John Key says he's got no appetite to change the anti-smacking law despite the strong stance of a potential coalition partner.
The Conservative Party is calling for the ban on smacking to be repealed and the matter could be a deciding factor in coalition talks after the election.
But Mr Key told the audience at an event held by conservative lobby group Family First changing the law would send the wrong message.
"We could spend a long time in Parliament and a lot of discourse of public debate, and in the end it would look like the Government is saying 'we were sanctioning parents to belt kids'."
Family First director Bob McCoskrie says the anti-smacking law penalises good parents and hasn't solved child abuse.
3 News
source: newshub archive
