About New Zealand

Historical Context

New Zealand’s cooperative housing history is relatively sparse. While the nation has a rich cooperative legacy in agriculture and retail, housing cooperatives , by contrast, have not been a significant part of the housing landscape.

Current Landscape

At present, cooperative housing remains underdeveloped in New Zealand. Even though the country faces severe housing affordability issues, cooperative housing has not yet been widely adopted as a solution. Nonetheless, advocates suggest that cooperative housing could help address these challenges by providing affordable, community-oriented living options. Currently, it is estimated that over 100,000 people are experiencing homelessness or inadequate housing. nz.coopwgtn.ac.nz

Challenges and Opportunities

Several barriers hinder the growth of cooperative housing in New Zealand:

• Lack of Awareness: Many New Zealanders are unfamiliar with cooperative housing models, often associating them with communes or alternative lifestyles. commonground.net.nz

• Regulatory Hurdles: Existing housing policies and regulations are primarily designed for traditional ownership or rental models. This makes it difficult to establish and manage housing cooperatives. theurbanadvisory.com

• Financial Constraints: Accessing funding and financing for cooperative housing projects can be challenging. Financial institutions may be hesitant to support non-traditional housing models.

Despite these challenges, there is growing interest in exploring cooperative housing as a viable solution to the housing crisis. Some experts argue that up to 10% of New Zealand’s affordable housing could be delivered through cooperative models, offering long-term affordability and community benefits. newsroom.co.nz+1wgtn.ac.nz+1

Peterborough Housing Cooperative

The Peterborough Housing Cooperative in Christchurch, New Zealand, stands as a notable example of cooperative housing. Established in 1982, it comprises 14 townhouses arranged around a central courtyard, fostering a strong sense of community among its residents. The cooperative emphasizes shared living spaces and collective decision-making, aligning with cooperative housing principles. peterborough.nz

In 2011, the cooperative faced significant challenges due to the Christchurch earthquake, which damaged the original structures. This led to a comprehensive rebuild, completed in 2020, transforming the cooperative into a purpose-designed pocket neighbourhood. The redevelopment focused on sustainability, incorporating features like solar-boosted underfloor heating, high insulation, and non-toxic building materials.

Discover more about the Peterborough Housing Co-operative in Christchurch by tuning into this Coop Conversations podcast featuring resident Rosie Moore.

The Cooperative Movement in New Zealand

Historical Development

New Zealand’s cooperative movement dates back to the 1840s. British settlers influenced the establishment of consumer and producer cooperatives. Furthermore, the movement gained momentum in the agricultural sector, leading to the formation of prominent cooperatives in dairy, meat, and other industries. coops4dev.coop

Current Status

Today, cooperatives play a significant role in New Zealand’s economy:

• Economic Contribution: The top 30 cooperatives account for approximately 13% of the country’s GDP, with revenues nearing $42 billion in 2020. link.springer.com+2iod.org.nz+2nz.coop+2

• Sectoral Presence: Cooperatives are prominent in agriculture, retail, finance, and insurance sectors. Notable examples include Fonterra, Zespri, Foodstuffs, and Southern Cross Health Society.iod.org.nz+1ruralnewsgroup.co.nz+1

• Employment and Membership: Cooperatives employ over 50,000 people and serve more than 1.5 million members across the country. nz.coop

While the cooperative model is well-established in various sectors, its application in housing remains limited. Advocates suggest that leveraging the strengths of the cooperative movement could help address housing challenges by promoting alternative, community-focused housing solutions.

Resources Tagged "New Zealand"

Housing Policy in the Anglosphere: Social Market Foundation Report Series on Housing

Five reports investigate housing policy from other countries for solutions to the UK’s housing shortage. Each of the five reports is a comparative study of housing policy internationally with a particular focus on Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand.Read More

Policy Australia Report

Profils d’un mouvement : Les coopératives d’habitation dans le monde

L'habitat coopératif offre des logements abordables à long terme, gérés par les résidents, avec des avantages sociaux, économiques et environnementaux avérés. Malgré son impact mondial, ce secteur reste méconnu.Read More

Financing and Development Global Report

Public Cooperative Housing Policies: An International Perspective

Explore public policies supporting cooperative housing worldwide in this comprehensive report. Discover how governments and cooperatives collaborate to create sustainable and affordable housing solutions globally.Read More

Research Global Research Paper

Financing Co-operative and Mutual Housing

The Commission's final report on Cooperative and Mutual Housing (Bringing Democracy Home) highlighted the need for consideration of the role that cooperative and mutual housing could play in the national housing strategy. The Fina ...Read More

Financing and Development Global Report

Logement abordable : profils de cinq villes métropolitaines

Par cette publication, nous souhaitons ouvrir le débat sur le logement en tant que droit fondamental et enjeu métropolitain, en mettant en lumière l’expérience de grandes métropoles et dans l’espoir d’inspirer des idées nouvelles pour aborder cet enjeu absolument fondamental de l’urbanisation moderne.Read More

Advocacy Global

Building Strong Development Cooperation: Partnership Opportunities between Cooperatives and the EU

In 2000, United Nations (UN) member states recognised the need to build global partnerships for development and the exchange of expertise as one of the Millennium Development Goals. Across the international development field, part ...Read More

Financing and Development Global

Raising Capital: The Capital Conundrum for Co-operatives

New report: The Capital Conundrum for Co-operatives "The Capital Conundrum for Co-operatives", a new report released by the Alliance’s Blue Ribbon Commission explores ideas and options available to co-operatives that need suitab ...Read More

Financing and Development Global

Financing Housing Co-operatives in a Credit Crunch

Financing the development of housing co-operatives is a challenge and more so in time of financial restrictions and uncertainty.  CHI members discussed the issue during a seminar held in November 2009 in Geneva.  Presentations w ...Read More

Financing and Development Global

What’s new in Sustainable Forest Management?

 The Forest Products Annual Market Review 2013 reports that the development of new refinement processes has led to the production of new and more affordable wood based products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT). The report sta ...Read More

Sustainability Global

The Guidance Notes on the Co-operative Principles

Updated Guidance Notes on the Co-operative Principles, edited by David Rodgers, former President of Co-operative Housing InternationalRead More

Governance Global

Promoting Cooperatives – International Labour Organization (ILO) Recommendation 193 on the Promotion of Cooperatives

The ILO views cooperatives as important in improving the living and working conditions of women and men globally as well as making essential infrastructure and services available even in areas neglected by the state and investor-driven enterprises. Cooperatives have a proven record of creating and sustaining employment – they provide over 100 million jobs today; they advance the ILO’s Global Employment Agenda and contribute to promoting decent work.Read More

Legal Global

Profiles of a Movement: Co-operative Housing around the World – Volume One

Cooperative housing offers long-term, affordable homes governed by residents, with proven social, economic, and environmental benefits. Despite its global impact, the sector remains under-recognized.Read More

Financing and Development Europe Report

Students and Housing Cooperatives

Student housing cooperatives have become very popular in the USA and many of these housing co-operatives are members of organizations such as NASCO. Unlike a resident who acquires shares at market rates to earn the right to occupy ...Read More

Community Global

Good Governance Charter for Housing Co-operatives

 The Good Governance Charter for Housing Co-operatives was launched at the ICA Housing Plenary in Manchester in November 2012.It has three parts:A 10-point set of good governance practicesAn interpretive statement for each good p ...Read More

Governance Global

Profiles of a Movement: Co-operative Housing around the World – Volume Two

This second volume of Housing Co-operative Profiles focuses on African countries, showcasing the ingenuity and commitment of cooperators working under difficult conditions. It offers insights into the legal, financial, and historical contexts of housing co-ops, aiming to inspire broader adoption of the model as a solution to the global housing crisis.Read More

Community Global Report

The Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade and its Special Application to the Housing Sector

The Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade is a worldwide campaign to “take the co-operative way of doing business to a new level”. The five key elements of the Blueprint are participation, sustainability, identity, legal frameworks and capital. The Blueprint is particularly relevant to co-operative housing and the Blueprint interpretation for co-operative housing below explains how.Read More

Governance Global