FairWay dispute resolution provider becomes employee owned

Finance Minister Steven Joyce and ACC Minister Michael Woodhouse announced that FairWay Resolution will shift from Crown ownership to employee ownership. The change goes into effect from July 2017.

FairWay started in 1999 as the Dispute Resolution Service within ACC before becoming an independent Crown entity in 2011. FairWay provides a range of dispute resolution and mediation services. This includes Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) which involves mediation in relation to parenting arrangements after separation. 

FairWay also handles disputes with an ACC decision or claim outcome.

Minister Woodhouse said “An independent review of the ACC dispute resolution process in 2016 found that Crown ownership affected clients’ perceptions of FairWay’s independence and the report cited change of ownership as a possible solution.”