Summary of national public opinion surveys repeating a similar question about the acceptability of physical punishment of children in New Zealand 1981–2013
| Year | Source and context | Survey design and population | Relevant survey question | Approve of physical punishment (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Independent research by Ritchie27 as part of wider study on family violence. The findings also quoted in Maxwell28 and Carswell.30 | Face-to-face interviews with 306 adults from a variety of occupational and social groups in Hamilton, New Zealand. The results presented by sex (men 92%, women 86%). | Measured agreement with the statement: There are certain circumstances when it is alright for a parent to smack a child. | 89% |
| 1993 | Maxwell28 report for the Office of the Children's Commissioner. Data collected by Heylen Research. | National telephone survey (n=1000). Randomly selected people over 15 years of age from towns over 2500 population. Under-representation of Māori and Pacific people. | Measured agreement (agree, disagree, don't know) with the statement: There are certain circumstances when it is alright for a parent to smack a child. | 87% |
| 1995 | Colmar Brunton Research report22 commissioned by Children, Young Persons and their Families Service as a benchmark for the ‘Breaking the Cycle’ public education campaign. | Nationally representative sample, completed face-to-face interviews with 500 people 15 years and older. Included rural and urban areas. Response rate 50% (500/999). | Measured agreement (10-point scale) with the statement: There are certain circumstances when it is alright for a parent to smack a child. | 70% |
| 1998 | Colmar Brunton Research report23 commissioned by Children, Young Persons and their Families Service to monitor impact of the ‘Alternatives to Smacking’ campaign. | National sample weighted to NZ population, face-to-face interviews conducted in November 1998. n=610 adults15 years and older, including an additional 70 Māori and 100 Pacific Island people. Response rate 38%. | Measured agreement (10-point scale) with the statement: There are certain circumstances when it is alright for a parent to smack a child. | 52% |
| 2000 | Colmar Brunton Research Survey commissioned by Children, Young Persons and their Families Service to monitor the impact of a re-run of ‘Alternatives to Smacking’ as reported by Carswell30 for the Ministry of Justice. | National samples weighted to NZ population, face-to-face interviews. Reported sample size n=610. | Measured agreement (10-point scale) with the statement: There are certain circumstances when it is alright for a parent to smack a child. | 56% |
| 2008 | UMR Research commissioned by the Office of the Children's Commissioner.29 Part of omnibus survey. | Telephone survey; nationally representative sample. Seven hundred and fifty people 18 years and older. Response rate 31% (total eligible households n=18 510). | Measured agreement (11-point scale) with the statement: There are certain circumstances when it is alright for a parent to use physical punishment with a child. | 58% |
| 2013 | UMR Research commissioned by EPOCH NZ.31 Part of omnibus survey. | Telephone survey; nationally representative sample. n=750 people 18 years and older. | Measured agreement (11-point scale) with the statement: There are certain circumstances when it is alright for a parent to use physical punishment with a child. | 40% |
EPOCH NZ, End Physical Punishment of Children New Zealand; NZ, New Zealand.