Applying for care or protection orders

Upcoming changes for this guidance

This content will be strengthened so it more completely reflects our commitment to practice framed by te Tiriti o Waitangi, based on a mana-enhancing paradigm for practice, and drawing from ​Te Ao Māori principles of oranga to support mana tamaiti, whakapapa and whanaungatanga. We each need to consider how we can apply these principles to our practice when reading this guidance. The following resources provide support:
Practice for working effectively with Māori
Our practice approach

Types of orders

We need to understand the rights, powers and responsibilities of the different court orders that place a tamaiti in the care or custody of the chief executive. Other orders can also be sought, for example support or services orders.

Types of court orders

Main application pathways

There are 2 main application pathways.

1. Direct application recommending specific care or protection orders

We can make an application under section 68 recommending that a specific care or protection order (such as a support order or custody order) is made. If needed, we can also ask for interim custody, support and services orders to apply while the court is considering the main application. Interim custody orders will only be sought in urgent and exceptional circumstances.

This may be appropriate if:

• we have already had a hui ā-whānau or whānau hui, and
• we have completed an assessment to consider both the presenting concerns and the range of alternative ways we might respond, and
• we believe a care or protection order is still necessary.

This application can be withdrawn or amended if we later find an alternative means of addressing the concern, such as through a family group conference plan.

2. Application for interim orders without any other proceedings

We can make an application for an interim custody (section 78(1A)) or guardianship order (section 110AA(5)) where no other proceedings have commenced. These standalone interim orders last for 28 days, or as specified by the court.

This may be appropriate if:

• the situation for te tamaiti is critical
• we have not been able to engage with whānau or family to share our concerns and explore alternative options to keep te tamaiti safe.

After the application is made

Careful planning is necessary following the application to ensure that we secure wide engagement with family, whānau, hapū and iwi (and others as appropriate), complete our full assessment and hold a family group conference to develop a plan, if this has not yet occurred.

Work with Legal Services so that the timeframes for these processes can be clearly conveyed to the court.