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West Auckland Court closure would be a blow to the West

Sunday 15 May 2011, 11:52AM

By Labour Party

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WAITAKERE CITY

Labour MPs say the Government’s plan to shut the highly-regarded Waitakere Family Court is a blow to the West Auckland community that will make it harder for the area’s children and families to get access to justice.

The Ministry of Justice has released a proposal to centralise Family Court services in central Auckland, which Labour says would gut the Waitakere Family Court.

Waitakere-based List MP Carmel Sepuloni said local Waitakere people stand to be the losers, particularly vulnerable members of society including our children.

“It’s hypocritical for the Government to say they are protecting children from abuse and then to turn around and deprive these children the right to justice” said Ms Sepuloni.

“Shutting the court would be damaging to the West” said Te Atatū based List MP Phil Twyford.

“The Waitakere Family Court is an efficient operation that works well with the local lawyers and social service groups. Why shut it down and transfer cases to the Auckland Court which is well known to be less than efficient.”

“This has all the hallmarks of short term cost cutting with little regard for the impact on communities and the quality of services.

“I challenge Paula Bennett and John Key as West Auckland MPs to tell the community whether they have been consulted on this, and what advice they have given to the Minister of Justice about the impact on West Auckland” said Ms Sepuloni.

Ms Sepuloni and Mr Twyford are calling on the public to make submissions to the Ministry of Justice and tell them exactly what they think of the plan to shut the West Auckland Family Court.

“People have been given less than two weeks to make a submission. It is not long enough, and frankly that is not a good sign the Government is willing to listen to the community” the MPs said.

Discussion document attached. It is at http://justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/a/auckland-district-courts-proposals/auckland-district-courts-proposals-discussion-document-proposed-new-operating-model-for-district-courts-in-auckland

Submissions are due in by May 20, 2011 at this stage as far as I can tell and can be emailed to opmodelakldfeedback@justice.govt.nz