Judge to address Family Court seminar
The role of the Family Court will be the focus of debate at a one-day seminar on Monday 30 August, organised in
association with Victoria University’s Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families and hosted by the New Zealand
Psychological Association.
Issues for the Family Court will open with a presentation from Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier, who will
discuss his view of future directions in the Court, including openness, the participation of children, the role of court
professionals and other changes signalled in the impending Care of Children Bill.
Director of the Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families, Associate Professor Jan Pryor, says the seminar has been
planned to coincide with the upcoming policy changes.
“It’s very timely, and there is a substantial amount of material in relation to policy changes that affect the Family
Court that we will be addressing during the day.
“These issues should be of great interest to all those involved in the Family Court process, including psychologists,
councillors, lawyers, media and non-government organisations such as Relationship Services.”
Associate Professor Pryor, an expert on family conflict and change, will give her own presentation on issues in legal
parenthood, such as surrogacy and civil unions.
Other speakers at the seminar include national and international experts in child and family psychology. Subjects
include an education programme for separated parents involved in child custody cases, a study of report writing within
the Family Court, and a case study of a recent High Court appeal on access to interview data.
Media are invited to attend Issues for the Family Court Seminar on Monday 30 August, 9am to 4pm, Telstra Clear Centre,
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Please contact Associate Professor Jan Pryor for more details on 04 463 7428
or jan.pryor@vuw.ac.nz.
To read the full seminar programme visit http://www.vuw.ac.nz/mckenzie-centre/news/upcoming