God, Maoris and smacking the devil out of your child

As the debate over the repeal of a legal loop hole that goes back to that quaint time in NZ history when women and children were the PROPERTY of men (dontcha love how men could rape wives before the law change in the 1970’s because it was ‘inconceivable’ that a man could rape his wife – because they were married and if the man wanted to fuck, then his bitch wife better do as he wants or she gets some biffo now don’t she – ahhh, NZ the enlightened) – sadly the rednecks aren’t gonna let their right to bash their kiddies go the way of other man rights, and the stage is set for a show down. Interesting to see what Tariana Turia had to say on Marae on Tvone over the weekend, that Christianity brought the concept of smacking for discipline to NZ and mixed with the ill effects of colonization has given Maori the worst child abuse statistics, a claim backed up historically by the first missionaries in NZ that Maori didn’t smack their kids, of course regardless of the truth, you can hear the red neck clamor on talkback stations all up and down the country now.

Colonisation, Christianity get blame for smacking
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says the arrival of Christianity in New Zealand and colonisation introduced the concept of smacking children to Maori.
"Our people did not hit their tamariki. That only came about through colonisation and through Christianity actually," she said on Marae on Saturday. She said the strongest opponents to Sue Bradford's private member's bill - banning physical force being used against children as a punishment - was from Christians who wanted to reserve the right to "smack their children lovingly". "Well, I've never seen anybody give a child a loving smack."

Survey may force Maori Party shift on Bradford bill
The fate of Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill appears to rest with the Maori Party caucus which will discuss it tomorrow in the light of a poll showing overwhelming 80 per cent opposition to it by Maori. The party has backed the bill but the resounding Maori opposition may create pressure to back a proposal by National Party leader John Key to allow "minor and inconsequential" smacking. It is believed to have been a consistent topic of concern raised at the consultation hui the four Maori Party MPs have held up and down New Zealand during the three-week recess. If the Maori Party decides to back the Key amendment, it would have the numbers to pass. But Sue Bradford has said she would withdraw it in those circumstances. The bill, which returns to the House on Wednesday, outlaws the use of physical force against children for purposes of correction. It allows it to prevent a child from engaging in harmful, disruptive, illegal or offensive behaviour. Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia indicated at the weekend that the party would continue to support the bill, despite 80 per cent of Maori in the Marae Digipoll survey opposing it. But she could not be contacted last night to discuss the Key proposal.