Hamilton, New Zealand—Change is all the rage today. But change itself is not necessarily desirable. You measure its success or failure by the outcome it brings.

Boy interrogated at sleepover. Mother suspended for tapping child on hand. Father charged and convicted for demanding respect toward mother. These are some of the cases that have been investigated since New Zealand outlawed the disciplining of children back in 2007. Did changing the law bring a good outcome for those parents and children?

For nine years, until general elections last November, New Zealand was led by Helen Clark’s Labour Party. From the beginning, the scene was set for radical change as the government was filled with academics, feminists, activist lawyers and homosexual members of Parliament.

In her valedictory speech this April, as she resigned from Parliament, the former prime minister explained, “Our government then and in subsequent terms embarked on a program of change across the economic, social, environmental and cultural spheres, which over time has made a substantial difference for the better to many New Zealanders’ lives.”

So where did this government start on this “program of change” for which we as a nation are now so better off?

If strong family is the lifeblood of a nation, the Labour government immediately went for the nation’s jugular.

One of the first major laws passed was the Prostitution Reform Act of 2003, which decriminalized prostitution. The only “controls” it demanded was that brothels had to be registered and inspected to ensure they complied with health and safety codes. In effect, the nation’s leaders said that prostitution was now a legitimate career option for women. A brothel was considered a normal work environment—like someone going to the office for the day.

In 2004, the government passed the Civil Union Act. The prime minister said she is proud of how this law enables “rainbow couples to express their love for each other by cementing their relationship in law” (ibid.). Homosexual activists view it merely as a stepping stone: Their ultimate goal is to redefine traditional family completely. They had a willing accomplice in this Labour-led government.

In 2007, the government attacked Section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961, which says, “Every parent or person in place of a parent of a child is justified in using force by way of correction towards a child, if that force is reasonable in the circumstances.” This right of parents to discipline their children was anathema to the government. Thus, it introduced the Crimes Amendment Act. Though its rationale for removing Section 59 was to stop child abuse, rates of child abuse have not changed since the law was enacted. In truth, the government made the change not because it cares about New Zealand’s children, but simply to undermine parental authority—authority given to parents by God. Proverbs 29:15 states, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Sadly, this government would scoff at such an (in their view) antiquated notion—yet much of society’s problems originate from dysfunctional, broken family.

Attacking the family is not the only area of change this government wanted to bring to New Zealand society. The government was also very aggressive in breaking down our historical links with Britain. It sought to heal the nation’s “collective guilt” over perceived colonial mistakes of the past by spraying apologies about like confetti.

In her April 8 speech, the prime minister said, “In our last term in particular, comprehensive sustainability policies were put in place to put New Zealand on the front foot in combating climate change. I strongly believe that it is important for our country’s international credibility that we are seen to take these issues seriously and be prepared to act.” On Dec. 19, 2002, New Zealand ratified the Kyoto Protocol, committing the nation to reducing greenhouse gases. But the government had a problem—almost half of the greenhouse gas New Zealand produces comes from our livestock! How does one stop cows and sheep from releasing gas? As the nation sinks further into recession—with an estimated 50,000 more jobs to go by next year—the Kyoto liability stands at $546 million. Nevertheless, the government is apparently less concerned about the drain on the national economy than about ensuring New Zealand is seen to be playing its part in “saving the planet.”

And even though Labour was voted out in November 2008, did the incoming conservative government reinstate Section 59? Did it nix the prostitution bill or Civil Union Act? Did it try to pull out of the Kyoto agreement? No. In fact, when you look at the conscience vote on the Civil Union Act, the names of some conservative MPs were in favor of it!

Just because the Labour government is gone doesn’t mean the socialist program of change has stopped.

The New Zealand Geographic Board recently proposed that New Zealand’s two islands, the North Island and South Island, be named with alternative Maori equivalents, Te Ika a Maui and Te Wai Pounamu. This is yet another attempt by the cultural zealots to distance New Zealand from its British roots.

“Interestingly, while researching this issue, we noted that ‘North Island’ and ‘South Island’ are actually not official names under our legislation, despite their common long-term usage,” said Board Chairperson Dr. Don Grant. “We therefore want to formalize alternative Maori names and, at the same time, make the naming of the North and South Islands official.”

The people of New Zealand are the descendants of biblical Israel. The prophets forewarned about the curses that would come upon us. “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (Isaiah 3:12).

Isaiah reveals a deep-rooted problem within the nations of Israel today. When a leader supports prostitution, homosexual “marriage,” the removal of parents’ right to discipline, abortion, the destruction of New Zealand’s cultural and historical links with Britain, an international protocol on climate change that plunges the nation into greater debt and threatens the viability of its crucial agricultural sector, it reveals clearly that New Zealand, like other Anglo-Saxon nations, is in the midst of a crisis. A crisis in character.

As Hosea 8:7 says, “they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” As long as we as a nation sow wind by dismissing the value of character—in our leaders and in ourselves—then we will reap the whirlwind. Broken, dysfunctional families, escalating crime, drug and alcohol problems, sexual immorality, and a myriad of other societal problems will intensify as we drift further and further from God.