Director
Alexander McMillan Leading Thinker Chair in Childhood Studies
BSW (Hons) (Massey), CQSW, LLB (Hons) (Otago), PhD (Otago)
Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
Accredited Family Mediator
Associate Professor Nicola Taylor holds the Alexander McMillan Leading Thinker Chair in Childhood Studies and is also the Director of the Children’s Issues Centre. She works closely with the Otago Faculty of Law. Nicola has a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) degree, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree, a PhD, and has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. She is also an accredited Family Mediator. Nicola has a particular interest in socio-legal research with children, parents and family justice sector professionals on such topics as children’s day-to-day care and contact arrangements following parental separation, relocation, international child abduction, children’s participation, child-inclusive practice and family dispute resolution. She is currently involved in a major project evaluating the 2014 New Zealand family law reforms.
Contact details
Room 7C20
7th Floor, Richardson Building
85 Albany Street
Dunedin
Tel +64 3 479 4919
Email nicola.taylor@otago.ac.nz
Current and recent postgraduate students
Luke Fitzmaurice PhD (Law)
A multiple case study on young people’s involvement in the overhaul of New Zealand’s child welfare system 2015-2017
Michael Morrison PhD (Law)
Long-term care options for Tamariki in Aotearoa New Zealand: A critical examination into long-term fostering and adoptive practices in New Zealand
Kelsey Brown LLM (Law)
Children and young people’s participation in three legal settings in Aotearoa New Zealand
Emily Stannard LLM (Law)
Therapeutic Jurisprudence in New Zealand’s Family Court
Kesia Sherwood PhD (Law)
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and youth justice
Deborah Inder PhD (Law)
The voice of the child in the context of the New Zealand family law system
Sally Beale PhD (Social Work) - Completed 2017
The social work discourse and child sexual abuse
Fiona Miller PhD (Law)
Children under 16 and Health professionals: Partners in health care?
Natasha Munro MA (Childhood & Youth Studies) (CIC)
ECE services within a public health model: A case study in a rural community
Lee Stevens LLM (Law) – Completed 2018
Parental alienation
Fiona Mackenzie PhD (Law) - Completed 2016
Motherhood and family law
Megan Gollop PhD (CIC) - Completed 2016
Moving on? Parents' perspectives on post-separation relocation disputes
Bridgette Toy-Cronin (Law) - Completed 2015
Keeping up appearances: Accessing New Zealand's civil courts as a litigant in person
Allan Cooke PhD (Law) - Completed 2014
State responsibility for children in care
Publications
Theodore, R., Tustin, K., Kokaua, J., Gollop, M., Kiro, C., Taylor, N., & Poulton, R. (2019). Occupations and industries of employment of Māori university graduates: Early career aspirations and destinations. Kōtuitui. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2019.1669671
Taylor, N., Gollop, M., & Henaghan, M. (2019). Family law reform and post-separation parenting arrangements in New Zealand. Proceedings of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) 56th Annual Conference: The future of Family Justice: International Innovations. 1(1), (pp. 8). Madison, WI: Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Retrieved from https://www.afccnet.org
Taylor, N. (2019, July). Post-separation parenting arrangements in New Zealand: Parental guidance in support of children's participation rights. Invited presentation at the 5th Colloquium for the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child Implementation Project: Children's Rights: Families, Guidance and Evolving Capacities, Cambridge, UK.
Taylor, N. (2019, July). Evaluating New Zealand's 2014 family law reforms: Family justice professionals' perspectives. Verbal presentation at the Gender, Inclusivity and Protecting the 21st Century Family Conference, London, UK.
Taylor, N., & Cashmore, J. (2019, August). The ethics of 21st century 'family justice' research, and its application to professional practice. Preconference institute workshop at the 6th Annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Australian Conference: Ethics: Duties and Dilemmas in Family Law, Sydney, Australia.
Authored Book - Research
Taylor, N. J., Gollop, M. M., Tapp, P., Gaffney, J. M. D., Smith, A. B., & Henaghan, R. M. (2000). Children's Rights in New Zealand Family Law Judgments: Research Report. Dunedin: Children's Issues Centre, University of Otago, 135p.
Smith, A. B., Taylor, N. J., Gollop, M. M., Gold, M., Gaffney, J. M. D., & Henaghan, R. M. (1997). Access and Other Post-Separation Issues: A Qualitative Study of Children's, Parents' and Lawyers' Views: Research Report. Dunedin: Children's Issues Centre, University of Otago, 114p.
Smith, A. B., & Taylor, N. J. (1996). Supporting Children and Parents Through Family Changes. Dunedin: University of Otago Press, 134p.
Edited Book - Research
Taylor, N. J., & Smith, A. B. (Eds.). (2009). Children as citizens? International voices. Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press, 221p.
Smith, A. B., Gollop, M. M., Taylor, N. J., & Marshall, K. A. (Eds.). (2005). The discipline and guidance of children: Messages from research. Wellington, New Zealand: Office of the Children's Commissioner, 165p.
Smith, A. B., Taylor, N. J., & Gollop, M. M. (Eds.). (2000). Children's Voices: Research, Policy and Practice. Auckland: Pearson Education, 218p.
Edited Book - Other
Smith, A. B., Taylor, N. J., & Gollop, M. M. (Eds.). (2010). Escuchemos a los niños [Translation of Children's voices: Research, policy and practice]. Mexico City, Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 354p.
Chapter in Book - Research
Taylor, N., & Freeman, M. (2018). Using research to improve outcomes for abducted children. In G. Douglas, M. Murch & V. Stephens (Eds.), International and national perspectives on child and family law: Essays in honour of Nigel Lowe. (pp. 329-342). Cambridge, UK: Intersentia.
Smith, A. B., & Taylor, N. J. (2017). Children's rights in early childhood education. In L. Meyer (Ed.), Oxford bibliographies: Education. Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/obo/9780199756810-0178
Parkinson, P., Taylor, N., Cashmore, J., & Austin, W. G. (2016). Relocation, research, and child custody disputes. In L. Drozd, M. Saini & N. Olesen (Eds.), Parenting plan evaluations: Applied research for the Family Court. (2nd ed.) (pp. 431-459). Oxford University Press.
Taylor, N., & Te One, S. (2016). Children's rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. In C. Dalli & A. Meade (Eds.), Research, policy and advocacy in the early years: Writing inspired by the achievements of professor Anne Smith. (pp. 48-58). Wellington, New Zealand: NZCER Press.
Taylor, N. (2016). Relocation disputes following parental separation: Determining the best interests of the child. In E. E. Sutherland & L.-A. B. MacFarlane (Eds.), Implementing article 3 of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child: Best interests, welfare and well-being. (pp. 280-292). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Taylor, N., & Smith, A. B. (2015). Thinking about children: How does it influence policy and practice? In J. Wyn & H. Cahill (Eds.), Handbook of children and youth studies. (pp. 49-62). Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-4451-15-4_53
Taylor, N., & Gollop, M. (2015). Children's views and participation in family dispute resolution in New Zealand. In A. B. Smith (Ed.), Enhancing children's rights: Connecting research, policy and practice. (pp. 242-255). Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
Taylor, N., & Gollop, M. (2013). Children and young people's participation in family law decision-making. In N. Higgins & C. Freeman (Eds.), Childhoods: Growing up in Aotearoa New Zealand. (pp. 153-166). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.
Tapp, P., & Taylor, N. (2013). Protecting the family. In M. Henaghan & B. Atkin (Eds.), Family law policy in New Zealand. (4th ed.) (pp. 99-161). Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis.
Gollop, M., & Taylor, N. (2012). New Zealand children and young people's perspectives on relocation following parental separation. In M. Freeman (Ed.), Law and childhood studies: Current legal issues 2011 (Vol. 14). (pp. 219-242). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199652501.003.0015
Taylor, N., Wood, B., & Smith, A. B. (2011). New Zealand: The achievements and challenges of prohibition. In J. E. Durrant & A. B. Smith (Eds.), Global pathways to abolishing physical punishment: Realizing children's rights. (pp. 182-196). New York: Routledge.
Fitzgerald, R., Graham, A., Smith, A., & Taylor, N. (2010). Children's participation as a struggle over recognition: Exploring the promise of dialogue. In B. Percy-Smith & N. Thomas (Eds.), A handbook of children and young people's participation: Perspectives from theory and practice. (pp. 293-305). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Taylor, N., & Smith, A. B. (2009). Research methodology. In N. J. Taylor & A. B. Smith (Eds.), Children as citizens? International voices. (pp. 35-40). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.
Taylor, N., Smith, A. B., & Gollop, M. (2009). New Zealand. In N. J. Taylor & A. B. Smith (Eds.), Children as citizens? International voices. (pp. 81-98). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.
Taylor, N., & Smith, A. (2009). Preface. In N. J. Taylor & A. B. Smith (Eds.), Children as citizens? International voices. (pp. 9-14). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.
Butler, U. M., Bjerke, H., Smith, A. B., Shipway, B., Fitzgerald, R., Graham, A., & Taylor, N. (2009). Children's perspectives on citizenship: Conclusions and future directions. In N. J. Taylor & A. B. Smith (Eds.), Children as citizens? International voices. (pp. 169-183). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.
Gaffney, M., Taylor, N., & Atwool, N. (2008). New Zealand. In I. Epstein & J. Pattnaik (Eds.), The Greenwood encyclopedia of children's issues worldwide: Asia and Oceania. (pp. 301-323). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Tapp, P., & Taylor, N. (2007). Protecting the family. In M. Henaghan & B. Atkin (Eds.), Family Law Policy in New Zealand. (3rd ed.) (pp. 81-165). Wellington, New Zealand: LexisNexis.
Taylor, N. (2005). International Law. In A. B. Smith, M. M. Gollop, N. J. Taylor & K. A. Marshall (Eds.), The discipline and guidance of children: Messages from research. (pp. 87-99). Wellington: Office of the Children's Commissioner.
Taylor, N. (2005). International developments. In A. B. Smith, M. M. Gollop, N. J. Taylor & K. A. Marshall (Eds.), The discipline and guidance of children: Messages from research. (pp. 101-130). Wellington: Office of the Children's Commissioner.
Taylor, N. (2005). Children and young people's perspectives. In A. B. Smith, M. M. Gollop, N. J. Taylor & K. A. Marshall (Eds.), The discipline and guidance of children: Messages from research. (pp. 79-86). Wellington: Office of the Children's Commissioner.
Tapp, P., Taylor, N., & Henaghan, R. M. (2003). Agents or dependants: Children and the family law system. In J. Dewar & S. Parker (Eds.), Family law processes, practices, pressures. (pp. 303-319). Oxford: Hart Publishing.
Tapp, P., & Taylor, N. (2002). Protecting the family. In M. Henaghan & B. Atkin (Eds.), Family Law Policy in New Zealand. (2nd ed.) (pp. 75-148). Wellington: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Smith, A. B., & Taylor, N. J. (2000). The sociocultural context of childhood: Balancing agency and dependency. In A. B. Smith, N. J. Taylor & M. M. Gollop (Eds.), Children's Voices: Research, Policy and Practice. (pp. 1-17). Auckland: Pearson Education.
Gollop, M. M., Taylor, N. J., & Smith, A. B. (2000). Children's perspectives of their parents' separation. In A. B. Smith, N. J. Taylor & M. M. Gollop (Eds.), Children's Voices: Research, Policy and Practice. (pp. 134-156). Auckland: Pearson Education.
Taylor, N. J., & Smith, A. B. (2000). The way forward: Incorporating children's perspectives in research, policy and practice. In A. B. Smith, N. J. Taylor & M. M. Gollop (Eds.), Children's Voices: Research, Policy and Practice. (pp. 181-201). Auckland: Pearson Education.
Taylor, N. J., Gollop, M. M., & Smith, A. B. (2000). Children and young people's perspectives on their legal representation. In A. B. Smith, N. J. Taylor & M. M. Gollop (Eds.), Children's Voices: Research, Policy and Practice. (pp. 110-133). Auckland: Pearson Education.
Smith, A. B., Gollop, M. M., & Taylor, N. J. (2000). Children in foster and kinship care. In A. B. Smith, N. J. Taylor & M. M. Gollop (Eds.), Children's Voices: Research, Policy and Practice. (pp. 72-90). Auckland: Pearson Education.
Smith, A. B., & Taylor, N. J. (1998). Families in Transition. In V. Adair & R. Dixon (Eds.), The Family in Aotearoa New Zealand. (pp. 208-244). Addison Wesley Longman.
Journal - Research Article
Theodore, R., Tustin, K., Kokaua, J., Gollop, M., Kiro, C., Taylor, N., & Poulton, R. (2019). Occupations and industries of employment of Māori university graduates: Early career aspirations and destinations. Kōtuitui. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2019.1669671
Theodore, R., Taumoepeau, M., Tustin, K., Gollop, M., Unasa, C., Kokaua, J., Taylor, N., Ramrakha, S., Hunter, J., & Poulton, R. (2018). Pacific university graduates in New Zealand: What helps and hinders completion. AlterNative, 14(2), 138-146. doi: 10.1177/1177180118764126
Theodore, R., Taumoepeau, M., Kokaua, J., Tustin, K., Gollop, M., Taylor, N., Hunter, J., … Poulton, R. (2018). Equity in New Zealand university graduate outcomes: Māori and Pacific graduates. Higher Education Research & Development, 37(1), 206-221. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2017.1344198
Theodore, R., Gollop, M., Tustin, K., Taylor, N., Kiro, C., Taumoepeau, M., Kokaua, J., Hunter, J., & Poulton, R. (2017). Māori university success: What helps or hinders qualification completion. AlterNative, 13(2), 122-130. doi: 10.1177/1177180117700799
Taylor, N. (2017). Child participation: Overcoming disparity between New Zealand's Family Court and out-of-court dispute resolution processes. International Journal of Children's Rights, 25(3-4), 658-671. doi: 10.1163/15718182-02503004
Theodore, R., Tustin, K., Kiro, C., Gollop, M., Taumoepeau, M., Taylor, N., Chee, K.-S., Hunter, J., & Poulton, R. (2016). Māori university graduates: Indigenous participation in higher education. Higher Education Research & Development, 35(3), 604-618. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2015.1107883
Powell, M. A., Smith, A. B., & Taylor, N. (2016). Rural childhood in New Zealand: A unique site of children's agency and social participation. Children Australia, 41(4), 275-284. doi: 10.1017/cha.2016.32
Graham, A., Powell, M. A., & Taylor, N. (2015). Ethical research involving children: Encouraging reflexive engagement in research with children and young people. Children & Society, 29, 331-343. doi: 10.1111/chso.12089
Graham, A., Powell, M. A., & Taylor, N. (2015). Ethical research involving children: Putting the evidence into practice. Family Matters, (96), 23-28.
Taylor, N., & Caldwell, J. (2013). Judicial meetings with children: Documenting practice within the New Zealand Family Court. New Zealand Law Review, 3, 445-463.
Taylor, N. (2013). Relocation following parental separation: International research, policy and practice. International Family Law, Policy & Practice, 1(1), 90-98.
Freeman, M., & Taylor, N. (2013). The reign of Payne II. Journal of Family Law & Practice, 4(2), 31-43.
Caldwell, J., & Taylor, N. (2013). Natural justice and judicial meetings with children: Documenting practice within the New Zealand Family Court. New Zealand Family Law Journal, 7(11), 264-271.
Powell, M. A., Taylor, N., & Smith, A. B. (2013). Constructions of rural childhood: Challenging dominant perspectives. Children's Geographies, 11(1), 117-131. doi: 10.1080/14733285.2013.743285
