Richelle Whittaker

Kia Ora. I am Richelle Whittaker. My practice is Win-Win Mediation. I qualified with Resolution Institute, as a mediator in 2020. I am contracted to Fairway, facilitating family dispute resolution in the Waikato area. I have expertise in group facilitation, parenting education and child development. I also facilitate the Parenting Through Separation course and have been doing so since 2015.

My focus is to support parents, caregivers and whanau to work together to agree to a care arrangement which meets the needs of their children. My approach is that of a coach, whose role is to help parents work together to become an effective co-parenting team, with their children’s needs at the centre of their decision making.

Becoming a mediator has been a culmination of my life’s work. Helping parents understand what their children need and how they can support their growth and development has always been a passion for me. I began this journey in Playcentre 40 years ago, facilitating education workshops for parents. I was involved in all aspects of my children’s primary school, including fundraising committees and Board of Trustees. I worked in volunteer management with Plunket as well as facilitating Plunket’s parenting programs. Learning a child-centred approach to parenting is empowering for parents and it has been a privilege to share my knowledge with others.