Western Bay of Plenty secondary school students are encouraged to enrol for the upcoming Citizens Initiated Referendum on the anti-smacking law.

Tauranga politician and Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock spearheaded the petition that led to the referendum after adopting the anti-smacking legislation as a major issue for his party in the 2008 general election.
The Citizens Initiated Referendum on the anti-smacking law is between July 31 and August 21. It will ask voters: 'Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”
Registrar of Electors for the Tauranga electorate Coral Conway spoke to students at Otumoetai College recently about the importance of enrolling to vote, and says people need to ensure their address and other details are up to date to be correctly enrolled.
A referendum is required if 10 per cent of enrolled voters sign a petition calling for one. This 10 per cent threshold was reached in February this year when Larry's petition of 600,000 signatures was delivered to Parliament.
Enrolment forms are available from www.elections.org.nz, by free texting your name and address to 3676, from any PostShop or by calling 0800 36 76 56.