Family Court psychological report standards

Overview

Psychological reports requested under section 133 of the Care of Children Act 2004 (CoCA) and section 178 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 (OTA) play a significant role in informing a judge’s decision in matters affecting children, young people, and families.  

The Ministry of Justice has drafted Family Court psychological report standards (the standards) to promote greater consistency, quality, and clarity of psychological reports, while enabling improved timeliness and reducing report costs.  

For Consultation - Family Court psychological report draft standards

We are seeking feedback by 23 August 2026 on the draft standards, particularly whether the document: 

• reflects good practice  
• responds to the needs of report writers, the Family Court, parties and their children.

Out of scope 

The standards (and consultation) do not: 

• cover any review of court processes for example how reports are directed, or how people access reports through the court
• consider any changes to the Family Court practice note or any legislation, including changes to who can write reports
• apply to reports written by anyone other than psychologists under CoCA s133 or OTA s178; medical, cultural or community and psychiatric reports are all excluded 
• prescribe a single methodology – they establish a common framework that supports high-quality practice and assists the Family Court in achieving timely, informed decisions 

• review or amend any complaints processes. 

Privacy statement 

Please note that your feedback may be subject to a request for information under the Official Information Act 1982. Personal details can be withheld under the Act, including your name and address. If you do not want any information you provide to be released, please indicate this clearly in your response. For example, you may wish for some information to be kept confidential because it is commercially sensitive or personal information. We will take your views into account when responding to such requests.  

The Privacy Act 2020 also governs how the Ministry collects, holds, uses, and discloses personal information about you and the information you provide. You have the right to access and correct personal information.  

What happens after consultation?

Submissions will be considered and may be used to inform the final draft of the standards. The standards will then undergo a final review by the NZ Psychology Board (NZPB), members of the judiciary and the Ministry. The standards will be maintained by the Ministry in collaboration with the NZPB and the judiciary. 

If you have questions about the survey, please contact us by email: fcpsychreports@justice.govt.nz