From Monopoly to Co-opetition: New Zealand’s Electricity Industry

Authors:
Jill Hooks, Massey University  
Nitha Palakshappa, Massey University

Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify the relationships that firms, operating in the multi-faceted New Zealand electricity industry, have developed as a result of Government initiatives to introduce competition into the industry. We find that Government-sponsored industry restructuring has made co-operation, co-opetition and sometimes collaboration between industry competitors an essential element of business relationships. In particular, cooperative relationships have developed to increase efficiency and provide better customer outcomes. The study extends our understanding of how organisations compete and co-operate simultaneously and how this impacts on the dynamics within a particular contextual setting.