Frameworks for achieving and maintaining social licence
We investigated the use of the term ‘social licence’ in Aotearoa New Zealand and what factors influence social licence.
Project leader: Jim Sinner, Cawthron Institute
Duration: April 2016 – June 2019
Budget: $380,000
Status: Completed
Social licence refers to public acceptance of commercial activity. It is not a legal permit, but an indication of community approval and trust. Without social licence to operate, a business can incur delays and costs, and find further development blocked.
From interviews of marine-based businesses, Māori representatives and stakeholders, we have found that the nature of social licence depends on a business’s size and ownership. The level of social licence held by a business can change as it expands its markets or as new people join the local community who don’t have an existing relationship with the business. Larger companies often engage with interest groups and organisations rather than individuals or local communities. Māori generally prefer to use social licence concepts based on Māori values and tikanga.
We have also studied how and by whom the term ‘social licence’ is being used in New Zealand. The term implies that communities have power to grant or withhold approval of commercial operations, but public usage of the term has been dominated by industry and central government voices. They frequently state or imply that industry already has social licence and just needs to maintain or improve it, often without reference to community groups and iwi. Changes in wording by business groups could send a more empowering message to iwi and community groups about seeking their acceptance and trust.
Summary of findings
Journal articles
- Baines J and Edwards P (2018) The role of relationships in achieving and maintaining a social licence in the New Zealand aquaculture sector. Aquaculture 485, 140-146. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.11.047
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Newton M J, Farrelly T A and Sinner J (2020) Discourse, agency, and social license to operate in New Zealand’s marine economy. Ecology and Society 25, (1):2. DOI: 10.5751/ES-11304-250102
Project proposal
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We invite NZ-based researchers, industry, stakeholders and Māori to submit expressions of Interest (EoIs) for research projects that will contribute directly to building a ‘blue economy’ in Aotearoa.
1,800+ schoolchildren (virtually) explored marine science for Seaweek
Last week (3–5 March), schoolchildren from across New Zealand travelled with LEARNZ and the Sustainable Seas Challenge to discover what's threatening mussels/kuku or kūtai, a taonga species, in Ōhiwa Harbour, and how science and mātauranga Māori are being combined by local kaitiaki to understand – and address – the problem.