Kōrero - March 2022
Some snippets from our monthly newsletter which features the latest news and industry insights. To keep up to date with our events and education calendar, head HERE.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Tēnā koutou katoa!
I hope all are as well as can be.
As you will have seen, CEO Sue Wells is leaving AMINZ. I first met Sue at our 2019 Conference in Christchurch. I remember the careful way that she was endeavouring to take it all in, and meet as many people as she could. Since then, Sue has helmed AMINZ through some difficult times. The pandemic has had a significant effect on our ability to present events, and connect in person with our wonderful members. The Office team has had to be nimble: doing as much in person as possible, shifting to online when required, and managing cancellations as a last resort. It has not been easy. Nonetheless, a lot has been achieved over the last two and a half years. AMINZ has grown its digital presence, taken significant steps on its diversity journey, presented many educational offerings, and hosted a stunning 2021 Conference in Rotorua. We are grateful to Sue for all of her efforts on these endeavours.
Sue leaves us to take on a key role as General Manager, Survivor Accounts at the Royal Commission of Enquiry into Abuse in Care. The Royal Commission’s work is important, and immensely difficult. We salute Sue’s courage in taking on the role. We wish her all the best in it.
The AMINZ Council will release its plans on next steps for the Institute’s leadership transition in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, we have had some fantastic recent AMINZ developments to celebrate, including:
· Arbitration Day – this was held on 16 February, in honour of Sir David Williams QC. The day was a huge success. It brought together a constellation of Aotearoa’s arbitration stars, for a series extraordinary sessions. Particular thanks and acknowledgment to councillor (and arbitration star in her own right ) Dr Anna Kirk for putting the day together;
· Three new Fellows in Mediation – congratulations to Ann Skelton, Baden Vertongen, and Matthew Freeman for their success in the latest Fellowship examinations round. The academic bar for Fellowship continues to be set high, and it is a huge testament to all three that they did so well. Particular congratulations to Ann Skelton, who was awarded the Ann Edge Memorial Award for Excellence in Fellowship Mediation. Particular thanks to Royden Hindle, Paul Sills Sabeena Tsan, and the role players and assessors, for putting the Fellowship examinations round together; and
· The translation of our AMINZ website into Te Reo. Special thanks to our Projects and Initiatives Manager Rachael Douglas for her efforts making this happen.
In other business, I note that AMINZ subs will soon be levied. I would gently urge folk to pay these promptly. My thanks in advance to those who do. The Institute makes a little go a long way. Your subs support: education, events, member resources, promotion, appointments, advocacy, ethics support, outreach and diversity. Timely payment of subs helps us all the more with that important work.
In the wider disputes context, aspects of the recent protests in Wellington have been sad to see. But a look around the world suggests that we remain a society of relative civility and compassion. Kiwis can and do disagree constructively. At the pointy end, AMINZ members continue to play an important part in that. We are proud of your efforts, and to support you in them.
Events in Ukraine show us what can happen at the opposite end of the spectrum, when evil seeks sway. I know I speak for us all, when I say that I hope for the soonest end to that awfulness.
Take care AMINZ whanau. I look forward to seeing many of you soon.
Mark
IN BRIEF - WITH SUE WELLS
He aha te kai ō te rangatira? He Kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.
What is the food of the leader? It is knowledge. It is communication.
As this is my final Kōrero as CEO, I’d like to take this opportunity to make a few observations about AMINZ in particular and the DR sector in general.
When I joined AMINZ in 2019, I was familiar with DR work from my own local government and RMA practice, but not how the sector is structured.
What I have observed is that while the work of DR practitioners is increasingly understood and valued, material support for the sector is not necessarily flowing through consistently or adequately. Compare for example the excellent work that MPI has done with the Farm Debt Mediation scheme. Good resourcing, good respect for the industry’s subject matter experts, great CPD requirements – it’s how things should be done.
Then, look at the Family sector. FDR is a key part of a smoothly functioning family justice system and yet family practitioners have to do their work within a tiny allocation of paid hours. I know that many of our family members end up working off the clock as a result. This cannot go on.
There is so much potential for a different way of “doing disputes”. At last year’s conference, Justice Sir Joe Williams laid down a wero for AMINZ, to play an active part in imagining and breathing life into an indigenous arbitration system. I have been thinking about that as I have been turning my mind to how the new RMA legislation might consider problem solving through the process as well as dispute resolution at the end. The sector is fascinating.
I will miss you all, and in particular, I will miss my team. The phenomenal Rachael Douglas. Rach has been my right-hand rock. The incredible Natalie Marriott, who is a powerhouse of finance and administration, whose Fri-yay memes will be sorely missed. Sabeena, who has had to cope with all the extra challenges and disruptions Covid has posed for the Education and Events role.
Finally, on International Women's Day, I encourage AMINZ to continue to foster diversity in membership. I encourage women in the Institute to put themselves forward as candidates for Associateship and Fellowship, and I encourage the Institute to shine a light on hidden barriers to entry. Triggers for imposter syndrome lurk in forms, in structures and in processes. Flush them out, and consign them to the history books. AMINZ has a bright future. I look forward to seeing it, and all its members, thrive.
Keep up the great work you do. Oh, and please pay your subs when the invoice comes out next week. In my humble opinion, they are worth every penny.
Until we meet again,
Haere ra,
Sue
MEET OUR NEWEST FELLOWS
Congratulations are in order! We are super excited to announce the newest Fellows of the Institute: Matt Freeman, Ann Skelton and Baden Vertongen.
2022 AMINZ SCHOLARSHIPS: Applications close this month
The 2022 AMINZ Scholarships close in less than two weeks. If you know someone in your network who is an up-and-coming leader in dispute resolution, please encourage them to apply.
The scholarships are designed to assist in AMINZ's commitment to growing diversity and leadership in the dispute resolution sector, aiming to provide potential future leaders in the profession support, encouragement and learning opportunities. The recipients are determined by the AMINZ Diversity Committee which awards two scholarships; one focussing on determinative dispute resolution (sponsored by Russell McVeagh) and the other on consensual (sponsored by the Domain Name Commission).
Please actively spread the word and encourage rising stars in the profession to apply - they do not have to be a current AMINZ member to be eligible!
Applications close 5pm 18 March 2022.
NZS 3910 REVISION: Kick-off
Last month we announced that AMINZ Fellow Peter Degerholm had been selected to the Committee for the review of NZS 3910. This review is now in motion with the Committee formed, inducted and kick-off underway. Please find the first update from the Committee's initial meeting HERE.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Clive Elliott QC
AMINZ Fellow Clive Elliott QC recently released a fantastic book that we know a number of you will enjoy. As this month’s Member Spotlight we wanted to share a little bit about this work. It’s a timely reminder of our shared humanity and the fragile social contract that binds us together.
Nau mai, haere mai, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Tālofa lava, Mālō e lelei, a very warm welcome to...
We are delighted to share that all members from Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (The Māori Law Society) and the Pacific Lawyers Association (PLA) are now able to receive a 25% discount on AMINZ membership and education offerings.
This will play a role in our commitment in meeting and building on our diversity and inclusion outcomes within the Institute, as well as across the wider Aotearoa dispute resolution landscape. We are looking forward to welcoming more members of these two organisations into the AMINZ community - and seeing and networking (online and in-person!) with many of you this year.
If you are currently a member of both AMINZ and one of these organisations, please ensure you update your membership details in the AMINZ Member portal HERE. This will ensure that you can receive the discount for the 2022-2023 membership subscriptions.
AN ASSESSMENT OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Access to justice is a key issue of importance for AMINZ. Head below to read a report produced by the Chief Justice about the Courts, which contains a comprehensive assessment of a these issues.
There is currently an independent working group developing a draft plan for input from those working in civil access to justice. AMINZ are working on when and how we can be of assistance in this space given our members' expertise on ADR. We will keep you updated on any progress and will be sure to seek your collegial input when the time comes.
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