Moretalk and Family Law Section
of the New Zealand Law Society

Judges’ comments

The judges valued how Moretalk simplifies complex family law into short, visual explanations that work for both children and adults. The documents use question-style headings that mirror real family concerns, like ‘What is a Section 101 Custody Order?’ This helps audiences immediately know what the content is about. The judges praised the short, direct sentences, with one noting they are ‘active, short, precise, beautiful’.

The documents bring legal information to life through effective visuals and an infographic approach. This makes intimidating topics feel less scary, which is crucial for children. The judges appreciated the everyday words and warm, familiar phrasing like ‘mum’ and ‘dad’, which builds trust with the audience. The use of te reo Māori roots the content in Aotearoa.

The tone is friendly yet authoritative. The child-friendly visuals and white space help readers quickly understand serious and important information. One judge called these documents ‘game-changers’ that ease fear and influence how lawyers communicate. Another said ‘I can imagine how much easier it is for children to understand this process and how it can positively affect their lives’.

Media statement

Moretalk and the Family Law Section of New Zealand Law Society are delighted to have been named finalists for the NZ Plain Language Awards 2025.

Moretalk, a nationwide company providing communication assistance in a range of settings, collaborated with the Family Law Section of New Zealand Law Society on a project aimed at making family law processes more accessible and understandable for everyone involved, including clients, children and other participants.

A finalist in the Best Plain Language Technical Communicator section of the awards, the year-long (but ongoing) project examines the vital role of plain language in the family law setting.

Legal documents and processes are often complex and intimidating and, without clear communication, participants can struggle to understand their rights, responsibilities and/or the steps involved. The project demonstrates how small, intentional changes, simplifying language, adding visual aids and adapting communication strategies can make a significant difference.

Collaboration has been key. Lawyers bring legal expertise, while communication assistants contribute knowledge of how people process and understand language. By working together, we have:

• Simplified legal terminology into everyday language.
• Used visual aids to make processes clear
• Trained lawyers in communication strategies ensuring participants can follow information without confusion or distress.
• Developed strategies to confirm participants understand the information they receive.

Children and other participants are now able to engage more meaningfully with their legal representative, thus ensuring their voices are heard and considered in legal processes. Lawyers report that having access to plain language documents influences not just written communication, but also how they speak to clients, helping them explain processes and roles more clearly. Participants engage more confidently, and the legal process becomes more transparent and inclusive.

This project is now a research initiative at Moretalk, which continues to evaluate how such relatively simple changes can lead to meaningful improvements in communication and understanding.

The team at Moretalk the Family Law Section of New Zealand Law Society are proud that our work highlights the importance of accessible communication in family law and demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration can create tangible, positive outcomes for participants.

Being a finalist in the Plain Language Awards 2025 is an honour and a recognition of the value of making complex information understandable for all.

Bridget McArthur
Communication Assistant / Service Improvement Manager
Moretalk