Membership and Joining : Cooperative Business New Zealand

Cooperative Business New Zealand has five types of membership:

Full membership – for member-owned organisations operating under co-operative principles
Provisional membership – for individuals / groups looking to establish a co-operative
Corporate Associate Members – organisations identified as offering specialist services to our full membership body
Individual membership – for senior leaders who are advocates for the model and want to independently be involved
Honorary members – awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the sector.

We offer the following services for organisations, governors and senior leaders signed up as full members:

Liaison with New Zealand's Government departments, agencies, and politicians as required; including targeted lobbying for legislative change. For example, lobbying the Financial Markets Authority for exclusions from the requirement to produce Product Disclosure Statements when raising share capital.
Advocating for the business model via targeted media and communications.
Events and training to enable gaining and sharing of specialist knowledge as well as opportunities to network with peers across the co-operative community.
Access to research and data on the sector to support business strategy and lobbying for change.
Providing opportunities to collaborate as we promote “Co-operation Among Co-operatives”, including preferred supplier agreements as well as the sharing of information and resources.
Organising and facilitating discussion groups on topical issues such as sustainability, capital raising and best practice governance.
Access to specialist support from our Corporate Associate Members including legal, financial, communications, supply chain, organisational design, HR and health and wellbeing.
Providing a link to the International Cooperative Alliance and its resources including promotional materials and global conferences.

We offer the following services to any individual / group signed up as provisional member:

Support and guidance for individuals / groups considering starting-a co-operative.
Providing resources; including templates for constitutions as well as advice on forming a Board, attracting Directors and raising funds across the first 12 months.
Events and training to enable gaining specialist knowledge and enabling opportunities to network with peers across the co-operative community.
Access to research and data on the sector to support business strategy.
Advocating for the business model via targeted media and communications.
Lobbying government for specific policy or support.

We offer the following services for organisations identified as offering specialist services to our full membership body:

Opportunity to provide services to our members in conjunction with Cooperative Business New Zealand.
Participation in relevant discussion groups on topical issues such as sustainability, capital raising and best practice governance.
Supporting liaison with New Zealand's Government departments, agencies, and politicians.
Attending events and training to enable gaining / sharing of specialist knowledge and enabling opportunities to network across the co-operative community.
Access to research and data on the sector to aid understanding of the sector.

Applications will be considered on a case by case basis. Click here to find out more about our Corporate Associate Members.

We offer the following services for senior leaders who are advocates for the model:

Events and training to enable gaining and sharing of specialist knowledge as well as enabling opportunities to network with peers across the co-operative community.
Access to research and data on the sector to support business strategy.
Advocating for the business model via targeted media and communications.
Organising and facilitating discussion groups on topical issues such as sustainability, capital raising and best practice governance.
Access to specialist support from our Corporate Associate Members including legal, financial, communications, supply chain, organisational design, HR and health and wellbeing.
Providing a link to the International Cooperative Alliance and its resources including promotional materials and global conferences.

We offer the following services to individuals awarded an honorary membership:

Joining us at the various events and training to enable sharing their knowledge and enabling opportunities to network with peers across the co-operative community.
Opportunity to be part of discussion groups on topical issues such as sustainability, capital raising and best practice governance.
Access to specialist support from our Corporate Associate Members including legal, financial, communications, supply chain, organisational design, HR and health and wellbeing.
Providing a link to the International Cooperative Alliance and its resources including promotional materials and global conferences.
Access to research and data on the sector.
Advocating for the business model via targeted media and communications.

Honorary memberships are awarded by Cooperative Business New Zealand.

A schedule of our Subscription Fees is available here.

Membership and Joining