Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Family Court Consumers Group appalled at legal rort

Family Court Consumers Group appalled at Lawyer for Child's "1 meeting in 10 years" taxpayer funded legal rort


A National Family Court Consumers Group is appalled at the negligent performance of a Lawyer for Child who represented a child for 10 years, meeting the child only once during this time, yet determining critical Family Court decisions for the child, in the absence of considering the child's views in the process, as required by Section 6 of the 2004 Care of Children Act.

Gabrielle Wagner was appointed as Lawyer for Child (LFC) in 2002, soon after the child was born.

A host of Family Court hearings ensued over the following 10 years, in which substantial care decisions were made for the child - yet Wagner refused to regularly meet with the child as the child got older, managing just one brief meeting in 10 years.

"This is a shocking case of representative neglect of a child, and a damning indictment on the lack of accountability that exists in the NZ Family Court regarding taxpayer funding of LFC representatives" said Steve Taylor, Convenor ofwww.nzfamilycourt.com

"Essentially, what we have here is a taxpayer-funded Lawyer in Gabrielle Wagner showing up at various Court Hearings who is hopelessly under-prepared and ignorant of her clients actual on-going needs, and then making decisions on behalf of the child and the family that in no way represents the best interests of her client, the child in question".

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"Recently, the child was assaulted by the child's father via strangulation, a Police call-out ensued, the child was removed from the fathers care by the Police & CYF, and placed in a safer environment. Gabrielle Wagner's response was to opine that the child should not have been removed by the Police & CYF, because the father had been awarded interim care by the Family Court. Such a response flies in the face of the evidence of the risk to the child at the time the uplift took place, and borders on ideological Sociopathy" said Mr Taylor.

"Stunningly, the child was then returned to the fathers care four weeks later, despite the child having the option of a safe care environment with the child's mother, and this was decision supported by Lawyer for Child Gabrielle Wagner".

"Such decisions simply contribute to the on-going rise in child abuse in this country, and it is time for a Independent Royal Commission of Enquiry into the NZ Family Court and its practitioners, because sadly, these stories continue to emerge, even under the new regime of the recent Family Court Reforms" said Mr Taylor.

Link to the story, with Consumer commentary, is here:

http://24-7.us5.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=36e1af9eecf455c7d55c15319&id=3c629596a1&e=897f3892d6

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.