by Virginia Bonanni | Nov 22, 2023 | FDR Centre, FDR Mediation, Mediation
Written by Richard Pidgeon In Peeling v Gordon [2023] NZFC 2857, an aunt sought to become her niece and nephew’s cultural adviser under the Care of Children Act 2004, after a failed attempt to have contact with them. This application was struck out as an abuse of the...
by Virginia Bonanni | Jan 25, 2023 | Family Law, FDR Centre, Mediation, Relationship Property, Trusts and Estates
By Sam Dorne Courts worldwide have long seen the benefits of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) such as mediation. However, the courts have either been constrained or unwilling to force parties to participate in the ADR process. The High Court in New Zealand has...
by Virginia Bonanni | May 31, 2022 | FDR Centre, FDR Mediation, Mediation
By Kate Holland Changes announced last week as part of the 2022 budget will affect how child support is paid to parents who receive a benefit at the sole parent rate. Starting 1 July 2023, child support payments will be passed on in full to these parents without the...
by Virginia Bonanni | Dec 17, 2021 | Counselling, Family Law, FDR Centre, FDR Mediation, Mediation, Relationship Property, Trusts and Estates, Voice of the Child
No-one really likes difficult conversations. But they are everywhere. They can be at work, the dentists’ office (it cost how much?!), the hairdressers (uh, yes, it looks great!) and of course, at home. The conversations are all floating out there, always waiting for...
by Virginia Bonanni | Dec 2, 2021 | FDR Centre, FDR Mediation, Mediation, Voice of the Child
A child’s right to participate in family dispute proceedings is recognised in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has been given effect to in legislation such as the Care of Children Act 2004 (COCA). The recently passed Family Court (Supporting...
by Virginia Bonanni | Nov 12, 2021 | Family Law, FDR Centre, Mediation, Relationship Property
By Melissa Perkin. Case Overview The Supreme Court has recently released its decision in Preston v Preston[1], providing valuable guidance in relationship property disputes and the application of section 182 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980, which empowers a court...
