Welcome to the home of New Zealand's co-operatives and mutuals
Get involvedNew Zealand is home to a diverse range of member-owned businesses that sit across almost every sector. Cooperative Business NZ ensures they continue to prosper and thrive for generations to come.
What’s on
Upcoming Events and Programmes
Post Capitalist Aotearoa Conference
As economic and environmental challenges grow, the Post Capitalist Aotearoa Conference invites bold thinking and critical conversations about what could come next for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Rural Dispute Resolution Day
This one-day event brings together experts and professionals to explore the key issues facing the rural sector, and the best approaches to resolving disputes efficiently and effectively. Rural Day 2025 is both in-person and online, so you can take part no matter where you are.
Building wellbeing: Co-ops and Mutuals Championing People and Communities
Join us for an insightful event exploring how co-ops and mutuals are taking action on mental health, resilience, and overall wellbeing, and how you can apply these lessons in your own organisation.
What we do
Supporting New Zealand’s co-operatives and mutuals
Advocacy & Lobbying
Advocacy & Lobbying
Let's get the collective voice of member-owner businesses heard. We engage with key officials, regulators, and decision-makers, share your stories, promote the business model and advocate for positive change.
Education
Education
Ensuring the next generation have a strong grasp of the co-operative business model and its benefits to New Zealand is crucial. We work with tertiary institutes and other industry bodies to drive educational change.
Events & Training
Events & Training
A rolling annual calendar of events and training provides the co-operative business community with ample networking, collaboration, upskilling and professional development opportunities.
Research & Insights
Research & Insights
Working with partners in New Zealand and internationally, we deliver in-depth research, reports, data and insights. These support our advocacy efforts, are used at central and local government levels, and assist members in their own strategy and business planning.
Partnerships
Partnerships
Connections with other industry bodies, ministries, education institutes, and corporate partners allow us to deliver ongoing initiatives and additional benefits for our members.
Support for Start-ups
Support for Start-ups
If you’re beginning your co-operative journey, we can assist with a comprehensive resource library to guide you in the right direction and help you tap into the wider co-operative community and our networks.
Become a member
Join some of New Zealand’s most enduring businesses
Whether you’re currently operating under co-operative principles, looking to establish one, an individual advocate for the sector, or a corporate with a unique service offering for our members, we’d love to have you onboard.
Become part of the peak body committed to ensuring the New Zealand co-operative sector thrives.
Get the latest
News & Insights
Foodfirst Co-operative: A Legacy of Local Strength, Innovation, and Collaboration
Since 1987, Foodfirst has been more than just a food distributor, it has been a cornerstone of New Zealand’s communities. What started as a shared vision between nine passionate entrepreneurs in Whangārei has grown into a national network of over 200 trusted suppliers, 23 locally owned distribution sites, and a fleet of 260+ temperature-controlled vehicles serving regions from top to bottom.
LIC: Improving New Zealand dairy herds for over 100 years
Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) is a farmer-owned co-operative and world leader in pasture-based dairy genetics and agri-tech that have helped to improve New Zealand dairy herds for over 100 years.
A Career Rooted in Sustainability – The legacy of Dr Dirt
Dr Antony (Ants) Roberts has dedicated his career to advancing agricultural science, making a...
Stay in Touch
Want to stay on top of sector updates, international news, opportunities, the latest events, and insights?
Subscribe to our monthly industry update.
Co-operatives and New Zealand
“Co-operative businesses have long been part of the fabric of New Zealand life. The business model is successfully applied across multiple sectors and these enduring businesses play a significant role in our nation’s economy, communities and environments.”
Saya Wahrlich, Cooperative Business NZ CEO