Trust and Social Licence

Investigating the importance of trust and approval by the community of the primary sector’s practices, and the connection to productivity and sustainable growth in New Zealand

Project Details Ngā taipitopito

Project Status:
Completed
Challenge funding:
$80,000
Research duration:
July 2017 – December 2017

Collaborators Ngā haumi

CSIRO Land and Water Australia | Lincoln University | Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research | Plant & Food Research | Scion | Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology | University Of Otago | University of Tasmania

You are here: Home / Projects / ­ Trust and Social Licence

What are we doing?E aha ana mātou?

As New Zealand’s primary sector intensifies, it is increasingly under the public’s scrutiny. This research looks at the importance of trust and approval (social licence) of primary sector practices, as well as trust between government, industry, community and media.

While New Zealanders generally value primary production, many consider the environmental impacts of some primary production systems to be unacceptable.

Without a social licence to operate, the primary sector may experience a loss of confidence from the public, resulting in legal action, conflict and regulation. This could have a negative effect on competitiveness and expansion and, in some cases, lead to closure for companies.

The project built a greater understanding of the importance of trust and relationship building. This provides a foundation for new approaches for developing and keeping social licence.

How can the research be used? Ka pēhea e whai take ai te rangahau?

  • Synlait used information from the National Social Licence Forum, organised by Trust and Social Licence researchers, to inform their participation in DairyNZ workshops on social licence.
  • Information from the National Social Licence Forum was presented to the NZ Forest Owners Association (FOA) Environment Committee in late 2017 and used in a workshop with FOA and NZ Farm Forestry Association members in August 2018. This workshop determined some key underlying social licence-related issues that are of importance to the New Zealand forest industry.
  • Several ‘spin-off’ professional papers for submission to the New Zealand Journal of Forestry are in preparation to inform industry players and encourage discussion and debate around social licence.
  • Social licence components are being incorporated into several MBIE funding applications being submitted by Scion and Manaaki Whenua to examine social licence in different contexts.

Participation & engagement Te hunga i whai wāhi mai

  • In November 2017 the Social Licence research team and Scion hosted the first National Social Licence Forum in New Zealand at the Beehive, Wellington. It brought together researchers and representatives from community and environmental groups, government, farming, farm forestry and processing sectors. Participants discussed how different groups see social licence, the benefits and costs of social licence to New Zealand businesses and communities, and the barriers to gaining and maintaining a social licence.
  • The research team surveyed 128 members of the New Zealand public and held a stakeholder forum about perceptions of trust in relation to natural resource sectors.
  • A workshop was held with the NZ Forest Owners Association (FOA) and NZ Farm Forestry Association members to discuss social licence issues in the forest sector in August 2018.

Research team Te hunga i whai wāhi mai

Research Lead
Peter Edwards
Manaaki Whenua
Aysha Fleming
CSIRO
Libby Lester
University of Tasmania
Libby Pinkard
CSIRO
Katharina Ruckstuhl
University of Otago
Carel Bezuidenhout
Scion
Karen Bayne
Scion
Tim Payn
Scion
Tracy Williams
Plant & Food Research
Sue Trafford
Lincoln University

Academic outputs He whakaputanga ngaio

In the media Mai i te ao pāpaho

Irrigation NZ News, Winter 2019
“Good two-way relationships are a solid foundation for building trust,” says Edwards.
NZ Geographic, July-August 2017
The core elements of social licence, said Edwards, involve a community feeling it has a say in the decision-making around a project, believing the benefits are distributed fairly, and trusting the company will follow through on its promises and engage with the community in a meaningful way.

Pathways to Transition Projects

Te Taiao framework in use

Lessons from Our Land and Water

The Our Land and Water National Science Challenge journey to a Tiriti-led science partnership: the lived experience and the lessons learned
View Project
Tukituki River and Te Mata Peak. Photo: Phillip Capper via Flickr

Synthesis Scenarios for Future Land Use

Steering land use change to meet water quality targets, through the synthesis of Our Land and Water research
View Project
Rural Professional Fund 2020 21

Rural Professionals Fund 2020–21

There were 15 successful projects in the first funding round for the Our Land and Water Rural Professionals Fund.
View Project
Rural Professional Fund 2021 22

Rural Professionals Fund 2021–22

There were 12 successful projects in the second funding round for the Our Land and Water Rural Professionals Fund.
View Project

Implementing Te Mana o Te Wai

Supporting iwi, hapū, water users, and decision-makers to understand and implement policy that prioritises Te Mana o te Wai
View Project
Taiao Manawa Ora Purpose Led Change Turquoise Small Scaled

Revitalise Te Taiao

Place-based research to develop evidence-based examples of how agribusinesses and communities can make enduring changes in land use, management, value chains, and market focus to…
View Project
This project has produced
Information Type Icon Guidance OutlineInformation Type Icon Infographic OutlineInformation Type Icon Journal Article OutlineInformation Type Icon Presentation OutlineInformation Type Icon Summary OutlineInformation Type Icon Technical Reports OutlineInformation Type Icon Video Outline
Scroll to Top