Bob McCoskrie has responded to Cindy Kiro’s recent statements about Family First.

The Children’s Commissioner Cindy Kiro seems to be attempting to discredit Family First, but her comments are factually inaccurate. Family First has never commented on this case (although we are aware of the history of the family), and based on the facts reported, completely understand and support the verdict. We are pretty certain that Dr Kiro actually has a case of ‘mistaken identity’ – but it does reveal her paranoia over our existence.

It is also highly ironic that Dr Kiro wants us to be held to account, yet was…
- silent during the Trevor Mallard incident during the “It’s Never OK” Violence Campaign funded by the government.
- silent when the prostitution report from South Auckland was released earlier this year highlighting the number of young teenagers prostituting themselves
- silent when Police refused to prosecute a 21 year old who got a 13 year old pregnant (after starting the relationship when she was 11)
- silent over the recent cancelling of the sentence for a woman who pleaded guilty to infanticide
- silent over the ultimate child abuse of abortion
….yet is more interested in the rights of children to be able to purchase spray cans of paint for the purposes of tagging.

The bottom line is that children’s interests are best served in the context of their own family. Government support for children must be through their families, not apart from families. Any office or structure which even appears to separate children from their families will be destructive in the long run – no matter how well intentioned. Laws are already in place which protect children in seriously dysfunctional families.

I have searched Bob’s emails, and to my surprise he is right. The only time he has gone anywhere near the Timaru case is described here.

The Children’s Commissioner has misrepresented the facts to the Broadcasting Standards Authority relating to her complaint about a TV3 Campbell Live programme on the ‘anti-smacking’ bill.

Cindy Kiro argued that the programme on the boy involved in the Timaru horsewhip case had breached the 14-year-old boy’s privacy, was unfair to the boy and that he had been exploited – a breach of standard 6 of the Broadcasting Standards.

But Cindy Kiro does not know all the facts, and seems to be motivated more by political agendas than genuine concern for the boy,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

The boy concerned had approached Family First NZ independently, wanting his side of the story to be told in a case which he believed had been grossly misrepresented by supporters of Bradford’s ‘anti-correction’ bill, including Cindy Kiro.

Family First then contacted Campbell Live to see if they wished to allow him the opportunity to have his side heard. They agreed, and interviewed both the child and the mother. Mr McCoskrie was present at all times and is satisfied that there was no coercion or pressure by the interviewer.

“The boy was stoked to be able to tell his version of the events which have been so misrepresented,” says Mr McCoskrie. “It is a pity that the Children’s Commissioner hadn’t made the time herself to speak to the boy if she was so concerned.”

Mr McCoskrie says that Kiro is totally wrong to suggest that the boy was exploited, that his treatment was unfair, or that his privacy had been breached.

“He was given the opportunity a number of times to withdraw his permission for the interview but was persistent that he wanted to set the record straight,” says Mr McCoskrie. “It is more an indictment on the anti-smacking lobby that the boy felt he had to go to the media to get the truth out, and that what had happened to him had been so misrepresented.”

On the positive side, it is good to know that the Children’s Commissioner is willing to take on individual cases, and Family First will be encouraging parents who have recorded their frustrations on the CYFSWatch website to contact the
Commissioner for personal support and advocacy.