A Wellington barrister has been named as independent facilitator to help with a review of organisations involved with Aratoi art and history museum.
David Patten, a Fellow of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand, will facilitate a review of the Aratoi Regional Trust Board, Friends of Aratoi and the Aratoi Foundation with the terms of reference to be agreed by all parties.
He is widely experienced in advocacy and arbitration, especially in rural areas of New Zealand.
The wide-ranging review of the roles each of the organisations plays at Aratoi will begin this month, to be completed as soon as possible.
In a joint statement, Frazer Mailman, acting chair of the Aratoi board, Penny Bunny, chair of The Friends, and Bob Francis, chair of the Aratoi Foundation, welcomed the review.
The review is also is also supported by Lands Trust Masterton, which owns the Aratoi land and buildings and supports Aratoi through funding and rent concessions.
Meanwhile, South Wairarapa District Council is hanging on to $25,000 earmarked for Aratoi until after the museum has been through mediation.
Mayor Adrienne Staples said that although she was disappointed the council had not been invited to a recent public meeting, she was pleased there was an agreement to enter mediation.
"I do believe there is now will to get some resolution and from where I'm sitting, I support that will. I'm not going to make a fuss. We'll wait to see what happens from that mediation."
Mrs Staples said she felt unless all parties involved had an opportunity to air their views, the issue would not go away.
"We have to be totally convinced that the board, whoever they may be, has a good relationship with the community."
Mrs Staples said until then, the council would hang on to the funding for the museum.