Dale Clarkson

Family Law Mediation | Voice of the Child 

Appointed District Court Judge with Family Court Warrant 1989, Judge Clarkson is highly experienced in family disputes. She retired as full time judge in 2006 and currently holds Acting Warrant as a District  Court Judge.

Judge Clarkson has presented papers locally and internationally to a wide range of groups, including psychologists, lawyers, judges, law students and multi-disciplinary groups involved in family law. She is also the author or co-author of  publications in “New Zealand Family Law Journal” and “International Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law” .

Judge Clarkson is an extremely experienced mediator, she estimates that she has conducted 1400-1500 mediations. She has undertaken Advanced Mediation training at Bond University. She was a founding faculty member of the Institute of Judicial Studies Mediation Faculty, and as such was one of those responsible for designing a programme, and training judges, at all levels, in mediation and settlement conference skills from 1999 until 2007. 

In 2018 Judge Clarkson completed the intensive mediation training for Cross-Border and Cross-Cultural Disputes and holds international qualifications from MiKK (International Mediation Centre for Family Conflict and Child Abduction), one of the few recognised organisations which facilitates Hague Convention mediations.

She has had experience dealing with the following areas:

• Adolescent/Teenage Issues
• Adult Family and Elder Care
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Domestic Violence
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse
• Extended Family Issues
• Gender Issues
• Illness and Disabilities
• Loss and Anger
• Multi-Cultural Relationships
• Multi-Generational Issues
• Parenting/Care and Contact Issues
• Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements
• Relationship Property
• Relocation
• Re-Partnered/Blended Family Issues
• Separation
• Sexuality Issues
• Wills and Estates

Other professional appointments or affiliations:

New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal- Chairperson since its inception in 2008
New Zealand Association of Women Judges ( inaugural president)