Rainey Collins Lawyers

Treaty Process – Claimant Hui?

By Peter Johnston, Wednesday, 1 January, 2003, Treaty

Are you sick and tired of claimant hui? Do you despair at yet another consultation hui? Would you rather be somewhere else than at a claimant hui?

One of the main problems faced today in the Treaty process is the failure of consultative processes. Lets face it. We have also been hui’ed to death! Whether it is a government department or local body or mandate hui or consultation hui, most organisers are faced with having to overcome a genuine lack of motivation to attend.

There are three mains reasons why hui are totally turning off all except a hard core of people. First, most people find them incredibly complex and therefore boring. Second they are held usually in the weekend when there are more important things to be doing with your valuable leisure time (such as being with your family or doing other things such as sports commitments). Thirdly they are not well structured and therefore go on for too long.

The key in our view is to bring the fun back into holding a hui. Hui should be fun and encourage participation from all the whanau. Hui should coincide with important fun events and be structured in such a way that the claimant community looks forward to attending and makes it a priority to attend.

This involves creative thinking and thinking outside the square.

Hui should also be well planned in advance with clear time frames set so people have an idea of the commitment required. Keeping things simple and as short as possible should be encouraged. Then people have an opportunity to understand and participate. They can also plan their own day for other commitments but in a way that allows them to attend the hui.

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