This legislative change has been welcomed by advocates for survivors of family violence. Chief Victims Advisor, Ruth Money MNZM, a long-time campaigner for victims’ rights, emphasised the importance of the reform:
“The previous requirement for victims to stay legally tied to their abusers was both nonsensical and dangerous. Relationships are one of the most important and significant aspects of our lives, and this Act ensures victims can now quickly dissolve those which are unsafe. I welcome these changes and mihi to those brave survivors who worked tirelessly to bring about this change.”
To apply, individuals must:
Provide a copy of their final protection order, or registered foreign protection, issued against their spouse or partner
Provide a copy of their marriage or civil union certificate
Ensure at least one party to the relationship is domiciled in New Zealand
Joint applications are possible if both parties have protection orders against each other.
A final protection order is a Family Court order that protects people from violence, threats, or contact from a partner, ex-partner, relative, or someone they live with. It typically starts as a temporary order and becomes final after three months if not challenged.
The usual legal requirements around children, property, and welfare still apply. The one-year deadline for making property relationship claims remains in place.
More information on how to apply for a divorce is available on our website.