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Comment by Silvia on October 19, 2010 at 23:51

Speaking of new forms of money this may be a great doco to check out http://www.moneyandlifemovie.com/
Also check out the Berkshares for new forms of currency, I met the two people who started it, and now have a $1 berkshare in my wallet (along with a kiwi $5) where ever I go.... http://www.berkshares.org/
I would highly recommend Prometheus as well, I have witnessed how they lend (my mum received huge support from them when she started a school) and they do walk their talk!
Does anyone know of other foundations in NZ that support alternative projects and initiatives? In Europe there are so many, but I can't find many in NZ.

Comment by Sara Lovitz on October 19, 2010 at 16:29

Some basics on microfinance and peer-to-peer lending here. Microfinance.doc

Comment by jennifer chenery on October 18, 2010 at 20:03

Hi ladies and gents,

Here is the down low on Prometheus.

Comment by Joanne Tunna on October 6, 2010 at 9:41

The basics on Share Clubs...

How they work
Members pay in regular amounts then meet - often monthly - to discuss what to buy and sell.

Shares are bought on a collective vote, executed in any of the following ways:

- Simple majority

- Higher level of agreement (e.g. two-thirds)

- Elected committee of two or three members on a 3-4 month roster system

Each should possess a skill that would be of benefit to the group e.g. share broker, accountant, corporate experience

Membership of 10 -12 is advisable. Larger groups tend to be cumbersome while a smaller group could lack capital and expertise.

Most groups elect a president or chairperson, a secretary, treasurer, and two trustees (if required). Unless the club is incorporated (and 99.9% are not) it does not have a legal capacity to own shares - hence the need to have the shares registered to a trustee(s). The position of trustee is a responsible one and the decision as to who should be a trustee needs to be considered carefully. The trustee takes title to the club's investments on behalf of the club, is the signatory to the club’s bank account, and completes the necessary formalities when the club sells shares.

Finances

- There is no set formula as to how much members should contribute. For a club wanting 'a bit of a dabble' a couple of thousand dollars would kick it off.

- Most groups usually top-up their funds with regular monthly contributions. $400 or $500 a month would be a minimum.

- For a group with say ten members, the contributions would therefore be $200 or $300 initially and about $10 a week after that.

Meetings

Common agenda items:
Reporting on the state of the club's finances and an up-to-date valuation of its investments.
Briefings on companies listed on the exchange
Education about the more technical aspects of investing
Guest speaker to address the group - a share broker, research analyst, a noted investor, an executive of a public company etc.

Benefits

- Build wealth, meet like-minded investors and learn about the art and science of making money.

- Combined financial resources provide a greater range of investment options, such as overseas investment, or the ability to make investments of influence.

- Removing the intimidation around the investment process.

Downsides

- Decision- making can be a slow process when a large number of people are involved, especially if opinions for and against are firmly held.

- If inexperienced members dominate a group, costly mistakes sometimes get made.

- Over time, groups can become sizeable investors, resulting in the need for accounting and bookkeeping which often results in an uneven time input by some members or a need to engage paid services (costs).

Comment by Steven Kung on October 1, 2010 at 17:59

Carl: Thanks for informing us about this. Please keep me/us informed of other interesting things too. :)

Comment by Carl Chenery on October 1, 2010 at 14:26

Radio NZ podcast: Social Lending
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ideas/20100926
"Raising capital isn't easy or cheap for any of us. But it's more difficult and more expensive for some than for others. Not for profit enterprises struggle to convince mainstream banks to lend them money, many low income earners are denied mortgages, and plenty of budding entrepreneurs struggle to find the capital to launch their first business. And as a result of that lack of capital many opportunities are missed. So what if anything can be done about it? Well, there's a growing number of people calling for a stronger social finance sector in this country."

Ideas talks to: Laura Benedict of the $2 billion plus US social lender Self-Help; Glen Saunders, a director of the New Zealand-based Prometheus Finance and an advisor and former director of Europe's Triodos Bank; Cliff Colquhoun, general manager of Kaitaia's Community Business and Environment Centre; Wyn Osborne, a director of Credit Union Aotearoa; and Bruce Dyer, manager of the Nelson Ethical Loan Trust.

Comment by Sara Lovitz on September 29, 2010 at 23:58

This looks to be a new social/peer-to-peer lending site - https://www.lendit.co.nz/

Similar to what Jon mentioned in the US - prosper.com

Haven't had time to look into it or give it an "ethical" rating but something to research!

Comment by jennifer chenery on September 29, 2010 at 18:21

Here is some news for you all:
"NASDAQ has become the latest exchange to unveil a new index aimed at allowing investors to better track the performance of the 'green economy'. Following in the footsteps of MSCI, which earlier this month launched 23 new indices to rate firms under environmental and social criteria, NASDAQ revealed its own Green Economy Global Benchmark Index."
For more check out this link

Comment by Eva Lawrence on September 27, 2010 at 13:07

Hi Matt,
Thanks for that link - CVCSI looks interesting. So what elements have you been researching, and where are you wanting to go with the info?

Comment by Matt King on September 24, 2010 at 11:21

I have been doing a bit of research into this. The webite below is the best I have found. Not just ethical but proactive investment in sustainable technologies
www.cvcsi.com.au

The Ethical Investor is a good journal- they have it in the wellington library

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