Podcast: Craig Erasmus – Seasonal Solutions Cooperative
[ E16 ]In this episode of Co-op Leader Conversations, Craig Erasmus, CEO of Seasonal Solutions Cooperative, discusses the realities of running a labour-focused co-operative at the heart of New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.
Seasonal Solutions brings in more than 1,100 seasonal workers each year and shares labour across a diverse horticultural membership. Craig explains how the co-op balances operational logistics, housing, pastoral care and regulatory compliance, while maintaining strong relationships with Pacific communities.
A central theme is active membership. Craig describes a deliberate process to review the shareholder register, clarify participation expectations and buy back shares from inactive members. This work has gone hand in hand with addressing undercapitalisation and strengthening the co-op’s balance sheet through retained rebates and targeted capital mechanisms.
Craig reflects on why capital discipline matters even in service co-operatives, where wage flows, health and safety obligations and reputational risk can be significant. The result is a clearer, more resilient co-operative better equipped to support both members and workers over the long term.
Conversation themes
Labour sharing in horticultural co-operatives
Active membership and shareholder discipline
Capital adequacy in service co-ops
RSE responsibilities and pastoral care
Managing risk and resilience
Why this matters
This episode provides a practical case study for co-operatives grappling with membership clarity, capital strength and shared risk. It is especially relevant for boards overseeing service-based or labour-intensive co-ops.
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