Archived 2005 Community Economic Development Policy

Note: This was the policy released for the 2005 election. An detailed Community & Voluntary Sector policy for the 2008 election will be released shortly.

Definitions

Community Economic Development is the establishment and promotion of enterprises that are community owned, not for personal profit, and with objectives which are of social, economic and/or environmental benefit.
Community Economic Sector is that part of the economy which is not private sector, central or local Government, or within the individual household.

Key Principles

1. The Green Party recognises that socially, culturally, economically, and ecologically sustainable communities are the foundations of a healthy society.
2. Strengthening local economies is one means of ensuring participatory democracy, meaningful work, increased self-reliance and control over our lives.
3. An enabling environment should be created so that the community economic sector can thrive, recognising that it meets many needs not otherwise met in our community and its role in society is as significant as the public and private sectors.
4. Through our commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi we recognise that local economic development by, with and for tangata whenua is fundamental to Treaty relationships.

Specific Policy Points

1. Support local economic development that is ecologically and socially sustainable by:
1. improving access to both grant funding and capital for community enterprise, small business support centres and, self and group employment creation ventures, which demonstrate adherence to principles of economic, social and environmental responsibility;
2. encouraging and supporting ethical investment institutions;
3. encouraging proactive import substitution, and 'buy local' campaigns and strategies;
4. encouraging the creation within New Zealand of durable, high value products made by well-trained, well-treated and well paid workers.
2. Support local initiatives that keep finance and production of goods local including:
   
   1. creating an enabling environment for community banks, credit unions, co-operatives, regional business support schemes;
   2. supporting development of local currency schemes such as LETS/Green/Time Dollars, bartering and alternative currencies;
   3. supporting communities that wish to take local responsibility for their economy by:
      
      1. carrying out an audit of their resources, skills, training needs, and the money flows in their local economy;

      2. finding ways to keep their local resources circulating locally.
      3. providing the starting capital for a community-owned banking network that:
      • keeps money circulating locally;

      • helps overcome problems with access to capital, reinvests profits locally supporting community activities and voluntary organisations;
      • administers a community development fund, providing investment funds for local enterprises engaged in ecologically sustainable businesses;
      • makes loans available to small business and community enterprises using innovative as well as traditional forms of security;
      • has community ownership, including democratically elected, accountable shareholder directors;
      • provides full retail and small-to-medium business banking services.

3. Ensure trade policy reflects the needs of people and communities through:
1. encouraging the adding of value to products prior to their export in order to increase employment in New Zealand;
2. decreasing our dependence on imports and maximising the circulation of profits within local communities;
3. acting to maximize returns from exports and import-substitution industries and to reduce our dependence on imported products;
4. discouraging importation of food that can be grown locally and promoting the export of high quality, guaranteed pollution-free products.
4. Encourage greater central and Local Government recognition of the significant contribution of the community sector by:
1. improving the capacity of Government and local Government to understand, resource and work with community organisations through;

2. improving resourcing, training and accountability arrangements across all levels of Government in relation to the community sector;
3. doubling COGS (Community Organisation Grants Scheme) funding.
4. supporting the networking, information sharing and advocacy functions of the community sector;
5. enhancing mechanisms and resourcing to allow policy input from community organisations at all levels of Government.