**New Zealand**: Amid global trade tensions and protectionist measures, New Zealand business leaders urge cooperative strategies like “co-opetition” to strengthen local industries and enhance competitiveness. Organisations such as The Icehouse foster partnerships across sectors to navigate economic uncertainties and capitalise on new procurement opportunities.
New Zealand business leaders are emphasising the need for greater collaboration amid a challenging global economic environment marked by protectionist trade measures. The recent pause on tariffs announced by former US President Donald Trump may provide temporary relief for international negotiations, but experts warn that it could slow global growth and have widespread effects on the New Zealand economy, including sectors beyond exporters.
The Icehouse, a prominent New Zealand business development organisation, highlights concerns that tensions between major economies, particularly the potential impacts on China – New Zealand’s largest trading partner – could have significant ramifications for local businesses. Against this backdrop, there is a growing call within the business community for a shift towards cooperative strategies, often referred to as “co-opetition,” where companies both compete and collaborate to enhance their overall market strength.
Facilitators at The Icehouse have witnessed examples of this mindset taking root in various industries. One notable case involves civil construction firms combining resources and expertise to present stronger bids for government procurement contracts. Similarly, local fashion and lifestyle companies have established communication networks, such as a WhatsApp group, to jointly navigate tariff challenges.
Founders associated with The Icehouse share contrasting experiences regarding attitudes toward collaboration. One meeting recounted by an Icehouse representative revealed a reluctance from a peer company owner to explore partnerships, citing competition and a perceived scarcity of opportunities. This “scarcity thinking” contrasts with another encounter where a fellow founder expressed gratitude for the suggestion to cooperate, reflecting a more open and optimistic approach to growth.
In addition to informal collaborations, The Icehouse has recently formalised a partnership with the Family Business Association aimed at strengthening the vast number of family-run enterprises across New Zealand. Both organisations bring specialised knowledge and resources to this alliance, gearing up to deliver enhanced support to business owners nationwide.
The idea of co-opetition is described as a strategic necessity for New Zealand’s small market, where businesses face global incumbents in a rapidly evolving economic landscape. New government procurement reforms are opening doors for local providers to access larger contracts, presenting an opportunity for united bids rather than fragmented individual efforts.
A spokesperson for The Icehouse told The Icehouse publication, “If we start seeing each other less as rivals and more as allies with shared purpose, the opportunities to lift capability, grow our impact, and strengthen the SME sector become far greater. Co-opetition isn’t soft, it’s smart. And it’s what New Zealand needs right now.”
The evolving perspective within New Zealand’s business community underscores a pragmatic response to external economic pressures. Collaboration, even between competitors, is being viewed as a viable mechanism to bolster resilience and capture new opportunities in a complex international trade environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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