Some parents of disabled tamariki across Aotearoa will find themselves in a situation where they need legal advice. But this can feel impossible when you don’t know where to go or who to talk to, or if you don’t have the money to afford it.

Luckily, there are a number of services around the country that provide free, professional and confidential legal advice.

Scroll down to find out what services are available in your area, and what you need to do before and during the appointment.

Before your appointment

• Collect all the information regarding your situation. This may include
  
  • Letters or emails (from landlords, employers, schools)
  • Court documents or legal notices
  • Contracts or agreements
  • Medical reports  
  • Police reports  
  • Bills or receipts  
  • Identification documents (driver’s license, birth certificate, passport)
• While it’s helpful to have these on email (so it's all in one place) print off hard copies too if you can, as having them in your hand can be easier to access while you’re speaking on the phone (rather than trying to swipe through your device to find things).
• Write down any questions you want to ask, or things you’re not sure about. Your lawyer can help you - you just need to ask them.
• Most services try to give you initial guidance within a few days to a week after you contact them, but some have wait times, so it’s good to book appointments early. Depending on the situation, ongoing advice or support may take longer, especially if the case is complex as it may be referred to lawyers, legal aid, or specialist services, including mediation or court appointed support/s.

At the appointment: what do I need to do / bring with me?

• Make sure you bring any relevant documents and evidence.
• Give a clear summary of your situation including
  
  • What you need help with.
  • What happened and when (dates/time)  
  • Who is involved, any conversations you have had about the issue
  • What outcome you would potentially like

• Be honest
• Ask questions e.g What are my rights? What options do I have? What can happen next?
• It’s important you understand what's happening, so speak up if at any point you’re unsure, or if the information isn’t clear to you.
• Timeframes for resolution will depend on the nature and complexity of your issue. Make sure you discuss the expected timeline with your legal representative and be clear about things like court dates from the outset.

Helpful links for whānau across the country

• Community Law has 24 centres throughout Aotearoa. Visit their website to find out what’s available in your area.
• There are 83 Citizens Advice Bureaus throughout Aotearoa. Visit their website to find one in your area.
• Youth Law offers free legal services to anyone under 25.
• The Ministry of Justice website has information about applying for legal aid.
• If you have concerns about a health or disability service, you can make a complaint with the Health & Disability Commissioner.

Legal services by specific region

Far North

Te Hiku Connect and 155 Whare Āwhina Community Law have partnered to provide free one-on-one legal support and advice for the Kaitaia community on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To book, call Te Hiku on 09 408 0026 or pop into their office on 12 Puckey Avenue, Kaitaia. You can also pop into the Te Hiku office ahead of your booked time and they'll set you up on a video call (both Family Court and Criminal Lawyers are available).

Aotearoa Disability Law can point Far North whānau in the right direction or recommend lawyers in your area. Call 09 257 5140 or email info@adl.org.nz or text 027 457 5140.

Family Court Kaiārahi (Family Court Navigators) offer a free, confidential service that does not provide legal advice BUT can help you understand the language, processes and outcomes of Family Court proceedings, address any barriers you’re facing and connect you with other agencies and services to support you. Contact your local Kaiārahi by calling 0800 268 787, emailing Kaiarahi@justice.govt.nz or visiting the Kaitaia District Court (13 Redan Road, Kaitaia) and asking at the main desk. Other services include Youth Court, Family Court, Disputes Tribunal, Tenancy Tribunal and Pay a fine.

Whare Āwhina Community Law provides free legal services throughout the Northland rohe. The Kaikohe hub (found at 119 Broadway, Kaikohe) is open every Tuesday to Thursday, 10am-2pm and provides legal support and education as well as access to other community support services. There is also a Māori land kōrero on Tuesdays between 10am-2pm. To make an appointment please phone 0800 155 529 (Ext 2) and leave a message, and someone will call back for you.

Please be aware that wait times can be an issue in this region, depending on what other cases are going through the courts at the time, as serious cases are prioritised. Your legal representative will be able to give you an idea about how long things will take. Please also note that it can take some time for a legal aid lawyer to be allocated to a family. Be clear about court dates from the outset, so that once allocated, your lawyer knows how quickly they need to gather information for your case.

In some cases, children will need their own legal representation (for example, for a parental order). This is court appointed, and they will need to see the child at some stage.

Northland

Whare Āwhina Community Law Taitokerau has a team of lawyers, legal executives and community workers available to help you and your whānau. Issues they can help with include dispute resolution, family law, employment law, tenancy law, criminal law, refugee and immigration, human rights, consumer issues, completion of forms and witnessing documents

Their drop-in clinics are your chance to be seen immediately, but you can also call 09 437 0185 (ext 2) and make an appointment for another time if you prefer.

Whare Āwhina is based at 93 Cameron St, Whangarei but they also have outreach clinics across in Kaitaia, Moerewa, Dargaville, Kaiwaka and Wellsford, as well as Māori Land Korero at their Kaikohe branch (119 Broadway, Kaikohe).

Auckland Disability Law sometimes offers help in the North as well.

Auckland

Auckland Disability Law provides free legal advice and support for disabled New Zealanders – it’s not just for those living in Auckland – as well as advice on Supported Decision Making (learn more here or check out our other article.)

The Mangere Community Law Centre is also an option if you need help with matters regarding employment, human rights, MSD (WINZ), tenancy matters, PPPR applications and family violence.

They are based at Unit 9, Shop 27, Mangere Town Centre. To make an appointment please contact them at info@adl.org.nz or 09 257 5140 or 027 457 5140 (text only).

Auckland Community Law Centre (Hapori Ture o Tāmaki Makaurau) provides free legal advice to people on low incomes, and as such you must meet certain eligibility criteria based on your income, location, and the type of legal issue you have. You can stop by their office at Level 2, Tasman Building, 16-22 Anzac Ave in Auckland City but please be aware that assistance will be dependent on their lawyers’ availability. Alternatively, you can make an appointment by contacting them by calling 09 377 9449, emailing info@aclc.org.nz or texting 022 371 8826. For some cases, they may also provide face-to-face meetings but get in touch to see if this is suitable for your case.

Outreach clinics can be found in Avondale, Browns Bay, Mt Roskill, Glen Innes, Sylvia Park, Orakei and Evening. For the specialist clinic regarding advice on immigration matters call (09) 377 9449.

Phone advice may also be available for some queries.

Horowhenua

Manawatu Community Law Centre (Te Whare Ture Hapori o Manawatu) is available for ‘unmet legal needs’ and its services include (but are not limited to) care of children issues, financial, neighbour disputes, consumer, netsafe/frauds/scams, harassment, privacy issues

Clinics are available Monday to Thursday 9.30am-4pm by appointment.

They are located at 193 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North but also have clinics available in Feilding, Levin, Shannon, Otaki, Foxton, Foxton Beach & Dannevirke/Woodville.

As a first step, you will need to contact the clinic in your area and make an appointment on 06 356 7974 or Freephone 0508 367529 or email reception@mancomlaw.org.nz

Please be aware there are limits to their service and for some matters only general information will be given.

The services are generally free, however there may be a cost for disbursements (expenses you incur in the proceeding). But any fees will be discussed with you and agreed upon beforehand.

Christchurch

Community Law Canterbury / Te Ture Whānui o Waitaha offers free legal advice and information in family law, housing, employment and others. They also offer specialist services including youth, employment, and voluntary sector legal support. They are available by appointment at their central Christchurch office (198 Montreal Street) - call (03) 366 6870 or 0508 CANLAW (0508 226 529), or email admin@canlaw.org.nz. After-hours appointments for evenings and Saturdays are options. They also offer Family Law Advice via a drop-in service at the Christchurch Justice Precinct on Mondays and Wednesdays, and have outreach clinics in various locations such as Aranui, Hornby, and Timaru.

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) provides free, confidential, and independent information and advice on a wide range of issues, including legal matters. They can help you understand your rights and guide you to appropriate services – call 0800 367 222

The Christchurch City Mission, while primarily focused on social services, offers support that may intersect with legal issues, such as tenancy problems or housing disputes. Phone them on (03) 366 0939.  

The Intellectual Disability Liaison Team (IDLT) service is for people with intellectual disability who have been charged with an offence and are subject to a compulsory care order from the courts.  You can learn more by contacting the CDHB Hillmorton Hospital at (03) 339 2860