KEY POINTS:
Members of Parliament as parents are just as flawed - or as responsible - as the rest of us. They smack their kids. And they're proud of it.
That was one of many admissions that reverberated around the debating chamber in Parliament last night, as the last-ditch attempt
to turn MPs against the so-called anti-smacking bill turned desperate.
The arguments presented were not new. The same keywords were repeated. For the opposed: nanny state, criminals of parents, social engineering. For the supporters: child protection, common sense.
But the emotion left a lasting impression that drew applause from the public gallery.
For as long as opponents of the bill could ramble, MPs debated the amendment that would make it illegal to smack a child for the purpose of correction.
"This is the 'making good parents criminals while not addressing the actual issues', bill," said National's Maurice Williamson, who moved through several alternative titles.
"I brought up three kids ... and I'm happy to say those three kids had to learn some boundaries. And they tried me, and I'm happy to say they got a smack.
"It wasn't a hard smack, it didn't make any marks, it didn't draw any blood, but it started to put a boundary in place."
As his anger built, he took a swipe at all MPs - such as Prime Minister Helen Clark - who hadn't had children.
"They should really actually have three of them dropped off at their house for a week, where the little monsters can really show you how good they are at trying you."
The title, he concluded, should be the "MPs [some who had never had kids] know better than good parents how to care for those children" bill.
"I'll be the first to go with police to arrest someone who uses a whip, but I'll be the first to defend the right of good parents to be able to teach some little monsters what is right and what is wrong."
Cue loud applause from the National benches. Indeed, they had the upper hand all evening as they had more numbers on the bill's supporters.
But similar outcries from National's Judith Collins, Phil Heatley and Chester Borrows, whose amendment would allow light smacking, did little to deter the bill's supporters.
For them, it seemed, the bill was inevitable and invincible. They left the debating largely one-sided in an effort to bring on the vote.
Mr Borrows said the bill would do nothing to stop child abuse.
"Those people who beat children aren't going to read newspapers and sure as eggs they won't be listening to this debate," he said.
Labour's Charles Chauvell listed alternative bill titles to show his support such as the "Giving children the same protection from assaults as adults bill".
Or the "All use of force to punish a child is illegal bill".
Or the "Making a smack equally unlawful as well as other harsh punishments of a child bill".
Act's Heather Roy and independent MP Taito Phillip Field, who seemed to revel in the role of opposing his former party, took a different tack in hammering the line that most people had no idea what section 59 of the Crimes Act was.
But Mr Field, who submitted 50 amendments at the 11th hour to slow its progress, believed most people knew what the issue was.
"We know there is a strong 80 per cent, perhaps more, parents who oppose this bill, because it is a question of making good parents face possible criminal charges."
Labour's Jill Pettis retorted by saying the bill could be named the "reduction in domestic violence in New Zealand bill".
National's Nick Smith resorted to an honest admission to make his point.
"I have a 5-year-old boy. Sadly he has too many of my genes, he can sometimes be very stroppy. I have picked him up kicking and screaming and given him time out in one of the rooms in my home. I think it's wrong we are making criminals of parents that do that sort of thing."
Act leader Rodney Hide also admitted to disciplining his child with the back of his hand.
"I certainly smacked my son when he was toddler ... in a loving way, in a responsible way.
"I don't know how to reason with a 3-year-old. My son is now a responsible young adult. I'm proud I exercised my responsibility of fatherhood in the way I did."
