Cooperative Business New Zealand has named Jenny Young of Combined Building Supplies and Steven Rowe of Flooring Xtra as the inaugural recipients of its Cooperative Futures Scholarships, supporting the development of governance, leadership and capability within New Zealand’s co-operative sector.

As ITM celebrates 35 years, CEO Sara Johnson explores how cooperation has helped independent timber merchants build national scale while retaining local ownership, and shares her perspectives on cooperative leadership, member governance, succession and the strength of the collective.

What can New Zealand’s fertiliser supply tell us about ownership and economic resilience? Looking at the different experiences of New Zealand and Australia during disruption in the Strait of Hormuz raises an interesting question about whether our strong history of cooperative ownership is an overlooked part of New Zealand’s competitive advantage.

The New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative is celebrating 30 years of growers working together. From weathering major market disruption to building science-backed health ingredients for global markets, its story demonstrates how cooperation can help a small New Zealand industry adapt, innovate and endure.

CBNZ is calling for a different approach to grocery competition, one that recognises the benefits of cooperative scale while putting greater effort into enabling new competitors, local ownership and alternative cooperative models to emerge.

As debate continues over the future structure of New Zealand’s grocery sector, could cooperation itself help create more competition? CBNZ CEO Saya Wahrlich explores the role of cooperative scale, local ownership and more creative routes to market.

Cooperative Business New Zealand’s submission to MBIE’s Capital Markets Reforms: Phase Two consultation supports proportionate regulation while encouraging greater recognition of cooperatives, mutuals and other member-owned business models.

Following our panel discussion at the 2026 Primary Industries NZ Summit, we reconvened to answer the many audience questions we couldn't fit into the live session. In this follow-up conversation, leaders from Fonterra, Ravensdown and Silver Fern Farms explore the future of New Zealand's agricultural co-operative model and the challenges and opportunities facing farmer-owned businesses over the coming decades.

In this episode of Co-op Leader Conversations, Saya Wahrlich speaks with Mike O'Connor about one of the defining challenges facing cooperative businesses: capital. Together they explore why cooperative capital is different, the risks of adopting corporate approaches, and how boards can protect member purpose while investing for the future.

Cooperative Business New Zealand has submitted feedback to NZX's Dual Class Share consultation, supporting greater capital flexibility while preserving the long-term member ownership and governance principles that underpin cooperatives and mutuals.

What are the biggest challenges facing cooperatives today? Based on responses from 145 co-operative leaders across Canada, this report identifies awareness, capital, leadership, governance and collaboration as the key issues shaping the future of the sector.

Dionne Pohler and Marc-Andre Pigeon discuss what enables co-operatives to thrive across generations, exploring governance, capital, member engagement and the leadership practices that help member-owned businesses remain relevant, resilient and future-focused.

A foundational piece of co-operative research exploring how trust, member commitment, identity and community connection contribute to the long-term success and resilience of co-operatives.

It’s Cooperative Business NZ’s financial year end which is a great opportunity to provide a round-up of our past year’s activity! Here’s a wrap-up from our new CEO Saya Wahrlich.

Cooperative Business NZ’s submission on the Modern Slavery Bill supports the intent of improving transparency within supply chains, while raising concerns about how reporting thresholds, definitions of “control”, and operational obligations may apply to co-operatives and mutuals operating through member-owned structures.

A new report from Kellogg College, University of Oxford explores how cooperatives and mutuals generate social value through their ownership structures, long-term relationships, community roots, and member-focused purpose. Drawing on interviews across the UK mutual sector, the report argues that social value in cooperatives and mutuals is not an add-on, but embedded by design.

Carl Taylor discusses how a small group of builders created a rapidly growing co-op that now supports more than 2,100 members through collective buying power, advocacy, member ownership and consistent storytelling.

A global report from the International Cooperative Alliance exploring how cooperatives and mutuals support sustainable consumption, reduce waste, and contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 12.

Susannah Batley, GM of Sharesies Business discusses how technology is reshaping the co-operative ownership experience, from shareholder communication and mobile-first access to liquidity, succession and long-term member engagement.

Norman Woods, CEO of HRV on why HRV converted from a traditional company model to a co-op and what the shift means for its future.