Care of Children Act 2004, ss 27, 29, 47, 48
If you think your child is not safe, you have several options. Whichever option you choose, the outcome will be best if you arrange a good, safe situation for your child to live in.
You can communicate with the caregiver and try to get them to agree to move the child to a different, safe situation that you have arranged.
You can get a grandparent or someone else you trust to apply to the Family Court for day-to-day care of your child. The court will grant them leave to apply if you are supporting their application. The person you have chosen will need to explain why they are more suitable than the current caregiver. If the caregiver has been violent, your person can also apply for a Protection Order to stop the caregiver from having contact with the child.
For more information, see “Getting a Protection Order” in this chapter
If your child is in immediate danger and you can’t work out a plan to get family on the outside to safely look after the child, you can notify the police or Oranga Tamariki (or get someone closer to the situation to notify Oranga Tamariki – 0508 326 459). Try to gather as much information as possible, ring their school, get people you know and trust on the outside to gather evidence to give to Oranga Tamariki. Remember that getting Oranga Tamariki involved in your child’s life can have a significant impact on your child.
For more information, see “Oranga Tamariki Care and Protection” in this chapter