Make sure you have your say

New Zealand goes to the polls again soon to decide whether the anti-smacking bill should stay or go.

That's an awfully simple explanation of the upcoming referendum.

But is it what most of you are expecting?

I think it's fair to say that most Kiwis understand the referendum to be quite simply the chance to vote on whether to keep the "law" or give it the boot.

If you think I've got it wrong by all means tell me.

In my opinion it deserves to be punted.

It's a farcical law, written by a bunch of politically correct wowzers who missed the point altogether.

Has the amount of child abuse reduced since this law was passed?

No, and if you think it has you obviously don't read the stories that come out every week of kids being beaten and bashed.

Don't get me wrong though, I believe there needs to be a law that allows the police the powers to help save the kids who are suffering at the hands of child abusers.

But I don't think the law should have Joe Average parents worrying about having a visit from the cops after having to pull their wayward child in to line.

And this is the point really isn't it?

How many of you know what this "anti-smacking" law actually means?

This applies to both parents, caregivers and the public in general.

Do you know what is and isn't acceptable according to the law?

I can categorically tell you that I have no idea what the law says is and isn't OK. I know morally that I would never punch, kick or intentionally beat my child.

But I bet I'm not the only one, who isn't somewhat confused by what the letter of the law is.

So, in my opinion this is the perfect chance to actually get this law right.

Yes, there needs to be a law that protects children.

They can't protect themselves against some of the scumbags out there.

And that is an absolute travesty.

But it's true.

So we do need to give the police the power to take care of these children but again we don't need to have good honest parents worrying that they can't pull their kids in to line when needed.

And just to clarify that, by pull their kids in to line I do not mean punch them, take a jug cord to them or anything brutal like that.

A smack on the bottom is vastly different to actual assault – but unfortunately the lines have been blurred by a poorly worded law.

So we need to get it right and to get it right we need to have our say.

So if you're not enrolled, or you've moved get on to it and make sure you're going to get the voting paper.

All our Yahoo!Xtra News polls on this subject have been popular so we know that you are very passionate about the topic.

If you're like me you'll want to have your say and have your opinion noted.

Don't let the chance go begging – because as we all know the chance to change the law and the Government if we're not happy doesn't come along very often.