A NEW Zealand man is believed to be one of the first people to be convicted under the law against smacking after he spanked his eight-year-old son three times on the bottom.
The 33-year-old father from Masterton, on NZ's North Island, was this week sentenced to nine months' supervision after he admitted grabbing his son by the shoulder and smacking him with an open hand.
The controversial legislation, which became law in May this year, removed the defence of reasonable force for parents.
Masterton District Court judge Anthony Walsh told the man that while he may have got away with smacking in the past "it is a case of not now".
The father, who pleaded guilty to assault, and his wife had already sought help with anger management, parenting skills and relationship counselling.