27 Feb 2019
SDE v SM [2019] NZHC 283
- Citation
- [2019] NZHC 283
- Court
- High Court
The High Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the Family Court's discharge of the guardianship order because the child, nearly 17, was mature, settled at school, opposed continuation of the order and wished to control contact with her father; there was no cogent evidence of current safety risk sufficient to justify retaining court guardianship, expert advice indicated compulsion would harm the child's welfare, and the Court must give considerable weight to the views of an older child.