Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Act 2021

1: Title
This Act is the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Act 2021.
2: Commencement
1: This Act comes into force on the earlier of—
a: a date appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council; and
b: the date that is 2 years after the date on which this Act receives the Royal assent.
2: One or more Orders in Council may be made under subsection (1)﻿(a)
3: An Order in Council made under subsection (1)﻿(a) see Part 3 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette LA19 s 69(1)﻿(c) Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act.
1: Amendments to Care of Children Act 2004
3: Amendments to Care of Children Act 2004
This Part amends the Care of Children Act 2004 2023-08-16 Care of Children Act 2004 See section 2(1)﻿(b), unless earlier brought into force by Order in Council (see section 2(1)﻿(a)).
4: Section 5 amended (Principles relating to child’s welfare and best interests)
After section 5(f)
g: a child must be given reasonable opportunities to participate in any decision affecting them.
5: Section 5A amended (Family violence to be taken into account)
After section 5A(1)
1A: In taking into account the principle in section 5(a), the court must have regard to—
a: the purpose of the Family Violence Act 2018, under which an order specified in subsection (1)﻿(b) was made; and
b: the principles set out in section 4 of that Act guiding the achievement of that purpose.
6: Section 6 amended (Child’s views)
Before section 6(1)
1AAA: The purpose of this section is to implement in New Zealand Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
7: Section 7 amended (Appointment of lawyer to represent child in proceedings)
In section 7
2: When appointing a lawyer to represent a child, the court or Registrar must, so far as is reasonably practicable, appoint a lawyer who is, by reason of their personality, cultural background, training, and experience, suitably qualified to represent the child.
8: New section 7AA inserted (Lawyer appointed to represent child must explain proceedings to child)
After section 7
7AA: Lawyer appointed to represent child must explain proceedings to child
A lawyer appointed under section 7 to represent a child must, if it is reasonably practicable to do so having regard to the age and maturity of the child, explain the nature of the proceedings to the child in a manner that the child is most likely to understand.
9: Section 7B amended (Duties of lawyer when giving advice)
1: Replace the heading to section 7B Duties of lawyers
2: In section 7B
2: Before commencing a proceeding under this Act, a lawyer must take any steps that, in the opinion of the lawyer, assist in enabling the issues in dispute to be resolved as safely, fairly, inexpensively, simply, and speedily as is consistent with justice.
2: Amendment to Family Dispute Resolution Act 2013
10: Amendment to Family Dispute Resolution Act 2013
This Part amends the Family Dispute Resolution Act 2013 2023-08-16 Family Dispute Resolution Act 2013 See section 2(1)﻿(b), unless earlier brought into force by Order in Council (see section 2(1)﻿(a)).
11: Section 11 amended (Duties of FDR providers)
After section 11(2)﻿(b)
ba: ensure that the children who are the subject of the dispute are given any reasonable opportunities to participate in the decisions affecting them that the FDR provider considers appropriate; and