Paul,
I hate to say it, but New Zealand has one of the highest rates of Child Abuse in the Western world.
This is caused by (I am afraid), by a lot of immigrants from the outer parts of Samoa(sp??) and Tonga, who believe in thier own form of discipline, they do not recognise NZ Laws, even though they live here.
But to use a piece of wood to beat thier own children, is just not right!.