Consultation

Question 1

Stakeholders

Answer 1

People or organisations who have a direct or indirect interest in a proposal.

Question 2

Consultation methods

Answer 2

Variety of methods: information release, public meeting, workshop
Variety of objectives: inform stakeholders, generate options, resolve conflict
Variety of implications: proposal change, high cost, long time

Question 3

Successful Consultation

Answer 3

Successful consultation builds trust

• Start early
• Devote time and money
• Clarify expectations
• Have honest intentions
• Be a good listener
• Learn from mistakes

Question 4

Maori Consultation

Answer 4

• Special historical and cultural relationship with water
• Engineers need to be careful of: vegetation clearance, contamination of water, mixing of waters, discharge of ‘used’ waters
• Be clear of the level of consultation that is appropriate: national, tribal, runanga

Question 5

Maori term Kaitiakitanga

Answer 5

Food-guardian-customs

- Desire to serve as guardians for natural resources and ensure continuance for future generations

Question 6

Maori term Wai tapu

Answer 6

Sacred water

- Maori likely to seek absolute protection

Question 7

Maori term Wai tonga

Answer 7

Treasured water

- Maori likely to protect quality and quantity

Question 8

Maori term Rahui

Answer 8

Prohibition, often tempory, on use of a natural resource

Question 9

Maori and Pre-Industrial Peoples Perspectives

Answer 9

• A need for reciprocity between people and nature
• A view of time as a circular rather than a linear concept (life cycles)
• A spiritual belief that spirits and natural forces influence natural events and human thought and communication
• Profound empathy with other forms of life

Question 10

How to avoid bad consulation

Answer 10

• Do not be too helpful
• Do not withhold information
• Do not dominate public gatherings
• Do not overconsult with squeaky wheels
• Do not try to solve problems before understanding the issues
• Do not ask people how much money they would accept to settle
• Do not use anti-consultation ploys

Question 11

Anti-Consultation Ploy: Faster is Safer

Answer 11

The simplest and best ploy which means to do everything as quickly and quietly as possible so that your opponents won’t find out until its too late.

Question 12

Anti-Consultation Ploy: The Stone Wall

Answer 12

If someone does find out about the project before it is finished look for excuses that will get the project done before objectors realise what’s up.

Question 13

Anti Consultation Ploy: Divide and Rule

Answer 13

One manifestation is the “Choose a Route” trick for new highways, designed to split up highway objectors into three or four little camps, all at one another’s throats.

Question 14

Anti Consultation Ploy: The Bogus Choice

Answer 14

Take all the possible options and eliminate the ones you don’t want people to think about and add a few dummy ones to make up the numbers

Question 15

Anti Consultation Ploy: Markmanship

Answer 15

Give long-winded speeches and write verbose prose, being careful to say nothing of substance.

Question 16

Anti Consultation Ploy: Misdirection

Answer 16

Similar to Markmanship but involves a long, detailed, specific responses that are almost (but not quite) the ones the objector has raised. Make the objector feel guilty and think they had an unclear question.

Question 17

Anti Consultation Ploy: Pass the Buck

Answer 17

1) Crude buckpassing - blaming responsibility on someone else.
2) Refined buckpassing - employ staff to advise and staff blame elected representatives

Question 18

Anti Consultation Ploy: Jam Tomorrow, Jam Yesterday, but Never Jam Today

Answer 18

Participator should have said something earlier or it is too early for comments. Thus the moment for participation is always in the past or future.

Question 19

Anti Consultation Ploy: Lullaby Letter

Answer 19

Assuring indignant householders of anything that will make them forget about it

Question 20

Anti Consultation Ploy: Cotton-wool wall

Answer 20

If lullaby letter doesn’t work meet with objectors and treat them well supply with them with information and listen to them but go ahead as if nothing has happened

Question 21

Anti Consultation Ploy: Wave a Red Flag

Answer 21

Send a letter to objector saying “We always listen to responsible comments, but we are less likely to do so when they are accompanied by insinuations of the kind contained in your letter” in hopes that send a rude letter back that you can use to discredit them.

Question 22

Anti Consultation Ploy: I’m-your-friend Bluff

Answer 22

Say it is in their interest to withdraw their objections otherwise they’ll become a laughing-stock.

Question 23

Anti Consultation Ploy: Have-pity-on-me Bluff

Answer 23

Tell objectors that your career or health will suffer if they do not withdraw their objections.

Question 24

Anti Consultation Ploys

Answer 24

• Avoid using these as a proponent as the loss of trust will add great risk to the project
• Be prepared for others to use these when you are a stakeholder

Question 25

Franklin’s Fulcrum

Answer 25

“Although there are no guarantees, the potential for public acceptance of your project is directly proportional to the amount of control you are willing to relinquish, and inversely proportional to the walls behind which you try to hide.”

Question 26

Key Points of Consultation

Answer 26

• Stakeholders become involved in consultation when they are potentially affected, are interested in the proposal, have relevant information, or represent people.
• Consultation can be used for various objectives
• Consultation is more effective if begun early, properly resourced, and conducted sincerely.
  Proposed developments are more likely to be accepted by the public when developers develop trust and relinquish some control
• Consultation is a response to a need to build trust and relates to the history of past events