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Tēnā koe Yasir,

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You can expect a response by 9 June 2026.

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Ministerial Services

   

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-----Original Message-----
From: Yasir Shaikh <[FOI #34679 email]>
Sent: Monday, 11 May 2026 12:26 pm
To: [Ministry of Justice request email]
Subject: Official Information request - Official Information Act Request –
Policies on Culturally & Religiously Appropriate Lawyer for Child
Appointments and Role in Family Court

 

Subject: Official Information Act Request – Policies on Culturally &
Religiously Appropriate Lawyer for Child Appointments and Role in Family
Court

 

Dear Ministry of Justice OIA Team,

 

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following
information:

 

1. Does the Ministry of Justice or Family Court have any policy,
guideline, practice note, or procedure for appointing a **Lawyer for Child
(Independent Children’s Lawyer) that considers the child’s cultural,
religious, ethnic, or faith background (particularly Muslim or Islamic
faith)?

 

2. If such policies or guidelines exist, please provide copies or the
relevant sections, especially those relating to:

   - Appointing or matching a Lawyer for Child who has cultural or
religious competency relevant to the child’s background.

   - Creating or using panels of lawyers experienced in working with
Muslim families or faith-based migrant communities.

 

3. Please provide any available **aggregated statistical information** (no
individual names) on:

   - The frequency with which Lawyers for Child from a Muslim or similar
cultural/faith background are appointed in cases involving Muslim
children.

   - Any existing training programmes or specialist panels for culturally
and religiously appropriate representation.

 

4. In light of section 5(f) of the Care of Children Act 2004 (which
requires a child’s identity, including religious denomination and
practice, to be preserved and strengthened), are Lawyers for Child
**expected** to provide the Court and Judge with basic information,
analysis, or guidelines about the child’s faith, religious identity, and
cultural needs, and how these affect the child’s welfare and best
interests?

 

5. What policies, guidelines, or procedures apply if a Lawyer for Child:

   - Fails to support or address the child’s religious or cultural
identity;

   - Omits, downplays, or hides relevant information about the child’s
faith; or

   - Makes recommendations that go against the preservation and
strengthening of the child’s religious identity?

 

6. What oversight, complaints, or corrective mechanisms exist when a
Lawyer for Child does not meet the expected standards regarding a child’s
cultural or religious identity?

 

7. If no specific rules exist for Muslim or faith-based cases, please
describe the general processes used to ensure that a child’s religious and
cultural identity is properly considered in Family Court proceedings.

 

I am making this request for legitimate educational and community
purposes.

 

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Yours sincerely, 

 

Yasir Shaikh

 

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.justice.govt.nz/
2. mailto:[FOI #34679 email]
3. mailto:[Ministry of Justice request email]
4. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
5. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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