Partnership puts centre at forefront of dispute resolution education

The University has signed a partnership agreement with the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) that cements the Dispute Resolution Centre’s place at the forefront of mediation education.

The agreement, which recognises the Dispute Resolution Centre as a college specialist centre, was signed by College of Business Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Lawrence Rose on behalf of Vice Chancellor Steve Maharey, and AMINZ president Ann Edge at the institute’s conference in Auckland last weekend.

Centre director Virginia Goldblatt, who spoke at the signing ceremony, says it was a great pleasure to have a long-standing relationship with AMINZ reaffirmed and to mark it at the national conference in front of high-profile guests. “The University and the Institute share an interest in the education and credentialing of dispute resolution professionals and also a commitment to the education of the wider community – we believe that an understanding of dispute resolution processes should be a core competency in business,” Ms Goldblatt says.

“We also believe that much more research into this recent field of study is vital and the role the University plays in the research environment has the full backing of the professional body.”

Deborah Hart, executive director of AMINZ, says the first partnership between Massey and AMINZ dated back to 1992 but the field of dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration had increased significantly since then. Legislation now includes specific reference to dispute resolution with employment, family, civil and public sector all expanding as areas of practice.

The Dispute Resolution Centre is part of the College of Business and is based at the Manawatu campus. AMINZ is the largest organization in New Zealand for dispute resolution professionals.