Successfully overturning an ACC cover decision and assisting in reunification for Burmese and Colombian families had been some of the notable cases in a local legal services’ quarter-century.
Nelson Bays Community Law Service, which offers free legal support in Nelson, Richmond, Motueka, Golden Bay, Murchison and Westport, was established by a group of 50 in 1998, to ease the financial burden of legal aid.
Chairperson Steven Zindel, who has been with the service since the outset, says clients were always “grateful”, and the free service was made possible by funding from the Ministry of Justice.
“The thinking is an ounce of prevention is worth a tonne of cure… we established this law centre, like many others in the country, to support the local community and provide more low-level assistance early to save the need for expensive court cases,” he says.
“It makes it easier for customers who don’t have to worry about paying, they’re always grateful for that part compared to a law office or any legal aid where they have repayment obligations.
“They’re well-disposed to the law service from the get-go and the [eight] staff are friendly and approachable and it’s difficult not to like them or thank them for what they do, they’re so enthusiastic.”
Steven says the service had undertaken a raft of immigration, consumer and employment cases, including one last year where a significant backpay amount was awarded to one of its clients after an ACC cover decision was overturned on review.
“That one meant a lot to the people involved with it,” he says.
Steven says he hoped the service will continue for another 25 years.
“We do experience as lawyers, especially with a whole lot of people in the family area and civil, like money or property claims, or being ripped off, but it doesn’t quite amount to criminal behaviour.
“That requires family and civil help but there’s a real shortage of legal aid lawyers in that area. So, we still need some reform in the whole civil, family and legal aid system, but [the law service] is a good safety net, doesn’t catch every case, but if we didn’t have it, you’d notice it.”
