Ah Tatua, You've Done It Again!
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
Fonterra chairman John Wilson says as a farmer he is angry and disappointed with today's arbitration decision over the false botulism scare in 2013.
Speaking at a media conference with chief executive Theo Spierings, Wilson said the decision did not fully recognise the terms of supply agreement between Fonterra and Danone.
However, Wilson says he accepts the decision to award Danone $183 million in damages.
“We will now turn our attention to delivering the best possible returns for our farmers despite this outcome,” he says.
He added that Fonterra’s management is also committed to this.
Wilson and the management team briefed the Shareholders Council on the arbitration decision before the media conference.
He says there is also frustration among shareholders.
Danone sought damages for recalling products; the precautionary recall was a result of a false test from a third party.
When Northland leather worker Vernon Suckling started making horse saddles 50 years ago, quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles were unheard of.
Alliance Group has confirmed that eligible farmer-shareholders who supply and continue to back the business will receive up to $20 million later this year, following the strategic investment partnership with Dawn Meats.
With a general election under five weeks away, Rural News is asking major political parties about their policies and positions on key issues facing the primary sector. We will run their responses to each question over the next four weeks. The ACT Party and the Greens didn't respond in time.
The red meat sector is in great heart.
Dr Scott Champion, Foundation for Arable Research chief executive, says that everyone in the supply chain had a role to play in driving the sector's long-term success.
Entries opened on Monday, 5 October 2026 for the 2027 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA), which organisers describe as the nation's biggest celebration of excellence in the dairy sector.

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