Conciliation is a process where an independent and neutral conciliator works with the parties to identify the issues in dispute and helps them to reach agreement. If the parties are unable to reach agreement on some or all of the issues then the conciliator makes a written proposal to the parties with recommendations as to how they can settle the dispute.

The sharemilking industry formalised conciliation as a cost-effective dispute resolution process for disputes between parties to agreements in the dairy industry, in particular: the Variable Order Sharemilking Agreement under the Sharemilking Agreements Order 2011; the New Zealand Herd Owning Sharemilking Agreement; and the New Zealand Contract Milking Agreement. There are also other industry standard agreements and ad hoc agreements that name conciliation for disputes arising from those agreements.

AMINZ administers the National Panel of Conciliators under an agreement with Federated Farmers of New Zealand. Conciliators on the Panel are suitably qualified and experienced to act in sharemilking and other farming disputes that require conciliation.

Parties can agree to select a conciliator. If they cannot agree, then the Chairperson of the National Panel of Conciliators can appoint one.

You can search for a Conciliator on our Find a Professional page.