Auckland City supports anti-smacking bill
Auckland City Council has tonight voted to support Green Party MP Sue Bradford’s anti-smacking bill and the repeal of
section 59 of the Crimes Act.
“This decision is completely in line with Auckland City’s Child and Family Policy,” says Councillor Cathy Casey, chair
of the Community Development and Equity Committee.
“One of the key aims of the policy is to create a safe environment for children and promote policies and public
education measures that discourage bullying, injury and violence against children and families,” she said.
“The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC), officially adopted by New Zealand in 1993, was one
of the guiding documents of our policy. It is an internationally accepted document that recognises that all children
have human rights and that violence against children is unacceptable.”
“In developing our policy, the council agreed to promote increased compliance with UNCROC, and this is why we are
advocating support for the bill tonight,” she said. “Auckland City is showing great leadership in the area of children
and family policy and will continue to do so.”
Ends