In a Media Release issued today …. Family First NZ [a registered charity with the Charities Commission] is welcoming comments made today by an internationally renowned neurosurgeon visiting the country rejecting the anti-smacking law and labeling it as part of a ‘politically correct bandwagon’. [Family First has vigorously lobbied for some years now to have the law repealed or amended]. 

Dr. Ben Carson, Director of Paediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, is in Auckland to raise funds for the Starship Foundation to help rebuild their Neuroservices and Medical Specialty Wards. 

When asked about smacking and NZ’s anti-smacking law on Newstalk ZB this morning, he said

 “I think (smacking) is very appropriate when they’re very young and cannot reason. A smack – and I’m talking a smack and not a beating – can be very appropriate for a child who’s trying to establish themselves as the authority and doesn’t recognise where the real authority lies and doesn’t have the mental capacity to engage in intelligent conversation. And I think it’s completely wrong for people to get on their politically correct bandwagon and saying ‘you may never smack a child and if you do that that’s child abuse’.”

 “Dr Carson as a paediatric neurosurgeon can understand the difference between a smack and child abuse – as can almost 90% of NZ’ers. Dr Carson speaks common sense which is sadly lacking in Parliament, but his words will be appreciated by good kiwi parents who are doing their best to raise law abiding productive members of society in a non-abusive manner,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

ENDS