Date: August 2001

New Zealand considers banning all corporal punishment

New Zealand government officials have been asked to report by November 30 2001 on the likely implications of repealing the legal provision that allows parents to use "reasonable" corporal punishment (section 59 of the Crimes Act) and on educational measures that could be undertaken if section 59 was repealed.

This follows a review and report on how other comparable countries have addressed the issue of compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child over corporal punishment. A Memorandum to the Cabinet Social Equity Committee noted that

"Most countries that have made legislative changes appear to have been influenced by an increasing emphasis on the rights of children as much as a direct response to UNCROC. However, Germany has made changes in direct response to UNCROC.

"Education campaigns, where run, have tended to be undertaken in conjunction with legislative reform (instead of preceding it or as an alternative to change). Education campaigns have been aimed at informing people about legislative change and encouraging changes to parenting practice".

The Cabinet papers were released under the Official Information Act.

Top