Australian and New Zealand perspectives on the Cooperative Identity

This report presents perspectives from cooperative and mutual leaders, members, and academics in Australia and New Zealand as part of the International Cooperative Alliance’s global consultation on the Statement on the Cooperative Identity.

The report summarises insights from a joint webinar hosted by Cooperative Business NZ and the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (Australia) in December 2023. The consultation formed part of a wider international process initiated by the International Cooperative Alliance to assess whether the Statement on the Cooperative Identity remains relevant, well understood, and effectively communicated in contemporary contexts.

Report at a glance

• Published by: International Cooperative Alliance 

• Prepared by: Cooperative Business NZ; Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals 

• Date: April 2024 

• Focus: Cooperative identity, values and principles 

• Geographic scope: Australia and New Zealand 

• Format: Consultation summary report (PDF) 

Why this report matters

The Statement on the Cooperative Identity underpins cooperative values, principles, governance, and legal recognition worldwide. This report provides regional insight into how the Cooperative Identity is understood, expressed, communicated, and protected in Australia and New Zealand.

It highlights both strengths and gaps in awareness of the Statement, particularly among business leaders, and provides practical reflections on how cooperative identity can be better articulated and defended in policy, regulatory, and public discourse.

For New Zealand audiences, the report offers valuable context for understanding how cooperative identity intersects with regulation, governance, sustainability, and advocacy at both national and international levels.

Key themes explored

• Awareness and understanding of the Statement on the Cooperative Identity

• Differences in how cooperative identity is expressed in practice across sectors

• The role of law and regulation in protecting cooperative identity

• Challenges in communicating cooperative distinctiveness to policymakers and the public

• The importance of cooperation among cooperatives

• Alignment with international frameworks, including ILO Recommendation 193

Context within the global consultation

This report contributes to the International Cooperative Alliance’s global review of the Cooperative Identity, which was initiated following the 33rd ICA World Cooperative Congress in Seoul in 2021. Insights from Australia and New Zealand were provided to the ICA’s Cooperative Identity Advisory Group to inform international deliberations.

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