Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
About 160 children from 17 schools across the islands now have the opportunity to join their mainland friends to drink milk every school day.
Operations manager in-school programmes, Louise Aitken, says the cooperative wants to make sure all Kiwi kids year one to six and their schools have the opportunity to be part of the programme.
"Bringing schools on board in the Chatham, Stewart, and Great Barrier islands demonstrates what Fonterra Milk for Schools is all about – making great dairy nutrition accessible to New Zealand kids no matter where they are," says Aitken.
"It is a big logistical undertaking, which has been made easier with huge community support. Chatham Islands Shipping Limited and Freightlink Cartage are providing free shipping of the milk packs to the Chatham and Great Barrier islands."
Chatham Islands Shipping Limited chief executive Dennis Nisbet and Freightlink cartage divisional manager David Hyland say their companies are excited to be supporting the programme which will give the children on the islands a great nutritional boost to their day.
"Seeing the first shipments of milk leave the port and arrive in the Chatham Islands was a proud moment for us. It's great to be working with Fonterra doing our part to support a community-focused project that will help our Kiwi kids," says Nisbet.
"And delivering the milk packs to the island is just one part of the programme. The team at Chatham Islands Shipping will also help Fonterra by bringing the milk packs back from the island to Auckland for recycling."
Mulberry Grove School principal Ally Gibbs and her students on Great Barrier Island have received their first delivery of milk. Gibbs says the support from her students and their families to introduce Fonterra Milk for Schools has been overwhelming.
"Our children have been waiting eagerly for the first shipment of milk packs to arrive and could not wait to have their first drink.
"Often Great Barrier is put in the too hard basket, so it is great that Fonterra Milk for Schools can make its way here to us. The milk will provide a great nutritional start to our children's day, which they can only benefit from in the classroom."
Fonterra Milk for Schools offers a free serving of Anchor Lite UHT milk every school day to children in year one to six. Schools can continue to sign up to Fonterra Milk for Schools by visiting www.fonterramilkforschools.co.nz
