What are mothers' rights to child custody in New Zealand is that mothers have equal rights to fathers under New Zealand law, with no automatic preference for mothers, with best interests of child as primary consideration. Mothers' rights to child custody in New Zealand, which is under Care of Children Act 2004, which replaced Guardianship Act, governing custody and guardianship, with Family Court deciding parenting arrangements, provides that mothers and fathers who are guardians have equal rights to day to day care and contact, with mother being guardian automatically if mother gave birth, and father being guardian if married to mother or registered on birth certificate or lived with mother, with both guardians having equal rights to make decisions about child upbringing including education and health, with court not favoring mother or father based on gender, with principle of best interests of child under Section 4 of Care of Children Act including child safety, relationship with parents, and child's views, with no maternal preference, though historically mothers often got primary care for young children, now law encourages shared care where possible, with mother entitled to apply for parenting order for day to day care and contact, with mother having right to be consulted on major decisions as guardian, and right to seek child support. For unmarried mothers, mother is sole guardian initially unless father registered. So mothers' rights to child custody in NZ are equal to fathers under Care of Children Act 2004, no automatic maternal preference, best interests of child primary, with mother having guardianship and right to apply for day to day care and contact, with shared care encouraged where safe.
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