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The National Party on Family and Morals
National has not announced a policy on this issue. When a bill to raise the age to 20 was before the House in 2006, National treated the issue as a conscience vote and its MPs were divided. Leader John Key voted to raise the age.
support or oppose gay marriage (3) National does not have a stated policy on gay marriage. Most National MPs voted against the Civil Unions Bill 3/24 (for/against), but then-leader Don Brash said the party would not scrap it. Current leader John Key and deputy Bill English voted against the bill.
National has not announced a policy on this issue. When the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal (Easter Trading) Amendment Bill was before the House in 2007, National treated it as a conscience vote and while most National MPs, including leader John Key, voted in favour of easing restrictions, the party was divided on the matter.
The National Party will consider changing the anti-smacking laws if New Zealanders demand changes in a referendum, leader John Key says. Key voted for the amendment after negotiating changes that “inconsequential” breaches would not be prosecuted by police. In January this year he said, "We've been consistent since the day we signed [the compromise]. But if we start to see good parents being criminalised for lightly smacking then we will change the law."
Under a National government the Families Commission is likely to merge with the Children's Commission, with some of the resources from the merged entity being put directly towards the front-line for NGOs (non-government organisations) involved in issues related to families.