NZ’s co-operative economy mapped for the first time
New Zealand’s co-operative economy has been comprehensively mapped for the first time, revealing the significance of the sector in terms of revenue, jobs, and membership, as well as obvious differences between New Zealand’s and other co-operative economies. The New Zealand Co-operative Economy report finds the co-operative sector contributes revenues of more than $42.3 billion per annum and New Zealand’s Top 30 co-operatives and mutuals are responsible for 1.4 million memberships, employment of 48,500 people, and a revenue to GDP ratio of 17.5 per cent.The report – a collaboration between the sector body, Cooperative Business New Zealand and researchers from Massey University and the University of Auckland - shows New Zealand’s Top 30 co-operatives and mutuals are very strong in agri-food, accounting for 65.2 per cent of revenue, 67.6 per cent of assets, and 82.8 per cent of employment in the co-operative economy.Co-operative Business New Zealand’s Chief executive, Craig Presland says “With almost one fifth of New Zealand’s GDP being generated by the co-operative sector, and almost 50,000 kiwis employed by co-operatives and mutuals in this country, this confirms the importance of the co-operative business model to New Zealand as a country.
The co-operative ethos of working together collaboratively for the common good is part of who we are as New Zealanders, and as our new Prime Minister remarked at an industry forum last year: ‘Co-operatives are the business model that has stood the test of time’. We now have the opportunity to extend our research on co-operatives, and advocate even more strongly for them, so that we ensure this enduring and sustainable business model is better understood and more widely utilised across NZ business.”https://nz.coop/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Co-op-report-v9-WEB.pdf
Press Release- NZ's co-operative economy mapped for the first time.
