Recently I had to call our Health Insurance provider to sort our annual payment. I was put on hold and was bemused to recognise the tune of the song playing. While it didn’t have the lyrics, I found myself singing the words, “It's not about the money, money, money...we don't need your money, money, money".

While I saw it as amusing choice of music, I couldn’t help but cynically think… it is all about the ‘money, money. money.’ I acknowledge I am in a privileged position to have private health insurance, and know for a lot of New Zealanders, private health insurance is cost prohibitive. The cost of having to wait for needed health care. certainly has an impact and the current state of our public health service, doesn’t leave one feeling hopeful of any significant improvement.

Waiting for needed surgery can create phenomenal stress on an individual and wider relationships. It is not dissimilar for those who are in conflict situations who are wondering if, when and how a matter is going to be resolved. Often in a preliminary mediation meeting or the actual mediation, parties will comment they have needed to seek medical intervention to deal with the stress of the conflict, and will comment on a number of emotions they, and those closely involved have experienced, as a direct result of the length of time the conflict / complaint has gone on for.

It is well known that disputes grow legs the longer they sit around, as stories get created, recreated and often the initial matter can escalate and evolve in parties minds because of delays and stress. There are also significant costs incurred while waiting for a dispute resolution process, particularly in employment breakdown complaints, where an employee is on special leave.

There are some very good statutory schemes for complaints from consumers, including banking, finance, utilities, employment, tenancy, ACC and Human Rights to name just a few, where consumers have access to a dispute resolution process, with small or no up front costs. Unfortunately, these services are heavily used leading to long delays for a complainant and any dispute resolution process, let alone resolution options.

One of the significant advantages of using an independent mediator is the opportunity to have the process started quickly (often within a week and depending on parties availability for the mediation to occur within 10 - 15 working days, instead of more than 3 months.

It is also an option for an employment related independent mediation to be held and signed off by an MBIE mediator.

If you know of situations where getting a dispute actioned early would be advantageous, feel free to make contact to discuss, in a confidential, no obligation conversation, whether Simon or Ava (Orb Solutions) could be of assistance.

By the way…for those who now have ‘It’s not about the money, money, money’ stuck in their head, it’s from Jessie J’s ‘Price Tag’