Crimes Act 1961, ss 150A, 152, 195, 195A
Anyone who is over 18 and who is aware of child abuse occurring in their household must take reasonable steps to protect that child from death, serious harm or sexual assault. Parents and guardians also have a separate duty to protect children in their care from injury.
This means that adult victims of family violence, as well as people committing violence, are responsible for reporting child abuse, including the ‘psychological abuse’ of seeing or hearing family violence. For more information, see the chapter “Dealing with Oranga Tamariki / Ministry for Children”.