Stephen Jenkinson proudly stands in front of the Anti -Smacking billboard he erected on the corner of Meeanee Road and Guppy Road, Taradale, Napier. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Stephen Jenkinson proudly stands in front of the Anti -Smacking billboard he erected on the corner of Meeanee Road and Guppy Road, Taradale, Napier. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

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 march - to take place on November 21 - which will cost up to $254,000.

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.

Debate on this issue is now closed. Here is a selection of Your Views:

  1. 381
    comments
  2. D (Auckland City)
    12:34PM Tuesday, 27 Oct 2009
    This is so stupid - the referendum was stupid. It asked if a smack as part of good parenting should be against the law - the reality is that it isn't against the law and never has been.a smack as part of assault or child abuse is no longer excusable as being good parenting.that's what's changed.but it's been completely turned around by the media and the politicians can't seem to get the message across to people.
  3. tweety bird (Three Kings)
    12:34PM Tuesday, 27 Oct 2009
    No I won't march as I have no children; however I support this because we supposedly live in a democracy and the government is employed by us the workers. I believe the penalties for parents or people who mistreat children should be much much harsher, but a smack by a good parent should not end up in court.
  4. Peter (New Zealand)
    12:34PM Tuesday, 27 Oct 2009
    Yes, I will march to support action on the smacking referendum. If any Government ignores the expressed will of such a majority like the 87% saying NO in the referendum, everybody should be concerned about the state of our democracy, regardless of his/her views on smacking a child for correction & discipline! Just imagine: 87% had voted YES and our PM would say: "I promised our voters to change this law before the election so we'll change it anyway" - how would that go down with the "Sue Bradfords" and the "actual minority" supporting this law?
  5. blap-tacitc (Auckland City)
    12:35PM Tuesday, 27 Oct 2009
    No. I will never march in the name of abuse. There is already much too much of it in this world, how could anyone want to walk down a street crying out for more?
  6. Andrew (Sandringham)
    12:35PM Tuesday, 27 Oct 2009
    I wonder whether these protesters have actually read the law:

    Section 59 now reads:

    Parental control
    1. Every parent of a child and every person in the place of a parent of the child is justified in using force if the force used is reasonable in the circumstances and is for the purpose of?

    a. preventing or minimising harm to the child or another person; or
    b. preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in conduct that amounts to a criminal offence; or
    c. preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in offensive or disruptive behaviour; or
    d. performing the normal daily tasks that are incidental to good care and parenting.

    2. Nothing in subsection (1) or in any rule of common law justifies the use of force for the purpose of correction.

    3. Subsection (2) prevails over subsection (1).

    4. To avoid doubt, it is affirmed that the Police have the discretion not to prosecute complaints against a parent of a child or person in the place of a parent of a child in relation to an offence involving the use of force against a child, where the offence is considered to be so inconsequential that there is no public interest in proceeding with a prosecution
  7. Bonny Le Grice (Papatoetoe)
    12:36PM Tuesday, 27 Oct 2009
    How bizarre that people want to march for the right to hit other people.