18 Jun 2020
X v M [2020] NZHC 1377
- Citation
- [2020] NZHC 1377
- Court
- High Court
The District Court judge was correct to refuse appointment because the applicant lacked necessary independence and objectivity, had interests (including desire for retribution and extensive prior adversarial litigation) potentially adverse to the child, risked re‑litigating issues already determined in foreign proceedings, and there were real jurisdictional and efficiency reasons not to permit the District Court proceeding; therefore the applicant could not fairly and competently represent the child's interests.