The top Family Court judge has told a law conference there's good reason to be optimistic about the court's future.
Principal Family Court Judge Jackie Moran told a law conference she categorically denied the court was biased or broken. Photo: 123RF
Principal Family Court Judge Jackie Moran marked the Family Court's 40th anniversary at a Law Society event at Te Papa this morning.
In a speech to those working in the family jurisdiction, she said the court may be heavily-burdened but categorically rejected it was biased or broken.
The Family Court has been subject to scrutiny, review and reform over its time and the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted already-delayed systems.
Judge Moran told the conference cases were growing more complex and Parliament had now tasked the family jurisdiction with more than 30 statues.
However, she said the country's 61 Family Court judges were now more diverse than ever with 58 percent female and 23 percent Māori and Pasifika.
There was an increasing use and acceptance of tikanga and Te Reo Māori in the jurisdiction as the court evolved to serve its community, she said.
Judge Moran previously said her ability to meet with iwi leaders had been hampered by Covid-19 and she looked forward to resuming meetings when it was safe to travel again.
Speaking at Te Papa this morning, she said the Family Court remained the subject of relentless reporting that had characterised its state as biased and broken.
She categorically denied that, saying the court was heavily-burdened but there was good reason to be optimistic about its future.
While the court had no wairua, or soul, when established 40 years ago, it did now and new models like Te Ao Mārama would help improve outcomes, the judge said.