6. Consultation Principles

6.4. Summary

DiverseThe previous pages have demonstrated that:

  • People of NZ are diverse in culture, race and lifestyle
  • Effects on people are various and complex
  • All of mans activities affect ‘man’
  • Some of the tools require a fundamental understanding social fabric
  • Assessment of impacts is not always straight forward and involved experts
  • How those affected are taken into account key

Effective consultation is crucial so make sure you take the time to:

  • listen to what others have to say and consider the responses
  • allow sufficient time for consultation
  • make a genuine effort to consult
  • conduct the process in mutual good faith
  • provide enough information to enable the party being consulted to make intelligent and useful responses
  • keep an open mind and be ready to change the proposal or even hold meetings, provide relevant and further information on request
  • wait until those being consulted have had a say before making a decision
  • re-open the consultation process if necessary