The referendum results are in, and predictably the No Vote campaign had a big win. Wellington Central came through with the highest Yes Vote (35.9%). It also had the highest number of informal votes (1.96%). Perhaps most interestingly for Wellington Central the turnout in the referendum was low (43%), both in real terms and relative to the rest of the country (the third lowest of the general electorates). This is particularly noteworthy when you consider that traditionally Wellington Central is one of the highest polling electorates (2nd in 2008 with more than 80%). I think this is reflective of the fact that many people in Wellington Central simply could not be bothered with such a ludicrously worded referendum. As I moved around the electorate I found strong support for the Deborah Morris led Yes Vote, but also a large number of people for whom the whole exercise was not worth putting time into.
For the record, I, like John Key and Phil Goff, did not vote. I simply could not vote for or against such a poorly worded question. It was pure political rhetoric, and answering it either yes or no did not sit well for me. I strongly supported the repeal of Section 59, and I believe the new law is working. It should be given more time before it is effectiveness is assessed. Good parents are not being criminalised. Awareness of other forms of discipline or correction are increasing all the time, and I am confident in years to come we will look back on the repeal of Section 59 and wonder what all the trouble was about.
I do accept that as the repeal bill went through many parents gained the impression that they were being judged and regarded as bad parents because they may have at some time smacked their children, and I think this is what has driven the negativity towards the law. Sadly this impression continues, regardless of what the law actually says. This is a large failure of communications on behalf of those of us who supported the Bill. We do need to listen to parents genuine concerns and think hard about how to improve confidence in the law.
I will await with interest what John Key comes up with, but I am wary of moving too far when there is a legislated review just around the corner.
Grant,
I’m slightly bewildered by the principle criticism of the referendum being the absurdly worded question. What struck me when talking to people was how few people knew what the new law actually says. Most people are under the impression that the law bans smacking of all kinds. It does, as you know, include numerous grounds in which you can use force (protecting your children from harm; stopping them from being disorderly or engaging in criminal activity etc.).
So the question here is this: why is it that when there is a referendum held on the law that there is no obligation to make the wording of the current law more available to the electorate? The information I received from the Chief Electoral Officer in the mail made no mention of the present law, nor does the elections.org.nz
I would like to see all future referendums to include a presentation of any law that they are seeking to change. I suspect that if those who voted in the referendum were aware that the law only criminalises “force” for the purposes of correction, not all smacking, we might have had a very different result.