Information Needs
In the course of the research, information has been sought from Maori applicants/respondents and their whanau, counsel, and social service providers involved with guardianship, custody and access matters. In relation to parents and whanau, the following information needs were identified in the project brief:
1. Profile of the sample - family type, number and age of children, type of case.
2. A description of the involvement that the participants (both parents and whanau) have had with the Family Court.
3. A description of the extent to which these parents and whanau have been involved with Family Court professionals and services (including lawyers, counsellors, judges, Counsel for the Child, specialist report writers) and their level of satisfaction.
4. A description of the extent to which parents and whanau have been involved with Family Court procedures (including mediation conferences, Family Court hearings, appeals) and their level of satisfaction.
5. A description of favourable experiences and issues of concern associated with the administrative aspects of court procedures (e. g. physical surroundings, facilities and atmosphere, court sitting times and information needs of parents), and identification of ways in which these concerns might be addressed.
6. An indication of the extent to which legal costs are a barrier for Maori Family Court clients.
7. Identification of favourable experiences as well as issues of concern for Maori associated with the specific types of custody and access arrangements experienced by the participants.
8. Identification of the ways in which the Family Court could further recognise Maori perspectives on guardianship, custody and access.
Providing a synopsis of each case/interview will cover items 1-4 of the information needs. While a case study approach is not being used, it is important that the comments and concerns of those taking part in the research are placed in context, and that the range of case types is identified. The Literature Review provides a framework for analysis and discussion of the themes and issues that emerged from the interviews. The thematic approach taken to these issues and themes addresses the other information needs.
The project brief identified the following information requirements from lawyers, Maori community organisations or other professionals with experience and knowledge of Maori guardianship and custody issues:
1. Profile of the sample - proportion of work which is family law, proportion of clients who are Maori, length of time in practice.
2. An assessment of the extent to which Maori perspectives are currently being recognised in guardianship, custody and access decisions.
3. Identification of ways in which Maori perspectives on guardianship, custody and access might be included in future Family Court practice.
The views of these groups provides a valuable extension to whanau experiences, as counsel and experienced practitioners are able to generalise across a number of case types and situations, and have had the opportunity to observe a range of Family Court procedures.
