Topic

Family and relationships

This page contains different parts of laws about Family and relationships.

Related Plain Language Law

Immigration Act 2009

Rules for visa applications from people under 18 who aren't married

59: Applications by minors

Immigration Act 2009

Overnight accommodation for people detained without warrant

331: Form of custody of persons detained without warrant overnight

Immigration Act 2009

Rules for immigration status of children born in NZ since 2006

373: Immigration status of persons born in New Zealand on or after 1 January 2006

Immigration Act 2009

Children's immigration status based on their parents' status

374: Immigration status of persons whose status depends on immigration status of parent

Immigration Act 2009

Minors need an adult to help with immigration matters

375: Minors to have responsible adult to represent their interests

Immigration Act 2009

Immigration officials must listen to children's opinions about their situation

377: Views of minor to be considered

Immigration Act 2009

Who pays for sending someone out of New Zealand and helping their family

398: Costs of deportation or repatriation

Immigration Act 2009

Children must have an adult to look after their interests in immigration matters

459: Children to have responsible adult to represent their interests

Trade Marks Act 2002

Rules about people who manage someone's property after they die

Income Tax Act 2007

Maintenance payments from partners or child support are not taxed

CW 32: Maintenance payments

Income Tax Act 2007

Handling unpaid debts owed to a deceased person's estate

DB 32: Bad debts owed to estates

Income Tax Act 2007

Handling tax refunds after death: Trustees can allocate income to earlier years

EH 21: Income when refund given on death, and election to allocate amount to earlier year

Income Tax Act 2007

How a deceased person's trustee handles their financial matters

EW 60: Trustee of deceased’s estate

Income Tax Act 2007

Death benefit payments from certain life insurance policies are not counted as income

EX 45: Exclusion of amounts of death benefit

Income Tax Act 2007

Tax rules for personal property transfers in relationship settlements

FB 2: Personal property

Income Tax Act 2007

Land transferred in relationship property settlements

FB 3: Land acquired for certain purposes or under certain conditions

Income Tax Act 2007

Tax rules for transferring land in development as part of relationship property

FB 4: Land under scheme for major development or division

Income Tax Act 2007

How timber or timber rights are treated when settling relationship property

FB 6: Timber or right to take timber

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for transferring land with valuable timber during relationship property settlements

FB 7: Land with standing timber

Income Tax Act 2007

Handling patents when couples split property

FB 8: Patent applications and patent rights

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for financial arrangements when settling relationship property

FB 9: Financial arrangements rules

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for transferring company shares during relationship property settlements

FB 10: Continuity provisions: shares and options

Income Tax Act 2007

Former employee pensions: how they're treated when shared after a relationship split

FB 11: Pension payments to former employees

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for transferring farm animals during a relationship property settlement

FB 14: Specified livestock

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for transferring herd-scheme livestock in relationship property settlements

FB 15: Specified livestock valued under herd scheme

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for livestock not on the official list when given in a divorce or separation

FB 16: Non-specified livestock

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for valuing high-priced livestock when settling relationship property

FB 17: High-priced livestock

Income Tax Act 2007

When this part of the law applies to property transfers

FC 1: Disposals to which this subpart applies

Income Tax Act 2007

Property given to partners after someone dies

FC 3: Property transferred to spouse, civil union partner, or de facto partner

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for property left to family or tax-exempt groups after someone dies

FC 4: Property transferred to charities or to close relatives and others

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for transferring financial arrangements after death

FC 8: Transfer of certain financial arrangements

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for transferring commercial bills during relationship property division

FZ 5: Commercial bills

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for fair distribution of trust benefits to beneficiaries

GB 22: Arrangements involving trust beneficiary income

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules to prevent unfair arrangements for family tax credits

GB 44: Arrangements involving tax credits for families

Income Tax Act 2007

How money and assets from certain trusts are given to beneficiaries

HC 16: Ordering rule for distributions from non-complying and foreign trusts

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for when trusts give money to children

HC 36: Trusts and minor beneficiary rule

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for trusts set up in wills that pay money to young people

HC 37: Testamentary trusts and minor beneficiary rule

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for guardians managing income for those unable to do so themselves

HD 9: Guardians

Income Tax Act 2007

Financial support for families through tax credits

LB 4: Tax credits for families

Income Tax Act 2007

Defining who qualifies as a full-time worker or earner for family tax credits

MA 7: Meaning of full-time earner and earner for family scheme

Income Tax Act 2007

Definitions of key terms for family tax credit calculations

MA 8: Some definitions for family scheme

Income Tax Act 2007

How income from owning a large part of a small company affects your family tax credits

MB 4: Family scheme income of major shareholders in close companies

Income Tax Act 2007

Eligibility requirements for family scheme benefits

MC 2: Who qualifies for entitlements under family scheme?

Income Tax Act 2007

You must be the main caregiver for dependent children

MC 4: Second requirement: principal care

Income Tax Act 2007

Ongoing rules for family scheme payments and tax credits

MC 8: Continuing requirements

Income Tax Act 2007

Who is considered the main person responsible for a child's daily care

MC 10: Principal caregiver

Income Tax Act 2007

How much family tax credit you can get based on your children and care time

MD 3: Calculation of family tax credit

Income Tax Act 2007

You must be the main caregiver for a financially dependent child

MD 6: Second requirement: principal care

Income Tax Act 2007

How to qualify for a parental tax credit for babies born before July 2018

MD 11: Entitlement to parental tax credit

Income Tax Act 2007

Eligibility rules for protected family tax credit based on benefit status and income

MD 14: Person receiving protected family tax credit

Income Tax Act 2007

Tax credit for low-income families with full-time workers

ME 1: Minimum family tax credit

Income Tax Act 2007

Eligibility for child tax credit for certain parents who can't receive in-work tax credit

MZ 1: Entitlement to child tax credit

Income Tax Act 2007

How your family income is calculated when you set up a trust

MB 7: Family scheme income of settlor of trust

Income Tax Act 2007

Rules for transferring ownership of look-through companies during relationship property settlements

FB 10B: Look-through companies

Income Tax Act 2007

Extra money for parental tax credit when baby is born near tax year end

MD 12B: Additional parental tax credit amount included in lump sum if 70-day period crosses 2 tax years

Income Tax Act 2007

Who can get the Best Start tax credit and how it's calculated

MG 1: Best Start tax credit entitlement

Income Tax Act 2007

Financial support for families with young children

MG 2: Best Start tax credit

Income Tax Act 2007

Tax rules for trusts that only support people with disabilities

HC 39: Trustee income: disabled beneficiary trusts

Income Tax Act 2007

How to work out your tax credit payments from July 2024 to March 2025

MF 4K: Calculation of instalments: 31 July 2024 to 31 March 2025

Income Tax Act 2007

FamilyBoost tax credits help caregivers pay for early childhood education

MH 1: FamilyBoost tax credits: purpose

Income Tax Act 2007

Money back for childcare costs

LB 4BA: Tax credits for early childhood education

Child Support Act 1991

Rules for parents to support their children financially

Child Support Act 1991

This law sets the name of the Act and when it starts working

1: Title and commencement

Child Support Act 1991

This section explains important words and ideas used in the Child Support Act

2: Interpretation

Child Support Act 1991

This law applies to everyone, even the government, with some exceptions

3: Act to bind the Crown

Child Support Act 1991

This law explains why parents should support their children financially

4: Objects

Child Support Act 1991

Who pays for kids and how it's figured out

Child Support Act 1991

Rules about who has to pay money to help raise a child

Child Support Act 1991

Who can get child support: rules for children

5: Children who qualify for child support

Child Support Act 1991

Who can be asked to pay child support for a child

6: Parents by whom child support payable

Child Support Act 1991

Who counts as a parent for child support

7: Meaning of parent

Child Support Act 1991

Commissioner can ignore overseas documents if they seem untrustworthy

7A: Commissioner may disregard document from overseas jurisdiction if not satisfied that document is valid and authentic

Child Support Act 1991

Asking for help to figure out how much child support should be paid

Child Support Act 1991

Parents or carers can ask for help figuring out child support payments

8: Who may apply for formula assessment

Child Support Act 1991

If you get money for looking after a child, you need to ask for child support from the parents

9: UCB beneficiaries must apply for formula assessment

Child Support Act 1991

How to fill out the form for asking for child support money

10: Form of application

Child Support Act 1991

People who look after children most of the time or share looking after them equally

Child Support Act 1991

You can ask for child support for more than one child on one form

11: Multiple applications in single form

Child Support Act 1991

How child support continues when a UCB beneficiary's agreement ends

12: Deemed application by UCB beneficiary

Child Support Act 1991

Commissioner tells everyone when someone asks for child support

13: Notification by Commissioner of application

Child Support Act 1991

How to figure out who pays how much for taking care of a child

Child Support Act 1991

The government works out how much time parents spend caring for their child

14: Commissioner to establish proportions of care

Child Support Act 1991

How the Commissioner figures out who cares for a child and for how long

15: How Commissioner establishes proportions of care

Child Support Act 1991

How much of a child's care costs each parent is responsible for

16: Determining care cost percentages

Child Support Act 1991

Finding out who pays and who gets child support

17: Determining who are liable parents and receiving carers

Child Support Act 1991

When you have to start paying child support

Child Support Act 1991

What happens when you're named as a parent who pays or a carer who receives child support

18: Effect of being liable parent or receiving carer

Child Support Act 1991

When you start paying money to help take care of your child

19: When liability to pay child support starts

Child Support Act 1991

This rule about pausing child support agreements was taken out of the law

20: Suspension of voluntary agreements

Child Support Act 1991

What happens after someone asks for or refuses child support calculations

Child Support Act 1991

Tell people when they can't get child support

21: Duty to give notice of decision to unsuccessful applicant

Child Support Act 1991

Government no longer has to tell child's caregiver about child support decisions

22: Duty to give notice of decision to custodian

Child Support Act 1991

Tell someone when you want them to pay child support

23: Duty to give notice to person from whom child support sought

Child Support Act 1991

This rule about figuring out child support payments was removed in 2015

24: Duty to make assessment

Child Support Act 1991

When you no longer have to pay child support based on a set formula

Child Support Act 1991

When you don't have to pay child support anymore

25: When liability to pay child support ceases

Child Support Act 1991

What happens to child support when the person caring for a child passes away

26: Miscellaneous provisions relating to death of carer

Child Support Act 1991

When parents can choose to stop using the formula for child support

Child Support Act 1991

Carer can ask to stop the child support calculation

27: Election by receiving carer to end formula assessment

Child Support Act 1991

How much money parents pay to support their kids

Child Support Act 1991

This part tells you how much child support you might need to pay

28: This Part sets out rates of child support

Child Support Act 1991

The Commissioner calculates how much child support you need to pay each year

29: Commissioner to assess child support payable under formula assessment

Child Support Act 1991

How the law figures out yearly child support payments

30: Formula for assessing annual amount of child support

Child Support Act 1991

How much child support you might need to pay each year

31: Annual amount of child support payable by liable parent

Child Support Act 1991

Changes to the basic way of figuring out child support in some cases

Child Support Act 1991

There's a minimum yearly amount you must pay for child support

32: Minimum annual rate of child support

Child Support Act 1991

How much of the total child support money you provide compared to the other parent

33: Income percentage

Child Support Act 1991

How the government calculates how much child support a parent should pay

34: Child support income amount

Child Support Act 1991

How the law calculates your income for child support

35: Adjusted income

Child Support Act 1991

An extra amount subtracted from your income if you pay child support for children in different groups

36: Multi-group allowance

Child Support Act 1991

Rules about money and income

Child Support Act 1991

This rule about zero income no longer applies

37: Nil assessment of taxable income

Child Support Act 1991

How tax assessments are used to figure out child support payments

38: Application of assessments under Income Tax Act 1976 or Tax Administration Act 1994

Child Support Act 1991

This rule about part-year income no longer applies

38A: Position where taxable income from withholding income not available for full tax year

Child Support Act 1991

What happens when it's hard to know how much money you made

39: Position where income not readily ascertainable

Child Support Act 1991

The government can look at money parents make overseas when deciding child support

39A: Commissioner may take overseas income into account

Child Support Act 1991

Choose to use this year's expected income for child support calculations

Child Support Act 1991

How you can use a lower income estimate for child support

40: Estimated income

Child Support Act 1991

What happens when you choose to use your estimated income for child support

41: Effect of election

Child Support Act 1991

Changing your mind about child support choices

42: Revocation of election and subsequent elections

Child Support Act 1991

What happens when you change your mind about using your estimated income for child support

43: Effect of revocation of election

Child Support Act 1991

Checking if you paid the right amount of child support for the year

44: End-of-year reconciliation

Child Support Act 1991

How the government figures out your income if you don't send in your tax forms

44A: Determining income amount if no tax return filed

Child Support Act 1991

What happens if you guess too low

Child Support Act 1991

This rule about guessing your income wrong doesn't apply anymore

45: Penalty if estimated income less than 80% of actual income

Child Support Act 1991

Interest charges for guessing too low don't apply anymore

46: Interest to be charged on underestimations

Child Support Act 1991

Rules for making and changing agreements about money for kids and partners

Child Support Act 1991

This part explains how voluntary agreements for child and partner support work

47: Application of this Part

Child Support Act 1991

Rules for acceptable voluntary agreements

Child Support Act 1991

Rules for making child or partner support agreements that the government will accept

48: Voluntary agreements that qualify for acceptance

Child Support Act 1991

Payments in child support agreements must be at least $10 per week

49: Minimum instalment required before agreement can be accepted

Child Support Act 1991

Special rules apply when the person receiving child support payments gets an unsupported child's benefit

50: Exception where payee is UCB beneficiary

Child Support Act 1991

Special child support agreements aren't accepted when there's already an official calculation in use

51: Exception in respect of child support voluntary agreement where formula assessment applies

Child Support Act 1991

Court orders override voluntary agreements for spousal payments

52: Exception in respect of spousal voluntary agreement where court order in force

Child Support Act 1991

Child support agreements can cover multiple children or people in one document

53: Dual-purpose voluntary agreements

Child Support Act 1991

This law doesn't change other parts of child support agreements

54: Act not to affect other provisions of agreement

Child Support Act 1991

How to ask for approval of a voluntary agreement

Child Support Act 1991

Rules for applying to make a voluntary agreement official

55: Application requirements

Child Support Act 1991

You can ask for more than one agreement to be accepted at the same time

56: Dual applications

Child Support Act 1991

The government decides if your agreement is okay

57: Decision on application

Child Support Act 1991

What happens when the government accepts a family's agreement about child support

58: Consequences of Commissioner accepting voluntary agreement

Child Support Act 1991

When payments start for voluntary child support or domestic maintenance agreements

59: Commencement of liability under voluntary agreement

Child Support Act 1991

What happens after someone says yes or no to a voluntary agreement

Child Support Act 1991

The government must tell you if they accept or refuse your child support agreement

60: Duty to give notice of decision

Child Support Act 1991

Commissioner calculates how much child support or domestic maintenance you need to pay each year

61: Duty to make assessment

Child Support Act 1991

When you can stop making payments you agreed to

Child Support Act 1991

When you can stop paying child support or maintenance you agreed to pay

62: When payments under voluntary agreement cease to be payable

Child Support Act 1991

Changing voluntary agreements

Child Support Act 1991

You can change a child support agreement, but you need to follow certain steps

63: Voluntary agreement may be varied

Child Support Act 1991

Other important things to know about voluntary agreements

Child Support Act 1991

How you can stop a voluntary child support agreement

64: Election to terminate liability under voluntary agreement

Child Support Act 1991

You can still ask for child support to be calculated by the formula even if you have a voluntary agreement

65: Child support voluntary agreement no bar to application for formula assessment

Child Support Act 1991

You can still ask a court for financial support even if you have a private agreement

66: Voluntary agreement no bar to application for maintenance order under Family Proceedings Act 1980

Child Support Act 1991

The Commissioner must follow court orders about property agreements

66A: Commissioner to give effect to orders made under Property (Relationships) Act 1976

Child Support Act 1991

Rules about court orders for child money after 1 July 1992

Child Support Act 1991

This part explains which court orders about family money support the law covers

67: Application of this Part

Child Support Act 1991

Court orders for child support or adult support become official payments

68: Effect of certain court orders

Child Support Act 1991

Commissioner must calculate yearly child support and maintenance payments ordered by court

69: Duty to make assessment

Child Support Act 1991

Choosing to collect money yourself instead of having the Commissioner do it

70: Election that Commissioner is not to enforce order

Child Support Act 1991

How long you need to pay child support for

71: Period for which money payable under this Act

Child Support Act 1991

How money for kids is worked out and changed

Building Act 2004

A quick look at what's coming up

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Giving someone else the right to make decisions

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Rules

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Council can allow different pool fence rules if they think it's still safe for kids.

67A: Territorial authority may grant waivers or modifications in relation to means of restricting access to residential pools

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

This law aims to keep young kids safe from drowning by making it hard for them to get into pools without an adult.

162A: Purpose

Building Act 2004

Pools at home must have a fence to keep young children safe.

162C: Residential pools must have means of restricting access

Building Act 2004

The council checks home pools every three years to ensure they are safe.

162D: Periodic inspections of residential pools

Building Act 2004

Rules for pools built before 2017 don't change if they already met old safety standards

450B: Savings provision for existing residential pools

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Building Act 2004

Companies Act 1993

Registering a deceased shareholder's personal representative as the new owner of shares

93: Personal representative may be registered

Crimes Act 1961

Children aged 10 to 13 can only be found guilty of a crime if they knew their actions were wrong or against the law.

22: Children between 10 and 14

Crimes Act 1961

Parents can use reasonable force to keep kids safe and well-behaved, but not to punish them.

59: Parental control

Crimes Act 1961

It is against the law to do sexual things with a young family member who depends on you.

131: Sexual conduct with dependent family member

Crimes Act 1961

This explains who counts as a family member you depend on and who has power over you.

131A: Dependent family member defined

Crimes Act 1961

It used to be against the law to pay someone under 18 for sex, but this rule was removed in 2003.

149A: Being client in act of prostitution by person under 18 years of age

Crimes Act 1961

People who look after adults who can't care for themselves must give them what they need and keep them safe.

151: Duty to provide necessaries and protect from injury

Crimes Act 1961

Parents and guardians must give kids what they need and keep them safe from harm.

152: Duty of parent or guardian to provide necessaries and protect from injury

Crimes Act 1961

It's against the law to leave a young child alone or in a dangerous place.

154: Abandoning child under 6

Crimes Act 1961

This law explains when a baby is legally considered a person and how harming them before or after birth can be a serious crime.

159: Killing of a child

Crimes Act 1961

A law that punishes people who seriously hurt or don't take care of kids or adults who need help.

195: Ill-treatment or neglect of child or vulnerable adult

Crimes Act 1961

Getting married or having a civil union when you're already married, or forcing someone to marry or have a civil union

Crimes Act 1961

Bigamy means marrying or entering a civil union with someone else while already married or in a civil union.

205: Bigamy defined

Crimes Act 1961

The law says you can go to jail if you marry someone while already married to someone else.

206: Punishment of bigamy

Crimes Act 1961

It's against the law to pretend to marry or have a civil union with someone when you know it won't be real.

207: Feigned marriage or civil union

Crimes Act 1961

Taking or keeping a child under 16 away from their parent or caregiver without permission is against the law.

210: Abduction of young person under 16

Crimes Act 1961

Taking things from your husband, wife, or partner can still be stealing.

222: Theft by spouse or partner

Crimes Act 1961

Laws changed by the Crimes Act 1961

Schedule 3: Enactments amended

Crimes Act 1961

Adults must protect kids and vulnerable people from serious harm, or they could go to jail.

195A: Failure to protect child or vulnerable adult

Crimes Act 1961

It's against the law for adults to share rude or naughty things with kids under 16.

124A: Indecent communication with young person under 16

Crimes Act 1961

It's against the law to force someone to marry or enter a civil union by scaring, threatening, or hurting them.

207A: Coerced marriage or civil union

Crimes Act 1961

An adult who tries to make friends with a child under 16 to do sexual things with them is breaking the law.

131AB: Grooming for sexual conduct with young person

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

A guardian is a person appointed to look after a child under the Care of Children Act.

246: Who is guardian

Freedom Camping Act 2011

Checking how new camping laws affect people without homes

45A: Review of effect on homelessness of Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act 2023

Employment Relations Act 2000

This section explains important words and ideas used in the flexible working rules, like what counts as working arrangements and who is affected by family violence.

69AAA: Interpretation

Employment Relations Act 2000

This explains what certain words mean in the rules about breastfeeding at work.

69X: Interpretation

Employment Relations Act 2000

Mums can have extra breaks to feed their babies, on top of their regular work breaks.

69Z: Breastfeeding breaks additional to breaks under Part 6D

Employment Relations Act 2000

A guide that explains how bosses should help workers who need to feed their babies

69ZA: Code of employment practice relating to employer's obligation

Employment Relations Act 2000

If employers don't provide proper breastfeeding breaks and facilities, they might have to pay a fine.

69ZB: Penalty

Employment Relations Act 2000

Rules for the Employment Court when dealing with parental leave problems

179C: Limitations on consideration by Employment Court of matters arising under section 30D of Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987

Employment Relations Act 2000

This part explains how workers affected by family violence can ask for short-term changes to their work to help them cope.

69AB: Object of this Part

Employment Relations Act 2000

Asking to change your work because of family violence

69ABB: When and why employee may make request

Employment Relations Act 2000

Rules for workers asking to change their job to handle family problems

69ABC: Requirements relating to request

Employment Relations Act 2000

Showing proof of family violence to your employer

69ABEA: Proof of family violence

Employment Relations Act 2000

When a boss can say no to a worker's request for changes due to family violence

69ABF: Grounds for refusal of request by employer

Employment Relations Act 2000

If an employer doesn't follow the rules about helping workers affected by family violence, they might have to pay money to the worker as a punishment.

69ABJ: Penalty

Social Security Act 2018

Help for People Who Need Financial Support

Social Security Act 2018

This law helps people in need by giving money and support

3: Purpose of this Act

Social Security Act 2018

Deciding if someone is single or in a relationship for benefit purposes

8: Determinations person is single or in de facto relationship

Social Security Act 2018

How much money you can get from the government

17: Rates

Social Security Act 2018

Jobseeker support: extra money for people who are struggling financially

25: Jobseeker support: discretionary grant on ground of hardship

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting help as a single parent

29: Sole parent support: requirements

Social Security Act 2018

The sole parent requirement is for single parents caring for young children

30: What is sole parent requirement

Social Security Act 2018

When the government might treat you as a child's parent for help purposes

31: When dependent child may be regarded as applicant’s child

Social Security Act 2018

Your support changes from sole parent to jobseeker when your youngest child turns 14

33: Expiry of sole parent support, and replacement with jobseeker support, when youngest dependent child turns 14 years old

Social Security Act 2018

Special payment rules for couples when one person is in long-term care

38: Supported living payment: on ground of restricted work capacity or total blindness: payment not apportioned in specified cases

Social Security Act 2018

Money for people who take care of someone else full-time

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting money to care for someone at home full-time

40: Supported living payment: on ground of caring for another person: requirements

Social Security Act 2018

You need a doctor's note to get money for caring for someone full-time

41: Supported living payment: on ground of caring for another person: application must include certificate

Social Security Act 2018

MSD can ask for a medical check when you apply to get paid for caring for someone at home

42: Supported living payment: on ground of caring for another person: medical examination

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting money help if you're a young person with no kids

49: Youth payment: requirements

Social Security Act 2018

Youth payment helps young people with little or no money

51: Youth payment: no or minimum income

Social Security Act 2018

When you can't get money from your parents or guardians

52: When person has parental support gap

Social Security Act 2018

Extra help for young people in tough times

53: Youth payment: discretionary grant on ground of hardship

Social Security Act 2018

Youth payment can continue for a short time after you turn 18

54: Youth payment: continuation after turning 18 years old

Social Security Act 2018

Extra money for young people who follow special rules

55: Youth payment: incentive payments

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting money as a young parent

56: Young parent payment: requirements

Social Security Act 2018

Young parents can get money help even if they earn a little bit

58: Young parent payment: no or minimum income

Social Security Act 2018

When you don't have parents or guardians to support you with money

59: When person has parental support gap

Social Security Act 2018

Young parents in hardship might get help even if they don't live in New Zealand

60: Young parent payment: discretionary grant on ground of hardship

Social Security Act 2018

Young parents can keep getting payments after turning 20 in some cases

61: Young parent payment: continuation after turning 20 years old

Social Security Act 2018

Extra money for young parents who follow certain rules

62: Young parent payment: incentive payments

Social Security Act 2018

Help for people who can't earn enough money

63: Emergency benefit: discretionary grant on ground of hardship

Social Security Act 2018

Special rules for couples sharing a home with others when getting housing cost help

68: Accommodation supplement: special rules for joint tenants who are in relationship

Social Security Act 2018

When the government can say no or change your housing cost help

69: Accommodation supplement: refusal, reduction, or cancellation of grant in certain circumstances

Social Security Act 2018

The government helps some people pay for childcare

76: Childcare assistance: purpose

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting help with childcare costs

77: Childcare assistance: eligibility

Social Security Act 2018

Allowance for children with serious disabilities who live at home or in special care

78: Child disability allowance: discretionary grant

Social Security Act 2018

What counts as a child with a serious disability needing constant care

79: Meaning of child with a serious disability

Social Security Act 2018

MSD may ask for a doctor's note when you apply for money to help with your child's disability

80: Child disability allowance: MSD may require medical certificate

Social Security Act 2018

The government might ask your child to see a doctor before giving you money to help with their disability

81: Child disability allowance: MSD may require medical examination

Social Security Act 2018

How the government pays money to help with a child who has a disability

82: Child disability allowance: payment

Social Security Act 2018

Child disability allowance can't be paid with most other benefits or pensions

83: Child disability allowance: not payable with other assistance or pension

Social Security Act 2018

Extra money for couples when one partner is in hospital or care

89: Special disability allowance: entitlement in special circumstances

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting help with funeral costs when someone dies

90: Funeral grant: general eligibility and definitions

Social Security Act 2018

Temporary extra money to help with basic costs when you're struggling

95: Temporary additional support: purpose

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting extra money when you're short on cash

96: Temporary additional support: requirements

Social Security Act 2018

You might get less or no extra money if you or your partner do certain things

97: Temporary additional support: refusal, reduction, or cancellation of grant in certain circumstances

Social Security Act 2018

This part explains important words used in the rules about extra money help

98: Interpretation

Social Security Act 2018

Special help programmes created by the Minister

101: Approved special assistance programmes

Social Security Act 2018

This rule about special help notices no longer exists

102: Special assistance: status of, and access to, notices

Social Security Act 2018

Money help for 18-year-olds still in school

103: Provisions relating to children aged 18 years or over who continue education

Social Security Act 2018

A quick overview of what you need to know

Social Security Act 2018

This part explains the duties of MSD and people who get benefits

104: What this Part does

Social Security Act 2018

Making sure people know what they need to do

Social Security Act 2018

Rules that people getting money from the government must follow

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for people getting benefits: what you need to do

109: Outline of beneficiary’s general and specific obligations

Social Security Act 2018

You must tell us if something important in your life changes

Social Security Act 2018

You must tell MSD about changes in your life that might affect your benefit

113: Beneficiary must notify change of circumstances

Social Security Act 2018

Tell someone if you're going to leave New Zealand

Social Security Act 2018

Getting ready for work while receiving benefits

120: Work-preparation obligations

Social Security Act 2018

Who needs to follow work-preparation rules

121: Persons subject to work-preparation obligations

Social Security Act 2018

Things you must do if you have children who depend on you

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for parents getting government help with kids

127: Obligations in relation to dependent children

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for taking care of kids when you get money from the government

128: Obligations of beneficiary in relation to dependent children

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for looking after your partner's children if they get a benefit

129: Obligations of spouse or partner of beneficiary in relation to dependent children of beneficiary

Social Security Act 2018

Responsibilities for your partner's children when they get government help

130: Obligations of spouse or partner of beneficiary in relation to dependent children of spouse or partner

Social Security Act 2018

Children aged 3 to 5 must attend early learning programmes

131: Attendance of dependent child aged 3 to 5 years at early childhood education programme

Social Security Act 2018

Making sure your kids are signed up with a doctor and get their health checks

134: Health care enrolment and compliance with core health checks

Social Security Act 2018

You might need to meet with MSD and tell them how you're caring for your kids

135: Interviews and reporting

Social Security Act 2018

You might get in trouble if you don't follow the rules about looking after your kids

136: Person who fails to comply with obligations in relation to dependent children is subject to sanction

Social Security Act 2018

Rules about school, health checks, and words used in child education law

137: Definitions and attendance: regulations made under section 430

Social Security Act 2018

Who needs to follow work rules when getting government help

140: Persons subject to work-test obligations

Social Security Act 2018

Ways to be excused from doing things the law says you should do

Social Security Act 2018

Things you must do when you get money from the government as a young person

162: Obligations of young person granted youth support payment

Social Security Act 2018

When young parents have to start learning or training after having a baby

163: When education obligation or training obligation begins for young parent

Social Security Act 2018

Things a young parent receiving money must do

Social Security Act 2018

Young parents receiving payments must follow rules about parenting and childcare

164: Obligations of young person granted young parent payment

Social Security Act 2018

What young people must do if they are married to or living with someone getting financial help

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for 16 or 17-year-olds with a partner who gets benefits but no kids of their own

166: Young person aged 16 or 17 years who has no dependent child and who is spouse or partner of specified beneficiary

Social Security Act 2018

Help for young parents aged 16-19 who are with someone getting a benefit

167: Young person aged 16 to 19 years who has dependent child and who is spouse or partner of specified beneficiary

Social Security Act 2018

What certain words mean in this part of the law about young people, their partners, and benefits

169: Interpretation

Social Security Act 2018

Different types of things you must do

Social Security Act 2018

This part explains things that can change your benefit

183: What this Part does

Social Security Act 2018

Things you need to do before you can get help from the government

Social Security Act 2018

Rules about getting less money if you don't help with child support

Social Security Act 2018

Old rule about lowering solo parents' benefits for not helping with child support is gone

192: MSD must reduce rates of benefits for sole parents for failure to assist child support

Social Security Act 2018

No more extra money cut for not helping with child support

194: Additional reduction in certain cases

Social Security Act 2018

How taking turns caring for a child can affect getting help from the government

Social Security Act 2018

How the government decides which parent gets extra money for shared childcare

195: Shared care of dependent child

Social Security Act 2018

How to figure out which parent takes care of a child more

196: Rules for assessing which parent has greater responsibility for dependent child

Social Security Act 2018

Money from benefits might be reduced if you also get payments for lost earnings due to an accident

198: Loss of earnings compensation under Accident Compensation Act 2001

Social Security Act 2018

When you can get other benefits even if you receive money for being a veteran

200: Exceptions to rule that veteran’s entitlement excludes any other benefit

Social Security Act 2018

Your own benefit doesn't include money you get for someone else.

Social Security Act 2018

You can't get extra money for your partner if they already get their own benefit

201: Personal benefit of spouse or partner excludes benefit on behalf of spouse or partner

Social Security Act 2018

Rules about asking for money from a parent or ex-partner

Social Security Act 2018

MSD can stop your money if you don't try to get support payments you're owed

202: MSD may refuse or cancel benefit for failure to take reasonable steps to obtain maintenance

Social Security Act 2018

How a claim for family protection can affect your benefit

Social Security Act 2018

MSD can stop your benefit if you don't try to get money from a dead relative's estate

203: MSD may refuse or cancel benefit if family protection claim not pursued

Social Security Act 2018

How being a refugee or protected person can change your benefit

Social Security Act 2018

How your benefit changes if you're in hospital for a long time

206: Hospitalisation

Social Security Act 2018

Your partner's benefit may increase if you're in hospital for a long time

207: Benefit of spouse or partner increased after 13th week of hospitalisation

Social Security Act 2018

What 'beneficiary' and 'offence' mean in section 209

210: Beneficiary and offence defined for section 209

Social Security Act 2018

Explaining who and what section 213 covers

214: Beneficiary and offence defined for section 213

Social Security Act 2018

What happens when your benefit is stopped or not paid

216: Effect of non-payment or suspension of benefit

Social Security Act 2018

When you can still get some benefit money if you or a family member is in prison

218: Exceptions to rule that benefit not payable during custody in prison or on remand

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Court can check if contracts with minors are fair

87: Court may inquire into fairness and reasonableness of contract

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Courts can make decisions about fair contracts with young people

88: Court orders where contract was fair and reasonable

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Extra rules about when parts of the law for young people's contracts don't apply

91: Further provisions relating to application of sections 86 to 90

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Contracts for jobs and life insurance work like adult contracts for young people

92: Contracts of service and life insurance contracts have effect as if minor were of full age

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Kids can make legal contracts if a special court says it's okay

98: Minor may enter into contract with approval of District Court

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Court can ask someone else to review your request to approve a minor's contract

100: Referral of application

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

When this law applies to claims for money or damages involving children or teenagers

103: Application

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Making a legal agreement as a young person to settle a claim not in court

104: Claim that is not subject of proceeding

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Rules for protecting minors when their claims become part of a court case

105: Claim that has become subject of proceeding

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Who can ask the court to approve things for someone under 18

106: Who may apply for approval

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

The court decides if young people can make deals or settle claims

107: Court may refuse or grant approval

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Money awarded to minors is kept safe by a trustee until they grow up

108: Money or damages to be held on trust

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Getting your money when you become an adult or start a serious relationship

109: Payment on minor reaching 18 years or marrying or entering into civil union or de facto relationship

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

The court can change its decisions about young people's contracts and money

111: Variation of certain orders

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

The court can decide on its own or be asked to make a decision about a minor's property

112: Order may be made on court’s own motion or on application

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Explains what trustees and minors can do with trust money and agreements

116: Effect of this subpart on trust

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Court can approve changes to trusts for young people who have been in relationships

117: Agreement to extinguish or vary trust may be approved

Legislation Act 2019

What it means to be in a de facto relationship, like a married couple but not actually married

14: Meaning of de facto relationship

Legislation Act 2019

What it means to be a step-parent, stepson, or stepdaughter in New Zealand law

15: Meaning of step-parent, etc

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

When a person living alone in a rented home dies, the rental agreement ends within 21 days or on a date agreed by everyone involved.

50A: Termination following death of sole tenant

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Rules about young people renting houses and what happens when they grow up

14: Minors

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Rules for leaving a rental home if you're experiencing family violence

138F: Regulations relating to withdrawal from tenancy following family violence

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

How you can leave your home if someone in your family is hurting you

56B: Withdrawal from tenancy following family violence

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

How to properly send and deliver notices about ending a tenancy and the proof needed

56C: Service of notices of withdrawal and accompanying evidence

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Who counts as your partner, even after you die

18A: Partner (and partner in relation to deceased claimant)

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC pays money owed to you to your family after you die

126: Corporation to pay amount to claimant's estate

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC can share information to help keep kids safe from harm

283: Disclosure of information by Corporation for injury prevention purposes

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Money for families when someone died from an injury before April 2002

382: Survivor's grant to surviving spouses or partners, children, and other dependants for death before 1 April 2002

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Money for families of people who died before April 2002

383: Compensation payable to surviving spouses or partners, children, and other dependants under Accident Insurance Act 1998

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Money for people whose husband or wife died before April 2002

384: Compensation payable to surviving spouses or de facto partners under 1972 and 1982 Acts

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Money for children and families when someone died before 2002

385: Compensation payable to children and other dependants under 1972 and 1982 Acts

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Money for looking after kids when a parent has died

386: Child care payments for children of deceased persons

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Money for childcare if someone who helped with kids died before 1992

387: Compensation for pecuniary loss not related to earnings under former Acts: child care for child of deceased person

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Changes to other laws because of the new accident rules

Schedule 6: Consequential amendments

Accident Compensation Act 2001

List of injuries mothers can get during childbirth

Schedule 3A: Maternal birth injuries

About this project

What is this project?

This project is an experiment to take difficult language, and make it easier to read and understand for everyone.

How do we do this?

What's our process for taking the law and turning it into plain language?

Why is the law written like it is?

Laws are often hard to read. They use a lot of words and language we don't usually use when we talk.

Should we use AI for this?

What are the good and bad sides of using AI?

Is this information the actual law?

We hope that this information will help people understand New Zealand laws. But we think that it's important you talk to someone who understands the law well if you have questions or are worried about something.

You can talk to Community Law or Citizen's Advice Bureau about your rights.

Remember that AI can make mistakes, and just reading the law isn't enough to understand how it could be used in court.