WI7.10 Persons competent to make a statutory declaration that domestic violence has occurred (29/11/2010)

1. Statutory declarations from the following persons stating that they are satisfied that domestic violence has occurred are acceptable as evidence of domestic violence:
   1. social workers who are:
      • registered with the Social Workers Registration Board; or
      • full members of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers; or
      • employed in the public service under the State Sector Act 1988;
   2. doctors registered with the New Zealand Medical Council;
   3. nurses registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand;
   4. psychologists registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board;
   5. counsellors who are members of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors; and
   6. experienced staff members of Child Youth and Family approved women's refuges. Such staff members must be nominated by:
      • the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges
      • Shakti Community Council.
2. In order to meet the requirements of WI7.5(d), an applicant must supply a statutory declaration from people acting in their professional capacity from two of the groups listed above. The two people must be unrelated professionally (for example, they cannot be a doctor and a nurse from the same practice).
3. Immigration officers may verify that statutory declarations provided as evidence of domestic violence have been made by the appropriate person by contacting the professional bodies listed above.

Effective 29/11/2010