28 Mar 2012

Co-operatives promote their strong points

8:30 am on 28 March 2012

New Zealand co-operatives are looking for recognition that they have met the challenges of the global financial melt down a lot more successfully than many other business structures.

New Zealand Co-operatives Association chairman Blue Read told a United Nations International Year of Cooperatives gathering at Parliament on Monday night they have emerged with their financial equity, integrity and reputation largely intact, compared to the likes of collapsed finance companies.

New Zealand has about 200 co-ops, ranging from the dairy giant Fonterra to meat and fertiliser companies and small regional grower co-ops.