MEDIA RELEASE

25 August 2011

Anti-Smacking Law Doco Attracts Huge Audience

Family First NZ says that approximately 100,000 NZ'ers have viewed the documentary "My Mummy's A Criminal" on the anti-smacking law which profiles good families who have been victims of the law.

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"We've had approximately 35,000 hits on the website www.protectgoodparents.org.nz which hosts the DVD and contains legal advice for parents, almost 10,000 copies of the DVD have been distributed to the public, and views on YouTube have just passed the 5,000 'views' mark," says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. "Considering that this is a 30-minute documentary being hosted on YouTube, this is a very high number of views."

"We estimate that up to 100,000 people have viewed the video because of families watching it, reports received of the DVD being shown in groups and community settings, and DVD's being passed on."

"Every politician has been sent a copy of the documentary which contains clear evidence that the anti-smacking law is criminalising good families. Interestingly, not one politician has responded to us regarding the facts presented in the documentary. Either they have refused to watch it, are yet to watch it, or they have watched it but don't care about the experiences of families as a result of the law," says Mr McCoskrie.

"The documentary also proves that the report on the anti-smacking law requested by the Prime Minister John Key and headed by psychologist Nigel Latta failed to meet its terms of reference, was factually incorrect in places, and misrepresented the effects of the law."

"At the recent Forum on the Family, both John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff said that they would amend the law if they saw evidence of good families being dragged before the courts and criminalised by the law. The evidence is now in. NZ families are becoming aware of the truth on this matter," says Mr McCoskrie.

"This is now a matter of integrity for our political leaders."

ENDS

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