Dear West Coast Regional Council,

I am a Law student at the University of Auckland and for my honours dissertation I am investigating the alternative dispute resolution mechanism within the Resource Management Act.

I would like to know:
With regard to RMA Schedule 1 cl 8AA: How many RMA Schedule 1 clause 8AA meetings have been held during the last three years, and of those how many instances of where mediation (sub clause (3)) has been used. Where mediation has been used, was the mediator appointed by the council, or agreed upon by the parties? Was the mediator an independent mediator?

With regard to RMA s 99A: How many RMA s 99A mediation meetings have been held during the last three years? Of these, how many parties were in attendance (e.g. 10 mediations had 2 parties; 5 mediations had 3 parties; 12 mediations had 4 parties; etc). Where mediation has been used, was the mediator appointed by the council, or agreed upon by the parties? Was the mediator an independent mediator? How many mediations were held were the mediator is an Environmental Commissioner?

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Hawkins
[email address]
021 2788852