"Smacking will be banned, but that doesn't mean you can't do it..."

The following is complied by one of Larry Baldock's team from all the quotes of Helen Clark.

I agree with the Prime Minister that all the confusion is coming from the Media ….

Helen Clark says she wants to send this very clear message to the Parents of New Zealand:

It is OK to smack your kids… it is a natural thing to do, but from now on it is against the law. We don't mind if you do smack, but it is illegal and you may be arrested. Smacking will be BANNED, but that doesn't mean you can't do it. We will NOT tolerate any type of force… including smacking, but of course parents will be able to smack their kids.

It is ridiculous to say people might be arrested, because we are only after people who assault their kids. Smacking is assaulting your kids and we do not want it as part of the culture of this country. Of course CYFS and the Police will investigate any complaint of smacking, and parents will be arrested, but I repeat parents will NOT be arrested for smacking their children.

That is the very clear message we want to send to the parents of New Zealand , and we are relying on the common sense of the Police to interpret that when they investigate parents who smack their kids.