Fonterra unveils divestment plan
Fonterra is exploring full or partial divestment options for its global Consumer business, as well as its integrated businesses Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka.
Former Primary Industries Minister and Fonterra board aspirant Nathan Guy believes his relationships with bureaucrats in Wellington will help the co-op’s farmers immensely.
With the agriculture sector facing more legislation around sustainable farming practices, Guy says his knowledge of “how Wellington works” will be helpful.
“I have long term relationships across the whole Parliament and also with senior officials and let’s face it, they are ones who write policy,” he told Rural News.
Guy, who retires from Parliament at next month’s general election, served as a National MP for 15 years and as Minister for Primary Industries for five years. He wants to be part of NZ’s largest company.
Last week, Guy and three others – sitting director Brent Goldsack, lawyer Cathy Quinn and corporate farmer Mike O’Connor were named as the four candidates by an independent Candidate Assessment Panel.
Quinn, who has 30 years’ experience as a commercial and corporate lawyer, narrowly missed
out on a board seat last year.
O’Connor is the majority shareholder of Spectrum Group, comprising eight farms, milking 8200 cows and producing 3.1 million kgMS.
Goldsack, a former tax and financial advisor, joined Fonterra’s board in 2017 and chairs the board co-op relations committee.
Fonterra shareholders can also self-nominate as candidates – provided they have the backing of 35 shareholders, who must sign their nomination form.
Waikato farmer Annabel Cotton has been confirmed as a candidate in the media.
Rural News understands at least one prominent Fonterra shareholder will confirm their candidacy this week.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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