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.
Fonterra is welcoming the Government's move to lift restrictions on trade with Iran, a key butter partner.
This follows the elimination of UN sanctions this month.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it has started the process of updating its regulations and removing the UN sanctions, which it expects to complete next month.
"Iran is a valuable trading partner and a key butter market for Fonterra," says Fonterra's managing director of global ingredients, Kelvin Wickham.
"The removal of the UN sanctions, and our Government's unwinding of restrictions, will only improve the outlook for us in Iran."
With a population of nearly 80 million and long-standing customer relationships in Iran, Fonterra expected continued growth in the market.
"Our customers in Iran are growing, and we're seeing them make significant investments in infrastructure and capacity to meet demand," says Wickham.
"We have skilled people in the region who understand the opportunities and potential of doing business in Iran, and who welcome more normalised trade relations."
Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.
Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne says their joint venture with Alliance Group will create “a dynamic industry competitor”.
Tributes have flowed following the death of former Prime Minister and political and business leader, Jim Bolger. He was 90.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
Farmer shareholders of meat processor Alliance have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish company, Dawn Meats.
The former chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and farmer, Doug Leeder, says rural communities' biggest fear right now is the lack of long-term certainty over environmental regulations.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.