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The remarkable life of Sonja Davies is an inspiration to us all.
Her recent death, while sad, gives pause to consider that this was a life that despite adversity still had the generosity of spirit to remain richly human. The Wairarapa Labour Electorate Committee and I will be forever grateful for Sonja's staunch support, encouragement and contribution, particularly to the 1999 contest for the Wairarapa electorate.
If it were not for Sonja's faith in me I would never have considered running for Labour as a Parliamentary Candidate in 1999. Such is her mana.
Her life's endeavours have improved the lives of thousands of New Zealanders, as a feminist, advocate for peace, unionist, politician and all round humanitarian. She was an iconic New Zealander, and will have left her mark, truly a life worth living.
There is to be a celebration of her life at St Luke's Church in Masterton on Wednesday at midday.
Parliamentary discussion on the physical disciplining of children should examine the option of amending, and not simply repealing, section 59 of the Crimes Act. I encourage parents and the wider public to express their views to Parliament on the issue.
The Labour caucus has discussed the issue and agreed there was benefit in the issues surrounding section 59 being referred to a select committee for further discussion and debate.
The view, however, was that all options should be examined, including amendment rather than repeal of section 59. No one in caucus believed that it was desirable to haul parents who smack, but not abuse, their children before the Court.
But there was also general concern that section 59 could be successfully used as a defence in cases where the vast majority of New Zealanders regarded the parental action as excessive.
While some countries such as Sweden and Germany have moved to end any physical disciplining of children, others such as England and Wales, and the state of New South Wales, have amended legislation to more closely define and clarify what forms of discipline were reasonable and acceptable.
Ministry of Justice and other surveys have shown that 70 to 80 percent of the public agree that parents should be allowed by law to smack a child. However the surveys also show that the public is adamant that this should only occur within strict limits.
The use of objects, for example, to hit a child, and smacking them in the head and neck areas drew an overwhelmingly negative public response. Seventy-five percent believed that only a smack that left no mark was acceptable.
Yet in some jury trials severe discipline well outside these standards has resulted in acquittal under section 59.
Public attitudes are changing and it is important that the law should reflect these changes and not lag behind them, so it is important that Parliament invites full public input into its deliberations on this Bill and a select committee is an appropriate place for this to happen.
Starting this week, a targeted LPG winter safety campaign will highlight the need for the safe use of LPG indoors.
This winter the Energy Safety Service (ESS) has partnered with the LPG Association and the Environmental Risk Management Authority to run the LPG winter safety campaign.
"Swing tags" with safety messages printed on them will be attached to LPG cylinders when people have their cylinders refilled.
Advertisements, reinforcing the safety messages are also being placed in community newspapers in the areas around New Zealand where the most LPG is sold during the winter months.
The campaign's 'Hot Tips' on staying safe with LPG include:
- After securely connecting a new or refilled cylinder, apply soapy water to the cylinder connections and turn on the cylinder. If bubbles appear you have a leak. Close the valve and call an LPG service agent.
- Always keep your heater at least 1 metre away from anything that could catch on fire. Put a safety guard around your heater if you have young children in your home.
- Keep a window open when you use your LPG heater, to help remove heater emission, keep the air fresh and reduce condensation. Never use LPG heaters in bedrooms and bathrooms.
- If you smell gas fumes TURN OFF your heater and cylinder IMMEDIATELY. Call an LPG service agent.
- Get your heater and cylinder checked before winter every year by an LPG servicing agent. So you know they're in a safe condition for winter.
I encourage everyone who uses an LPG appliance indoors to read and act on these important safety messages.
Sunday saw the final of Dancing With the Stars and I must say it was a great experience taking part and I am looking forward to all the charities involved getting their money so they can put it to good use.
Finance Minister Michael Cullen will be in Wairarapa this week with Labour candidate Denise MacKenzie, visiting Masterton, Pahiatua, Woodville and Dannevirke. Please get out to meet him and show him what a wonderful place Wairarapa is.
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