Trust takes anti-smacking message to iwi

Media release

Monday 1 December 2008

Trust takes anti-smacking message to iwi

Te Kahui Mana Ririki (TKMR) hits the road this week with anti-smacking workshops for iwi and Maori health providers this week.

‘Smacking is just another expression of violence against children. The workshops we have designed will have a heavy emphasis on the alternatives to smacking. We want to provide whanau with new tools so that they can parent without violence,’Trust Director Anton Blank said today.

The first two workshops will be held with Ngati Porou in Rangitukia, and Ngati Kahungunu in Hastings.

‘Discussions so far reveal that Maori are concerned about the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act and its implication for whanau.’

‘Our people are worried about the possibility of being prosecuted for hitting their children. More importantly they don’t know how to discipline now that their right to smack young ones has effectively been taken away.’

TKMR will use existing resources from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC), with a view to developing Maori-specific programmes and resources.

‘OCC’s booklet Choose to Hug is a great guide to non-violent parenting. Our sense is that it could be better adapted to meet the needs of Maori however. We will be talking to iwi and whanau about how we can shape this material for Maori audiences.’

We are very grateful for the support we have received from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and the Ministry of Social Development.

ENDS

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