Government paper a step in right direction
Social enterprise groups are welcoming a Cabinet paper as a positive step forward for the growth of social enterprises in New Zealand.
Community and voluntary sector minister Jo Goodhew, released a paper as part of a government response to a report, Social Enterprise and Social Finance: A Path to Growth.
That paper announced a crossagency working group has been established to help support and grow social enterprises in New Zealand.
Social enterprises are defined as organisations that operate as businesses to support their social or environmental goals.
Goodhew said government agencies were increasing their understanding of what social enterprises were, and what they could do.
She said the cross-agency working group, which was made of core members that included the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Te Puni Kokiri, will lead the coordination of government agencies, improve the quality of information available on social enterprise and help stimulate sector development.
Akina Foundation chief executive Alex Hannant, said government support was critical to growing social enterprises in New Zealand and the intention laid out in the Cabinet paper was highly positive.
But now it was a matter of seeing what happened in practice. The next budget round and the next year’s general election will be a good indicator of how the Government was turning its words into actions, Hannant said.
‘‘If they are able to commit to this strategy, the impact on social enterprises will be quite quick.’’
More support was needed to help social enterprises through all stages of development, no matter where they were in the country, Hannant said.
The Social Enterprise World Forum was heading to Christchurch next year and this was another opportunity to see what actions have resulted, and also the social enterprise sector’s reaction to government efforts.
Hannant said the forum had driven sector development in other countries it has been hosted in and it was a chance for the Kiwi sector to learn from others.
‘‘There is recognition that while excellent social enterprise work is going on in New Zealand and has been for a long time, it’s fair to say other countries have a more sophisticated approach to support and grow social enterprises.’’