Advocacy for member-owned enterprises
Cooperative Business NZ serves as a collective voice for cooperatives and mutuals in Aotearoa New Zealand, championing the interests of member-owned enterprise in the policy, regulatory and public policy arenas. We represent your organisation’s priorities to government agencies, regulators, advisory bodies and decision-makers, ensuring cooperative perspectives are heard where it matters most.
We make formal submissions to government, engage directly with officials and legislators, and provide evidence-based insights grounded in the real-world experience of our members. Our advocacy helps shape policy settings that enable co-ops and mutuals to start, grow and thrive, from taxation and procurement frameworks to sector-specific regulatory issues. Full Members, Provisional Members and Corporate Associate Members are invited to contribute to our draft submissions.
To amplify your voice, we also connect members with collective influence through strategic partnerships with peak bodies such as BusinessNZ ensuring cooperative perspectives are represented alongside broader business and sector leadership.
Selected Full Members are invited to join Public Affairs Forums, where senior leaders come together to discuss policy priorities, share insights, and test emerging ideas affecting the cooperative and mutual economy. Full Members are also consulted directly on key submissions, with the opportunity to contribute specific examples and evidence that strengthen our advocacy and reflect your organisation’s voice.
This benefit supports the long-term resilience of the cooperative movement - by ensuring policy and regulatory settings recognise and support the unique nature, contributions and needs of member-owned enterprise.
Benefit at a glance
Partner: Cooperative Business NZeligibility: full members, their member-shareholders [where they are a business]; Corporate Associate Members; Provisional Members
Have a policy issue affecting your cooperative or mutual?
Contact us to ensure it informs our advocacy agenda, or express interest in participating in an upcoming Public Affairs Forum. Your insight strengthens our collective voice.
See other Full Member benefits
