You can apply for a protection order if you are/have been in a domestic relationship with the person you want to be protected against.

What is a domestic relationship?

1. A spouse or partner
2. family members
3. someone you have a close personal relationship with
4. someone you normally share your house with

1. A spouse/partner refers to:

• Someone who you are, or have been married to or in a civil union with.
• Someone who you are living, or have lived with in a de facto relationship including lesbian and gay relationships.
• Someone who you have had a child with.

2. Family members include:

• parent and child relationships
• people related by blood/marriage/adoption
• a person who is part of your whanau or culturally recognised family group

3. To establish a close personal relationship with someone the court will need to look at:

• The nature and intensity of the relationship
• time spent together and where that time is spent
• what you do in your time together
• how long you have known that person

4. People you share your house with could include:

• flatmates

Relationships not covered include those where the relationship is only because those involved are landlord and tenant, employer and employee or employee and employee.

(* please also note that you cannot apply for a protection order against a person who is under 17 unless they are married)