Learn from two New Zealander environmental experts discuss the usage of restorative practices to resolve disputes. This 90-minute panel event will be on Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 at 2 pm EST (-5UTC) / 8 am New Zealand Time (On March 11th) (UTC +13). Please use the Time Zone Converter to determine when this engaging conversation will be in your time zone.

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With the increasing level of formal and informal reactions to minimize the negative impact of a human population on the land, humanity is tasked with innovation in the face of the imminent collapse of modern society. Social movements provoke awareness of poor land management. Governments and corporations are charged with formal leadership to stop pollution, monitor the environment, and demand public accountability when toxins are leaked, emitted, and spilled.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Resource Management Act empowers legal processes to prosecute people and entities when they damage the environment. Charges are laid, penalties are imposed, and punishments meted out. But what of the harm to the broader community? How can this formal system of crime and punishment reconcile the broader impact of environmental damage on fragile ecosystems and the community? How important is it for those who have done harm to acknowledge the negative impact their activity has on the environment? How can society be assured we learn from past damage to the ecology?

Restorative justice has been an essential tool toward more effective outcomes in the aftermath of harm to the environment caused by human activity. Wayne Marriott and Penny Prescott will present a vision of restoring community relationships while recovering from the detrimental effects of human activity on the planet, that embodies proven restorative practices

At the heart of these practices are a set of Maori (the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand)  values. Penny and Wayne will speak to these values and provide insight into how restorative justice is not just about the rule of law, but how it can positively influence the environment.

Panelists:

Penny Prescott:

Ko Taupiri te maunga, ko Waikato me Waipa ngā awa, ko Tainui te iwi.
My mountain is Taupiri, my rivers are the Waikato and the Waipa, my tribe is Tainui.

Penny has worked as a Restorative Justice Facilitator for over ten years and specializes in working with young people and with Māori participants.  She works primarily in criminal cases before the court and community panels where participants can avoid formal charges, but also works in workplace and environmental restorative proceedings.  Penny works also in non-profit management and has a background in youth development and Māori development.  She is passionate about social justice and equitable opportunities and participation in communities.  Penny lives in New Brighton, Aotearoa, with her whānau.    

Wayne Marriott:

Wayne has an MA in Conflict Transformation from the Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia.  He is a dispute resolution practitioner based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Wayne established Fleetwood Group Limited in 2002 to design restorative justice, conflict management and dispute resolution processes for individuals and organisations. Wayne is active with disputes and negotiations in a range of jurisdictions, such as family dispute resolution, building industry claims and disputes; personal accident insurance claims; real estate complaints; family disputes/separation, employment relations and earthquake insurance disputes. He also facilitates restorative justice cases referred from the criminal justice system. In 2019 Wayne was awarded the Micheal Klug Award by the Resolution Institute for community mediation. In 2020 he was a finalist for the New Zealand Law Awards, the mediator of the year. He is married to Natalie. Together, they have four children (Thomas, Hamish, William and Brenna) plus their dogs, Bella and Ruby. You can find out more about Wayne at www.waynemarriott.co.nz.