The New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) established a Family Law Committee in 1987 to advise it on matters relating to family law and the Family Court.

The committee put a proposal to the NZLS in 1986 that a Family Law Section be formed to raise the profile of family law within the profession and to recognise the advancements for family lawyers.

The NZLS saw the establishment of the Family Law Section as an important development that would provide an opportunity for a greater flow of information about family law issues among members who could be directly involved in the Section’s activities.

The NZLS President at the time, Austin Forbes QC, saw the establishment of a Family Law Section as an important development. He said, on the proposal in October 1996: "This will be the path for the future of the profession whereby groups with a common interest could formalise their networks. The Section will provide an exciting opportunity for professional development for the benefit not only of practitioners, but, as well, others interested in or involved in providing family law services. These include the clients of family lawyers and the Family Courts as well as counsellors and others involved in the Family Court system."

Austin Forbes went on to say "I will be disappointed if there are not 250 members of the Section within a year or so". Today there are over 700 members of the Section, comprising family law practitioners, legal academics, judges, legal executives and government employees.

Past Chairs

Family Law Committee – 1987 to 1996

1987 to 1989 Gray Cameron

1990 to 1992 (J) David Howman

1993 to 1994 Isabel Mitchell

1995 to 1996 Murray Cochrane

Past Chairs

Family Law Section – established 1997

1997 to 1999 Annis Somerville (now Judge Somerville)

2000 to 2001 Dr John Priestley (now Justice Priestley)

2001 to 2002 Anita Chan

2002 to 2004 David Burns

2005 to 2006 Simon Maude (now Judge Maude)

2007 to 2009 Paul Maskell

2010 to - Antony Mahon