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Family Court StatisticsAn overview of Family Court Statistics in New Zealand 2004 to 2008

STATISTICAL BULLETIN May 2010

Overall trends 1999 to 2008

• Thenumberofnewapplications2isstable.Thisindicatesthatcourtworkloadisrelativelyconstantoverthatperiod.

• Theannualnumberofnewcaseshasgenerallydecreased.ThispointstofallingnumbersofnewfamilygroupsusingtheFamilyCourt.Theexceptionsarethoseseekingcounsellingorrelationshipdissolution.

Parenting of children

• Between2005and2008,thedistributionofpartiesgivenday-to-daycarehasmoreorlessremainedthesame.Mostparentingordersgiveday-to-daycaretoeitherthemotherorthefather.

• NewPlymouthandRotoruacourtclustershadthehighestrateofnewparentingofchildrencasesin2008.

Family violence

• Thenumberofprotectionorderapplications,andtheproportionofapplicationsgranted,havebeenstablebetween2006and2008.

• In2008,theSouthIslandhasalowerrateofnewfamilyviolencecasesthantheNorthIsland.

Care and protection of children

• Theannualnumberofnewchildrenneedingcareandprotectionrosefromaboutnearly1900in2004toover2250in2006.Thenumberdeclinedtoabout1550in2008.

• Between2004and2008,85percentofapplicationstocareandprotectachildcitedthelikelihoodofharmorimpairmentofwell-beingasoneofthegroundsfortheaction.

• Themaingroupofchildrentakenintocarearebetween0-4yearsold.Incontrast,thelargestgroupofchildrenattheirfinalreviewareaged15yearsandolder.

Dissolution of relationships

• Thenumberofjointdissolutionofmarriageandcivilunionapplicationsfellsteadilybetween2004and2008.

• In2008,boththeNorthandSouthIslandsappeartohavesimilarratesofdissolutioncases.ThehighestratewasintheNelson-Marlborougharea.

Thisbulletinanalyses,between2004and2008,thefourmainareasthatcomeunderthejurisdictionoftheFamilyCourt.1Italsolooksatoveralltrendsofusefrom1999to2008.

Family Court statistics – main findings

1 Formoreinformation,pleasegotowww.justice.govt.nz/courts/family-court.

2Throughoutthispublication,onlysubstantiveapplicationsareconsidered.

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www.justice.govt.nzPOBox180,Wellington,NewZealandCORP414•ISBN978-0-478-29087-X

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STATISTICALBULLETIN:FAMILYCOURT

IntroductionTheFamilyCourtisaspecialistcourtthatdealsmainlywithdisputesandotherlegalmatterswithinfamilysettings.ThisbulletinprovidesstatisticsonfourcasetypeswithwhichtheFamilyCourtdeals.Theseare:

• Parentingofchildrenwheretheparentsand/orguardiansareunabletoagree

• Familyviolence

• Protectionofchildrenandchildoffenders

• Dissolutionofrelationships.

OthermattersalsoheardintheFamilyCourt,butnotcoveredinthisbulletin,includementalhealth,andpropertyrelationshipcases.

Overalltrends1999to2008Thissection3reportsontheoveralltrendsofcasesandapplicationsintheNewZealandFamilyCourtsystembetween1999and2008.Figure1showsthepercentageincreaseordecreaseinsubstantiveapplicationssince1999,with1999setat100percent.Figure2showssimilarpercentagesfornewcasesfrom1999.

• Theoveralltrendfrom1999isthatthenumberofnewapplicationsisalmoststatic.

• Thenumberofnewapplicationsisanindicatoroftheworkloadofthecourt.

• Protectionofchildrenandfamilyviolenceapplicationshavegenerallydeclined.Parentingofchildrenapplicationsappearstatic.

• Protectionorderapplicationshavefallenfrom6520in1999to4422in2008.

Figure 1: Trends in new applications, 1999 to 20084

3 Datacollectionfrom22FamilyCourtsbeganinJuly1998.Allcourtswereincludedintothecollectionin2004.

4 BasedondatafromthoseCourtsthatwereusingtheFamilyCourtDataBase(FCDB)inJuly1998.

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• Theoveralltrendfrom1999isthatthenumberofnewcasesisgraduallyfalling.

• Eachnewcasetypicallyrepresentsanewfamilygroupforthattypeofcase.ItthereforeappearsthatfewerfamilygroupsareusingtheFamilyCourt.

• Theonlycasetypestoregisteranincreasesince1999arerelationshipdissolutionandseekingcounselling.

Figure 2: Trends in new cases, 1999 to 20085 6

5 BasedondatafromthoseCourtsthatwereusingtheFCDBinJuly1998.

6 DataforProtectionofChildrenisfrom2000,asdatafor1999isincomplete.

ParentingofchildrenThissectionreportsoncasesandapplicationsrelatedtotheparentingofchildrenwheretheirparentsand/orguardiansareunabletoagree.UndertheCareofChildrenAct2004(whichcameintoforceon1July2005),partiesareencouragedtoreachtheirownagreementsabouttheparentingofchildren.Iftheycannotagreeajudgecandecidewhichcaregiverprovidesday-to-daycareandwhattypeofcontactotherpartiesmayhave.

Mainfindingsfor2005to2008

Figure3showsthedistributionofpartiesgivenday-to-daycare,between2005and2008.Notethatthemajorityofordersaregiven‘byconsent’ofthepartiestotheproceedings,ratherthandecidedbyajudge.

• Thedistributionhashardlyvariedinthefouryearsofdata.

• Mostofthetime,day-to-daycareisgiventoasingleparty(eg,motheronly,fatheronly).Relativelyfewordersaresharedbetweentwoormoreparties.

• Thetotalnumberofparentingordershasbeenrising.In2006(thefirstfullyear),therewere4230finalorders,comparedto5812in2008.

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Figure4showsthenumberofparentingofchildrencases,calculatedasarateper1000coupleswithchildren(2006populationcensus).TherateishighestintheNewPlymouthandRotoruacourtcluster,andthelowestinNelsonandDunedin.TheSouthIslandclustersappeartohavelowerratesthantheNorthIslandones.

Figure 4. Number of new parenting of children cases (family groups) in 2008 per 1000 couples, by Court Cluster

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Figure 3: Day-to-day care parenting orders, 2005 - 20087

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Note:Theshadinginthemapaboveindicates‘rates’per1,000coupleswithchildren–thenumbersineachoftheregionsonthemappertaintotheactualnumberofnewcasesinitiatedinthatgeographicalregion.

7 Distributionofordersmadewheretherelationshipsbetweentheadultpartiesandthechildrenareallrecorded,datafor2005onlyfrom1July2005whenlegislationtookeffect.

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FamilyviolenceThissectionreportsoncasesandapplicationsrelatedtofamilyviolence.TheFamilyCourtdealswiththeissuingofprotectionordersandotherlegalmattersundertheDomesticViolenceAct1995.Protectionorderapplicationscanbemadewithoutnoticeoronnotice.8 Notethatpoliceprosecutionsforfamilyviolencecrimestakeplaceinthecriminalcourt.

Mainfindingsfor2004to2008

Overthisperiod,88percentofallprotectionorderapplicationswerefiledwithoutnotice.Ofthose,84percentresultedinatemporaryprotectionorder.

Figure5showsthenumberandfinaloutcomeofprotectionorderapplications.Thetotalnumberofprotectionorderapplicationshasbeenstablebetween2006and2008.Ithadfallensteadilyfrom1999,thefirstyearofelectronicrecording,to2006.

Figure 5: Number of protection order applications and final outcomes, 2004 - 2008

8 Onnoticeapplicationsareservedontherespondentwhohasanopportunitytorespond,beforeajudgeconsidersmakinganorder.Withoutnoticeapplicationsareconsideredbyajudgebeforetherespondenthasanopportunitytorespond(usuallybecausetherearesignificantsafetyconcerns).Ifajudgegrantsawithoutnoticeapplication,atemporaryprotectionorderismadeinthefirstinstanceandtherespondentcanthendefendtheorderbecomingfinal(permanent).Temporaryprotectionordersbecomepermanentautomaticallyafterthreemonthsunlesstheyarechallengedorwithdrawn.

Onceaprotectionorderisgranted,itremainsenforceableindefinitely.Italsousuallyrequirestherespondenttotheprotectionordertoattendastoppingviolenceprogramme.Iftheapplicationwaswithoutnotice,respondentscanobjecttoattendingtheprogramme.Theremovalofaprotectionorderrequiresthegrantingofanapplicationtodischargetheprotectionorder.Theapplicationtodischargecanbemadebyeithertheprotectionorderrespondentorapplicant.

Figure6showsthenumberoftwotypesofapplicationsthataregranted.Thetwotypesofapplicationsaretodischargetheprotectionorder,andobjectingtoprogrammeattendance.

• Thetotalnumberofgrantedapplications(bothtypes)isstablebetween2004and2008.

• Onlyabout30percentofapplicationsobjectingtoattendanceofaprogrammearegranted.

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Figure 6: Number of applications granted, 2004 – 2008

Figure7showsthegeographicalratesofnewfamilyviolencecasesin2008.Thenumbersoffamilyviolencecasesarecalculatedasarateper1000couples(2006populationcensus).TherateishighestintheGisborneandRotoruacourtcluster,andthelowestinNelson,DunedinandInvercargill.TheratesfortheSouthIslandclustersarenoticeablylowerthanthosefortheNorthIsland.

Figure 7: Number of new family violence cases (family groups) in 2008 per 1000 couples, by Court Cluster

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Note:Theshadinginthemapaboveindicates‘rates’per1,000couples–thenumbersineachofthe

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CareandprotectionofchildrenThissectionreportsonthecareandprotectionofchildrenundertheChildren,YoungPersonsandtheirFamiliesAct1989.Section14oftheActprovidesinstancesorgroundswherethestateshouldcareandprotectachild.ThehearingofchildcareandprotectioncasesareheldintheFamilyCourt.

Suchcasesareinitiatedbyanapplicationforadeclarationthatachildisinneedofcareandprotection–referredtosubsequentlyasanapplicationfordeclaration.

Whenadeclarationismade,theMinistryofSocialDevelopmentmustfileaplanproposinghowthechildwillbecaredfor.ThisplanmustbereviewedbytheCourtaslongasthechildiscoveredbytheAct.Forchildrenundersevenyearsofage,areviewistohappenatleastevery6months.Forchildrenoversevenareviewistooccuratleastevery12months.However,aFamilyCourtjudgemayordermorefrequentreviews.

Mainfindingsfor2004to2008

ThegroundsfordeclaringachildinneedofcareandprotectionareenteredintotheMinistryofJustice’sdatabase.Multiplegroundscanbeentered.Figure8showsthepercentageofapplicationswherethesegroundswerecited,categorisedbyagegroup.

• Forchildrenagedbelow10,likelihoodofharmtothechildisthepredominantreasonforprotection.

• Forchildrenagedabove10,otherreasons(eg,harmfulbehaviour)aremorefrequentlycited.

Thepercentagesdonotvarygreatlybetweenyears.Themostnoticeablechangehasbeenthedeclineinthe‘caregiverunabletocareforchild’ground.In2004,itwascitedinnearly40percentofalldeclarations.However,in2008,itwasmentionedinunder30percentofthem.

Figure 8: Grounds for protecting children, 2004 – 2008, by age group

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Figure9showsthenumberofchildrenassociatedwithcareandprotectiondeclaration.Thenumbershavedroppedsignificantlyfromthepeakin2006,whilstthegendermixisrelativelyconstant.

Figure 9: Annual number of children declared to be in need of care and protection – by

gender9, 2004 – 2008

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9 Thedataisbasedontheyearinwhichthegrantedapplicationfordeclarationwasfiled.

10 Thedataisbasedontheyearinwhichthegrantedapplicationfordeclarationwasfiled.

11 Thedatafor2008isonlyforthefirstsixmonthsoftheyear.

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Theannualdistributionofchildren’sagesatdeclarationisshowninFigure10.Thereisabiastowardsyoungerchildren.Thegroupaged0to4yearsisalwaysthelargestgroup.The10to14yearoldgroupisthesecondlargestgroup.

Figure 10: Annual distribution of children’s ages declared to be in need of care and protection10, 2004 –2008

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Onceachildisincareandprotection,thecaseisregularlyreviewed–usuallyatintervalsof6or12months.Thereviewprocessinvolvesfilings135planreviewdocumentation.Theprocessisrepeateduntilthechildisdeemedtonolongerrequirecareandprotection.Thedistributionofchildren’sagesatfinalreview11isshowinFigure11.

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Thedistributionatfinalreviewisquitedifferentfromthedistributionatdeclaration.Thebiggestagegrouparethoseaged15andabove.Thissuggeststhatmanychildrenarecaredandprotectedfromdeclarationuntillegaladulthood.However,about60percentofchildrennolongerneedingcareandprotectionareagedbelow15yearsold.

Figure 11: Distribution of protected children’s ages (at final review), 2004 –2008

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DissolutionofrelationshipsThissectionreportsonapplicationstodissolverelationships.Bothmarriagesandcivilunionsarecoveredbythissection.

Mainfindingsfor2004to2008

Figure12showsthenumberofapplicationsforamarriageorciviluniondissolution(eitherjointdissolutionsorsingledissolutions).

• Thenumberofjointdissolutionapplicationsfellsteadilybetween2004and2008.In2004,therewere7561jointdissolutionscomparedto6457in2008.

• Thenumbersofsingledissolutionapplicationsremainsteady.

Figure 12: Number of dissolutions applications, 2004 - 2008

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Figure13showsthegeographicdistributionofnewdissolutioncasesin2008,per1000couples.BoththeNorthandSouthIslandsappeartohavethesamerateofdissolutioncases.However,theareawiththehighestrate(per1000couples)isintheNelson-Marlborougharea.

Figure 13: Joint and single dissolution cases, rate per 1000 couples, by Court Cluster, 2008

Note:Theshadinginthemapaboveindicates‘rates’per1,000couples–thenumbersineachoftheregionsonthemappertaintotheactualnumberofnewcasesinitiatedinthatgeographicalregion.

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STATISTICALBULLETIN:FAMILYCOURT

NotesInthisbulletinthedatesusedarewhentheapplicationswerefiled,orwhenthecaseswerecreated.TrendsinFigure1arecompiledbyonlycountingsubstantiveapplications.

ThenumberofchildreninFigure9wasderivedbycountinguniqueidentifiersassociatedwiththeyearthedeclarationwasgranted.

Courtareasareestimatedbyallocatingeach2006censusmesh-blocktothenearestcourthouse.Nearnessismeasuredastheshortestroaddistancefromthegeographicalcentreofthemesh-blocktothecourthouse.Courtareapopulationsareestimatedbysumming2006censusdataonthesizeoftheusuallyresidentpopulationforthemesh-blockswithineachcourtarea.Forpresentationpurposes,offshoremesh-blocksarenotdisplayed.

Becauseofrounding,percentagesshowninthefiguresmaynotaddupto100percent.

Theterms“parentingofchildren”and“familyviolence”areusedhereinpreferenceto“guardianship”and“domesticviolence”adoptedinpreviousMinistryofJusticefamilycourtstatisticalreports.

OtherannualstatisticalreportsavailableTheResearch,EvaluationandModellingUnitwithintheMinistryofJusticepublishesannualstatisticalreports.ThesearelistedbelowandarecurrentlyavailableattheMinistryofJusticewebsite–http://www.justice.govt.nz

• ConvictionandSentencingofOffendersinNewZealand

• FamilyCourtStatisticsinNewZealand

• ChildandYouthOffendingStatisticsinNewZealand(formerlytitledYouthJusticeStatisticsinNewZealand)