GF v EF

In the High Court of New Zealand Tauranga Registry, the appeal of GF against the decision of the Family Court to allow the relocation of the child, AF, from Tauranga to Whakatane was dismissed. The appellant argued the relocation orders should not have been made as the child's views were not considered, the appellant's circumstances had changed, and the need to reduce conflict between the parties was overstated. The court found that while there was a failure to provide the child with a reasonable opportunity to express her views on relocation, this was remedied prior to the appeal. The court also found that the relocation would not have a substantial effect on the existing contact regime between the appellant and the child, and that the need to reduce conflict between the parties played a minor role in the Family Court's judgment. The appeal was dismissed, and no order as to costs was made between the parties.