Special circumstances justifying delay in activity obligation

A young partner may have special circumstances that justify not having to attend a Teen Parent Unit when their youngest dependent child is 6 months old even if there is a suitable place available.

Special circumstances include, but are not limited to, the:

• young partner's child having an uncontrolled health condition, such as asthma, or the child having special needs
• young partner’s ability to return to school because of a health condition or disability
• young partner struggling with the challenge of being a new parent (supported by information received from their Well Child/Tamariki Ora or a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner) and returning to education or training being detrimental to them and/or their child
• young partner having difficulty bonding with their child (supported by information received from their Well Child/Tamariki Ora or a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner) and returning to education or training being detrimental to them and/or their child
• dynamics with the other participants of the Teen Parent Unit making the young partner's attendance at the Teen Parent Unit inappropriate

If the service provider or MSD are satisfied there are special circumstances that justify the delay in the obligation to return to education at the Teen Parent Unit, the obligation to be in education, training or work-based learning would apply from the earliest of either:

• a suitable place becoming available and there no longer being special circumstances that delay the obligation to return to education at the Teen Parent Unit or
• the young partner's youngest child reaching the age of 12 months