New Zealand Expedites Divorce for Domestic Abuse Victims

Lawmakers unanimously approve bill allowing immediate divorce with a protection order, bypassing two-year wait.

The new legislation enables domestic violence victims to seek immediate divorce once a protection order is granted.
Previously, New Zealand required a two-year separation period before divorce, the longest among comparable countries.
The change was unanimously supported by all 123 members of parliament, highlighting a rare political consensus.
New Zealand faces significant domestic violence challenges, with over 177,000 family harm investigations in the past year.
Advocates for the change include survivors who experienced lengthy waits under the previous law, prompting legislative action.