Submission to the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill
AMINZ and Resolution Institute made a submission to the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill. Executive Director Sue Wells, Resolution Institute Chief Operating Officer Trevor Slater and AMINZ/Resolution Institute member and Fellow Chris LaHatte spoke to the submission at select committee in February.
This bill promoted amendments to both the Care of Children Act and the Family Dispute Resolution Act. Like many other submitters while AMINZ supports any endeavour to promote dispute resolution in Aotearoa New Zealand, it did not support the bill in its current form.
AMINZ acknowledges that there are mixed views from suppliers within the sector on whether the bill would put providers (the mediators) in an impossible situation as far as compliance with the AMINZ Code of Ethics. AMINZ has asked for the opportunity to be involved at an earlier stage in any redraft of the bill as the intent of it is sound, but it falls down in the drafting.
Much work has been done lately and continues to be done in the family space, with contributions from many AMINZ volunteers.
