Unreasonable Force New Zealand’s journey towards banning the physical punishment of children Beth Wood, Ian Hassall and George Hook with Robert Ludbrook Unreasonable Force Unreasonable Force New Zealand’s journey towards banning the physical punishment of children Beth Wood, Ian Hassall and George Hook with Robert Ludbrook © Beth Wood, Ian Hassall and George Hook, 2008. Save the Children fights for children’s rights. We deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children’s lives worldwide. Save the Children works for: • a world which respects and values each child • a world which listens to children and learns • a world where all children have hope and opportunity. ISBN: 978-0-473-13095-4 Authors: Beth Wood, Ian Hassall and George Hook with Robert Ludbrook Editor: George Hook Proof-reader: Eva Chan Publisher: Save the Children New Zealand First published: February 2008 Printer: Astra Print, Wellington To order copies of this publication, please write to: Save the Children New Zealand PO Box 6584 Marion Square Wellington 6141 New Zealand Telephone +64 4 385 6847 Fax +64 4 385 6793 Email:
[email protected] Website: http://www. savethechildren.org.nz DEDICATION Our tamariki mokopuna (children) carry the divine imprint of our tupuna (ancestors), drawing from the sacred wellspring of life. As iwi (indigenous nations) we share responsibility for the well-being of our whānau (families) and tamariki mokopuna. Hitting and physical force within whānau is a viola- tion of the mana (prestige, power) and tāpu (sacredness) of those who are hit and those who hit. We will continue to work to dispel the illusion that violence is normal, acceptable or culturally valid.