Family Focus
Welcome to our Family Focus blog page which hosts a collection of news, articles, and announcements relating to the FDR Centre, our processes, people and community.
The FDR Centre was established in 2013 as a specialist centre for providing a full range of private dispute resolution and conflict management services for all types of family and relationship disputes. We provide a holistic wrap-around service that includes everything from Family Law Arbitration, Mediation and Arb-Med for relationship property, trusts, wills, and estates disputes to FDR Mediation (including child inclusive mediation), conflict and communication coaching, and counselling. Our aim is to achieve positive and lasting outcomes for parents and guardians, children and other family/whānau members – all without stepping foot in the expensive, public arena of a court.
As part of our services, we strive to foster and participate in discussions and positive debate concerning all matters relating to the effective resolution of family and relationship disputes. This blog helps us to do so. We hope you enjoy the content.
The Brain Science of Conflict
Yesterday, we at the FDR Centre were delighted to co-host with NZDRC two sessions with Kathryn Berkett learning all about the neuroscience behind conflict. Sounds complicated? Luckily Kathryn is absolutely brilliant at communicating the science in a completely...
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Independent Panel’s Report on Family Justice System welcomed
Yesterday the Minister of Justice, Hon. Andrew Little, released the much-awaited report by the Independent Panel established to consider the 2014 family justice reforms. The Panel, headed by former Human Rights Commissioner, Ros Noonan, and comprising...
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A (sad) Tale of Four Sisters, a Property Magnate, Two Wellington Professionals and a Liquor Baron
Disputes over inheritance and division of relationship property leave parties reeling and broke and the public entertained at their expense The late William (Bill) Walker took over farming his parents’ farm, Hazeldale, in 1950. He developed it into a much...
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Study of Māori depression by renowned Māori FDR mediator leads to transformative model of practice
Rangi - Rua (Of - Two Minds) The FDR Centre is honoured and delighted to announce that one of our Senior FDR Mediators, Ngarongo Ormsby (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui & Ngāti Ranginui), has recently graduated from Te Whare Wānanga ō Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne with a...
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Giving children a voice in FDR Mediation
By Catherine Green, Executive Director FDR Centre Since early 2015, the FDR Centre has been offering child inclusive FDR Mediation, where children have the opportunity to share their views with a Child Inclusion Specialist, who attends the mediation in the...
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Understanding anger and high conflict personality
By Nicola Hartfield Nicola Hartfield, mediator and workplace mentor, discusses how anger influences certain personality types and the importance of understanding and managing anger to better engage with clients in stressful situations. While engagement and...
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Aging In Place
Kate Hursthouse A question commonly asked by and of family members reaching their senior years is whether or not to continue living independently at home. For some, it is undoubtedly the best option to move to assisted living. However, for those who do not...
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Family Justice Reform Consultation
The Family Justice Reform panel has released its second consultation paper which examines the 2014 family justice reforms. The panel’s research has shown that for those who have engaged in FDR, it can be a ‘quick, affordable and effective process’. They...
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Relationship Property Disputes: a fresh approach
- by Catherine Green Tried mediation? Thought about arbitration? How about taking a whole new approach and considering Arb-Med? Earlier this year, the FDR Centre launched its 2018 revised suite of Mediation, Arbitration, and Arb-Med Rules for Family Law...
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Mediation power imbalances: weighing the arguments
- by Nigel Dunlop It is commonly said that power imbalances in mediation render it unfair. The image is conjured up of a hapless party being cajoled into an unfavourable settlement by a more powerful party. Better to go to court, it is said, where...
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