Angie Warren-Clark Labour MP

Since becoming an MP, one of the biggest issues bringing correspondence through my office has been to do with the Family Court due to changes made by the previous government.

The 2014 changes were meant to help people resolve parenting disputes without having to go to court, but have in fact led to the opposite, with a huge increase in the number of urgent ‘without notice' applications which have to be put before a Family Court judge.

Which is why I was pleased that my colleague, Justice Minister Andrew Little, has appointed an independent panel to review these changes.

As a government, we are concerned that families and children are losing out as a result of not receiving adequate advice and support during this distressing time.

The last government removed access to lawyers in many cases, and I'm concerned about how this and other changes have impacted on access to justice.

As a government, we wanted to have a human rights approach when looking at the Family Court, and that is because the overwhelming range of comments that both myself and other MPs get about the Family Court is that many women who are parties to proceedings don't feel as if they're being heard - especially women who are victims of domestic violence.

Along with many men, fathers are saying they don't consider that their applications to continue to play a parenting role in the lives of their child are being properly heard.

If you have first-hand experience with the Family Court system, the panel would like input from you. Please email your contact details to: FamilyJusticeReforms@justice.govt.nz