when did the anti smacking law come in nz
anti-smacking bill 21 June 2007
title: Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 text: to by several of its opponents and newspapers as the "anti-smacking bill". The bill was passed on its third reading on 16 May 2007 by 113 votes to eight. The Governor-General of New Zealand granted the bill Royal Assent on 21 May 2007, and the law came into effect on 21 June 2007. A citizens-initiated referendum on the issues surrounding the law was held between 30 July and 21 August 2009, asking "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Despite widespread criticism of the question's wording, the referendum was returned with title: Child abuse in New Zealand text: control. The amendment was colloquially referred to as an 'anti-smacking law' and was introduced as a private members bill by Green Party member Sue Bradford in 2005. It was endorsed by many organisations such as woman's refuge and Plunket however there was question as to what the law disallowed in the way of discipline with many questioning the right to a 'light smack' in the way of disciplining a child. The "it's not okay" campaign began with television advertisements in 2007 and 2008. Surveys were done to measure the effectiveness of this campaign and found that at least 95% of title: Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 text: 'protect children from assault'. The first conviction under the new law occurred on 22 November 2007. In the first five years of the law (June 2007 – June 2012) there were eight prosecutions for smacking. A broad selection of organisations – including child welfare groups, churches, women's groups and businesses – publicly endorsed the bill and made submissions in support of it. Gordon Copeland resigned from the United Future party over the Bill since he did not agree with the party leader Peter Dunne's support for it. However, Copeland was not re-elected to Parliament at the New Zealand general election, title: Sue Bradford text: committee stage and its second parliamentary reading with a huge majority, and became law after it passed its third reading 113 to 8 on 16 May 2007. The Bill occasioned widespread debate largely due its depiction as an "anti-smacking" bill, and a movement led by Family First New Zealand called a citizens initiated referendum on the issue. In one reaction to the Bill, threats were made against Bradford on the "CYFS Watch" website. After the Ministry of Social Development complained about the threats, Google shut down the website. Further death threats were made against her in August 2009. Soon after title: 2009 New Zealand citizens-initiated referendum text: 2009 New Zealand citizens-initiated referendum The New Zealand corporal punishment referendum, 2009 was held from 31 July to 21 August, and was a citizens-initiated referendum on parental corporal punishment. It asked: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" Voter turnout was 56.1%. 87.4% of votes answered 'no'. The result of the referendum was non-binding and the New Zealand government did not change the law in response to the outcome. The petition for the referendum was launched in February 2007 in response to the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill, which would