Reforms put children at heart of Family Court
The Government’s reforms of our family justice system come into force on Monday 31 March, Justice Minister Judith
Collins announced today.
Ms Collins told the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) Breakfast meeting in Auckland this
morning that the reforms mark the most significant changes to New Zealand’s Family Court since its establishment 33
years ago.
“Our reforms are the culmination of three years of work to bring New Zealand’s family justice system into the 21st
Century,” Ms Collins says.
“The 2011 review of the Family Court – which involved input from Family Court lawyers, Judges, counsellors and
psychologists – confirmed what everyone knew and had been unable to address: far too many people were going to court
unnecessarily and cases were taking far too long to resolve.
“This Government’s reforms empower people to resolve their parenting matters outside court and minimise the stress
children often face when their parents separate. We’re ensuring the Court focuses on those cases that most need judicial
expertise, especially those cases involving domestic violence.”
Ms Collins says the centrepiece of the out-of-court system is the new Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) service.
“The FDR service will be fully funded by the Government for those who meet the income threshold for civil legal aid –
it’s estimated about 60 per cent of participants will be eligible,” Ms Collins says.
“The Government will also ensure the cost of FDR is affordable for others by providing an option to access FDR for $897
including GST, per case. This will be shared by all parties to the dispute, so an individual will pay significantly less
than this amount.”
All couples will be required to complete FDR before they file with the Family Court. However, cases involving urgency –
such as domestic violence or if there are concerns for the safety of children – will continue to go straight to the
Family Court. FDR will be supported by a free Family Legal Advice Service and an expansion of the successful Parenting
through Separation programme. A new Family Justice website was also launched today by the Ministry of Justice as a first
port of call for all family justice issues.
Ms Collins says the reforms, and the introduction of FDR, will help to change the way New Zealanders think about family
law.
“If we can keep people out of court where possible, if we can get them to take responsibility for their own actions –
and put the welfare of their children to the forefront – we will be on the right path to bringing family law into a new
era.”
ENDS