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A McKenzie friend is the title given to a support person who attends a court or tribunal proceeding in support of a self-litigant who has opted against legal representation. The term “McKenzie Friend” was coined as a result of the McKenzie v McKenzie case in the UK from 1970 with principles being established, some of which are set out below.

1. An individual may choose to represent themselves because they cannot afford a lawyer, because they are not eligible for legal aid, or because they would prefer to conduct their own case.
2. McKenzie Friends are used in a variety of courts and tribunals, including Family Courts, Disputes and Tenancy Tribunals.
3. Anybody who is mentally competent can be a McKenzie friend.
4. McKenzie Friends are not permitted to represent a client like a lawyer. Nor can they examine witnesses or address the court directly unless they are given leave to do so.   If given leave to do so, they can then have what is know as “Rights of Audience” and can raise issues in court directly with the judge instead of prompting the self-Litigant.   Such issues they can raise are points of law, procedure and examination of witnesses.
5. A McKenzie Friend can always support a litigant by taking notes, quietly making suggestions to the litigant, help with case papers and operating as an extra set of eyes and ears to offer clarity and moral support during what can often be a stressful situation.

An increasing number of individuals in eligible jurisdictions internationally, are opting to use McKenzie friends as an alternative means of support in and out of court.

Whether out of an empowered desire to express their own case or because lawyers’ fees make professional legal support unaffordable, the role of a McKenzie Friend is becoming more and more sought after.

In an effort to provide better outcomes for New Zealand families, McKenzie Friend Professionals Limited have professionalised and standardised this role, offering the only support to families with an exemplary accreditation and follow up support.

Particularly with regard to the Family Court in NZ, we seek to not only stop the ugliness of what has been reported as a long history of failure for children and parents, but to further diffuse potential trauma, instead fostering the building of trusting relationships between parents and the Family Court alike.

To quote Michelle Obama’s words…  “When they go low, we go high” and we encourage you to adopt the same philosophy throughout your case.

It is this philosophy which is our strength and what sets us apart from others.

We will educate and encourage you to be a parent offering your children the dignity and responsible co-parenting solution they need and deserve.

At the same time we will discourage you to become distracted by “the fight”, forgetting to act in your children’s best interests, as they fall prey to the game of slander or hate speech inadvertently encouraged at times.

Some things to consider when working with one of our Accredited McKenzie Friends:

1. Founder and Managing Director Vinay Deobhakta has successfully acted as a McKenzie Friend in over 200 cases in New Zealand and Australia since 2010.
2. We are the only McKenzie Friend Professionals in New Zealand acknowledged by the New Zealand Law Society.
3. Our professional, correct approach to navigating your way through the New Zealand Court is kinder to you and your family authentically placing your family “front and centre” throughout the proceedings. We refuse to engage in prolonging any proceedings – EVER.
4. McKenzie Friend Professionals are THE ONLY independent party from the Ministry of Justice participants operating within New Zealand Family Court system.
5. We do not have a duty to the Court and equally, we do not entertain slanderous negativity toward the Court.
6. Every accredited McKenzie Friend Professional has the option to have Professionals indemnity insurance.

This will be your point of difference or winning strategy in court when using your Professional McKenzie friend as a self-litigant!

For those budding McKenzie Friend Professionals, the cornerstone of our training is the “Vinay Deobhakta McKenzie Friend Method” programme.

In an effort to add value to your time spent with us training how to support self-litigants in the Court process, there is an added benefit to your accreditation as assessed by NZQA.

Our accreditation is equivalent to 20 credits (200 notional learning hours) at Level 5 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).

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