Fonterra Whareroa sets cheese record, wins top award
Fonterra Whareroa wrapped up a successful season with a record-breaking cheese production volume and several gongs at the co-op's annual Best Site Cup awards.
A former chief executive of Australian dairy processor National Foods and Waikato dairy farmer Ashley Waugh has been elected to the Fonterra Board of Directors.
Waugh was a critic of Fonterra's performance during the election lead up and questioned why its payout was never substantially ahead of other milk processors.
Fonterra board chairman John Wilson and Nicola Shadbolt were incumbent directors who retained their seats, says returning officer Warwick Lampp, of electionz.com. Blue Read lost his seat and Greg Maughan and Murray Beach were unsuccessful.
Ashley Waugh lives and farms at Pokuru, near Te Awamutu. He is an experienced company director and dairy company executive, having previously worked for the New Zealand Dairy Board in a number of roles since 1991, and latterly as CEO of National Foods in Australia. Ashley is currently chairman of Moa Group Ltd, and a director of Seeka Kiwifruit Industries Ltd and The Heat Group Ltd (Australia).
Shareholders David Gasquoine and Stephen Silcock were elected unopposed as members of the Directors' Remuneration Committee.
In the Shareholders' Council elections, the following Shareholders' councillors were elected:
Ward 14 – Eastern Bay of Plenty Wilson James
Ward 17 – Northern Taranaki Kevin Turnbull
Ward 23 – Hawke's Bay Andrew Hardie
Ward 26 – Tasman/Marlborough Sue Brown
Andrew Hardie and Sue Brown are new shareholders' councillors.
In the eight other Shareholders' Council wards where elections were due, nominees were elected unopposed. The councillors in those wards are:
Ward 2 -Central Northland Penny Smart
Ward 5 - Hauraki / Coromandel Julie Pirie
Ward 8 - Matamata Grant Wills
Ward 11 - Te Awamutu Kevin Ferris
Ward 20 - Egmont Plains Rob Poole
Ward 29 - Ashburton Charles Whitehead
Ward 32 - Otago Ad Bekkers
Ward 35 - Western Southland Vaughan Templeton
All successful candidates will take office at the close of the annual meeting on Wednesday, November 25, 2015.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
The 2026 Red Dairy Cow conference will be hosted by New Zealand in March.
While global dairy commodity prices continue to climb in most key exporting countries, the second half of the year is expected to bring increased downside risks.
In a surprise move, Federated Farmers meat and wool group has dumped its chair Toby Williams.
Former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has received the Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand’s Primary Industries Award.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.