New report: The Co-operative Economy of New Zealand
06 Feb 2017
New Zealand’s UN-recognised (*) 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 differences between NZ’s and other co-operative economies globally.
A new report, The New Zealand Co-operative Economy, finds that NZ’s Top 30 co-operatives and mutuals generate revenues of more than NZ$42.3 billion (US$30.88 billion, €28.69 billion) per annum which equates to 17.5% of NZ’s GDP, while being responsible for 1.4 million memberships and the employment of 48,500 New Zealanders. The report is a collaboration between the national apex body, Cooperative Business NZ, and researchers from Massey University and the University of Auckland who say their report provides a much-needed glimpse into a sector of significant economic and social importance to New Zealand(population of 4.7 million people).
Co-operative Business NZ’s Chief Executive, Craig Presland, pictured, says “the report’s findings confirm that ours is one of the most co-operative economies in the world. The co-operative ethos of working together collaboratively for the common good is part of who we are as New Zealanders.”
The International Co-operative Alliance applauds NZ.coop's statistics initiative, and will include its figures in the 2017 World Co-operative Monitor, to be published in November 2017. Download the monitor and check its figures on www.monitor.coop.
The report’s lead researcher, Dr Elena Garnevska from Massey University, is planning to present her team’s findings at the International Co-operative Alliance Committee of Co-operative Research Conference in Scotland in June.
(*) The United Nations’ first ever Global Census on Co-operatives in 2014 placed New Zealand at number one in its survey measuring the social and economic impact of co-operatives in 145 countries.
