Media investigates Family Court orders and "disturbing" footage of uplifting children

Media outlet Newsroom has investigated children being uplifted by Police to enforce parenting orders made by the Family Court.

The article, Taken by the state, includes disturbing video footage of children being uplifted by Police. It also includes discussion by Professor Mark Henaghan, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Otago, and Backbone Collective co-founder Deborah Mackenzie.

Associate Professor Nicola Atwool who teaches at the University of Otago's social work programme wrote a piece on trauma in response, No child should be put in this position.

Newsroom also published:

Case 1: Snatched from school
Case 2: Waking up to cops in the kitchen
Case 3: Pried from home with a crowbar
and The legislation behind uplifting children

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Responses

Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern said the footage was "horrific" and called for a review of the Family Court system. Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft and Ministers Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett also provided comment.

Retired Family Court judge John Adams wrote a piece Former Family Court judge: ‘Compliance isn’t optional’.

Barrister Catriona MacLennan highlighted the ongoing use of the discredited "Parental Alienation Syndrome" in the Family Court.

Further responses are in the media list below, including from Justice Minister Amy Adams.

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Related information

The Backbone Collective has been highlighting issues in the Family Court. For more information see these previous NZFVC news stories:

• ‍Backbone Collective: "overwhelmingly negative feedback" on the Family Court‍
• Backbone Collective releases first report on the Family Court‍
• New collective for survivors of violence against women launched: The Backbone Collective.

A petition demanding a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Family Court has been started on Action Station.

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Related research and resources

Aotearoa New Zealand

• Research on women’s experiences of the Family Court by Vivienne Elizabeth, Nicola Gavey and Julia Tolmie
• Pitama,  D.,  Ririnui,  G.,  &  Mikaere,  A.  (2002). Guardianship, custody and access: Māori perspectives and experiences. Wellington: Ministry of Justice and Department for Courts.

Australia

• ‍Domestic and family violence and parenting: Mixed methods insights into impact and support needs (ANROWS, 2017)‍
• Safety First in Family Law - Women's Legal Services Australia's campaign for a safer family law system‍
• Family Law and Family Violence: Research to Practice - Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse (2012)