Briefing to incoming Ministers on the New Zealand cooperative and mutual sector (2023)

This briefing paper was prepared by Cooperative Business NZ for the incoming Government following the 2023 General Election. It was intended to provide Ministers and officials with an overview of the scale, structure, and contribution of New Zealand’s cooperative and mutual business community, and to outline areas where collaboration could support national economic and social objectives.

The briefing highlighted the role cooperatives and mutuals play across key sectors of the New Zealand economy, their contribution to productivity and employment, and opportunities for policy settings that better recognise member-owned business models.

Briefing at a glance

• Prepared by: Cooperative Business NZ 

• Date: November 2023 

• Audience: Incoming Ministers and government officials 

• Policy areas: Economic development, regulation, housing, sustainability 

• Format: Ministerial briefing paper (PDF) 

Purpose of the briefing

The briefing sought to support early engagement between the incoming Government and the cooperative business community, and to encourage consideration of policy and regulatory settings that are fit for purpose for member-owned enterprises operating across multiple sectors.

Key issues outlined

• The scale and economic contribution of cooperatives and mutuals in New Zealand

• Opportunities for cooperatives to support productivity, employment, and regional development

• Alignment of the cooperative model with the UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Regulatory complexity and compliance costs facing cooperatives

• Barriers to establishing new cooperatives, including housing cooperatives

• The role of lending rules and access to capital for member-owned businesses

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