A Slap On The Hand To Be Illegal In New Zealand

Why is New Zealand trying to ban smacking children for discipline? I truly cannot understand why the government needs to do a straight out ban on it. I don't support smacking children and I think if I had children I wouldn't smack them. It would be more like a last resort. If they ban smacking I won't be able to even deter them with saying I will smack them. Parents might have to result to punishment that won't leave marks like some forms of water torture like waterboarding although I hope they don't take it that far. I got a few smacks when I was younger but my mum at dad knew that every time they did it, I lost a little bit of respect for them. You could see it in my eyes. They eventually found a way to get what they wanted without smacking but maybe others don't know how. I suppose I have to leave it up to them as it's their children as we created the government to help us, not tell us how to raise our kids.