Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

Provisions relating to procedure in Youth Court - Reports

334: Report by social worker

You could also call this:

"A social worker writes a report to help the court decide what to do with a young person who did something wrong."

Illustration for Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

If a court decides a young person is guilty of a charge, the court can ask a social worker to write a report before making a decision about what to do next, as stated in section 283. The court needs this report before making certain decisions, like those under section 283 or section 296G. The court will think about the report when deciding what to do.

The report should have information to help the court make a decision, and any other information the court asks for. When writing the report, the social worker might talk to a Maatua Whangai worker to get their input. The court will consider every report it gets from a social worker to help it make a decision.

The social worker's report is an important part of the court's decision-making process, and it helps the court understand the young person's situation better.

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This page was last updated on 25 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM154055.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Courts and legal helpFamily and relationships > Children and parenting

333: Medical, psychiatric, and psychological reports, or

"Getting medical or expert reports to help the court make fair decisions about you"

335: Report to be accompanied by plan, or

"A report must include a plan to help keep a young person safe and supported."

Part 5Provisions relating to procedure in Youth Court
Reports

334Report by social worker

Where the court makes a finding that a charge against a young person is proved, the court may, before making any order under section 283, obtain a report from a social worker.
The court shall not make an order under paragraph (ja) or paragraph (jb) or paragraph (jc) or paragraph (k) or paragraph (l) or paragraph (m) or paragraph (n) or paragraph (o) of section 283, or under section 296G, unless a report from a social worker is first obtained by the court.
The court shall consider every report furnished to it pursuant to this section.
Every report furnished to the court pursuant to this section shall include—
such information relating to the disposition of the case as will assist the court in its consideration of the matter:
such information as the court may direct.

Every report required pursuant to this section shall be prepared, where appropriate, in consultation with a Maatua Whangai worker.

Compare

1974 No 72 s 41(3), (5)
1982 No 135 s 9(1)

Notes

Section 334(2): amended, on 1 October 2010, by section 42(a) of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 2).
Section 334(2): amended, on 1 October 2010, by section 42(b) of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 2).