New Zealand’s Family Court can make urgent without-notice parenting orders when serious concerns are raised about a child’s safety.

These powers are important. When a child or mother may be at risk, the Court must be able to act quickly.

But urgency should not mean uncertainty that lasts for months sometimes even years 

When serious allegations are relied upon to restrict a parent’s care, there is currently no guaranteed requirement that those allegations be tested in a structured evidential hearing within a defined timeframe.

As a result, interim arrangements can remain in place for extended periods before the facts are properly examined.

During this time:

• Children can experience prolonged separation from a parent

• Care arrangements can become entrenched before evidence is tested

• Mothers and fathers can remain under unresolved allegations

• Self-represented parties may struggle to understand how to trigger formal fact-finding

• Families can remain in uncertainty while serious claims sit unexamined

This petition does not seek to weaken protection.

It seeks balance.

Urgent protection must remain available  but when allegations significantly alter a child’s care arrangements, there should be a clear legislative requirement for timely fact-finding.

We call on Parliament to amend the Care of Children Act 2004 (or associated Family Court Rules) to require a mandatory fact-finding hearing within a defined timeframe (for example, within five months) whenever a without-notice interim parenting order substantially restricts a parent’s care, unless exceptional circumstances justify delay.

This reform would:

• Preserve urgent child protection

• Ensure allegations are tested promptly

• Reduce prolonged uncertainty for children

• Strengthen access to justice for self-represented litigants

• Increase public confidence in Family Court processes

Children deserve safety.

They also deserve timely clarity.

Urgency should protect not postpone truth.