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Evidence to support our proposed reforms

Overseas models and reform

Australia

  1. Overview of Lighthouse
    Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. (2026). Lighthouse. Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. 

  2. Lighthouse update
    Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. (2024, November 28). Lighthouse update: Two years of Lighthouse. Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

  3. Australia Parliamentary inquiry into a better family law system
    Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. (2017). A better family law system to support and protect those affected by family violence: Recommendations for an accessible, equitable and responsive family law system which better prioritises safety of those affected by family violence. House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social policy and Legal Affairs: Canberra. 

  4. Implementation of the Safe & Together Model in Family Courts
    Mandel, D. (2025, May 19). From Australia to the World: How Family Courts Can Lead on Domestic Abuse Through the Safe & Together Model. Safe & Together Institute. 

  5. Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Commission Australia
    Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Commission. (2026). Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner. 

  6. Safety First in Family Law Plan 2022
    Women’s Legal Services. (2022). Safety First in Family Law. Women’s Legal Services Australia: Melbourne.  

  7. Battered mothers and children in the courts: A lawyer’s view.
    Fischel‐Wolovick, L. (2020). Battered mothers and children in the courts: A lawyer's view. International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 17(3), 246-261.

  8. Experiences of Separated Parents Study (Evaluation of the 2012 Family Violence Amendments)
    Kaspiew, R., Carson, R., Dunstan, J., De Maio, J., Moore, S., Moloney, L., … & Tayton, S. (2015). Experiences of Separated Parents Study (Evaluation of the 2012 Family Violence Amendments). Australian Institute of Family Studies: Melbourne. 

  9. Health, Legal and Security Costs Associated with Improved Safety from Family Violence During Family Court Involvement
    McIntosh, J. E., Painter, F. L., Evans, E., Holtzworth-Munroe, A., Wells, Y. D., Wright, B. J., ... & Jiang, H. (2026). Health, Legal and Security Costs Associated with Improved Safety from Family Violence During Family Court Involvement. Journal of Family Violence, 1-15.

  10. Family violence risk screening and case management pathways in the Australian family courts: A cluster-controlled comparison
    Painter, F. L., Wright, B. J., Holtzworth-Munroe, A., Wells, Y. D., Lee, J., Krella, K. A., ... & McIntosh, J. E. (2026). Family violence risk screening and case management pathways in the Australian family courts: A cluster-controlled comparison. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. Advance online publication.  

  11. National Risk Assessment Principles for domestic and family violence
    Toivonen, C., & Backhouse, C. (2018). National Risk Assessment Principles for domestic and family violence (ANROWS Insights 07/2018). Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety: Sydney. 

United Kingdom

  1. Statement by Deputy Prime Minister announcing national rollout of the Child Focused Model
    Lammy, D. (2026, March 17). Child Focused Model [Statement]. Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, UK Parliament. 

  2. Private Law Pathfinder Pilot: Process Evaluation and Exploratory Financial Analysis 
    Barlow, C., Richardson Foster, H., Scollay, C., Barter, C., Stanley, N., Miskowiec, A., … & Carter, S. (2025). Private Law Pathfinder Pilot: Process Evaluation and Exploratory Financial Analysis. Ministry of Justice Analytical Series, Ministry of Justice: UK. 

  3. Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases: Final Report 
    Hunter, R., Burton, M., & Trinder, L. (2020). Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases: Final Report. Ministry of Justice: UK. 

  4. Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases: Implementation Plan
    Ministry of Justice [UK]. (2020). Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases Implementation Plan. Ministry of Justice: UK. 

  5. Private Family Law and Child Sexual Abuse: A Research Report
    Lindsey, J. & Harwood, J. (2026). Private Family Law and Child Sexual Abuse: A Research Report. University of Oxford: Oxford. 

  6. DASH Risk Checklist for IDVAs (The Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-Based Violence Risk Identification) 
    SafeLives. (2014). SafeLives Dash risk checklist for the identification of high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and ‘honour’-based violence. SafeLives: UK. 

  7. Breaking Bias, Building Justice: Scratching the Surface: Victim-Blaming and Bias in Family Court Judgments
    Hayton, L., Quinlan, A., & Sayer, H. (2026). Scratching the Surface: Victim-Blaming and Bias in Family Court Judgments. Right to Equality: UK. 

USA

  1. A Systematic Approach to Domestic Abuse–Informed Child Custody Decision Making in Family Law Cases
    Davis, G. (2015). A systematic approach to domestic abuse–informed child custody decision making in family law cases. Family Court Review, 53(4), 565-577.

  2. Appropriate parenting arrangements in cases of intimate partner violence and coercive control: From research and legislative reform to changes in practice  
    Jaffe, P., Bala, N., Medhekar, A., Scott, K., & Oliver, C. (2025). Appropriate parenting arrangements in cases of intimate partner violence and coercive control: From research and legislative reform to changes in practice. Family Court Review, 63(3), 467-490.

  3. Custody Decision Making and Domestic Violence
    National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. (2026). Custody Decision Making and Domestic Violence. National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges: Reno, NV. 

  4. Model Code on Domestic and Family Violence: Families and Children 
    National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. (2022). Revised Chapter Four: Families and Children MODEL CODE ON DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE. National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges: Reno, NV.
    see pp.19-20 re “a rebuttable presumption against awards of shared or sole legal or physical custody to parents who have been found to have committed domestic abuse” 

Safe & Together (founded in the USA, now used internationally)

  1. What Shapes a Child’s Future? Naming the Perpetrator’s Impact on Child Development
    Mandel, R.R. (2025, July 28) What Shapes a Child’s Future? Naming the Perpetrator’s Impact on Child Development. Safe & Together Institute.

  2. Start With Him: How Social Entrapment Changes What We See—and What We Miss — Safe & Together Institute
    Wruck, J. (2026, April 21) Start With Him: How Social Entrapment Changes What We See – and What We Miss. Safe & Together Institute.

  3. The ALFIES Project final report: All/Whole of Families Approaches for Addressing Domestic and Family Violence – An Aboriginal Lens on the Safe & Together Framework
    Toivonen, C., Lauw, M., the ALFIES Research Team and Waminda South Coast Women’s Health & Welfare Aboriginal Corporation and Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Regional Health & Community Services (2025). The ALFIES Project Final Report: All/Whole of Families Approaches for Addressing Domestic and Family Violence – An Aboriginal Lens on the Safe & Together Framework. NSW Ministry of Health.

Aotearoa New Zealand research & research by topic

Family Violence Expertise & Risk Analysis

  1. Evidence-Based Red Flags for Intimate Partner Homicide
    Carrington, H. & Thorburn, N. (2025). Evidence-Based Red Flags for Intimate Partner Homicide. National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges: Wellington.

  2. Family violence risk and safety practice framework
    New Zealand Government. (2025). Family Violence Risk and Safety Practice Framework. The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention, New Zealand Government: Wellington.

  3. Family violence experts in the criminal court: the need to fill the void
    Mark Henaghan, Jacqueline Short & Pauline Gulliver (2021): Family violence experts in the criminal court: the need to fill the void, Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, DOI:10.1080/13218719.2021.1894262

  4. What Risk Data from 500 Clients Tells Us
    Thorburn, N. & Arathoon, C. (2023). What Risk Data from 500 Clients Tells Us [Infographic]. National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges: Wellington.

  5. Using Women’s Refuge Risk Tool: Nahana Tūraru (risk to her)
    National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges. (2024). Using Women’s Refuge Risk Tool: Nāhana Tūraru (the risk to her). National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges: Wellington.

  6. Specialist says Family Court needs to be screened for violence
    Williams, A. (2025, December 11). Specialist says Family Court needs to be screened for violence. Radio New Zealand.

    See also: under Australia: National Risk Assessment Principles for domestic and family violence

    See also: under UK: DASH Risk Checklist for IDVAs (The Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour-Based Violence Risk Identification) 

Adults at Risk

  1. Responding to adults at risk who need care and support and who are experiencing family violence
    Family Violence Death Review Committee. (2023). Responding to adults at risk who need care and support and who are experiencing family violence [Position Paper]. Family Violence Death Review Committee, Te Tāhū Hauora | Health Quality & Safety Commission: Wellington.

  2. He Arotake i te Ture mō ngā Huarahi Whakatau a ngā Pakeke | Review of Adult Decision-Making Capacity Law
    New Zealand Law Commission. (2026). He Arotake i te Ture mō ngā Huarahi Whakatau a ngā Pakeke | Review of Adult Decision-Making Capacity Law [NZLC R151]. Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission: Wellington. 

  3. Safeguarding adults in Aotearoa New Zealand: the futility of micro and meso interventions without a legislative imperative
    Roguski, M., & Hager, D. (2026). Safeguarding adults in Aotearoa New Zealand: the futility of micro and meso interventions without a legislative imperative. Disability & Society, 41(4), 927-949.

  4. Rapid review of the Waitematā Safeguarding Adults from Abuse (SAFA) Pilot
    Appleton-Dyer, S., Soupen, A. (2017). Rapid review of the Waitematā Safeguarding Adults from Abuse (SAFA) Pilot. Report for the Waitematā Police. Synergia Ltd.

Children - rights, impact, voice

  1. The impacts of domestic and family violence on children (2nd ed.)
    Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. (2018). Research summary: The impacts of domestic and family violence on children (2nd ed.). ANROWS Insights, ANROWS: Sydney. 

  2. Seen and Not Heard, Children in the Family Court – Force  
    The Backbone Collective (2017). Seen and Not Heard: Children in the Family Court – Force. Backbone Collective NZ: Auckland.

  3. A Thematic Paper from The Backbone Collective For New Zealand Review Committee on the Rights of the Child Simplified Reporting Procedure
    The Backbone Collective (2020). A Thematic Paper from The Backbone Collective For New Zealand Review Committee on the Rights of the Child Simplified Reporting Procedure. Backbone Collective NZ: Auckland.

  4. Concluding observations on the ninth periodic report of New Zealand - CEDAW
    Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. (2024). Concluding observations on the ninth periodic report of New Zealand [CEDAW/C/NZL/CO/9]. CEDAW, United Nations: New York. 

  5. The prevalence and impact of child maltreatment in Australia: Findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study: Brief Report
    Haslam, D., Mathews, B., Pacella, R., Scott, J.G., Finkelhor, D., Higgins, D.J., … & Malacova, E. (2023). The prevalence and impact of child maltreatment in Australia: Findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study: Brief Report. Australian Child Maltreatment Study, Queensland University of Technology: Queensland. 

  6. Review of Children's Participation in the Family Justice System of Aotearoa New Zealand
    Inder, D. (2022). Review of Children's Participation in the Family Justice System of Aotearoa New Zealand. Released under Official Information Act Request from Ministry of Justice [OIA109706]. Ministry of Justice: Wellington. 

  7. Final report Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill 2021
    Justice Committee. (2021). Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill: Commentary. Justice Committee, Parliament of New Zealand: Wellington.
    see pp.5 re: New Zealand National Party differing view 

  8. When Coercive Control Continues to Harm Children: Post-Separation Fathering, Stalking and Domestic Violence 
    Katz, E., Nikupeteri, A., & Laitinen, M. (2020). When coercive control continues to harm children: Post‐separation fathering, stalking and domestic violence. Child abuse review, 29(4), 310-324.

  9. Rapid review of the characteristics and outcomes of children involved in private family law proceedings due to parental separation
    Kiseleva, M., Hounsome, J., Csontos, J., Edwards, D., Gillen, E., Mann, M., ... & Lewis, R. (2024). Rapid review of the characteristics and outcomes of children involved in private family law proceedings due to parental separation. medRxiv, 2024-12.

  10. Disbelieving children’s disclosures and disregarding children’s views: what children’s appeals of parenting orders in New Zealand can teach about the harmful impact of ignoring children in care proceedings
    Leonetti, C. (2025). Disbelieving children’s disclosures and disregarding children’s views: what children’s appeals of parenting orders in New Zealand can teach about the harmful impact of ignoring children in care proceedings. International Journal of Law, Policy and The Family, 39(1), ebaf008.

  11. “I wish they knew what they’d stolen from me”: Child sexual abuse and the Family Court
    MacSween, M., Petridis, T., & Death, J. (2026). “I wish they knew what they’d stolen from me”: Child sexual abuse and the Family Court.National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse: Richmond, VIC. 

  12. Ensuring the Voice of the Child Is Heard and the Child's Best Interests Are Considered in Domestic Abuse Cases
    Mandel, D. (2023). Ensuring the Voice of the Child Is Heard and the Child's Best Interests Are Considered in Domestic Abuse Cases. Safe & Together Institute.

  13. Stop blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers: How to transform the way we keep children safe from domestic violence
    Mandel, D. (2024). Stop blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers: How to transform the way we keep children safe from domestic violence. Legitimus Media.

  14. The association of post-separation abuse and coercion with children’s health and flourishing
    Spearman, K. J., Perrin, N., Bethell, C., Alexander, K. A., Hardesty, J., & Campbell, J. (2026). The association of post-separation abuse and coercion with children’s health and flourishing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 1–15.

  15. Tactics in the Cross-Examination of Child and Adolescent Sexual Violence Complainants
    Randell, I. (2021). That’s a lie: Sexual violence misconceptions, accusations of lying, and other tactics in the cross-examination of child and adolescent sexual violence complainants. Chief Victims Advisor to the New Zealand Government: Wellington. 

Māori - rights, impact, self-determination 

  1. Te Taniwha I Te Ao Ture-ā-Whānau: Whānau Experience of Care and Protection in the Family Court
    Boulton, A., Wikaira, M., Cvitanovic, L., & Williams Blyth, T. (2020). Te Taniwha I Te Ao Ture-ā-Whānau: Whānau Experience of Care and Protection in the Family Court. Whakauae | Research for Māori Health and Development, Whāia Legal, Te Kōpū Education.

  2. Ināia Tonu Nei: Conference Report
    Ināia Tonu Nei. (2022). Ināia Tonu Nei – Hui Māori: Conference Report. Ināia Tonu Nei: Wellington. 

Pacific Peoples – culturally safe approaches

  1. Pacific perspectives on family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand
    Fa'alau, F., & Wilson, S. (2020). Pacific perspectives on family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand. Issues Paper 16. Auckland: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, University of Auckland.

Women/mothers & Migrant women/mothers - impact of violence and discrimination

  1. Navigating Safety and Justice in Aotearoa New Zealand Ethnic and Migrant Women’s Experiences Before, During and After the Family Court Following Disclosure of Family Violence
    Nightingale, D. (2026). Navigating Safety and Justice in Aotearoa New Zealand Ethnic and Migrant Women’s Experiences Before, During and After the Family Court Following Disclosure of Family Violence. Shama Ethnic Women’s Trust: Hamilton. 

  2. Living at the Cutting Edge: Women’s Experiences of Protection Orders
    Robertson, N., Busch, R., D’Souza, R., Lam Sheung, F., Anand, R., Balzer, R., Simpson, A., & Paina, D. (2007). Living at the Cutting Edge Women’s Experiences of Protection Orders Volume 1: The Women’s Stories. School of Law and the Māori and Psychology Research Unit, University of Waikato for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs: Hamilton.

  3. Hidden hurt: The impact of post-separation financial violence in Aotearoa New Zealand
    Scott, A. (2020). Hidden hurt: The impact of post-separation financial violence in Aotearoa New Zealand. Australian Journal of Family Law, 33(3), 282-302.

The use of ‘parental alienation’ 

  1. Custody, violence against women and violence against Children: Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences
    Alsalem, R. (2023). Custody, violence against women and violence against children - Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences. United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner: New York. 

  2. Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire: Women’s experiences of the New Zealand Family Court
    The Backbone Collective (2017). Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire: Women’s experiences of the New Zealand Family Court. Backbone Collective NZ: Auckland.

  3. Reunification, alienation, or re-traumatization? Let’s start listening to the child
    Chester, S. (2022). Reunification, alienation, or re-traumatization? Let’s start listening to the child. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development, 19(3-4), 359-382.

  4. Endangered by Junk Science: How the New Zealand Family Court's Admission of Unreliable Expert Evidence Places Children at Risk
    Leonetti, C. (2022). Endangered by Junk Science: How the New Zealand Family Court's Admission of Unreliable Expert Evidence Places Children at Risk. Child. Legal Rts. J., 43, 17.

  5. References to Social-Science Research in the Family Court
    Leonetti, C. (2025). References to Social-Science Research in the Family Court. Ind. Health L. Rev., 22, 281.

  6. ‘It’s Not OK’, but ‘It’ never happened: parental alienation accusations undermine children’s safety in the New Zealand Family Court
    Mackenzie, D., Herbert, R., & Robertson, N. (2020). ‘It’s Not OK’, but ‘It’ never happened: parental alienation accusations undermine children’s safety in the New Zealand Family Court. Journal of social welfare and family law, 42(1), 106-117.

  7. Parental Alienation Syndrome and Parental Alienation: A Research Review
    Meier, J.S. (2013). Parental Alienation Syndrome and Parental Alienation: A Research Review. VAWnet.org, National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women: Philadelphia, PA.  

  8. Parental Alienation Syndrome: How a Debunked Psychological Theory is Being Leveraged Against Survivors of Abuse in Custody Disputes
    Walker, E. (2025, January 27). Parental Alienation Syndrome: How a Debunked Psychological Theory is Being Leveraged Against Survivors of Abuse in Custody Disputes [Blog Post]. Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law. 

Family Court complaints & appeals

  1. Don’t tell me your problems: The Family Court complaints and appeals landscape
    The Backbone Collective (2017). Don’t tell me your problems: The Family Court complaints and appeals landscape. The Backbone Collective NZ: Auckland.

Frameworks, Reviews & Strategies

  1. Parenting Arrangements after Separation Study: Evaluating the 2014 Family Law Reforms – Parents’ and caregivers’ perspectives – Research Summary
    Gollop, M., & Taylor, N.J. (2020). Parenting Arrangements after Separation Study: Evaluating the 2014 Family Law Reforms – Parents’ and caregivers’ perspectives – Research Summary. Children’s Issues Centre, University of Otago: Dunedin.

  2. Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau: The final report of the Independent Panel examining the 2014 family justice reforms
    Ministry of Justice. (2019). Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau: The final report of the Independent Panel examining the 2014 family justice reforms. Ministry of Justice: Wellington. 

  3. Te Rito: New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy
    Ministry of Social Development. (2002). Te Rito: New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy. Ministry of Social Development: Wellington. 

  4. Family Violence Workforce Capability Frameworks
    New Zealand Government. (2025). Family Violence Workforce Capability Frameworks. The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention, New Zealand Government. 

  5. Sexual Violence Workforce Capability Frameworks
    New Zealand Government. (2025). Sexual Violence Workforce Capability Frameworks. The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention, New Zealand Government.

  6. Submission on the Review of Family Violence Law: Part 1
    New Zealand Psychological Society. (2015). Submission on behalf of the New Zealand Psychological Society on the Review of Family Violence Law. The New Zealand Psychological Society: Wellington. 

  7. The People’s Blueprint: transforming the way we deal with child abuse and domestic violence in New Zealand
    Wilson, D. & Webber, M. (2014). The People’s Blueprint: transforming the way we deal with child abuse and domestic violence in New Zealand. The Glenn Inquiry: Wellington. 

  8. The People’s Report: The People’s Inquiry into Addressing Child Abuse and Domestic Violence
    Wilson, D. & Webber, M. (2014). The People’s Report: The People’s Inquiry into Addressing Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. The Glenn Inquiry: Wellington. 

Victim safety versus parental ‘rights’

  1. Coercive Control and the Family Court: In Whose Best Interests? Victim-survivor safety versus an abusive parent’s “right” to contact
    Hay, M.E. (2025). Coercive Control and the Family Court: In Whose Best Interests? Victim-survivor safety versus an abusive parent’s “right” to contact [Master’s Thesis, University of Auckland]. ResearchSpace@Auckland.

  2. Adversarialism in the Family Court: ethics and practice 
    Henderson, E., Coutts, G., & Henaghan, M. (2022). Adversarialism in the Family Court: ethics and practice [NZLFRR 6]. The Law Foundation: Wellington. 

  3. Is 50:50 Shared Care a Desirable Norm Following Family Separation? Raising Questions about Current Family Law practices in New Zealand
    Tolmie, J., Elizabeth, V., & Gavey, N. (2010). Is 50: 50 shared care a desirable norm following family separation? Raising questions about current family law practices in New Zealand. Raising questions about current family law practices in New Zealand. The University of Auckland Faculty of Law Research Paper Series. 

Bureaucratic barriers to Family Court reform

  1. Response to Official Information Act Request
    Ministry of Justice. (2025). Response to Official Information Act Request: Inder report [OIA120214]. Ministry of Justice: Wellington. 

  2. Ministry of Justice accused of burying report saying children at risk in judicial system
    Williams, A. (2025a, March 12). Family Court changes: Politicians have little knowledge of 'buried' report. Radio New Zealand.

  3. Family Court changes: Politicians have little knowledge of 'buried' report
    Williams, A. (2025b, April 7). Family Court changes: Politicians have little knowledge of 'buried' report. Radio New Zealand.

  4. Officials shelved judge's trans-Tasman family violence probe
    Williams, A. (2025c, December 10). Officials shelved judge's trans-Tasman family violence probe. Radio New Zealand. 

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