New Zealand Cooperatives Association Elects New Chairperson

New Zealand Cooperatives Association

2 December 2011

New Zealand Cooperatives Association Elects New Chairperson

At today’s annual meeting, the New Zealand Cooperatives Association elected former Fonterra Shareholders Council Chairman, Blue Read, as the new Chairperson.

“I am excited about the possibilities the role presents in the upcoming year,” says Mr Read. “With the celebration of the UN International Year of Cooperatives during 2012, it is an opportunity for the Association to create a greater understanding of the strength of the cooperative model for all New Zealanders.”

“Cooperatives operate in all areas of the New Zealand economy. A deeper and more meaningful understanding of the nature of cooperatives will benefit and strengthen the realisation of their position as a powerful economic model."

“I look forward to the opportunity to work with cooperative leaders and Government over the coming year as they help lead the celebrations for the UN International year of Cooperatives 2012 by developing a deeper understanding of cooperatives for themselves and the people whom they represent.”

Mr Read has a long association with cooperatives and was most recently the Chairman of the Fonterra Shareholders Council. He also chairs the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2012 National Committee.

The NZ Cooperatives Association is charged with promoting the cooperative and mutual business model and encouraging and supporting cooperative and mutual enterprise. The Association acts as the representative body which promotes discussion and cooperation with government, research in support of the cooperative business model, and collects and publishes relevant information relating to cooperatives and mutuals.

“I am confident that by celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives in 2012,” said Mr Read, “many more people will get the opportunity to appreciate what is special and specific about the cooperative business model and its importance to the New Zealand economy.”

Cooperatives in New Zealand ... and the world

* While there are just 200 member-owned businesses in New Zealand, they generate an aggregate revenue of more than $30bn

* Making up almost 10% of Management magazine’s Top 200, some of New Zealand's best known businesses are cooperatives and mutuals, including our single largest -- Fonterra Cooperative Group (www.management.co.nz/top200/)

* Other member-owned businesses include Foodstuffs (Pak'n'Save, New World, Four Square), Alliance Group, Silver Fern Farms, Mitre 10, Paper Plus, Ravensdown Fertiliser Cooperative, The Co-operative Bank, Southern Cross, the Automobile Association and Interflora (www.nz.coop/nzca-members)

* The world’s 300 largest cooperatives and mutuals, of which six are here in New Zealand, generated an aggregate revenue in 2008 of US$1.6 trillion (US$1,600 billion), which is comparable to the GDP of the world's 9th largest economy (www.global300.coop)

* According to the International Labour Organisation, cooperatives provide more than 100 million jobs, more than all the world's multinational corporations combined (www.ilo.org/coop)

ENDS

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