About
Who is Parenting Coordination New Zealand
Parenting Coordination New Zealand (PCNZ) is dedicated to assisting separated parents in Aotearoa New Zealand by reducing conflict and improving the way parents communicate post-separation.
Our mission is to provide a child-focussed, practical approach that alleviates stress and keeps families out of court.
Who is Parenting Coordination New Zealand?
Parenting Coordination New Zealand (PCNZ) is dedicated to assisting separated parents in Aotearoa New Zealand by reducing conflict and improving the way parents communicate post-separation.
Our mission is to provide a child-focussed, practical approach that alleviates stress and keeps families out of court.
Jennifer Hetherington
Jennifer has provided Parenting Coordination to families since 2019 and has seen first-hand the difference this process makes for parents, children and whānau.
After returning to her birthplace, Aotearoa New Zealand, Jennifer founded Parenting Coordination New Zealand to make this vital service available to Kiwi families, helping separated parents reduce conflict and create calmer, more cooperative homes for their tamariki.
Jennifer trained in Parenting Coordination under the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Guidelines and continues to receive ongoing mentoring and advanced professional development.
She was invited to join the AFCC working group that adapted the international Parenting Coordination Guidelines for Australia. Jennifer also played an integral role in drafting sample Parenting Coordination Orders for the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, helping to establish consistent best-practice standards.
When she is not assisting families as a Parenting Coordinator, Jennifer works as a Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Provider. She is a member of the Fair Way Resolution panel, providing free Family Dispute Resolution for all New Zealanders.
View Jennifer’s profile on Fair Way Resolution ↗
Jennifer also brings 26 years experience as a specialist family lawyer with a respected family law practice in Australia. Her background in both law and conflict resolution underpins her child-centred approach: practical, compassionate, and always focused on creating positive futures for tamariki.
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Sarah Salisott
Sarah Salisott is the co-founder of Parenting Coordination New Zealand and a Parenting Coordinator.
Sarah is also a parent coach, educator, and mediator with extensive experience supporting families navigating high conflict, complex behaviours, and trauma. Before moving to Aotearoa New Zealand, she founded a successful parent-coaching and education practice in the United States, where she worked with hundreds of families and trained professionals in trauma-responsive parenting, communication, and conflict resolution.
Sarah has completed more than 5,000 hours of advanced education in trauma, attachment, crisis intervention, and interpersonal neurobiology. She is certified in Parenting Coordination, Parent Coaching, Trauma-Focused Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, and multiple child-centred approaches. Her combination of specialised training and lived experience as a Level 4 foster parent shapes her practical, compassionate, and child-centred support for whānau.
After relocating to Ōtautahi Christchurch, Sarah co-founded Parenting Coordination New Zealand to help bring trauma-informed, relationship-focused parenting coordination to Kiwi families. She develops curriculum, provides education for parents and professionals, and supports the advancement of best-practice standards in conflict resolution within the New Zealand family law context.
Sarah has collaborated extensively with courts, lawyers, and social-service agencies, including testifying in child protection and family law matters and consulting on high conflict cases. She has served as an instructor at the University of Wisconsin School of Continuing Education and trained county agencies in crisis intervention and trauma-responsive practice.
In the community, Sarah was appointed to the Wisconsin Council on Mental Health, where she chaired the Children and Youth Committee. Her work across coaching, conflict resolution, and systems-level advocacy reflects her commitment to helping parents reduce conflict, strengthen communication, and create calmer homes for their tamariki.
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Insights into Parenting Coordination
What to do when your ex isn’t following the parenting orders
It can feel deeply frustrating when the other parent does not follow the parenting orders. You might have worked hard to reach those agreements, or been through a court process that took months (or even years). When the other parent does not follow what was decided,...
Resetting routines after the holidays in two homes
The long summer break can be a welcome pause for families. There is more flexibility, later nights, fewer alarms, and a chance to step away from the usual routines. But when February arrives, many separated parents notice a familiar challenge: getting children back into everyday rhythms across two households.
Introducing new partners in a child-centred way
Introducing a new partner after separation can be one of the most sensitive moments for a family. Even when a relationship feels settled and positive for the adult, children often experience a mix of curiosity, worry, loyalty conflicts, and uncertainty.
Discover the Benefits of Parenting Coordination
Parenting Coordination can transform your coparenting journey, creating a harmonious and stable environment for your children.
Get in touch to learn more about how our services can support your family’s unique needs.