New Board Members for Cooperative Business New Zealand

New Board Members for Cooperative Business New Zealand

7 August 2015

Cooperative Business New Zealand welcomed two new members and re-appointed another to its nationwide board while celebrating the achievements of leading co-operatives at the organisation’s AGM in Christchurch this week.

Cooperative Business New Zealand represents the interests of this country’s co-ops which, together, employ more than 40,000 people and turn over $40 billion+ a year.

Karen Kenny (Rabobank, Wellington) and Murray Jagger (Livestock Improvement Corporation, Hamilton) join the expanded seven-member board, chaired by Jonathan Lee (Co-op Money NZ, Auckland) and including the re-elected Christine Burr (Fonterra, Auckland). The other board members are David Shaw (Silver Fern Farms’ representative, Balclutha), Kim DeGarnham (Foodstuffs South Island, Christchurch) and Blue Read (independent director, Hurunui).

Cooperative Business Chief Executive Ian Macintosh reported the organisation’s achievements and activities over the past year.

Mr Macintosh says the highlight was New Zealand being named by the United Nations late last year as the world’s most co-operative economy in a survey of 145 countries.

“Cooperative Business speaks for the many co-ops, large and small, which contribute so much to this nation’s economy and attract international respect.”

In a recently adopted tradition, Cooperative Business presents awards to companies which highlight the enduring success of the co-operative business model.

Mr Macintosh announced awards this year for three co-operatives:

l Mitre 10 (41 years)

l Accuro Insurance (25 years)

l Kerikeri Irrigation (25 years}

“Co-ops continue to prove they are modern businesses, efficient and competitive in a fast-paced market across many sectors,” Mr Macintosh said.

“Just as Mitre 10 is a symbol of our DIY culture, co-operatives are at the heart of our nation’s DNA. We are better together, active in our local communities and driving our national economy.”

Mr Lee notes that it is a testament to the business model that many of the country’s largest commercial organisations, including Foodstuffs and Fonterra, are 100% Kiwi-owned and operate under co-operative structures.

Following the AGM and awards ceremony, Cooperative Business NZ members attended a guided tour of leading co-operative Foodstuffs South Island’s new, state of the art distribution facility at Hornby.

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