Yes vote discussion on Access Radio

July 10, 2009

Deborah Morris-Travers joins the team at Access Radio’s Collaborative Voices to discuss why people should vote “YES”

Waitakere Community Gathering 10 June 1pm

June 3, 2009

Waitakere Community Gathering re Referendum Section 59

When: 10^th June 2009 from 1pm to 3pm

Venue: Waitakere Community Resource Centre, 8 Ratanui Street, Henderson

RSVP: By 8^th June 09, to mandy@communitywaitakere.org.nz or phone (09) 838-7903

Speakers: Beth Wood, Ian Hassall & David Kenkel

Beth Wood and Ian Hassall are two of New Zealand’s greatest child advocates.

Over many years they have fought for the rights and well being of our children. They were leaders of the recent successful campaign to repeal section 59 of the crimes act. Now their work and the work of so many others is threatened by the upcoming referendum.

Community Waitakere has the privilege of hosting an open meeting on 10th June 2009 at Waitakere Community Resource Centre where community organisations and individuals can hear Beth and Ian’s perspectives on the coming referendum. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

Please join us for this important discussion.

Families Commission to run research seminar

May 19, 2009

The Families Commission will run an all-day research seminar series on 16 June at the Wellington Convention Centre.

The programme includes presentation of the results of recently completed projects and progress reports on studies underway. This is an opportunity for researchers, practitioners, policymakers and other interested groups to come together and discuss issues of significance for families.

Of particular interest to followers of  Child Discipline issues is the presentation on “Family Discipline in Context” at 4.00pm.  The abstract reads:

Family discipline in context – Julie Lawrence and Anne Smith
Family discipline is a controversial topic which has been debated for centuries, and which is known to have a lifelong effect on the well being of children. This report provides a snapshot of the views, experiences and practices of a sample of 100 New Zealand families, in relation to the discipline of their preschool children.

Parents/caregivers were asked about what they believed about discipline, how they disciplined their children, and the type of support and stress that they experienced with parenting. The study also looked at the effect of child and family characteristics and context over time, on discipline. The study used a multi-method approach, involving semi-structured parent interviews, parent diaries of disciplinary events over three days in a two week period, and a standardised tool, the Parenting Daily Hassles scale. One hundred and seventeen caregivers comprised the national sample – 99 mothers, 18 fathers, one grandfather and two grandmothers. The findings include the following headings: beliefs about discipline; disciplinary practices; the influence of child and family characteristics, stresses, context and support. The findings suggest a more favourable picture of New Zealand parents’ disciplinary practice than previous research has, showing that the majority of parents took an authoritative (firm but warm) approach, and suggests that professionals who work with families could benefit from professional development programmes focusing on effective approaches to discipline.

For more information, you can download the invitation (PDF), abstracts (PDF), and programme and registration form (Word doc).  Be sure to RSVP by 2 June.

Positive Parenting mosaic launch on 21 May

May 15, 2009

WHAT:

A giant beautifully crafted tile mosaic will be unveiled at Johnsonville Shopping Centre to celebrate families parenting positively without the use of physical punishment. The mosaic was created during a positive parenting course run with local parents by Childspace Early Childhood Institute.
WHERE:

Countdown Entrance
Johnsonville Shopping Centre
Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville
WELLINGTON

WHEN:  7pm on Thursday 21 May, 2009.

WHO:

Peter Dunne, MP for Ohariu / Leader of United Future
Toni Christie, Childspace Director
Course participants
Project sponsor representatives Save the Children and Strategies with
Kids Information for Parents – SKIP

VISUALS:

There will be a photographic opportunity at the launch and photographs
are available on request

CONTACT:

Toni Christie
Childspace Early Childhood Institute Director
Ph 04 478 5220

Public seminar at Wellington Hospital 22 May

May 15, 2009

The University of Otago – Wellington Medical School presents

“Protecting children’s rights to physical integrity and safety. Is the 2007 child discipline legislation under threat?”

Date: Friday 22 May 2009
Time: 12.30 pm
Where: Wellington Hospital, Level D Small Lecture Theatre (entrance off Mein St)

Beth will outline the 2007 law change and review research into knowledge of the law and attitudes towards it. She will also discuss the referendum question and campaign.

Spirited Conversations: Discussion on 4 May

April 29, 2009

Spirited Conversations
Community, City, Spirit
Presented by St Andrew’s on The Terrace

Where are we headed with the so-called anti-smacking legislation?

Conversationalist: Archie Kerr, Wellington Paediatrician
Date: Monday May 4 2009
Conversation: 7 pm to 9 pm
Dinner and Drinks (optional): from 6 pm (Mondays 2 for 1 light meals)
Venue: The Thistle Inn, 3 Mulgrave Street, Thorndon (by the bus exchange)

Download the poster

Seminar at Victoria University on the Child Discipline Law 14 May 2009

April 26, 2009

Seminar announcment

Victoria University of Wellington
Health Services Research Centre
School of Government

New Zealand’s 2007 child discipline law – a post law change report

Beth Wood and
Deborah Morris-Travers

Thursday, 14 May 2009, 12.30 – 1.30pm
Railway 501, Level 5, West Wing Railway Station
(entrance through Railway Station, take Lift 3 to Level 5)
Pipitea Campus, Victoria University, Wellington

In 2007 the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act repealed the existing section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961 and replaced it with a new set of provisions which included a clear message that use of force for correction of children was no longer legal in New Zealand.

In this presentation Beth Wood (from EPOCH New Zealand) and Deborah Morris-Travers (from Barnardos New Zealand) will review what is known about public knowledge of the law and attitudes towards it and what is known about how the law is working in practice.

They will discuss the forthcoming referendum on the question, Should a smack as part of good parental discipline be a criminal offence in New Zealand? The discussion will include an analysis of the question and describe a campaign to try to ensure that the non-binding referendum outcome does not threaten the new law.

Feel free to bring your lunch – our seminars are informal
You are welcome to bring your colleagues
RSVPs are not required and there is no charge

Enquiries to: Hilary Stace Ph: 04 463 6569
Email: hilary.stace@vuw.ac.nz

We encourage you to download the flyer, print it out and post it in your offices!