Howick and Pakuranga Times, Thursday, December 20, 2018

Page 1

Kelly Flavell Law

Eric Koh is on fire selling East Auckland.

Howick and Pakuranga

Assisting In Your Success

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Eric Koh AREINZ M: 021 388 383

Telephone (09) 535 2150

AWARD-WINNING VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY – NZCNA Thursday, December 20, 2018

Est. 1972

127913-V4

Direct Freephone: 09 929 4433 E: e.koh@barfoot.co.nz www.barfoot.co.nz 102701-v4 121142

Vol 47, No 51

General 271 8000 ■ Classified 271 8055 ■ Delivery Enquiries 271 8000 ■ Website www.times.co.nz

Getting some air time

When there’s a strong onshore blowing on Eastern Beach, you just know kite surfers will be out in force. Award-winning Times photographer Wayne Martin captured this shot of Erik Thomas on Saturday, December 1. Times photo Wayne Martin

Law forcing mother back into domestic violence T

racy Signal is a devoted mother and grandmother. But on January 25 the Howick woman will have to take her 24-year-old daughter and two grandchildren back to Australia where her daughter’s alleged abusive ex-partner is waiting for them. Tracy’s daughter, Taryn, who is a NZ citizen, fled Australia in April this year with her two-year-old to escape what she says has been years of physical and emotional abuse from her ex-partner who also suffers from drug addiction.

Taryn had lived in Australia away from her family with little financial and emotional support until she plucked up the courage to leave. Shortly after arriving in NZ, Taryn found out she was expecting her second child who has recently been born in New Zealand. A few weeks after she arrived she told her ex-partner where she was and he has since applied to have her return their child to Australia under the Hague Convention, an international agreement that covers parental child “abduction”. It

provides a process through which a parent can seek to have their child returned to their home country. Tracy says under The Hague Convention, Taryn has been given until the end of January to return to Queensland without consideration for her safety and well-being and that of the children. Taryn will return to Australia with nowhere to live and no support. They have been given till December 20 to provide proof that they have purchased flights back to the Gold Coast which is expected to cost

more than $2000. If Taryn fails to do so in time, Tracy says she risks having her ex-partner fly to New Zealand and legally take the child back to Australia with him. Tracy says, thankfully, because Taryn’s youngest son who is only two weeks old at the time of print, was born in New Zealand, the Hague Convention cannot be applied to him. Tracy says once her daughter returns to Queensland, even after a custody settlement has been

reached, she might not be allowed to leave the state without the permission of the father. Already the family has spent more than $30,000 on legal fees because legal aid is not given to court cases taking place in another country. Earlier this month Radio NZ reported that, according to lawyers, the convention, which hasn’t been changed since 1980, is being used to re-victimise women who have fled abusive relationships. ➤ Turn to Page 23

Inside this week - Christmas Liftout LAST MINUTE

CHRISTMAS WALKTHROUGH

Gift ideas

18 – 23 DECEMBER - FROM 7PM EASTGATE CHRISTIAN CENTRE

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Styles may vary from those shown

LIGHTSHOW RUNNING NIGHTLY UNTIL 24 DECEMBER Thanks to the Howick Local Board for their kind support.

5 Ben Lomond Cres, Pakuranga Heights 09 576 1500

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Garden centre and Cafe Botannix open at 8am. Ph 534 6847. All offers valid until 24th December 2018. While stocks last.

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