Small communities throughout New Zealand are increasingly seeing profits and work opportunities disappear as more and more small to medium local business close, unable to compete in the new global economy. Many communities are now in serious decline with profits and young - leaving town.

This is why Community Business and Environment Centre (CBEC) was created.

CBEC was formed in 1989 to stimulate local development by creating new business and employment opportunities in the Far North that are sustainable to the environment.

It is a community-owned company, giving control and profits to the community through a share-elected Board of Directors. The Board comprised of local people from all walks of like including business, farming, education and the unemployed.

CBEC wanted to create viable and environmentally sound locally owned businesses by building an organisation that would explore and act on opportunities which would strength the local economy.
 

Community enterprises are distinctive because they put people before profit, community benefit before return on investment.
 

CBEC is to be a leader in Community Enterprise Development, Facilitating Social Responsibility and a Sustainable Environment Future
 

CBEC are proud to be involved in joint ventures between ourselves and the following oragnisations;

• Wanaka Wastebusters
• Clean Stream Waiheke
• Clean Stream Northland - Te Runanga O te Rarawa
• Northland Regional Council

1. Tendered and won a contract to FNDC to operate Ahipara Landfill in a 50/50 joint venture with Pukepoto Quarries. Commenced operations in September 1996. CBEC ceased tendering for this contract in 1999
    
2. Recycling Operators of New Zealand (RONZ) - CBEC was one of the four initial member organisations. The others were Devonport Recycling, Gama Compaction and Paeroa Recycling.
    
3. Tendered and won Auckland City Council contract for the operation of Waiheke Island's waste and recovery operations (7 year contract 50/50 joint venture with Waiheke Waste Resource Trust) employing 23 staff (17 full time equivalents)
    
4. Tendered and won FNDC contract to provide staffing for waste management and recovery services in the northern half of the Far North District, in a joint venture with Te Runanga O Te Rarawa employing 22 staff (13 full time equivalents)
    
5. CBEC has been looking at ways to help keep housing costs down by using natural energy. Together with the Northland Regional Council Community Trust and ECO Management Ltd, it set up Our Energy Ltd which manufactured and installed solar water heating equipment and other energy efficient products. CBEC received funding to install hot water cylinder wraps in low-income houses. Over a two year period, 200 Housing NZ homes and 50 private dwellings were treated.