Under the bill, Family Court associates will be appointed to handle cases in their early stages
The new Family Court (Family Court Associate) Legislation Bill has been introduced to cut down delays in Family Court.
Under the bill, Family Court associates will be appointed across New Zealand to tackle cases while in the early stages, facilitating faster progress through the court and easing judges’ administrative burden. The recommendation was initially made by the New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa and included in the 2019 Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau report.
“The introduction of the Family Court (Family Court Associate) Legislation Bill will support many thousands of children and their families across Aotearoa New Zealand and is a welcome relief for a system hampered by delays,” said Caroline Hickman, who chairs the family law section of the Law Society.
Law Society President Jacque Lethbridge added that the legislation represented “an important step to reverse some of the delays in our legal system.” She praised the organisation’s family law section for its advocacy.
“Often change occurs because of tireless advocacy by a number of dedicated people who want to see and cause positive change. The Law Society’s family law section has been a tireless advocate alongside many other groups,” she said.
Hickman said that nearly all of the recommendations presented by the Law Society to the independent panel were incorporated into the 2019 Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau report.
“Today is a win for all New Zealanders, and particularly those who have struggled under the delay in the Family Court system for too long,” she said.
