Family Focus
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.
Arbitration and mediation of disputes involving trusts get the green light in New Zealand
In July this year, the New Zealand Parliament passed the Trusts Bill which contains unique and important provisions that expressly provide for arbitration and mediation of internal and external disputes involving trusts, including for court-ordered arbitration or...
Father’s Day
Where does Father's Day originate from? In New Zealand we have celebrated Father's Day since at least 1929 when it was first observed in a service at St Matthews Church in Auckland, following the tradition of a Mother's Day service which had already been established....
FDR Centre Panellist, Tom Stodulka, named Resolution Institute Australian Mediator of the Year
Congratulations to FDR Centre Panellist, Tom Stodulka, who was named Mediator of the Year at the prestigious Australasian Law Awards earlier this year. Tom was one of eight finalists from throughout Australia who were nominated for the Resolution Institute- Mediator...
Ten years of litigation says private dispute resolution for relationship property disputes is a smart option
In a judgment released yesterday the Supreme Court in Scott v Williams [2019] NZSC 80 [25 July 2019], dismissed an application by Ms Scott for an extension of time for applying for leave to appeal against two earlier costs judgments. There is nothing particularly...
Law Commission recommends out of court dispute resolution for relationship property disputes
This week Justice Minister Andrew Little tabled the Law Commission’s final report on its review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (the Act). The Act sets out how relationship property should be divided when a relationship ends by separation or death. The report...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...