Ni and Zang and Ors

This matter concerned orders made by O'Ryan J regarding the parental responsibility, residence, and contact arrangements for a child. The parties involved were the Mother and the Father, with the paternal grandparents also playing a significant role in the proceedings. The dispute centred on the relocation of the child to New Zealand and the ongoing arrangements for the child's care and relationship with both parents and grandparents.

The court was required to determine the extent of shared parental responsibility, particularly concerning decisions about the child's education and medical treatment. A key issue was whether the Mother should have sole responsibility for these specific decisions. Furthermore, the court had to establish the terms of the child's residence, the Father's and paternal grandparents' contact with the child both before and after the relocation, and the practical arrangements for facilitating this contact, including travel and accommodation. The court also considered financial provisions to assist the Father and paternal grandparents with potential legal costs.

O'Ryan J ordered that the Mother and Father have equal shared parental responsibility for the child, but granted the Mother sole responsibility for decisions regarding the child's education and medical treatment. The child was ordered to live with the Mother, who was permitted to relocate the child to Christchurch, New Zealand, from 1 February 2009. Specific provisions were made for the child to spend time with the Father and paternal grandparents prior to the relocation, and detailed arrangements were set out for future contact in both Sydney and Christchurch, including travel and accommodation responsibilities. The court also made orders concerning the notification of medical issues, residential addresses, contact details, and the provision of regular updates on the child's development and activities. A sum of AUD$15,000 was to be deposited into a joint bank account to assist the Father and paternal grandparents with potential legal costs. The court also ordered that the child be enrolled in Mandarin language classes to facilitate communication with the paternal grandparents.