have been written by Dr Zeuss. I mean this isn't green eggs and ham, this is yes means no and no means yes." Mr Key said the point of a referendum was to send a message to government but no one would be any wiser based on the result of this one.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/62191/referendum-question-039weird039-key

Father upset by explicit in-store music 
Otago Daily Times 23 Jun 2009
Farmers department stores are reviewing their music policy after a Dunedin man complained about a song featuring sexually explicit lyrics which he heard while shopping with his 10-year-old daughter. Stuart Johnson (44) was in the toys section of Farmers' George St branch when he heard a song with the repeated lyric "You wanna get in my pants - I don't think so" play over the speaker system. "I wasn't surprised to hear these sort of lyrics, but I was disappointed," said Dr Johnson, a bible teacher and historian.

The father of three daughters said he usually paid no attention to store music, but the volume and lyrical content of the song I Don't Think So, by American singer Kelis, made it difficult to ignore. Dr Johnson said he was unsure if his daughter heard the lyrics but, worried over the increasing sexualisation of children, decided to write to Farmers to express his concerns. Farmers' marketing director Dean Cook said a song with sexually explicit lyrics was "not acceptable" and the music policy would be reviewed. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/62241/father-upset-explicit-store-music

Father pushed 7-year-old over
The Dominion Post 23 June 2009
A case cited by the pro-smacking lobby as it launches its referendum campaign involves a father who repeatedly pushed his seven-year-old son to the ground because he refused to play in a rugby game. Disputing that the so-called "anti-smacking" law is working, Family First director Bob McCoskrie said it had sent the Government "evidence of six prosecutions of good parents for smacks an open hand smack on the leg, on the arm, on the bottom". "I think the evidence is there. We've sent evidence of families being referred to Child Youth and Family and children being removed while investigations are taking place just for smacks. "In fact, there's a case today in Lower Hutt District Court of a father trying to get his son on to the rugby field and giving him a few shoves and he's being prosecuted for common assault."

Glenn Groves, 44, of Wellington, pleaded guilty to assault in Lower Hutt District Court yesterday but will undergo an anger management course in a bid to get discharged without conviction. In May he and his young son were at a rugby game at Lower Hutt's Fraser Park, but when the boy refused to play because he was missing part of his uniform, Groves became "extremely agitated" at his attitude, court documents show. Groves laid a hand on his back to redirect him, but as the boy resisted he fell. He stood up three times and was pushed by his father, falling to the ground each time. After a bystander complained to police, Groves admitted pushing his son. He told police he was "tired and determined that his son would not let the team down".

Mr McCoskrie said the charges laid against Groves and several other parents for lightly smacking their children proved police were taking far too heavy an approach. "I'm amazed they would take a family through the court process which is a traumatic experience when they could have worked with them. If they are happy to accept a discharge without conviction, then why lay charges in the first place?"
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2524902/Father-pushed-7-year-old-over

Rankin's smacking views pass PM's test  
NZ Herald Jun 23, 2009
Prime Minister John Key has stopped short of criticising Christine Rankin for her renewed criticism of the anti-smacking law - but he has made it clear he will not tolerate any "active campaigning" by the families commissioner before the referendum on the law. In an interview published in Investigate magazine, Ms Rankin attacked the anti-smacking law, saying it had traumatised families. She said it was a parent's right to smack as a form of discipline.

Mr Key has forbidden Ms Rankin to campaign on the anti-smacking law referendum. She has always opposed the measure, and a trust she heads is campaigning against it. Neither Mr Key nor Social Development Minister Paula Bennett was told of the interview, but yesterday the PM said he did not believe Ms Rankin had contravened his edict. "I don't think it's particularly provocative. I made it clear I wouldn't want to see her campaigning on the 'no' vote, and I think she's honoured that, so I'm pretty relaxed about it."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10580115

Smacking referendum campaign kicks off
Stuff.co.nz 22 June 2009
Opponents of the so-called "anti-smacking" law say the Government would ignore a non-binding referendum on the legislation at its peril. Proponents of the upcoming referendum, which asks "should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand" today launched a campaign to promote a "no" vote. They want the 2007 law sponsored by Green MP Sue Bradford, which removed the defence of reasonable force in child abuse cases, to be repealed. The referendum has been labelled as a $9 million waste of time as Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff both say their parties won't change the current law, and that there is little evidence it was not working. But campaigners for a "no" vote, who included Family First director Bob McCoskrie, Family and Child Trust advocate Bev Adair and referendum sponsor Sheryl Savill, said a strong vote in their favour would send a powerful signal to the Government.

"I think when 300,000-plus people sign a petition and a huge proportion of the country wants a law change, I think politicians don't listen to that at their peril," Mr McCoskrie said. He disputed Mr Key's claim that the bill was working. At the end of last week we sent through evidence of six prosecutions of good parents who had been prosecuted through the courts for smacks - an open hand smack on the leg, on the arm, on the bottom. I think the evidence is there. We've sent evidence of families being referred to Child Youth and Family and children being removed while investigations are taking place just for smacks. In fact, there's a case today in the Lower Hutt District Court of a father trying to get his son on to the rugby field and giving him a few shoves and he's being prosecuted for common assault."

Mr McCoskrie agreed the referendum was a waste of money, but not for the reasons put forward by most critics. Proponents of the referendum would prefer to see the member's bill of ACT MP John Boscawen adopted, which Mr McCoskrie said made clear exactly what was unacceptable while still allowing light smacking. "If the Government adopted that, Sheryl would withdraw the referendum today and we would save the country $9m," Mr McCoskrie said. "They could fix it today and avoid the need for this referendum."

....But criticism of the wording as confusing "is just an insult to 300,000 people plus who knew quite well what they were signing, and who are simply saying the anti-smacking law is misdirected", Mr McCoskrie said. He reaffirmed his view that the law was targeting good parents rather than child abuse. "A smack can become child abuse just as 'time out' can become neglect, the same as withdrawal of privileges can become bribery, the same as a telling off can become degrading and shameful verbal abuse. "It's not the technique that's the problem, it's the person, it's the parent and we need to target rotten parents." Among those campaigning for a "no" vote are radio and television personality Simon Barnett and former What Now presenter Anthony Samuels.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2524159/Smacking-referendum-campaign-kicks-off

Surge in violence during recession
The Press 22 June 2009
 Christchurch women's refuges have seen a huge jump in women asking for help as the recession bites and are also concerned that more children are abusing their parents. Battered Women's Trust manager Lois Herbert said there had been an "extraordinary increase" in the number of community clients women they help who continue to live in the community, rather than going into a safe house. "There's been a 60 per cent increase in a couple of years that's huge," she said. In the year to June, the trust had 360 long-term community clients compared with about 200 in the year to June 2007. Herbert said she believed the jump was due to the the combination of the It's Not OK campaign and the recession.

"With the economic circumstances, maybe people have lost their jobs. There's often a feeling of being insecure financially. There's a lot of stress out there. "We hear about people who lose their jobs and turn to alcohol and drugs." The increasing demand on the trust's services had forced it to open a new community office and double the number of community advocates, while calls to the crisis line had also increased dramatically. Herbert said the trust had also noticed more parents being abused by their children. "The number is not large, but it's definitely increasing. With teenagers, it's both boys and girls, and there are also cases of children who are even younger.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/2521715/Surge-in-violence-during-recession

Eat-your-greens fight a lost cause
Herald Sun (Australia) June 17, 2009
CHILDREN really do hate their vegies and parents are apparently hopeless at doing anything about it. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's snapshot of Australian children released today shows the level of disdain children have for their greens. The report, A Picture of Australian Children 2009, citing a 2007 nutrition survey, says: "Only a very small proportion of children met the recommendations for daily serves of vegetables (excluding potatoes) - 3 per cent of 4- to 8-year-olds and 2 per cent of 9- to 13-year-olds.

"Even with the inclusion of potatoes, the proportions remained low (22 per cent and 14per cent respectively). National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines recommend one serve of fruit and two serves of vegetables a day for children aged four to seven, one serve of fruit and three serves of vegetables for those eight to 11, and three serves of fruit and four serves of vegetables for ages 12 to 18. A serve is about half a cup. The report's author, Deanna Eldridge from the AIHW's Children Youth and Families unit, said vegetable consumption was a key concern related to children's health and wellbeing.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25647220-662,00.html

Liquor advertising bill defeated in parliament
TVNZ News 18 June 09
A bill that would have restricted liquor advertising on television to between 10pm and midnight was defeated by 62 votes to 58 in Parliament on Wednesday night. Under current law it is allowed between 8.30pm and midnight. The member's bill that sought to change it was drafted by former Progressive Party MP Matt Robson in 2005 and went through select committee scrutiny before it reached its second reading stage on Wednesday night. It was passed on to Labour when Robson lost his seat and became the responsibility of Christchurch Central MP Brendon Burns. Burns opened the second reading debate with an appeal for support.

"This bill would actively reduce the overall exposure of children and people under 18 to liquor advertising and promotion by changing the watershed when adverts can be first screened from 8.30pm to 10pm," he said. "It confronts what can be done immediately to reduce the harm of alcohol advertising."

..On Wednesday night all MPs had conscience votes but National's opposition to the bill had not changed. Labour suspected a caucus decision had been taken that bound them all to oppose the bill, but National MPs insisted they had made up their own minds about it. The Greens and the Maori Party supported the bill. United Future opposed it and ACT split its votes
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/liquor-advertising-bill-defeated-in-parliament-2788479

Key dragged into centre of smacking debate
TV3 News 18 Jun 2009
Prime Minister John Key has been dragged into the centre of the resurgent smacking debate. As the controversy around the citizens-initiated referendum mounted, one of the organisations backing it last night called for a meeting with Mr Key and said it could produce evidence that parents were being needlessly prosecuted under the 2007 law change.

...In Parliament yesterday Mr Key said he saw no need to change the law. "In my view the current law is working. I've given New Zealand parents a commitment that if the law didn't work I would change it. I stand by that commitment but I've seen no evidence to date that the law is not working," he said. Family First, a strong opponent of the law, said it had the evidence. "We have a number of cases that have been made available to us of parents being prosecuted under the new law," said Family First national director Bob McCoskrie. "These have been independently examined by a senior police officer who believes that they show the law is not working." Mr McCoskrie said he was writing to Mr Key asking for a meeting so he could deliver his evidence.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-dragged-into-centre-of-smacking-debate/tabid/209/articleID/109015/cat/525/Default.aspx

Garth George: Referendum no answer to parental worry
NZ Herald Jun 18, 2009
I received in the letterbox this week official notification of the citizens initiated referendum to be held at the beginning of August and marvelled again at the absolute futility of the whole business. This referendum will cost the country something like $9 million, will tell us nothing we don't already know and, being non-binding on the Government, will end up in a pigeonhole somewhere in Wellington. And such is their contempt for the referendum that Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff won't even vote in it.

The stupidity surrounding the whole business is of even more concern. If the law is an ass, then Section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961, as amended by Parliament a couple of years ago, is a whole herd of them.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10579099&pnum=0

Big two coy on smacking vote 
NZ Herald Jun 17, 2009 By Audrey Young
A national referendum is re-igniting debate on the anti-smacking law two years on, but confusion surrounds the position the two main political parties will take. Prime Minister John Key helped to negotiate the law and says it is working. But he says it would be very difficult to interpret anything from the referendum - which he expects to have a low return - even if there were a large No vote. Labour leader Phil Goff, whose party staunchly supported the law under Helen Clark's leadership, says the law is working. But he says he will probably abstain because the question in the referendum is confusing.

..The referendum was approved after Sheryl Savill, who worked for the Christian group Focus on the Family, got the required 390,000 signatures last year. Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said Mr Key was undermining the process by suggesting that while he would listen to the public, any law change would be subject to what he thought. Mr McCoskrie also criticised Mr Key for saying he expected Families Commissioner Christine Rankin - who opposes the law - would not campaign on the issue.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10578914

Leaders won't vote in smacking poll
Dominion Post 16 June 2009
Neither Prime Minister John Key nor Labour leader Phil Goff will vote in the smacking referendum, they said today. Mr Key said he was 'unlikely' to vote because it was an opportunity for the public to speak to politicians. 'On the basis that I'm one of the politicians they're speaking to I never really thought it made a lot of sense to vote.' Other people should participate in the referendum, he said.

 Labour leader Phil Goff said he would not vote in the referendum because the question was badly worded. It was 'absolutely' the wrong question, he said today. 'The question implies that if you vote 'yes' that you're in favour of criminal sanctions being taken against reasonable parents - actually nobody believes that.' The so-called anti-smacking law was working at it was intended to, he told reporters.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/politics/2505721/Leaders-won-t-vote-in-smacking-poll

MPs slate smacking poll words
The Dominion Post 17 June 2009
A $9-million referendum on smacking is descending into farce, with MPs from across Parliament claiming the wording will not deliver a clear verdict on the law. Prime Minister John Key has indicated the Government could review the rules for referendums after growing criticism of the question in the postal ballot, to be held from July 31 to August 21. The referendum asks: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Critics say the question is loaded, implying that people who do not smack are not good parents and that smacking will end up in prosecution. Police have prosecuted only a handful of cases since the defence of reasonable force for smacking was removed in 2007.

Mr Key said the wording was ambiguous and it would "make sense" to look at whether stricter rules for referendums were needed. Labour leader Phil Goff said he would not vote in the ballot because the question did not make sense. "The question implies that if you vote `yes' that you're in favour of criminal sanctions being taken against reasonable parents actually nobody believes that." UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne said the wording was "bewildering". Green MP Sue Bradford, who sponsored the bill that changed the law, said: "It's confused and confusing. We're wasting $9m of taxpayers'

..Family First director Bob McCoskrie, who organised the petition that raised the necessary 10 per cent of voters needed to force the smacking referendum, defended the wording. "The law is that if a good parent raising great kids uses a smack on the bum, that is a criminal activity and they're subject to possible investigation and possibly prosecution. That's a dumb law and people will be voting no." Opponents had been given a chance to challenge the wording but had not bothered because they believed the petition would not get enough support to force a poll, he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2506398/MPs-slate-smacking-poll-words

AUDIO - National Radio Checkpoint 16 June 09 http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ckpt/2009/06/16/wording_of_smacking_referendum_under_fire

Vote unlikely to bring law change
The Press 16 June 2009
The Government is unlikely to change the child-discipline law regardless of the result of the $9 million referendum, Prime Minister John Key says. The Chief Electoral Office yesterday began the citizens-initiated referendum on Green Party MP Sue Bradford's child-discipline law, which removed the defence of "reasonable force" for parents or guardians who hit their children. The referendum was forced last year when organisers collected more than 300,000 signatures on the question, "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" The referendum will be held by postal ballot from July 31 to August 21. Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden said the campaign and voting process would cost $8.9m.

Both sides of the debate are lining up for a rehash of arguments expressed when the law was passed two years ago. Child advocates have begun the call for a "yes" vote on the referendum, saying the new law is working as intended and parents are not being criminalised for smacking their children. Family First national director Bob McCoskrie, who helped organise the petition, said the law was "confusing" and the confusion was "causing huge harm".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2503061/Vote-unlikely-to-bring-law-change

Campaign begins for referendum on child discipline
National Radio 15 June 2009
The Electoral Enrollment Centre begins a campaign on Monday to remind voters to check they are enrolled for a referendum on child discipline. The referendum in July, which is not binding on the Government, has been initiated by opponents of a law passed by Parliament in 2007. The law removed the defence of reasonable force for anyone accused of assaulting a child. Voters will be asked whether a smack as part of good parental correction should be a criminal offence in New Zealand.

Larry Baldock organised the petition which triggered the referendum and says he hopes to see the law changed again to allow the defence of reasonable force. But a spokesperson for the Yes Vote Coalition, Deborah Morris-Travers, says her group has launched a campaign to protect the law as it stands. Ms Morris-Travers says the law is working and provides increased protection for children.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/06/15/1245b5f9ae1a
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/mnr/2009/06/15/new_smacking_referendum_galvanises_campaigners

'Shambolic' B4 School scheme faces axe
Otago Daily Times 15 Jun 2009
Health Minister Tony Ryall is questioning the future of the B4 School Check programme, saying its delivery has been patchy and its implementation almost "shambolic". By early May, only about 5500 (11%) of eligible children had received checks which were supposed to identify health, behavioural, social and developmental issues in 4-year-olds which might affect their ability to learn, Mr Ryall said. About 17% of those checked were referred for services or further assessment.

In a blunt letter to all district health board chairmen, which will be tabled at the Otago and Southland community and public health advisory committee meeting tomorrow, Mr Ryall says he will make a decision on the future of the programme after evaluating its delivery to the end of this year. "It is clear that the implementation of this programme across the country was rushed - to the point were it could almost be described as shambolic."
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/61136/039shambolic039-b4-school-scheme-faces-axe

Nine-year-olds to learn about sex
The Press 15 June 2009
Nine-year-old children are being targeted for more detailed sex education in schools. In Christchurch today, Family Planning is launching a new resource for teachers of late-primary and intermediate-age children. The launch has upset the conservative lobby group Family First, which is urging Family Planning to "butt out" and leave sex education to parents. The resource, called The Sexuality Road, is aimed at younger children because research shows that they are now entering puberty earlier. "Young people have a right to understand what is happening to their bodies and their emotions," Family Planning director of health promotion Frances Bird said. "Sexuality education that works starts early, before young people reach puberty, and before they have developed established patterns of behaviour." The Sexuality Road provides teachers with a programme of 10 lessons and evaluations per year. Each year comes with lesson plans, activity worksheets, and resources. Year 5 and 6 (nine and 10-year-old) pupils look at pubertal change, friendships, gender, families, menstruation, fertility, conception and personal support. Year 7 and 8 pupils focus more on changing feelings and emotions and their effects on relationships, sexual attraction, decision-making around sexual attraction, conception and birth, contraception and support agencies.

..Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said children should be taught sex education by their parents when they were ready. "The simple message to Family Planning is `butt out and leave it to parents'," McCoskrie said. "Parents know their kids the best. They know their emotional and moral development best and have their own values. Family Planning should not be interacting with kids of that age." McCoskrie said schools had become "one-stop shops" for dealing with social problems in the community. Some parents felt overawed by "the sex talk" with their children, so resources should be put in to helping them better understand what was required, McCoskrie said. "It needs to be values-based and we think parents are the ones who determine the values."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2499996/Nine-year-olds-to-learn-about-sex

Some schools wary of sex education for young The Press 16 June 09 http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2503038/Some-schools-wary-of-sex-education-for-young

Wooden spoon for kids' baking treat
Herald on Sunday Jun 14, 2009
It is a highlight of childhood - clamouring around the kitchen to lick the spoon or mixing bowl while baking. But the agency charged with protecting the safety of food in New Zealand has now told parents that this childhood treat should not be risked. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority warned in this month's edition of its Foodfocus newsletter that licking the spoon or mixing bowl had a "nasty bite".

"It may be a traditional treat to lick the bowl and spoon when baking, but the New Zealand Food Safety Authority is advising against it after an outbreak of salmonellosis was linked to some brands of flour." A salmonella outbreak last year led to about 50 people falling ill. Investigations traced the outbreak to a batch of flour, and a number of children falling ill after baking. The advice has been scoffed at by those contacted by the Herald on Sunday - and even seems to be ignored by the expert arranged by the FSA to speak on the subject.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10578323

Family fury as 8-year-old finds porn on hotel TV
The Dominion Post 13 June 2009
A Wanganui family say their eight-year-old son "lost a part of his innocence" when he stumbled across hardcore pornography while they stayed in a Wellington hotel. The Ander family are criticising the hospitality industry for what they call the ready availability of porn. But an industry spokesman says pornography is hard to access without intention and the complaint is a first.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/central-north-island/2496891/Family-fury-as-8-year-old-finds-porn-on-hotel-TV

Commissioner backs anti-smacking law
NZ Herald June 10, 2009
New Zealand's new Children's Commissioner, John Angus, says he occasionally smacked his sons on the hand - but supports the new law that would have stopped him smacking them for "correction". Dr Angus, 60, a former top bureaucrat at the Ministry of Social Development, has been given the commissioner's job for six months after anti-child abuse campaigner Christine Rankin turned down the job because she didn't want to move to Wellington. Ms Rankin, who was then made a part-time Families Commissioner instead, helped to organise the campaign for next month's citizen-initiated referendum seeking to overturn the controversial 2007 law that bans parents from using force against their children "for the purpose of correction".

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, who voted for the law as part of a last-minute deal between Labour and National, indicated personal sympathy for the referendum on a radio talkback show last week. Asked for her view on the referendum question, "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" she said, "No, I don't, I believe that actually good parenting should be left to do that in their different ways in their different homes and I don't have an interest in going into people's homes and telling them how to parent." But Dr Angus said Ms Bennett had not given him any "riding instructions" on what to say about the referendum, to be held by postal ballot between July 31 and August 21, and he supported the new law. "It's up to the Government to determine how they respond to the outcome of the referendum, but it won't change my advice to the Government and my statements that I think the law as it currently stands is satisfactory and is a good piece of law for the children of New Zealand."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10577501

Mental health linked to dietary habits
Sydney Morning Herald June 9, 2009
CHILDREN who have a poor diet are more likely to have a mental health problem as an adolescent, research has found. Wendy Oddy, of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Western Australia, found the typical Western dietary pattern increased a child's chance of developing emotional and behavioural problems. Dr Oddy studied 1600 14-year-olds and identified two distinct dietary patterns that influenced the wellbeing of an individual.

She associated a Western dietary pattern with burgers, pies, sausage rolls, confectionary, red meat, refined grains, full-fat dairy food, dressings and sauces. A healthy dietary pattern was linked with red, yellow and leafy-green vegetables, fresh fruit and legumes, wholegrains and fish. "We then adjusted the analysis to take into account things you would expect to be associated with mental health, like family functioning, family income, single mothers, biological fathers not living at home, parents who smoke and parents' education," Dr Oddy said. The Western dietary pattern was found to increase the likelihood of an individual being withdrawn, depressed, anxious, aggressive and delinquent. It also contributed to the "obesity explosion".
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/mental-health-linked-to-dietary-habits-20090608-c0ts.html

Schools call in police drug dogs
The Dominion Post 08 June 2009
Wellington schools have called in police sniffer dogs to search for drugs in a "desperate" move to tackle a growing problem that is "destroying" lives. One school principal has admitted pupils are smoking cannabis at school then turning up to class, and in some cases parents have supplied them with drugs. But using sniffer dogs has been criticised by the Drug Foundation, which described the move as a "blunt tactic" that created a climate of fear. After requests from schools, police have searched at least three schools in the past two weeks Wainuiomata High School, Tawa College and Taita College. Visits to other schools are understood to be planned.

Seven police officers and one dog went through eight classrooms at the Wainuiomata school on Thursday. Pupils were led from the classrooms, leaving their bags and cellphones behind so they could not alert friends. Although drugs were not found, principal Rob Mill was not surprised because he had decided to warn pupils about the visit.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2480519/Schools-call-in-police-drug-dogs

Gender test spurs abortion fears
NZ Herald Jun 08, 2009
A new test to reveal the gender of a fetus in early pregnancy has sparked a row over whether it will lead to sex-selection abortions. The American-designed IntelliGender test kit, which can be used from eight weeks after conception, went on sale in Australia last month. Its Australian distributor hopes to launch it in New Zealand within a fortnight. David Portnoy, managing director of Melbourne-based Early Image, said yesterday that he was negotiating with health products companies Douglas Pharmaceuticals and API to supply the kits to New Zealand pharmacies. He expected they would sell for about $125. They do not test pregnancy, so do not require state approval under the Medicines Act, unlike pregnancy tests. To use the new test, a pregnant woman mixes her urine with the kit's chemicals in the supplied container. If it turns green or black, the fetus is a boy; orange or yellow indicate a girl. The kits are claimed to be 90 per cent accurate, but because patents have not yet been issued, the maker will not reveal the supporting data or the science of how they work.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is worried about what the test might lead to. "The concern we would have is that people would then terminate pregnancies on the grounds of sex selection," said college president Dr Ted Weaver. Anti-abortion group Voice for Life echoes this concern. Spokesman Bernard Moran said abortions for sex selection were a problem overseas and the test would facilitate this in New Zealand. "Certain ethnic minorities here might be more prone to use it."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10577091

Home best for babies says doctor
Sunday Star Times 07 June 2009
A leading neonatal paediatrician is warning parents to do all they can to avoid putting their young children in daycare, saying it could permanently harm their developing brains. Dr Simon Rowley, who works at Auckland's National Women's Hospital and in private practice, will tell 900 nurses and volunteers at a Plunket conference in Rotorua tomorrow that they should encourage parents "to actually be parents - not absentee parents".

His controversial message will again stir up the daycare debate - opponents say some parents can't afford to stay home and that daycare is a chance for children to learn social skills, as well as a sanity break and valuable learning experience for parents. But Rowley says one parent or family member should try to stay home with the child, at least for the first two years. The second best option is to hire a nanny or other "single person" carer. And if parents do need to resort to daycare, they should choose a centre with plenty of staff and flexible routines. "When people ask me, to be politically correct I say: 'Well, if you choose your daycare well, that's good.' But if you have a choice you should always go for staying home a bit longer."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/2480013/Home-best-for-babies-says-doctor

'Smacking law' needs fixing - Op Ed
Otago Daily Times 5 Jun 2009
- Richard Dawson is Pastor of St Stephens/Leith Valley Presbyterian Church.
Richard Dawson argues that rather than encouraging good parenting the "smacking law" undermines self-confidence and is actually "a form of violence against ordinary parents". ..As the saying goes, "Give people responsibility and they will constantly amaze you". Which is why I believe we've made a grave mistake with the so-called "Smacking Law". It seems that so far it has not reduced high-end abuse but I suspect it will discourage ordinary parents from taking responsibility. In doing so, it will encourage the very worst behaviour amongst today's parents, which is simply to absent themselves from the task.

..Parenting is perhaps one of the most important tasks anyone can take on. Our society provides virtually no training for it and very little material encouragement to parents. Now we have a law which makes a criminal out of a parent who has tried to stay in the game even though they might be getting it a bit wrong. I can't think of anything more discouraging to young parents who already lack confidence and knowledge. The law has become a form of violence against ordinary parents who are trying to do the job, even if badly at times. We need to fix this law and find a more positive approach to parents and parenting.
http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/opinion/59755/039smacking-law039-needs-fixing

Political apathy 'killing kids'
The Dominion Post 04 June 2009
Kiwi kids are dying in accidents and from abuse and Third World diseases due to political apathy, doctors and child welfare experts say. MPs were told yesterday by the Paediatric Society that New Zealand has the worst rates of death and injury from preventable causes in the developed world and much more is needed to reverse the trend. And in a report due out today, the children's commissioner calls for extra funding to educate parents about the dangers of shaking babies, as it reveals why about 45 children under five are seriously injured and five killed each year at the hands of carers.

..The children's commissioner's report out today looks at common risk factors for death and injury from abuse in New Zealand and worldwide. It suggests very young babies are most at risk of abuse. "It only takes a small slap to the head or a short shake of a baby to do real harm," commissioner John Angus said. He said there was a particular risk when babies were left in the care of young men who were not biological fathers who were often unprepared for the stresses of a crying baby and could have problems with anger or alcohol abuse. He urged the Government to fund the Shaken Baby Prevention Programme being looked at by Auckland DHB to be piloted in Auckland and rolled out nationally.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/2470308/Political-apathy-killing-kids

Is TV delaying child development? 
BBC News 2 June 09
New research suggests having the TV on may impair young children's development by reducing the amount of conversation between infant and adult. So how bad is the box for young minds? A US team recorded more than 300 children aged between two months and four years on several days every month over two years. They found that when the TV was audible - either on in the background or being watched - the number of words spoken and sounds made by either adult or child reduced considerably. It is the latest study to imply that delays in language development may be the fault of TV, a medium blamed for a host of other modern ills, from bullying to obesity.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8078763.stm

Parent mentor honoured
East And Bays Courier 03 June 2009
Parents Inc founder Ian Grant has been recognised in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to youth and parenting. Parenting, youth and marriage gurus Ian and Mary Grant are an inspiration in the eyes of many. But Ian has other ideas. "We’re just two beggars telling other beggars how to beg for bread. When people hear that we struggle with stuff too, they link with us." Ian, a renowned author, advocate and public speaker, was appointed a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in Monday’s Queen’s Birthday honours list.

"Because I’ve worked with thousands of volunteers, this award is really all about them," the Orakei resident says. "I just happen to be the guy who thought about doing Summer Harvest – a camp for teens in the Bay of Islands." Ian, 70, has a long-held passion for public speaking – despite the fact that he stutters. "The big defining thing in my life is that I stutter. People said to me, ‘don’t make it a handicap’." He didn’t. The committed Christian went on to appear on live television and radio and speak to youth and adults at conferences.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/2465555/Parent-mentor-honoured

Kiwi kids keeping net-safe
The Southland Times 3 June 09 
New Zealand adults are responsible parents when it comes to keeping tabs on their children on the internet but are addicted to texting, a new survey shows. Internet security firm Symantec's Online Living Report looked at the online habits of adults and children in 12 countries, and an additional report was done on New Zealand. It showed 78 per cent of New Zealand parents surveyed had spoken to their child or children about safe online habits. Fifty per cent of parents had also set parental controls on their family computer, well above the global average of 33 per cent. Symantec consumer business unit for Asia, Pacific and Japan vice-president David Freer said the survey showed signs of positive progress between parents, kids and online safety.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/2466459/Kiwi-kids-keeping-net-safe

NZ College Herald 2 June 2009

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Call to PM to change child discipline law
The Family First lobby group has published an open letter to the Prime Minister citing evidence of families being prosecuted and children removed under the child discipline law. National director Bob McCoskrie says a promise by John Key to change the law if good parents are criminalised should now be acted on. The advertisement appears in two Sunday papers. It lists four cases which the lobby group says shows evidence of what it calls the "anti-smacking law" in action. One example tells of two parents separated from their children for two nights. They were interviewed for five hours by police after admitting they sometimes smack their children.

A law change in 2007 removed the defence of "reasonable force" for adults accused of assaulting a child. Mr McCoskrie says Mr Key needs to follow-up on his previous promise to make changes if the law harmed good parents. He says a Royal Commission should also be established to tackle the real causes of child abuse. Mr McCoskrie says changing the law now could prevent what he calls "a costly and time consuming" referendum on the issue, which is due to take place later this year.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/05/31/1245b0f888a8
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2461414/Call-to-veto-anti-smacking-law

WATCH TVNZ7 News at 8 31 May 09

Divorce hurting boys' education; experts
Otago Daily Times 30 May 2009
The educational achievements of New Zealand boys may be falling victim to the soaring divorce rate, according to experts. The connection has been made as a new report confirms that boys are lagging behind girls at secondary school, with the gap greater in New Zealand than any other developed country. The findings come in a report by the 30-member Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which compared achievement by 15-year-old boys and girls in 40 countries. "There are significant gender differences in educational outcomes, and these appear as students grow older," the report said. Last year's National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) results, released this month, showed girls outperforming boys by wider margins as pupils got older.

St Bede's College rector Justin Boyle pointed to boys' education suffering when parents divorced. "Invariably, we find if mum and dad have split they (boys) have not had the male role model in their lives to encourage them in a holistic way about how they get educated." Divorce statistics released this month showed about one-third of New Zealanders who married in 1983 had divorced before their 25th wedding anniversary. Education consultant Joseph Driessen said children who came from broken homes were typically 25 per cent behind other children in achievement. "Boys are affected by divorce very deeply because 85 per cent of custody goes to the mother and guys just disappear. That needs to change," he told The Press.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/58801/divorce-hurting-boys039-education-experts

Mother fits teenage son with GPS tracking device on gap year
Telegraph (UK) 27 May 2009
A mother has fitted her teenage son with a GPS tracking device so she can monitor his every move during his gap-year travels. Rachel Wilder, 53, has ordered her 19-year-old son Harry to carry a credit-card sized tracker while he travels across Australia, Thailand and South Africa in his gap year. She can track him to within 15ft of his exact location and the system can even send her a text message alert if he goes anywhere he shouldn't.

Mrs Wilder keeps tabs on his movements by logging on to a website at the family home in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, every day. Mrs Wilder, an inventory clerk, said: "It is fantastic to be able to keep an eye on Harry and track his journey. "I can tell which street he is in so I can make sure he doesn't wander into any dangerous areas. I feel like I am sort of with Harry on his travels which gives me peace of mind and means he doesn't have to check in with a phone call. I have no way of knowing if a street in Australia is dangerous but if he was in Bangkok, for example, I could see if he walks in an area which might not be safe and ring or text him. The point of a gap year is to go away and not be hounded by your parents but equally as parents, it's quite nice to know where they are without constantly ringing up."

..Surprisingly Harry, whose father John, 56, is a school bursar, says he is happy to carry the tracker as protection against the dangers of backpacking. Speaking from the Brisbane, Australia, he said: "It's not so much of a concern here, but in somewhere like Thailand, if you were to get kidnapped or driven off into the jungle, people would be able to find you from the signal.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5393421/Mother-fits-teenage-son-with-GPS-tracking-device-on-gap-year.html

Concern after teen sex revelations
The Press 26 May 2009
 Half of 16-year-old Kiwis say they have been in love and more than a third have already had sex, a new study reveals. Results from the New Zealand Council of Educational Research (NZCER) longitudinal study of 500 young people have led to calls for better sex education in schools and more parenting programmes. The new study also reveals 84 per cent of 16-year-olds had drunk alcohol in the previous year and 51 per cent had done something they regretted while drunk.

"Sixteen is still young," Family Planning Association chief executive Jackie Edmond said. "This shows how important it is for parents to talk to their children around sexual health and sexuality." Family Planning had "huge concerns" about sexual education in New Zealand schools and homes. "The reality is that sexuality education and sexual health education in New Zealand is incredibly inconsistently applied across schools," Edmond said. "We feel strongly that young people need the information so that they can make the decisions and there is no research that supports that telling young people more means that they will have sex earlier; in fact, it does seem to be the opposite." The new results from the NZCER study, which started following the 500 young people from the greater Wellington region in 1993, also showed a fifth of the study's participants had got into trouble with the police.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/2441748/Concern-after-teen-sex-revelations

Kids want to hear more bedtime stories
Reuters May 22, 2009
Almost two-thirds of children want their parents to spend more time reading to them before bed, and most prefer Mum's storytelling to Dad's, researchers said on Friday. They conducted a study that showed younger children aged 3-4 were most hungry for more stories, with over three-quarters saying they wished their parents read to them more often. More than half of all children aged 3-8 said story time was their favorite pastime with their parents.

"The results of our research confirm the traditional activity of storytelling continues to be a powerful learning and emotional resource in children's lives," said child psychologist Richard Woolfson, who led the study commissioned by Disney/Pixar World of Cars. Storytelling ranked higher than television or video games among pastimes for kids, and 82 percent said reading a story with their parents helped them sleep better, according the survey of 500 children aged 3-8 in Britain. The best storytellers were mothers who used funny voices to illustrate different characters or made their own special sound effects to keep the story moving, researchers said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE54L2QW20090522

Trust slashes violence in at-risk families
The Press 25 May 2009
Early intervention with at-risk Canterbury families is saving children from being beaten by their mothers, a new report shows. The Christchurch-based Family Help Trust runs early-intervention programmes that deal with children at the highest risk of extreme child abuse. Trust chairwoman Annabel Taylor said carefully targeted investment in socially deprived families would generate a substantial payback for society. "There are around 64,000 babies born in New Zealand each year, of which 2 per cent, or approximately 1200, are in families with the greatest levels of dysfunction and therefore the most extreme risk of child abuse."

In a report officially released today, the trust says its work over two years has helped substantially lower violence rates in at-risk Canterbury families. The trust's report said of 59 families involved with the trust, nearly 15 per cent of children were initially struck or shaken by their mothers. More than a quarter of the mothers were assaulted by their partners, 13.6 per cent of partners were imprisoned, and over 5 per cent of the mother's partners assaulted the children. Two years after the trust's intervention, no mothers were striking or shaking their children, 6.8 per cent of mothers were being assaulted by partners, and 3.6 per cent of mothers said their partners were in prison.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2437200/Trust-slashes-violence-in-at-risk-families

Abortion: all agree the law is an ass
NZ Herald May 23, 2009
There were 18,380 abortions in New Zealand in 2007. The rate (20.1 abortions per 1000 women in the 15-44 age group) is high compared to other countries, putting us on a par with Australia, the United States and Sweden. Unlike those countries, we have what has been described as "one of the most restrictive pieces of abortion legislation in the Western world" - contained in the Crimes Act and the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act passed in 1977. Yet despite our draconian law - abortion is a crime unless it is authorised by two certifying consultants - we have one of the highest abortion rates in the world. What gives?

On June 9 2008, High Court Justice Forrest Miller gave voice to what some had suspected for some time - there is "reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by certifying consultants" in New Zealand. While Justice Miller's judgment in the long running Right to Life New Zealand versus The Abortion Supervisory Committee sounds like a bombshell, it's actually more of a damp squib.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10574023&pnum=0

Many deaths linked to sharing bed
The Press 23 May 2009
More than half of cot-death babies were sharing a bed when they died, new research shows. The Otago University research, soon to be published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, has prompted calls for parents to get unequivocal information that sleeping with a baby is dangerous. However, some Maori, midwives and researchers say the practice is positive for breast-feeding and bonding.

A senior paediatric lecturer with Otago University's Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dr Dawn Elder, was one of the lead researchers on the investigation. Her research showed bed-sharing was associated with almost 54 per cent of cot deaths, known as sudden infant deaths (SIDs) or sudden unexpected deaths in infants, in Wellington between 1997 and 2006. There was a significant association between bed-sharing and babies being found dead on a Sunday morning, the research showed. Alcohol consumption could be a factor in this, Elder said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2434659/Many-deaths-linked-to-sharing-bed

Teens want more time with parents -study
NZ Herald May 23, 2009
It may be uncool to admit it, but more than half of New Zealand teenagers want to spend more time with their parents. Details of a survey of almost 10,000 students at 96 secondary schools, published to mark the start of Youth Week today, show that 54 per cent of students "sometimes" or "hardly ever" get enough time with their mothers. And 61 per cent, sometimes or hardly ever get enough time with their dads. Auckland University researcher Simon Denny, who led the project, said the results shattered the myth that teenagers hate their parents. "This is big stuff, much bigger than it sounds," he said. "Having a close relationship with a parent is one of the most important predictors of good health and wellbeing for young people."

The survey found that only 73 per cent of students in 2007 lived in their main home with two "parents", including step-parents. A further 22 per cent lived with one parent, 3 per cent with grandparents or other relatives and 2 per cent in foster care or independent flats. Twenty-nine per cent of students said they lived in more than one home, usually spending part of the time with each parent. Ninety per cent lived with their mothers in their main homes, 76 per cent with their fathers and 8 per cent also with a parent's partner or step-parent.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10574038&pnum=0

Latta slams families funds waste
The Timaru Herald 21 May 2009
The Families Commission is a colossal waste of time and money, and its $9 million budget could be far better spent elsewhere. That's according to clinical psychologist Nigel Latta, who spoke on violence at two meetings in Timaru yesterday. Mr Latta waded into the commission during his hour-long talk, mocking the "startling and amazing" revelations from its research, and saying he would have probably "wasted" that $9 million on things like 6000 hours of teacher aid, 9000 laptops in schools, half a million library books or doubling or tripling the size of Women's Refuge.

"It is a colossal waste of time and money in a country where we can't afford it." Mr Latta said there was enough money available to save the children in New Zealand - it just needed to be diverted from all the "stupid stuff".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/2428458/Latta-slams-families-funds-waste

Fairer child deal sought
The Press 21 May 2009
Child-support payments may be changed to reflect the income of a parent's new partner. The proposal is part of Revenue Minister Peter Dunne's call for a review of the child-support scheme. Dunne said yesterday that he wanted to make the scheme "as even-handed as possible". He said current payments did not take into account the financial situation of the new partner of the parent usually the mother with custody of the children. Payments were based on a percentage of the liable parent's income.

"At the moment we take into account the non-custodial parent's income but we don't take into account the changed circumstances of the custodial parent, so if they've married a millionaire, for instance, we don't take that into account," Dunne said. "If on one side of the ledger everyone's standard of living has significantly improved, then that clearly impacts what the non-custodial parent should be paying by way of support. You take a poor, struggling guy in the suburbs with three kids whose partner has run off with a millionaire. You can certainly say it's a bit anomalous in a way for him to be paying a high level of child support to kids where the money is being used to pay for the upkeep of the kids' ponies."

While any changes would primarily affect men, there was a growing number of women who were non-custodial parents, he said. The Union of Fathers group said Dunne's proposals did not go far enough. "Equal shared custody is the answer where everything to do with the child is shared equally time with them, contact with schools, financial support to provide for the child," spokesman Darrell Carlin said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2428220/Fairer-child-deal-sought

Garth George: Rankin's file is the right CV for families  
NZ Herald May 21, 2009
The appointment of Christine Rankin to the Families Commission is inspired. As was the appointment of Paula Bennett as Minister of Social Development, who was instrumental in Ms Rankin's appointment. We now have a four-times-married serial monogamist sitting on the Families Commission; and a West Auckland solo mum, whose unwed daughter presented her with a grandchild fathered by a gang-banger, running our vast social welfare edifice. And that is as it should be in this modern age of everything-goes and a Parliament and bureaucracy cluttered with politically correct, namby-pamby politicians and civil servants.

It is to be hoped that Ms Rankin's appointment is only the first of many such to be made to government boards, commissions and so on who will neutralise the stultifying effects of the lefty liberals who so appealed to Labour and the Greens.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10573495

School reports will tell it how it is
NZ Herald May 21, 2009
Parents could be warned their children are performing well below expectations in a proposed move to "plain language" on school reports. This week the Ministry of Education opened its proposed set of national standards for consultation, setting national standards for numeracy and literacy achievement and the way students' progress should be reported. In the past parents have been confused by the language in school reports but the ministry is advocating "plain language reporting" - telling parents whether a child is achieving at the standard they should be, or whether they are just below, well below, just above or well above the national standard.

President of Auckland Primary Principals' Association Marilyn Gwilliam said parents needed to be told, in plain and simple language, how their child was doing. When they understood the areas in which their son or daughter struggled, they could work more constructively alongside the school to lift the child's achievement.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10573581

Longer hospital stays to help new mothers cope
NZ Herald May 20, 2009
Many women will be able to spend up to four days in hospital after giving birth under an expansion of maternity services to be introduced by the Government. Maternity and medical groups welcomed Health Minister Tony Ryall's announcement yesterday, which fulfils an election promise with a $103.5 million increase for maternity services, spread over four years. This will provide for longer post-natal stays, extra meetings with health workers for at-risk women during pregnancy and obstetric training for GPs. A 24-hour Plunketline telephone service will also be given full funding, as previously announced. Mr Ryall said: "We have heard from too many new mothers who have felt pressured into going home before they are ready, and those who could benefit from extra support."

Longer stays would help new mothers establish breast-feeding and gain confidence in caring for their babies, he said. A survey of maternity service users published last year found that 13 per cent of those who gave birth in a hospital or birthing unit went home before they felt ready. They said they needed more rest first, had problems with breast-feeding, were in pain, felt anxious and felt pressured to leave. The rate of exclusive breast-feeding in the first four weeks had declined by 3 percentage points to 74 per cent since the previous survey five years earlier.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10573298

'Ear-flick' father guilty of assault
NZ Herald May 20, 2009
A Christchurch father has been found guilty of assaulting his 4-year-old son after a two-day trial seen as a test of the anti-smacking laws. After more than nine hours of deliberation, the Christchurch District Court jury last night found James Louis Mason not guilty of assault for lifting the bicycles his two sons were sitting on and slamming them back down. But the third count - which accused him of pulling the 4-year-old's ear and punching him in the face - brought a guilty verdict. Mason denied all charges, but said he pulled the child's hair and flicked his ear to stop him going back into a dangerous situation on his bike on the Bridge of Remembrance ramp in central Christchurch where his 2-year-old had fallen and hurt his head. Witnesses at the trial did not see the incident on the ramp. But they told of hearing Mason afterwards, swearing and shouting at the boys.

...Family First director Bob McCoskrie said last night the conviction was appropriate if it was for punching a child. But there was a concern that Mason may have been found guilty for only the ear-pull, as the actions of punching, and pulling the ear, were wrapped up in the same police charge. "If that's the case, then it's a decision that does concerns us. We would like that clarified to understand how the law is being interpreted by the police and the courts." The anti-smacking legislation was passed by Parliament in May 2007, removing from the Crimes Acts the defence of reasonable force for parents who physically punish children. Family First is campaigning for the repeal of the law and in March issued survey findings showing many parents were still confused about the law change. As the law stands a light smack would not always be illegal. But 55 per cent of the 1000 people surveyed thought smacking was always illegal, 31 per cent thought it was not, and 14 per cent did not know.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10573340

Parents hesitant about cervical cancer vaccination
The Press 18 May 2009
 Some Canterbury parents are hesitating to get their daughters vaccinated against cervical cancer because they fear it will make the teenagers sexually active. A third of Canterbury girls eligible for the free vaccination have had the jab since the programme started last September. In Canterbury, the Gardasil vaccine is administered by GPs, while girls in other parts of the country can get the injection at school. The Canterbury District Health Board's project manager for the Gardasil vaccine, Alison Young, said the board was pleased with the number of girls who had been vaccinated.

However, there were concerns and misconceptions that meant parents were not getting their daughters immunised, she said. "Some parents are delaying due to their daughter not being sexually active, and that 12 years is too young," Young said. "Research has shown that the vaccination is more effective in girls nine to 15 than older age groups."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/2418433/Parents-hesitant-about-cervical-cancer-vaccination

Illegal brothels using high-end apartments
NZ Herald May 17, 2009
Property managers at high-end Auckland apartment buildings are going to desperate lengths to evict illegal brothels. One said prostitutes were openly soliciting other residents, but she couldn't evict them until they fell behind with their rent. Others have resorted to shaming clients and calling in police to "muscle out" prostitutes. Property managers Jacqui Cheal and Larry Dickie, who manage about 80 central city apartments, said it took five months to remove a brothel from an expensive property in the Viaduct Harbour. The tenant denied running the business, even though the brothel was advertised on a late-model Audi parked in the apartment's carpark.

The property managers complained to police and spoke three times to council officers. The council said two complaints were received and an investigation found no evidence of a brothel. But Cheal said officers never contacted them to gain access to the apartment, and never reported back with the result of the investigation. "We realised by then we weren't going to get any help." The tenant was served notices for being in breach of the tenancy agreement by running a business, and acting in a way that could be offensive to other tenants. When the agreement was eventually terminated at a Tenancy Tribunal hearing, it was only on the basis of rent arrears. "What do landlords and property managers do?" Cheal said. "It will get to the point where somebody will get hurt because they're trying to manhandle them out or evict them."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10572779

Murdered boy endured final weeks of torture
NZ Herald May 16, 2009
The full story behind the sickening abuse and murder of a 7-year-old boy has been revealed for the first time in court documents. One expert has called the killing of Duwayne Pailegutu by his stepfather, Johnny Pukerua Joachim, "systematic torture" comparable to that suffered by Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie. For the seven days before Duwayne Pailegutu died, he was kept inside his mother and stepfather's small flat in Nelson - so no one could see he had been beaten so badly he was paralysed, incontinent, and slowly suffocating on his own blood.

...Duwayne, whose family members in Mangere say was a happy and energetic child before he moved to Nelson with his mother and stepfather in December 2007, was hit, kicked, thrown at walls and struck repeatedly on the soles of his feet with a cricket wicket by Joachim, 37, in what was to be the most violent assault of many he suffered, one week before he died. Duwayne's mother Mary Joachim, 28, was sentenced in the Auckland District Court on Thursday to three years in prison for failing to provide her son with the necessaries of life for watching the assaults and not getting medical attention. She is appealing against her sentence. Johnny Joachim is serving an 18-year, non-parole sentence after admitting Duwayne's murder.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10572666

Families Commission anti-smacking: head
Stuff.co.nz 12/05/2009
Families Commission head Jan Pryor is highlighting her organisation's support of anti-smacking legislation after the Government appointed high-profile opponent Christine Rankin to the Crown agency. Ms Rankin was outspoken in her opposition to Green Party MP Sue Bradford's member's bill to remove the defence of reasonable force in child assault cases. The legislation was passed by Parliament in May 2007 with support which included both National and Labour. Ms Bradford, among others, was unhappy today with Ms Rankin's appointment as one of seven Families Commissioners. Ms Rankin was spokeswoman of For The Sake Of Our Children Trust.

..Ms Pryor said she and other commissioners looked forward to hearing Ms Rankin's views on reducing family violence. "The commission's reasons for supporting the law have not changed," she said in a statement. "We based our position on research which shows very clearly that positive parenting strategies (such as rewarding good behaviour and distracting young children and ignoring minor unwanted behaviour) are far more effective and safer than physical punishment." Research also showed that most child abuse cases began as physical punishment.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2405576/Commission-is-anti-smacking-head

Rankin defiant over new job as family advocate
NZ Herald May 13, 2009
Christine Rankin says she has learned from her three failed marriages and will use her new role as a Families Commissioner to promote the value of "Mum, Dad and the kids". Ms Rankin, 55, fought a legal battle against the former Labour Government when she was not reappointed as head of Work and Income NZ nine years ago after staging a conference costing $235,000. Now she is back in a key role, effectively charged by the new National Government with changing the direction of the $8 million-a-year Families Commission, which was a prime advocate of the 2007 "anti-smacking" law. Ms Rankin's For the Sake of Our Children Trust helped organise a petition which forced a citizen-initiated referendum on the issue to be held this August.

..Labour leader Phil Goff said he was astounded at the choice. He said her opposition to the anti-smacking law was contrary to the formal position of the National Party and she was closely involved with conservative groups such as Families (sic) First. "She's attacked groups like Barnardos and others that she'll now be required to work with."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10571959

Cabinet argues role for Rankin
The Press 12 May 2009
Controversial former public sector boss Christine Rankin has been appointed as a Families Commissioner. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett announced the appointment of Ms Rankin and Bruce Pilbrow to the commission, saying they were strong advocates for children and families. Mr Pilbrow is chief executive of the advice service Parents Inc. The Press flagged the appointment of Ms Rankin this morning saying it had been hotly debated amongst ministers. The Crown agency was set up to promote better understanding of families issues as part of a support deal between United Future and Labour following the 2002 election.

In the past National has mocked the commission and talked about closing it down or cutting it back, but agreed to its continuing existence as part of its support deal with United Future leader Peter Dunne. Commissioners are responsible for speaking out for families to promote better understanding of family issues, the autonomous Crown agency's mission statement says. They are also expected to oppose any change to the so-called "anti-smacking" law despite Rankin recently campaigning for a referendum on the issue.

Lobby group Family First NZ welcomed the appointments. "Both Christine and Bruce will bring the Commission 'down to earth' and rather than being blinded by ideology, it will hopefully start listening to the voice of families and advocating for them in a relevant way," said Bob McCoskrie, national director of Family First.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2402725/Cabinet-argues-role-for-Rankin

Ruling on scan offer before abortions
Dominion Post 7 May 2009
Women should be offered the opportunity to view the ultrasound scan of their baby before they decide to abort it, the Health and Disability Commissioner says. Anti-abortion group Right to Life complained to the commissioner after finding four district health boards Auckland, Waikato, Wairarapa and Canterbury did not offer women the chance to view the scan before going ahead with an abortion. Waikato DHB said it was an "infringement of the patient's rights" to offer it.

Commissioner Ron Paterson said any pregnant woman should be told of their right to view an ultrasound, and it was up to them whether they did or not.It is a debate that is raging in the United States, where a number of states are considering passing laws that would force women to view an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion. Some want them to listen to a fetal heartbeat as well. Critics have labelled the proposals "emotional blackmail". New Zealand's abortion rates are high, with more than one in five known pregnancies in New Zealand aborted. In 2007 the most recent statistics available 18,380 abortions were done.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2390236/Ruling-on-scan-offer-before-abortions

Children who watch adult television have sexual intercourse earlier
Telegraph (UK) 05 May 2009
Children who watch adult television programme shows are a third more likely to become sexually active in their early teens, according to a study. The younger they are exposed to screen content meant for their parents, the sooner they lose their virginity during adolescence, the research showed. It found that for every hour the youngest group of children watched adult programmes over the two sample days, their chances of having sex during early adolescence increased by 33 percent.

Dr Hernan Delgado, who carried out the study, said: "Television and movies are among the leading sources of information about sex and relationships for adolescents. His team, the Children's Hospital Boston, tracked 754 girls and boys, between the ages of six and eighteen, and recorded their viewing habits over a sample weekday and weekend day.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5278897/Children-who-watch-adult-television-have-sexual-intercourse-earlier.html

More Kiwis opting for marriage
Stuff.co.nz 05 May 2009
More Kiwis are getting hitched and marriages appe