New Zealand politicians debate child smacking laws as experts urge fair and firm alternatives

New Zealand outlawed smacking and using reasonable force to discipline children in 2007, but the practice remains a subject of public debate. Speaking at the Powerbrokers' Debate, 81-year-old Winston Peters recalled receiving physical punishment as a child and stated that he thoroughly deserved it. Peters previously campaigned to repeal the 2007 ban, arguing the law fails to prevent violence and could unfairly target good parents. A 2017 study from Growing up in New Zealand showed that nearly a third of parents still smacked their children a decade after the ban, with 10 percent doing so frequently.

Expert Views

Dr Melanie Woodfield, a psychologist from the University of Auckland, states that smacking only brings very short-term behavior change and damages the child-parent relationship. Woodfield is currently reviewing behaviour management programmes and found smacking to be the most common inadvisable technique. Keryn O'Neil, a senior researcher at Brainwave Trust Aotearoa, notes that research links physical punishment to poorer outcomes. A 2026 UK study of 19,000 children connected physical punishment to lower exam results and higher rates of bullying. However, experts stress that banning smacking does not mean children should face no discipline at all.

Alternative Discipline

Parents should still set helpful, fair, and firm limits using evidence-based options that avoid physical force. Woodfield says timeout is safe and effective when used calmly, predictably, and consistently. Linking consequences directly to the original offence also works well. Parents can prevent bad behaviour by giving clear instructions and breaking tasks into step-by-step guidance for younger children. Furthermore, parents should agree on discipline methods ahead of time and can use reward charts to motivate behaviour change. If parents react poorly, O'Neil advises them to take ownership, apologise, and repair the relationship.

Context

Child discipline laws and parenting practices are widely studied to find methods that support healthy child development without physical harm. Public figures often share personal childhood experiences during political debates, highlighting how societal views on discipline have evolved over time. Parenting experts continue to research and promote structured, non-violent strategies to help families manage challenging behavior safely.