Care of Children Act 2004

136 Court may hear person on child’s cultural background

• (1) A party to proceedings under this Act that appear likely to proceed to a hearing may, before a date is set for a hearing of the proceedings, ask the court to hear a person to speak on—

  • (a) the child’s cultural background; and

  • (b) any aspects of the particular child’s cultural background that may be relevant to a matter in issue in the proceedings.

  (2) Without limiting any other powers of the court to adjourn, the court may adjourn the proceedings to enable arrangements to be made to hear a person or persons under this section.

  (3) Despite subsection (1), if no party makes a request under this section, the court may, at any time during the proceedings, suggest to a party to the proceedings that it may be of assistance to the court to hear a person or persons called by the party on any of the matters specified in subsection (1).

  Compare: 2002 No 9 s 27(1), (4), (5)