Lawyers act to keep courts' angel

Michelle Kidd received the QSM honour in 2010 for years of help for victims, defendants and their families. Photo / Greg Bowker

Trust set up to fund social worker to ‘the poor, addicted and downtrodden’ after role was cut in business plan.

Lawyers are raising money to enable a much-loved Auckland court social worker to keep doing good work after her church-funded job was "disestablished".

Michelle Kidd - honoured with a Queen's Service Medal in 2010 for years of service to the community - worked for the Methodist Mission's Lifewise social service.

Her job officially ended after Lifewise brought in a new strategic business plan, which did not include her court role.

A permanent fixture at Auckland District Court for more than 16 years, she has assisted defendants, victims and their families.

She helps people prepare for court appearances, provides them with food and accommodation at the mission, cares for children while people make their court appearances and, where necessary, deals with funeral arrangements.

Stunned by the prospect of losing Mrs Kidd's invaluable and selfless service, lawyers rallied this week to find a way to finance her work.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) set up Te Rangimarie Charitable Trust to raise money. President Tony Bouchier says $10,000 was immediately provided by the CBA and more will be raised from lawyer contributions and other court "stakeholders" such as the Ministry of Justice, police and probation service.

Mr Bouchier says money raised by the trust will be overseen by the Methodist Mission, not Lifewise, to pay Mrs Kidd and her expenses.

"Lawyers, judges and court staff are shocked by the news, especially coming at Christmas when the courts are busy with alcohol and family violence issues. She's such an integral part of the daily running of the courts.

"Everyone relies on her. She is a champion of the poor, homeless, addicted and down-trodden - calling them all 'my people'. For many prison inmates she is their only contact with the outside world. They write to her and she writes back."

Mr Bouchier says many people credited Mrs Kidd with being a driving force behind the establishment of specialist drug and alcohol courts and a new beginnings court, aimed at helping homeless street people.

She told the Herald she carried on working despite her role being disestablished, but word got around the lawyers quickly. "I was about to pack up my room and go. This is just amazing. I'm really overwhelmed and humbled by the support."

Mrs Kidd was working through the holiday period because she said people were most vulnerable and lonely at that time.

Dr Lesley Mynett-Johnson, director of Lifewise fundraising and communications, could not comment directly on employment matters but said the charity had very limited resources.

"Our work to end homelessness receives no government funding ... We have to make strategic use of the resources we have to achieve the greatest long-term impact." Additional reporting: Jared Savage