June 20, 2019
Māori Law Society backs family court overhaul
The Māori Law Society is backing proposals to recognise te ao Māori in family justice services.
An independent panel looking at the 2014 family justice reforms has called for a joined-up family justice service – Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau.
Te Hunga Roia Māori o Aotearoa spokesperson Traecy Norton says the section on te ao Māori filled her with hope.
The society is backing recommendations to give tamaiti a voice throughout the process, and for kaumātua and grandparents to also have their role acknowledged,
"It's also the judiciary and the users of the family court recognising a child is not seen in isolation, that a child always comes with their whānau, hapū, iwi, and that process should be inclusive," Ms Norton says.
Many grandparents end up raising grandchildren, but their voices have been left out of the family court.
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