getting the co-operative voice heard

advocacy and lobbying

Mike Brown Profile

coming together

A Collective Voice

New Zealand’s member-owned businesses contribute significantly to the country’s GDP and play a crucial role in ensuring a strong, local economy.

As an independent representative for these businesses, we engage with political decision-makers and Government officials to make sure the collective voice of our members is heard when legislative and regulative change is being considered.

reach out to us

Got something to submit?

Cooperative Business NZ is keen to hear from our members directly should you have any concerns or like to provide feedback to regulatory bodies regarding policy changes that impact your businesses and members.

Get in touch if you would like us:

  • To put forward a submission on your behalf
  • To endorse your own submissions
  • Engage with our broader membership base on a particular issue. Given regulatory bodies will often consider change based on the groundswell and number of submissions, we can work with other members to also submit.  There is always strength in numbers!

Key partnerships

A critical piece of the lobbying and advocacy puzzle. We work closely with industry partners including levy-funded agencies, the Institute of Directors, Business NZ and Business Chambers.

Established relationships

To ensure positive outcomes for all, we build relationships with Iwi, ministers, regional councils and government agencies.

Increasing awareness

We actively engage in speaking opportunities, delegations, panel discussions and media relations to ensure co-operative awareness continues to grow.

OUR SUBMISSIONS

We regularly submit on relevant legislation and consultation documents, usually with direct input, feedback and insights from our members.

Submission on Government Procurement Rules – 5th Edit

Submission  to MBIE on the proposed updates to the Government Procurement Rules. It highlights the important role of cooperative and mutual enterprises in strengthening New Zealand’s economy and calls for greater recognition of diverse ownership models to support public value, economic benefit, and inclusive opportunities.

Read now »

Taxation and the not-for-profit sector

Submission to Inland Revenue in response to proposed changes to the tax treatment of not-for-profits. Focusing on the potential impact on credit unions and friendly societies – member-owned organisations that provide essential services and support to communities across Aotearoa.

Read now »

Companies (Address Information) Amendment Bill

Submission to MBIE on the Companies (Address Information) Amendment Bill which seeks to address the privacy and protection concerns associated with the publication of a director’s residential addresses on the Companies Office website.

Read now »

Business Payments Practice Bill

While intended to bring transparency to B2B payment terms and practices, our submission outlines our concern that a one size fits all approach would be the wrong way to address the issue and may lead to unintended consequences.

Read now »

Briefing to NZ Productivity Commission

Our response to the draft report on New Zealand frontier firms produced by the Productivity Commission in December 2020.

Read now »

Briefing Note To The Prime Minister & Incoming Ministers

Briefing note on the New Zealand co-operative sector sent to the Prime Minister & incoming Ministers, January 2020.

Read now »

Feedback: Review Of Small Co-operatives Exemption

Read our feedback form on the review of 16 class exemption notices (small co-operatives).

Read now »

Letter To Commerce Commission On Retail Grocery Market Study

Read our letter to the Commerce Commission on the Retail Grocery Market Study in August 2021.

Read now »

OUR LATEST CAMPAIGNS

Could Fonterra’s business model solve the housing crisis?

Could Fonterra’s business model solve the housing crisis?

Co-operative housing could be a big part of the solution to our affordable housing problem, if government and the business community are ready to get on board. Read this article from Institute of Directors’ Boardroom magazine (Summer 2021-2022) on the co-operative housing model in New Zealand.

read more