Make the right decision, Peters urges Fonterra farmers
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters is ratcheting up pressure on Fonterra farmers as they vote on divesting the co-operative’s consumer and related businesses.
The Waipu farmer is one of two farmer shareholders elected unopposed to the co-op’s remuneration committee. The other is Shirley Trumper.
The committee recommends remuneration of Fonterra chair, board members and council members to farmer shareholders.
Couper stepped down as council chair in 2012, unhappy with some aspects of the proposed Trading Among Farmers (TAF), which was later approved by farmer shareholders.
Meanwhile current council chair John Stevenson, Wairarapa ward, is one of four councillors elected unopposed for another term.
The others are Kylie Leonard, Central Plateau, Don Moore, Eastern Southland and Grant Coombes, Waikato West. Andrew Myres is the new councillor for Waipa ward, elected unopposed.
Election is required in two wards; Sue McKay and Cushla Smith will battle it out in Southern Northland while Aleisha Bloomfield and Robert Cookson will contest Piako ward.
Voting starts Tuesday and closes 10.30am on November 7.
