A poll published Saturday showed that more than 70 percent of voters in New Zealand want parents to keep the right to use "reasonable force" to punish their children.

The Herald-Dig Poll results were made in spite of growing support in Parliament for a controversial bill many saw as anti-smacking.

The poll results showed 71.2 percent of voters believed section59 of the Crimes Act, which gives parents the legal defence of reasonable force, was needed.

The polled revealed 21 percent disagreed.

The poll results contrasted with majority support in Parliament for Green MP Sue Bradford's bill that would repeal section 59.

The poll results said supporters of the bill, introduced to the House last month, said the survey results were partly because of alack of understanding and a fear parents would be arrested for lightly smacking their children.

MP Bradford said the survey reflected other polls she had seen.

She noted that in 2002 a Ministry of Justice survey found 80 percent of people thought parents should be able to smack naughty children with an open hand.

Bradford's bill is expected pass its first reading this month and advance to a select committee.

Source: Xinhua