This concept is not yet agreed. It sets out how decisions are made in the Forum. The idea will be tabled as one of the items at the Forum’s November 2026 meeting, because it would shape how the other ideas on the agenda are handled.
Overview
- Consensus is a decision-making method where all participants actively agree with and support the final decision. The intention of consensus is to reach a solution that everyone in the group finds acceptable and is willing to actively endorse.
- Consent is a decision-making process where participants give permission for a proposal to proceed when they don’t see any significant harm in doing so, rather than necessarily agreeing it’s the optimal solution. Unlike Consensus, which requires everyone’s agreement, Consent focuses on the absence of objections that would prevent achieving shared goals.
Differences
| Aspect | Consensus | Consent |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Decision-making method where all participants actively agree and support the final decision. | Decision-making method where proposals pass if there are no reasoned objections. |
| Standard for Agreement | Requires positive, active agreement (‘I agree with this’). | Requires absence of reasoned objections (‘I see no reason this won’t work’). |
| Decision Threshold | Higher threshold—everyone must actively support the decision. | Requires absence of reasoned objections (‘I see no reason this won’t work’). |
| Efficiency and Speed | Often slower, as it requires finding solutions that everyone actively supports. | Generally faster, as it only requires addressing substantive objections. |
| Power Dynamics | Can sometimes mask conformity pressure or empower vocal minorities. | Focuses on reasoned objections rather than personal preferences, reducing power imbalances. |
| Focus of Discussion | Centers on building agreement and compromise. | Centers on identifying and addressing objections that would prevent success. |
| Organizational Implications | Works well in small, homogeneous groups with shared values. | More scalable in diverse organizations and adaptable to hierarchical structures. |
Related
- Why the Forum Shapes Proposals Together
- Ward 2 Development Forum (W2DF)
- Inaugural Meeting, 16 September 2026
References
- New Zealand Legislation. Te Urewera Act 2014. Decision steps for the Te Urewera Board. - BC Laws.
- Haida Gwaii Reconciliation Act. Decision steps for the Haida Gwaii Management Council, section 3.
- Newsroom. Co-governance: it’s nothing like you think. 2023. The Waikato River Authority co-chair’s account.