Section 164 — Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989: Further provisions relating to lay advocate

164 Further provisions relating to lay advocate (1) The principal functions of a lay advocate appointed under section 163 of this Act are as follows: (a) To ensure that the Court is made aware of all cultural matters that are relevant to the proceedings: (b) To represent the interests of the child's or young person's whanau, hapu, and iwi (or their equivalents (if any) in the culture of the child or young person) to the extent that those interests are not otherwise represented in the proceedings. (2) A lay advocate appointed under section 163 of this Act in respect of any proceedings— (a) Shall be served with all documents required to be served on the parties to the proceedings; and (b) May— (i) Call any person as a witness in the proceedings: (ii) Cross-examine witnesses called by any party to the proceedings or by the Court: (iii) Request the Court to obtain any report that the Court is empowered to obtain for the purposes of the proceedings: (iv) Attend any family group conference held in respect of the child or young person who is the subject of the proceedings, and make representations on behalf of the child or young person at any such conference: (v) Make representations on behalf of the child or young person in respect of any matter relating to the detention of that child or young person in secure care, or the care of that child or young person in a residence.