The Family and Whanau Violence Legislation Bill passed its first reading on the 11th of April 2017 after unanimous support in Parliament. Among other family violence prevention initiatives, the Bill aims to better the outcomes for those in need without necessarily involving litigation, to prioritise the safety of victims regarding bail considerations, and to make the application process for a Protection Order less onerous.
The Bill aims to substantively amend the existing Domestic Violence Act, and to amend a number of other acts in order to give effect to its reforms. In a press release, Amy Adams stressed the importance of the Bill’s position on reducing the harm that family violence causes to its victims, and that the changes aim to prevent ‘2300 violent incidents every year’.
A copy of the Bill can be found here.