In 2013, mediation was made mandatory via the Family Dispute Resolution Act 2013 (NZ) (‘FDR Act’). Parties in dispute about care arrangements for their children under the Care of Children Act 2004 (NZ) were mandated to attend mediation in an effort to resolve their dispute before they could make an application to court. Exemptions included violence and mental health and addiction issues.
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Prevention of Alienation
Children are typically damaged by the family court system. Would we allow medical procedures on children which we knew put them at risk? Not unless there was no alternative – surely? We know that high conflict damages children and that the resist/refuse contact with a parent can result as a child struggles. We also know that parents can – and … Read More
Dealing with the Christmas season at separation and 10 tips from children
Suddenly all the Christmas decorations are in the shops again – and we are heading out of 2020. And what a year this has been for us all. I am thinking, as I always do, of separated parents and children at this time of year. Especially this year, as I am particularly conscious that anything that might have been going … Read More
Alienation and Christmas time
Most separating parents manage to set aside their own conflicts and put their children’s needs first – and a significant need is for children to have a relationship with both their parents and their extended families. This of course is highlighted for separated families at Christmas. Regardless whether or not Christmas is a major cultural celebration for a specific family, … Read More
Working with children and separation in groups
‘No man is an island entire of itself,’ wrote the poet John Donne – and don’t we know just how quickly and how fervently children want to connect with others, to identify with people “just like them”. And so this blog is written for those who work with children and who know the exhaustion of finding the time to work … Read More