Section 187 — Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989: Cultural and community reports

187 Cultural and community reports (1) Where the Court makes a declaration under section 67 of this Act that a child or young person is in need of care or protection, the Court may, before making any order referred to in section 83(1) of this Act, of its own motion, or at the request of any of the persons specified in subsection (2) of this section, require any person to report to the Court on— (a) The heritage and the ethnic, cultural, or community ties and values of the child or young person or the child's or young person's family, whanau, or family group: (b) The availability of any resources within the community that would, or would be likely to, assist the child or young person or the child's or young person's family, whanau, or family group: (c) Where the declaration was made on the ground specified in section 14(1)(a) or (b) of this Act, the availability of any option— (i) That would be an alternative to an order under Part 2 of this Act relating to the custody or guardianship of the child or young person; and (ii) That would, or would be likely to, ensure that the kind of harm suffered by the child or young person will neither continue nor be repeated. (2) Any of the following persons may ask the Court to obtain a report under subsection (1) of this section: (a) The child or young person: (b) Any parent or guardian or other person having the care of the child or young person: (c) Any barrister or solicitor representing— (i) Any parent or guardian or other person having the care of the child or young person: (ii) The child or young person: (d) Any barrister or solicitor appointed under section 160 of this Act to assist the Court: (e) Any lay advocate who appears in support of the child or young person or any parent or guardian or other person having the care of the child or young person: (f) Any Social Worker after consultation, where appropriate, with a Maatua Whangai worker. (3) Unless it is impracticable or inappropriate to do so, the Court shall ascertain and have regard to the wishes of the child or young person and the child's or young person's family, whanau, or family group in determining the person required to furnish a report under this section. (4) The fees and expenses of any person who furnishes a report under this section shall, if the Court so directs, be paid out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose.