Family fist

Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, November 22nd, 2007 - 25 comments
Categories: activism - Tags:

The Dom reports that “A father who spanked his eight-year-old son… for misbehaving… is one of the first to be convicted of assault under the law against smacking”.

As expected, all the usual suspects are up in arms, including Family First national director Bob McCroskrie, who thinks it’s ok to hit kids and doesn’t seem to have given up on his outrageous campaign.

We don’t know much in the way of details but the Dom reports from the courtcase that “Becoming frustrated [my emphasis], the father grabbed his son’s clothes at the shoulder and pulled him on to the bed. The father then flipped the boy over his knee and smacked him three times on the bottom with an open palm, before roughly sitting him back up.”

The boy’s mother [again, my emphasis] pregnant with the couple’s fourth child, is understood to have taken a photograph of the bruise and shown it to a relative, who told police several days later.

Bob McCroskrie points to this case as one of “the law targeting parents”. Seems more to me like a case of parents targeting abuse.

Shame on you Family Fist.

If you’re as sick of hearing this crap as I am from Bob McCroskrie please give him a call on 09 261 2426 or fax him on 09 261 2520 – tell him it’s time to start sticking up for kids rather than the grownups who assault them.

Alternatively, take 30 seconds and email him from this form.

25 comments on “Family fist ”

  1. thomas 1

    your family first link needs fixing

  2. all_your_base 2

    Thanks thomas. Sorted now!

  3. illuminatedtiger 3

    All the while he is crusading against Californication failing to realize that good “Christian” parents would have their young children tucked away in bed before it’s 9.30pm timeslot. I emailed Bob about this and I got a long winded reply basically saying that it’s shows like Californication which contribute to a rise in violence. Seems like he’s gone and redressed that whole video game argument which was long since disproven.

  4. Matthew Pilott 4

    Cheers for this guys & gals!

    I thoroughly detest this man, and email him every now and then to remind him. Recently there was a three minutes silence protest at midday, largely organised by Family First, to protest against domestic violence.

    When I mentioned to old Bob that it was good, I was happy that he had changed his stance against child abuse, that as a family-vbased organisation it was appropriate to *NOT* condone violence, and that I assume he’s going to apologise for opposing the repeal of S59 he replied teresly that he still opposed it.

    At least the government is has legislated against child abuse – I don’t think we need to protest against it. It’s not like anyone supports it (apart from Bob, as best I can tell).

    Now a child has been roughly treated by his father. The father admitted he lost his temper. The boy had a bruise serious enough for his mother to photograph it. The father has been prosecuted, and is taking agner management courses. Not, in my mind, a bad outcome.

    And Bob thinks that good parents should be worried about this??

    What goddamn planet is this man on?

    He should apologise to Sue Bradford right away!

  5. the sprout 6

    he seems a very confused christian soldier. but then he’s willing to campaign for the rights of big money to manipulate elections too.

    i would have thought mel gibson’s efforts did more to promote violence amongst the Rods and Todds of this world than the past good boy’s and girl’s bedtime Californication ever would.

  6. Ruth 7

    Hang on a minute – doesn’t McCroskrie hold himself up as a great defender of individual rights and personal sovereignty? Except if you are small and vulnerable I guess. It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad.

  7. the sprout 8

    there you go expecting logical consistency Ruth, you sound like a freedom hating athieterrorist

  8. gobsmacked 9

    Now Family First is putting the heat on John Key:

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0711/S00376.htm

  9. Ruth 10

    Just don’t start mentioning the great Non Initiation of Force principle sprout, cuz that only applies to certain groups too.

    I think maybe Family Fist and the usual suspects are trying to make satire obselete.

  10. Billy 11

    Nice to see the echo chamber is working well.

    He hit the kid three times on the bottom with an open hand. Turn him into a crminal, I say.

    We can all sleep well (having had a cheeky pinot gris by our swimming pool) knowing that, because this monster has been convicted, our children are safe.

    And…go.

  11. Ruth 12

    He hit the child so hard it left bruises, the mother even took a photograph. It obviously was not the first time.

    If that sounds like a good parent to you then I feel sorry for you.

    As a National party voter I hope Key holds firm in his zero tolerance for violence in the home. He has tried to distance himself from the wingnut right, but it’s a hydra-headed monster.

  12. Gruela 13

    Someone should tell Bob that the most effective protests against injustice throughout history have always involved dramatic shows of solidarity between the victims and the protesters.

    Therefore it seems obvious he should be outside parliament right now, bent over someone’s knee and getting a proper thrashing, while yelling out to those concerned “This isn’t doing me any harm.”

    It just makes sense.

  13. Matthew Pilott 14

    Billy, I gave my views on it – long story short there’s a daddy out there who might not be so inclined to hit his three (soon to be four) kids. It’s not our kids we have to worry about (I don’t know if your point was serious or not, but it’s domestic violence that was the target, not having to worry whether your kids were safe…).

    Also starting to get a massage across to the wider country that violence isn’t ok (yeah yeah Trev and Tau, I sure as hell know they’re not saints). That’s not so bad is it?

    Gruela – did you miss the sweet little girls at the protest march saying that they should get a spank if they’re naughty? Wonder if they’d mind a few bruises, maybe a jug cord or two… (clearly too young to be commenting, christ wasn’t that a cynical moment)?

  14. Billy 15

    Matthew,

    My point was half-serious. I just got a bit sick of you all slapping each other on the back (gently of course).

    I do not know enough about this case to pass comment on it. The bruises do sound troubling.

    That said, I doubt this law is doing anything meaningful to protect children that the old law didn’t, except making chardonnay socialists feel like something is being done about child abuse. If you guys think this law is doing anything to protect the Nia Glasseys of this world, you are living in a dream world.

    We all do stupid, antisocial things that it’d be better we didn’t. Making them all illegal seems to be fraught (and a little self-important). Whether they should be illegal should be determined by the harm caused. As I say, I do not know if the instant case falls on the wrong side of that line.

  15. dave 16

    Ruth, he did not hit the kid so hard he got brusies. He was smacked on the bum – the bruise was on his upper body.
    Either that or the guys has HUGE hands.

  16. Billy 17

    …and I should say, if the force were not reasonable this guy would have been open to conviction under the old law anyway.

  17. Ruth 18

    A technicality Dave — doesn’t make it ok. Just like the horse-whip woman. The wingnut right were up in arms cuz it was a riding crop, not a horse whip. I note her 13yr old has now been removed from her custody…the right need to apologise to the wider community for supporting this violent pig of a woman.

    All adults have to do is keep their hands off kids and they won’t come to the attention of the authorities. How hard is that?

  18. Matthew Pilott 19

    Billy as I understand it, it’s pretty doubtful that the case would have gone to court with S59 in play – why bother to try and prosecute when the defence will just use S59?

    This law won’t protect children from torture and murder any more than the crimes act, which is the relevant law. Nothing will short of a stronger and wealthier society. However if it starts to change attitudes to parenting, and encourages parents to find alternatives then it’s working and serving a purpose.

    Pretty cynical view to think that such a law was passed just to make people feel good, and a really blinkered viewpoint. Take this example – four kids are probably better off. Dad won’t be losing his temper in such a hurry. Now ‘scuse me while I shoot off for a chardonnay…

  19. Billy 20

    “Pretty cynical view to think that such a law was passed just to make people feel good”

    Don’t think that was the intention, Matthew, just the outcome.

  20. gobsmacked 21

    The man has previous convictions, including one for violence (according to One News).

    That doesn’t make him guilty of a separate offence, of course, but it’s hard to see how a) helping a mother protect her child, and b) helping a father with anger management, is a bad outcome. With permanent name suppression too.

  21. Matthew Pilott 22

    More and more details – seems that the mother was pretty worried about the father’s actions, and the judge pointed out that he could have gotten away with it in the past. So seems to me this is exactly what repeal of S59 intended – that you can’t get away with this type of behaviour now…

  22. dave 23

    In other words Matthew, the law on bruising a child is just as much as assault as it always was, its just that the judges are doing their job and not letting them go now – as they should have always done under a Liabour Govt.

  23. the sprout 24

    dave, it’s Liarbore – liar and bore – get it? you really must try harder with your infantile putdowns.

  24. Matthew Pilott 25

    In other words Dave, what was once considered aceptable isn’t any more. Let me spell it out for you: this is the type of behaviour (“disciplining” a child) that one could have gotten away with before S59 was repealed.

    You do realise that in the past, police wouldn’t bother to prosecute in such cases don’t you?

    Judges didn’t have any choice but to “let them go” – that was what the old law said, you know, that funny thing what judges use to convict people and such? Duh.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
    The coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-18T14:32:01+00:00