NEW ZEALANDNEW ZEALANDA 2007 Families Commission survey found that while 41% of parents and carers in the sample of 100 families with children aged under 5 had smacked their children, only 9% thought smacking was effective. Around half of the sample filled in detailed diary sheets about “disciplinary encounters” with their children over three days. Of these parents, 2.6% smacked the child’s bottom at some point during the three days, 2% smacked the child’s hand and 2% smacked the child on another part of their body. Parents and carers were two to three times more likely to use positive techniques (such as giving rewards and praise) than punishments (such as smacking, verbal reprimands and withdrawal of privileges).
(Lawrence, J., and Smith, A., 2009, Discipline in context: families’ disciplinary practices for children aged under five, Wellington: Families Commission, www.familiescommission.govt.nz/sites/default/files/downloads/discipline-in-context.pdf; see also Lawrence, J., and Smith, A., 2008, “Aotearoa/New Zealand Families: Their Perspectives on Child Discipline and Recent Legislative Change”, Childrenz Issues, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 17-24)
A survey of 100 families with children aged under five found that 46% of parents and carers were in favour of the legislation which gave children equal protection from assault to adults. 27% were opposed to the legislation and 27% were undecided. Of those who were in favour of the legislation, 58% had an accurate understanding of it. Of those who were undecided or opposed to reform, a large majority had an inaccurate understanding of the legislation (81% of those who were undecided and 70% of those who were opposed to reform). The law came into action in June 2007. Around a third of the interviews were carried out before the law change, and two thirds following it.
(Lawrence, J., and Smith, A., 2008, “Aotearoa/New Zealand Families: Their Perspectives on Child Discipline and Recent Legislative Change”, Childrenz Issues, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 17-24; see also Lawrence, J., and Smith, A., 2009, Discipline in context: families’ disciplinary practices for children aged under five, Wellington: Families Commission)
In the wake of prohibition of all corporal punishment in 2007, the Children’s Commissioner commissioned a benchmark survey in order to gauge changes in attitudes towards corporal punishment and the law. Of a nationally representative sample of 750 adults, 43% supported the law, compared with 28% who opposed it. The research found a high awareness of the law change (91%), and high levels of support (84-89%) for the principle of equal protection from assault for children and adults. Support for the use of corporal punishment is declining over time: 58% agreed that there are some circumstances in which smacking a child is acceptable, compared with 87% in 1993 and around 90% in 1981. The research confirms that attitudes and knowledge of the law are changing, even over the one-year period since its introduction. The report includes detailed recommendations for continued and improved implementation of the law based on the issues raised.
(UMR Research, 2008, Omnibus Survey Report: One year on: Public attitudes and New Zealand’s child discipline law, Office of the Children’s Commissioner www.occ.org.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/5669/OCC_UMR-Research_141108.pdf)
One in ten children aged up to 14 had received physical punishment from their primary caretaker in the four weeks leading up to the 2006/7 New Zealand Health Survey. However, only 5% of all primary caregivers believed that physical punishment was an effective form of punishment. Less than a third of those who had used physical punishment in the previous four weeks felt that it was effective. The survey was carried out between October and 2006 and November 2007, before and after New Zealand prohibited all corporal punishment, on a sample size of 17,000.
(Ministry of Health, 2008, A Portrait of Health – Key results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesmh/7601/$File/physical-punishment-ch2.pdf)
As part of the Government's Strategies with Kids: Information for Parents public education programme, designed to promote alternatives to corporal punishment, the Ministry of Social Development commissioned telephone interviews with 612 parents and 539 caregivers of children up to 5 years of age nationwide in 2004. Overall, 51% of parents and 21% of caregivers reported using physical discipline, with this being more likely the lower the level of education and higher the number of children (for parents) and with decreasing household income and increasing age (for caregivers). The most common form was smacking on the bottom (45% parents, 32% caregivers). 25% of parents using physical discipline were not interested in receiving information on parenting.
(Gravitas Research and Strategy Ltd, for the Ministry of Social Development, 2004, Strategies with Kids - Information for Parents (SKIP) Strategy Development Research: Parent and Care-giver Survey Report, draft report)