Evidence and Family Violence: What Practitioners Need to Know

Held in conjunction with the Family Law Section Ngā Rōia Ture Whānau 

This webinar will examine upcoming legislative changes and their implications in practice and provide a practical and essential update for family law practitioners. 

Victims of Family Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Act 2025, comes into force on 17th February 2026. The Act grants the court new powers to restrict individuals who engage in abusive conduct from taking further steps in family court proceedings.

Evidence (Giving Family Violence Evidence in Family Court Proceedings) Amendment Act 2025 comes into force on 26th February 2026. The bill amends the Evidence Act 2006 to provide additional protections for vulnerable witnesses, particularly those giving evidence about family violence.

Learning objectives

By attending this webinar you will:

• Understand the key provision and practical implications of the Victims of Family Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Act 2025 and how they affect family court proceedings.
• Identify the new protections for vulnerable witnesses introduced by the Evidence (Giving Family Violence Evidence in Family Court Proceedings) Amendment Act 2025 and apply these changes in your legal practice.
• Confidently advise clients on how the upcoming legislative changes may influence evidence‑giving processes, case strategy, and court engagement in family violence matters.

Who should attend

Family and criminal lawyers. 

Presenter

Richard Smith
Montrose Chambers, Invercargill

Richard works mainly in the areas of criminal defence and Family Court work and also has a strong background in relationship property, conveyancing and general practice. Since becoming a barrister, he specialises in Family Court and Criminal Defence work, and appears in the Invercargill and Gore District Courts, acts for Appellants in the High Court and Court of Appeal and is a court-appointed Lawyer for Child and a Youth Advocate. Richard is a Council Member and current Vice President of the Southland Branch of the New Zealand Law Society and an executive committee member of the New Zealand Law Society Family Law section.

Resources

No book will be provided with this webinar. 

Held online, you will be emailed a link to join the webinar one week before. For information on what is required to participate in the webinar, click here. PowerPoint slides will be emailed out after 3pm the day before the webinar.

Fee (Excl GST)

Law Society Members benefit from up to 30% off – please login to receive member pricing

• $113 – Law Society members & associate members
• $165 – Non-members

View group pricing options

Do you want to register more than one person for this course? Use the 'register others' button below or Click here

CPD

• If you attended the live webinar, you will receive an electronic certificate of attendance as verification for your CPD records.
• You can view and hear the presentation again, as many times as you wish in your own time for no additional cost.

• Under the CPD Scheme only those who attend a live webinar are eligible to claim CPD hours.
• If you registered but were unable to attend on the day, you can view and hear the archived recording of the presentation.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

You may cancel your registration eight working days in advance of an event, and you will receive a refund less a 25% administration fee. If you cancel less than eight working days in advance of the event, no refund is payable. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another person. If you wish to do so you must advise CLE New Zealand Law Society in writing of the change. CLE reserves the right to close registrations, and cancel or reschedule an event as necessary. Where an event is cancelled by CLE, a full refund is payable. View full Law Society event terms.