Family Violence Law Changes

New Zealand’s high rate of family violence is not acceptable . The Government wants to ensure family violence victims are kept safe and people who use family violence ARE HELD TO ACCOUNT . 

Some changes have taken effect to improve safety for victims of family violence. From July 1^st 2019 the new Family Violence Act 2018 replaces the old Act  from 1995. The changes give decision-makers in the family violence system better guidance about the nature and impact of family violence and enables a more consistent response to victims and those who commit the family violence.

There are changes to Protection Orders – Standard conditions applicable when someone has a Protection Order against them , have been simplified : No Contact Condition . . . the respondent cannot contact the applicant except with the applicant’s permission in writing. The applicant may change their mind at any time and this doesn’t have to be in writing. Note that a breach of a Property Order will be treated as a breach of a Protection Order and this means breaching a Property Order is an offence and the offender can be arrested 

There are expanded examples of family violence which are actions a person cannot do while there is a Protection Order against them . Examples are a/ abusing pets or even threatening to abuse pets or animals which are of importance to a person   b/Dowry abuse where family members may use threats or violence to demand more than what has been agreed by the two families . Dowry can be money , jewellery , gifts or property brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage   . 

There are other changes to the Act : the term “domestic violence” is replaced by “ family violence “ to better reflect that violence happens in a range of intimate and family relationships both inside and outside the home and that it is not a “domestic” or private matter.

The definition will expand to include coercive or controlling behaviour against a person that causes them cumulative harm .

We can only show a summary of some of the changes , impacts and clarification but there is much more information available on this website:

www.justice.govt.nz/family/family-violence

Wairarapa Citizens Advice Bureau  ,  43 Perry Street , Masterton 

ph 06 377 0078  or 0800 367 222