Ethical Trade New Zealand
Ethical Trade New Zealand is a social enterprise with a mission to ‘improve livelihoods through ethical trade’.
The concept of Ethical Trade New Zealand started with a mission to improve livelihoods with ethical trade [see our current project(s)]. Although most of our jewellery is in the original design, some have been re-crafted by local artists here in New Zealand.
Ethical Trade provides a platform for creative artists and social welfare enthusiasts to to share their talent and stories with a greater audience. Through Ethical Trade we aim to uplift the spirit of individuals and communities we work with. If you want to share our spirit and want to display your work please contact us at info@ethicaltrade.co.nz and we will get back to you as necessary.
More About Ethical Trade New Zealand
Our Story
Ethical Trade brings you rare gems and jewellery from the spectacular high mountains of Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush mountain ranges in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, a Shangri-La referred to as ‘heaven on earth’. Importing directly from miners and local crafts, we are able to support and encourage local industry.
The goal of Ethical Trade New Zealand is to facilitate indigenous communities of to improve their livelihoods through the Ethical Trade concept. We are hoping to cut the middleman and import directly from the miners and local craft shops. In this way, we are able/determine to return values to the local people in the region, i.e. Gilgit-Baltistan. We aim to improve livelihood through Ethical Trade New Zealand and return values to the area where these gemstones are found or crafted.
This is your opportunity to contribute to the marginalised indigenous people of Gilgit-Baltistan. Once we generate a decent demand, with your help, we will be able to expand this work and will be able to help more people.
Current Project(s)
Improving livelihoods
Project: Porter Welfare
During my PhD field research, in 2016, I came across some genuine concerns related to the long-run livelihood security of high altitude porters in the Himalayan, Karakorum and Hindukush mountain ranges in the disputed territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. Gilgit is the pace where all these great mountain ranges meet.
Gilgit-Baltistan is the hub for adventure tourism and porters play a crucial role in the very existence of adventure tourism such as mountain expeditions. However, porter job security remained the major concerns of the people affiliated with adventure tourism. The income and long-term livelihood activity is not guaranteed due to security concerns and seasonality factor. I have highlighted these in detail in my thesis.
A high altitude porter can only work to a certain age, and after that, they do not have capability and means to secure a decent living (for details see my PhD thesis). I wanted to do something to guarantee their long-term livelihood security.
I have been collecting gemstones for quite some time. With the help of some of my friends and acquaintances I decided to use my gemstone collections to generate funding for porter welfare. This is how I came up with the concept of Ethical Trade. Ethical Trade New Zealand is the mean to generate funding for porter welfare scheme known as ‘Gilgit-Baltistan Porter Welfare Scheme’. Ethical Trade New Zealand is a tool to fund that program.
Context and Our solution
Gilgit-Baltistan Porter Welfare Scheme
The social welfare system in Pakistan limited. Non-formal employment sector, such as porters, do not enjoy retirement benefits. However, Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) of the government of Pakistan offers old-age benefits and social insurance. Under the scheme, insured persons are entitled to avail benefits like Old-Age Pension (on the event of retirement), Invalidity Pension (In case of permanent disability), Old-Age Grant (an Insured Person attained superannuation age, but does not possess the minimum threshold for pension) Survivor’s Pension (in case an Insured Person is expired).
However, EOBI does not receive any financial assistance from the government for carrying out its Operations. A contribution equal to 5% of minimum wages has to be paid by the Employers of all the Industrial and Commercial Organisations where EOB act is applicable. Contribution equal to 1% of minimum wages by the employees of said Organisations. This is where Ethical New Zealand comes in. A percentage of Ethical Trade New Zealand profits go towards paying employer and employee contribution (based on minimum wage) through ‘Gilgit-Baltistan Porter Welfare Scheme’. Gilgit-Baltistan Social Welfare Organization will administer the funds on behalf of Ethical Trade New Zealand. In this way, individual porter does not need to pay money out of his seasonal wages. In this way, the porter will be ensured for Old-Age Pension and other benefits offered by EOBI.
Improving Livelihoods Through Ethical Trade
Ethical Trade New Zealand does not promise to contribute to every single porter, but we will try our best to facilitate as many porters as we can. This is your opportunity to contribute to the marginalised indigenous people of Gilgit-Baltistan. Once we generate a decent demand for Gilgit-Baltistan goods here in New Zealand, we will be able to expand this work and we will be able to help more people.
*Expedition photos (below) are provided by Muhammad Taqi, a high altitude porter and the President Hushe Welfare and Mountaineering and Climbing School, Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan.
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Share the Vision of Ethical Trade?
Ethical Trade provides a platform for creative artists to share their talent and stories. Please contact us if you can add value to some of our products, and we are happy to collaborate and work together.