MG Marketing CEO Peter Hendry on leading a major horticulture co-op through Covid, succession and labour pressures while keeping 700 growers engaged. 

The submission encouraged the Commerce Commission to consider the distinct characteristics of cooperative enterprises when finalising recommendations, and to recognise the role cooperatives play in supporting competition, community outcomes, and long-term economic resilience. 

The New Zealand Cooperative Economy Report 2021 provides a critical comparative baseline, capturing the structure and scale of the cooperative economy during a period of significant economic disruption and change.

The briefing sought to broaden the Commission’s analytical lens by incorporating cooperative and mutual enterprises into discussions of productivity and frontier firm performance. It also encouraged deeper engagement with international cooperative standards and New Zealand’s own cooperative history. 

The briefing aimed to support early dialogue between government and the cooperative sector, and to highlight how cooperative and mutual businesses could contribute to economic recovery, resilience, and long-term wellbeing. 

Collective action is fundamental to the cooperative model. This research adds depth to international debates by analysing how internal diversity affects participation, trust, and governance outcomes within cooperatives. 

Legal frameworks shape how cooperatives form, govern themselves, and access capital. This report is a key reference document for understanding how New Zealand’s cooperative legislation compares internationally and where opportunities for reform may exist. 

The submission supported renewal of the Small Cooperatives Exemption Notice and recommended deferring substantive changes to allow for fuller consultation. It emphasised that exemptions play a critical role in enabling cooperative formation while preserving investor protections appropriate to member-owned enterprises. 

In this interview series, we get to know our co-operative members. Today we talk with Ion Technologies founder Jamie Penney about the business and why they chose to establish a co-operative.

Founded in 2017, Ion Technologies is a Bay of Islands-based technology company that specialises in delivering a wide range of services including developing data dashboards that help businesses see how they are performing at a glance as well as creating mobile apps.

Today Ion has a team of three co-operative members, who work with clients throughout New Zealand and the world. The three members (Jamie Penney, Nick Lironi-Irvine and Phillip Hutchings) are all software developers who work remotely.

Access to capital is a recurring challenge for agricultural cooperatives worldwide. This case study provides a detailed New Zealand example of how cooperative structures interact with growth ambitions, industry dynamics, and member expectations. 

Member commitment and trust are central to cooperative success, particularly in large and complex agricultural cooperatives. This research provides empirical insight into how internal diversity among members can both strengthen and challenge cooperative governance. 

The New Zealand Cooperative Economy Report 2017 is the first comprehensive national study of New Zealand’s cooperative and mutual economy and remains a foundational reference for research, policy, and international comparison.

This guide explains the International Labour Organization’s Recommendation No. 193 on the Promotion of Cooperatives, the only internationally agreed policy framework dedicated specifically to cooperative enterprise. 

The Guidelines for Cooperative Legislation provide comprehensive guidance on how cooperative laws can be designed to recognise the distinct nature of cooperative enterprises while supporting their sustainability and competitiveness.