What's happening at Fairtrade NZ?

Happy New Year to all our supporters, new and old. Whether you’ve just come across Fairtrade or have been a devoted supporter for years, your commitment to making trade fair is valued by all of us at Fairtrade and all those in the supply chains we are transforming together.

2016 was a big year for us at Fairtrade, and we were lucky enough to celebrate some amazing wins, which we will build upon in 2017. Ethical consumerism is on the rise; worldwide, more than 50 percent of consumers believe their actions can make a difference in the world according to data from Euromonitor International. In our region, Colmar Brunton’s Better Futures report last year showed that over three-quarters of New Zealanders are willing to pay more for organic, ethical and sustainable products. These figures are a sure sign that there are great things to come for us at Fairtrade as we continue to reach more and more consumers.

We are looking forward to an even bigger 2017 – and we invite you to join us for the celebrations. This year, we’re inviting you to the World Fairtrade Challenge in May, and Fairtrade Fortnight in August. Mark them in your diaries because they are sure to be a hit.

If you’re a fan of your morning flat white, just imagine drinking 37 Olympic swimming pools of the stuff. That’s how much Fairtrade coffee consumers drank last year across New Zealand and Australia – alongside 57 million blocks of chocolate and 182 million cups of tea. The staggering figures suggest customers across the region are becoming even more excited about the huge selection of exceptional Fairtrade products out there. Read more about this in our special feature.

Still on the topic of coffee – but on a more serious note – our CEO Molly Harriss Olson walks us through the global threat that climate change poses to coffee farmers. Climate change is set to hit the lives of coffee-producing communities in developing nations hardest and it’s a force that needs to be harnessed soon. Read more about it on our latest CEO blog.

To ensure skills development, on-going training is a must for our producer networks. That’s why, at the sixth annual Fairtrade Pacific Stakeholders Workshop, our producers had training in everything from governance in business to gender equality and child protection. Find out more about how we help producers to secure a fairer future for themselves.

As 2016 drew to a close, we celebrated the silly season by launching a 12-days of Christmas campaign with the aim of providing all of you (our fantastic supporters) with some Fairtrade Christmas gift ideas. In all, our campaign reached just over 63,000 people throughout NZ - now that's something to celebrate. Check out our Facebook page to see the Christmas campaign or to get some tips on how to bring Fairtrade into your life.

This Valentine’s Day, why not surprise your special someone with some sweet Fairtrade chocolate? Not only will you be showing them that you care, but you’ll be spreading the love to producers in developing nations. So, pick up a bar of Fairtrade-certified chocolate and spoil your loved one with a top-notch sweet treat that changes lives. Find out where to get Fairtrade chocolate here.

CEO's Corner – A Message from Molly

Latest news

Producer Spotlight

Fairtrade Campaigns

Conscious Christmas Campaign

Spoil Your Valentine

World Fairtrade Challenge 2017