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.
Former Fonterra Co-operative Council chair Simon Couper is making a comeback to a governance role within the co-operative.
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.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.
Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through a new initiative designed to make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking easier.