McKenzie Friend NZ

A McKenzie friend assists a self-litigant in Person in court. This person does not need to be legally qualified. The crucial point is that litigants are entitled to have assistance, lay or professional.

This role was created following the 1970 UK case McKenzie v. McKenzie, where Levine McKenzie was to be legally represented through legal aid but the legal aid was withdrawn before the case went to court.

Unable to fund legal representation, he managed to attain an Australian lawyer (Ian Hanger) who could not practice in the UK. He hoped he would be able to sit with him to prompt him, take notes, and suggest questions in cross-examination, thereby providing what quiet assistance he could from the bar table. The trial judge ordered Hanger not to take any active part in the case (except to advise McKenzie during proceedings). Hanger assumed his role was futile and did not return for the second day of the trial.

The case went against McKenzie, who then appealed to the Court of Appeal on the basis that he had been denied representation. On 12 June 1970, the Court of Appeal ruled that the judge's intervention had deprived McKenzie of assistance to which he was entitled, and ordered a retrial.

McKenzie Friend not only assists litigants with writing statements and court etiquette, but helps cope with the emotional turmoil and the strain of attending court. This helps you represent yourself in a calm concise way and less likely to get flustered.


Some examples of where we can help is:

Non Molestation Orders
Occupational Orders.
Divorce Proceedings.
Financial Hearings.
Child Residency .
Attending Court with you.
Completing and submitting forms.
Building your case.
Preparing your Court Bundle.
Training in giving evidence.
Managing cross examinations.
Predicting Questions and Answers
How to present your position.
How to defend your position.