Barnardos New Zealand

Media statement

4 November 2008

Parents moving towards positive parenting methods

“Barnardos New Zealand is welcoming the research project on child discipline carried out by the University of Otago Children’s Issues Centre between December 2006 and July this year. It is academically rigorous and it shows that parents are moving towards more positive disciplinary methods”, says Murray Edridge, Chief Executive of Barnardos New Zealand.

“Recent police statistics[1] show that the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 is working well. However, the Children’s Issues Centre research project shows that 70 per cent of parents who oppose the law do not understand it. That figure reinforces the urgent need for further public education and information about the law”.

“Most parents surveyed, and who have used physical punishment, believe it has been ineffective. Only 9 per cent thought it was effective. The recent study shows that fewer parents are using physical punishment and more parents are moving towards positive disciplinary methods. That indicates that parents are increasingly seeking alternative, more positive, discipline methods”, adds Mr Edridge.

“The University of Otago has a long established tradition of research excellence[2], and has earned an international reputation for the quality of its research. We are pleased to see the research results, and that more and more parents are using positive disciplinary methods for their children”, concludes Mr Edridge.

ENDS

[1] http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2008/section-59-activity-review/
[2] http://www.otago.ac.nz/research/

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