1999, Volume 2, Paper 23
ISSN: 2209-6612

Alternative enterprises on New Zealand farms: Obstacles, challenges and potential

C. Nicholas Taylor
Heather McCrostie Little

Abstract

Family farming remains the organisational platform for agricultural production in New Zealand. Since the early 1980s, New Zealand farm families have increasingly sought to diversify their sources of income away from the core farm business operation including off-farm employment and on-farm enterprises. Alternative farm enterprises are a response to economic restructuring and reflect an emerging private enterprise culture. These enterprises range across a number of sectors and a characteristic is their niche nature and the ability of the farm entrepreneurs to adapt to market demands and command competitive marketing strategies. The enterprises can be run separately from the farm operation having no connection with or influence on land use. Or, they can be integrated with existing or changed forms of land use. Unlike the farm operation, there is no distinct gender division of roles or decision making, and the enterprises offer distinct entrepreneurial opportunities for women. Obstacles are not so much capital, skills or flair, but lie in legislation and administrative barriers, or ‘red tape’. Scale is important and requires decisions about growth and diversification of enterprises in relation to personal and family goals. Enterprise cultures at the farm level require supportive networks, community awareness and pro-active business policies from local and central government.

Keywords : family farm, enterprises, enterprise culture, market niche, business policies

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