The Waikato Times’ review of our Road Show

Family First roadshow visits Taumarunui
Stuff.co.nz 28 September 2016
Family First Comment: “It was held at the Baptist Church in Matapuna last Wednesday evening and a large crowd gathered inside the hall. McCoskrie made no apologies for his views that a nation’s negative social outcomes were a result of weakening families and marriages. Tackling issues from child abuse to family violence, he said he could link reasons for the breakdown in families. Using government research and statistics to back up his claim he also pointed out obvious solutions to fix the current social problems.”
Family values advocate Bob McCoskrie stopped in Taumarunui as part of the Strong Marriage, Strong Families, Strong Nation roadshow.
It was the only stopover in the Ruapehu District and the Family First advocate’s message was clear.
“By the end of my presentation if there’s something you haven’t disagreed with then you’ve possibly nodded off halfway through.
“I want to get under your skin.”
It was held at the Baptist Church in Matapuna last Wednesday evening and a large crowd gathered inside the hall.
McCoskrie made no apologies for his views that a nation’s negative social outcomes were a result of weakening families and marriages.
Tackling issues from child abuse to family violence, he said he could link reasons for the breakdown in families.
Using government research and statistics to back up his claim he also pointed out obvious solutions to fix the current social problems.
“I will show what we need to do to strengthen families and what we need to do to actually solve the problems in family violence and child abuse but we’ve got to be willing to talk about some of the major presenting issues which I don’t think we are.”
He said changes made on better enforcement of protection orders made last week and were important but more needed to be done.
“I’m talking about the ambulance at the top of the cliff.
” I’m asking how do we prevent it and stop the next generation of our underbelly of society going down the same track because it’s getting worse.”
Drugs and alcohol were addressed as a major contributor.
McCoskrie said going soft and liberalising laws would make matters worse.
By pointing out the “elephants in the room” he had two hours to identify the core issues.
Prepared for a controversial evening McCoskrie didn’t hold back telling the crowd he wanted to get people thinking.
“Speak up and start speaking commonsense back into the debate.
” We’re not willing to talk about what is quite obviously the major issues causing our social problems.”
The lobby group also has another fight on their hands.
After winning their charitable status against the Charities Commission he said they may be back in court.
“I think we all should be concerned when a government body or organisation of the day determines what is controversial or acceptable in contemporary New Zealand society.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/ruapehu-press/84685839/family-first-roadshow-visits-taumarunui