New Zealand's laws around children are a nightmare. They're all about the parents. In all cases, the interests of the parents trump the rights and needs of the child. Now, that's not what they say they do, but they do.

NZ'ers are pissed off in droves that they can't hit their kids. The one bit of legislation that gave kids the same rights as adults not to be physically assaulted is the most controversial bit of law.

Why?

Because the culture still views children as possessions. Doesn't matter if you can't clothe, house, or feed them. Doesn't matter if they're healthy. Doesn't matter if someone else has to work to provide for their needs. Doesn't matter because parents still 'own' their kids.

I'm honestly surprised anyone is prepared to be a foster parent in this current climate. Imagine the horror of taking in an abused or neglected child - only to have to give it back! We foster animals, and though some of them come in pretty rough, they always go to a good, new home. But when it's a kid, fuck no. The parent gets to fuck up their developmental years over and over coming and going, making 'amends'. Fuck off.

If it is proved that you have abused, neglected, or seriously failed your child, your parental rights should be immediately and irrevocably terminated. Stable attachment is the most important thing in child development, and almost all the laws go against providing that.

We would have far fewer social problems if we held birth parents to account instead of this shitty coddling attitude which makes them breed and breed and breed without any sense of shame or care in the world. There are 0 penalties for being a shit parent.