Social enterprise — businesses that put social or environmental purpose at the heart of their model — is a growing and important part of New Zealand's economy. From employment enterprises for people with disabilities, to catering businesses employing refugees, to environmental services social enterprises, NZ's social enterprise sector is diverse and impactful. Grant funding, social procurement, and impact investment together support the ecosystem that enables social enterprises to start, grow, and achieve their missions.
What is a social enterprise?
Social enterprise is not a legal form — it's a business model. Social enterprises:
- Trade in the market (sell products or services, generate revenue)
- Have a clear social or environmental mission
- Reinvest surplus into mission (rather than primarily distributing to shareholders)
They range from:
- Charities with earned income (a charity that sells services)
- Community benefit companies
- Cooperatives
- B Corporations (certified social businesses)
Scale of NZ social enterprise
Types of NZ social enterprise
Ministry of Social Development (MSD)
Social Enterprise Demonstration Fund — government investment in social enterprises:
- Capital and operational funding
- Technical assistance
- Impact measurement
Kāinga Ora
Social procurement — using housing construction contracts to generate social outcomes.
Government procurement policy
NZ Government has a social procurement commitment — using purchasing power to support social enterprises and Māori-led businesses.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE)
Some support for high-growth social enterprises.
Ākina Foundation
New Zealand's primary social enterprise development organisation:
- Social enterprise incubator and accelerator
- Consulting and advisory services
- Advocacy and ecosystem building
- Research on NZ social enterprise
Te Whare Tāpere
Māori social enterprise development.
Creative HQ
Startup and social enterprise incubation.
Social Enterprise World Forum (hosted by NZ)
International connections.
Impact investment funds
Community trusts and foundations
Incubation and acceleration
Capital
Social enterprises often can't access bank loans:
- Grants for establishment phase
- Low-interest loans from social lenders
- Social impact bonds
- Patient capital from impact investors
- Crowdfunding with social enterprise focus
Employment social enterprise
Creating jobs for people facing barriers:
- Disability employment enterprises
- Ex-offender employment
- Refugee employment enterprises
- Youth employment social enterprises
- Mental health recovery enterprises
Food social enterprises
Environmental social enterprise
Social procurement
Governments and businesses buying from social enterprises:
- Social procurement frameworks
- Supplier development for social enterprises
- Certification and recognition
- Linking corporate buyers with social enterprise suppliers
B Corp certification
Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance:
- B Corp certification grants
- B Corp community in NZ
- B Corp leadership
Māori social enterprise
Māori-led enterprises with cultural and social missions:
- Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae enterprises
- Iwi economic development enterprises
- Māori cooperative models
- Whai Rawa (Ngāi Tahu savings scheme)
Measurement and impact
NZ Government spends approximately $50 billion annually on procurement. Even small percentages directed to social enterprises and Māori-led businesses would have transformative impact:
- Policy commitments to social procurement
- Supplier diversity programmes
- Requirements for social outcomes in contracts
- Reporting on social value in procurement
Applications that connect social enterprises to procurement opportunities — or build social enterprise capacity to access contracts — are high-impact.
Revenue model clarity
Social enterprise funders want to see a path to financial sustainability. Applications that demonstrate a credible revenue model — not just dependence on grants — are more compelling.
Social return on investment
Measuring the social value created (not just outputs) is important. Applications with strong SROI or impact measurement are better positioned.
Employment focus
Social enterprises that employ people facing barriers have particularly compelling social return — they create income, dignity, skills, and community for people who struggle to access mainstream employment.
Māori enterprise
Iwi and Māori-led social enterprises align with the government's Treaty commitments and represent a distinct and well-funded priority area.
Tahua's grants management platform supports social enterprise funders and impact investment organisations in New Zealand — with enterprise portfolio tracking, social impact measurement, employment outcome data, and the reporting tools that help social enterprise funders demonstrate their investment in business models that create economic and social value together.