A Horizons councillor says Whanganui needs to look at successful social enterprise models to initiate change.
Nicola Patrick says a Queenstown company, Wilding & Co, is a good example of an effective business channelling environmental change.
The company uses self-seeded pine trees causing serious environmental damage to produce essential oil. By shipping oils to the United States it has grown into a multimillion-dollar company and the return is channelled back into controlling wilding pines.
Ms Patrick said another example of a good social enterprise group was Hawke's Bay organisation Patu Aotearoa which provides NZQA accredited courses in health and fitness. It provides employment opportunities for community leaders and is specifically designed to benefit healthy living Māori and Pasifika communities.
"People often get overwhelmed by the phrase social enterprise but it is basically a purpose-driven organisation that delivers social and environmental change ... it can be a charity, business or non-profit organisation," she said.
Ākina, an organisation supporting social enterprise around New Zealand helped kick-start both Wilding & Co and Patu Aotearoa. and Ākina is running a workshop in Whanganui next month.
Ms Patrick is helping organise the workshop which will be held on March 8, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
"It will offer an introduction to social enterprise and a chance for Whanganui groups to network and gain support from organisations with experience," she said.
On the same day she is running an event, Business with Heart, as part of La Fiesta. An evening event, it runs from 5.30pm to 7pm with four speakers - Louise Aitken from Ākina; Serena Fiso who is the chief executive of call centre company Connect Global; Anne-Marie Broughton, general manager of Ngaa Rauru iwi; and Melita Farley, co-owner of Whanganui Double Farley Creative Partners.
All presenters are New Zealand women who have created successful social enterprise operations, and Ms Patrick is hopeful the events will prompt people to build or start social enterprise groups.
"If we get a good turnout and a lot of interest I would love to start a social enterprise network in Whanganui to offer support similar to Ākina," she said.
Both events are set to coincide with International Women's Day but that doesn't mean men aren't welcome.