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Family law

If Oranga Tamariki deals with you outside the court system

Overview

This section explains about the different steps Oranga Tamariki might take that don’t involve the more serious option of going to the Family Court to get care or Protection Orders, like a custody order.

The first three options may be used when Oranga Tamariki doesn’t think your child needs care or protection but thinks there are issues that need to be addressed or that the family or whānau needs some support:

  • Family/whānau agreements – A meeting or hui might be held to agree on how Oranga Tamariki can provide support over the next few months.
  • Hui ā-whānau – Oranga Tamariki has recently started using hui ā-whānau for tamariki Māori. They’re based around tikanga Māori, and they’re facilitated by a whānau member or a kairaranga ā-whānau or someone else who is strong in tikanga.
  • Agreements for children to leave the family/whānau for a while – You can agree with Oranga Tamariki (or a service like Barnardos) that they’ll look after your child for a time, which in some cases could be up to a year.

The fourth option – a formal Family Group Conference – is what has to happen when Oranga Tamariki decide your child needs care or protection. If the Family Group Conference can deal with the problems, then the case won’t need to go to the Family Court.

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Dealing with Oranga Tamariki / Ministry for Children

Where to go for more support

Community Law

www.communitylaw.org.nz

Your local Community Law Centre can provide free initial legal advice and information.

Oranga Tamariki / Ministry for Children

www.orangatamariki.govt.nz

Oranga Tamariki / Ministry for Children replaced Child, Youth and Family in April 2017. Its website has a range of information about the care and protection issues discussed in this chapter.

Phone: 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459)
Email: enquiry@ot.govt.nz

Family Court

www.justice.govt.nz/family-justice

The Family Court website has a wide variety of pamphlets and other information on issues relating to children. Access pamphlets online or order hard copies:

Phone: 0800 587 847
Email: publications@justice.govt.nz

Barnardos

www.barnardos.org.nz

Barnardos delivers a range of child and family services and early childhood care and education services throughout New Zealand. Barnardos also produces a range of fact sheets about children, parenting, child abuse and neglect, and school and family matters. For more information contact:

Phone: 0800 BARNARDOS (0800 227 627)
Email: information.sheets@barnardos.org.nz

Children’s Commissioner

www.occ.org.nz

Contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner:

Phone: 0800 224 453
Email: advice@occ.org.nz

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner looks to ensure that children’s rights are respected and upheld. It advocates for the best interests of all children and young people in New Zealand.

VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai

www.voyce.org.nz

This is a non-government advocacy service for children and young people in state care. Set up in April 2017, “VOYCE” stands for “Voice of the Young and Care Experienced”.

Youthline Aotearoa

www.youthline.co.nz

Phone: 0800 37 66 33
Free text: 234
Email: talk@youthline.co.nz

Youthline provides free counselling, information and referral services.

Women’s Refuge

www.womensrefuge.org.nz

Women’s Refuge provides 24-hour support, advocacy and accommodation for women and their children experiencing family violence.

Crisis Line

Phone: 0800 REFUGE (0800 733 843)

Women’s Refuge provides a free phone line for people anywhere in New Zealand. Get information, advice and support about family violence as well as help in a crisis.

Factsheets

A range of resources and fact sheets are available online.

Phone: (04) 802 5078
Email: info@refuge.org.nz

Office of the Ombudsman

www.ombudsman.parliament.nz

Free phone: 0800 802 602

Email: office@Ombudsman.parliament.nz

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