Smacking rivals fight to gain Maori Party support

Herald graphic. For notes, see foot of story.

National MP Chester Borrows will today make a last-ditch attempt to convince Maori Party MPs to support his amendment to Green MP Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill.

The Maori Party's four votes are likely to prove crucial when Parliament votes tomorrow on Ms Bradford's bill.

The Maori Party was believed to be solidly in favour of Ms Bradford's cause.

But on Sunday, co-leader Tariana Turia was quoted as saying she was "wavering" about whether the bill was the way to go - words which shook Ms Bradford and made her supporters step up their lobbying.

Today will be the second time Mr Borrows has spoken to the Maori Party caucus.

The comments from Mrs Turia have re-energised his push for Maori Party MPs to back his amendment, which would allow parents to lightly smack children.

Ms Bradford has said she will withdraw her bill - which outlaws all smacking - if the Borrows amendment is passed.

Mrs Turia's comments have infuriated Labour MP Shane Jones, who yesterday called on her to unequivocally support Ms Bradford's bill.

"It is important to remember that Maori figure disproportionately highly in the violence statistics, both as perpetrators and victims," he said.

"The Bradford bill is a chance to renew our efforts to stamp out family violence."

When the bill had its second reading three weeks ago, Mrs Turia made a passionate speech in Parliament supporting it, and all Maori Party MPs voted for it.

She would not comment last night, but the Herald understands her party is still likely to back Ms Bradford's bill.

Mr Borrows said he was not in any way in favour of smacking, but believed Ms Bradford's bill made potential criminals of parents who lightly smacked their children.

The debate on the bill had been skewed into an argument about whether smacking worked, he said.

"This whole debate is about whether or not parents who smack should be prosecuted. It's not about whether smacking works, or whether you stop a kid from wetting the bed by smacking it, or anything like that," Mr Borrows said.