Westpac expands community banking with new vans and extended branch hours
Westpac NZ has announced new initiatives that aim to give customers more options to do their banking in person.
Strong leadership, good networks and being change-ready are the key ingredients to running resilient farming operations, says Westpac managing director of private wealth and insurance, Simon Power.
Power was speaking last week at the Westpac Farming Insights 2013 – Challenges, Opportunities and Resilience event, held at Vidals Winery in Hawke's Bay.
A 100-strong audience of sheep and beef farmers plus horticulturalists turned out to hear from the Associate Minister of Primary Affairs, Jo Goodhew, Beef + Lamb NZ chairman, Mike Petersen and Power.
"Most farming operations these days are sophisticated business enterprises that require strong vision, entrepreneurship and tenacity. They also require a major degree of resilience," says Power.
"Resilient farm operations look for ways to enhance competitive edge. This is a crucial factor in resilient business."
At the same event Power announced a new partnership Westpac has developed with Sir John Kirwan to host resilience-themed events for the rural community focusing on building personal resilience.
"The rural sector has faced many stresses over the past year, including the worst drought New Zealand has experienced in 70 years. Sir John Kirwan has done an incredible job of raising awareness about depression and the importance of building resilience and we know he has plenty of valuable insights to share with the rural community," says Power.
Westpac intends to hold two Rural Resilience events with Kirwan before the end of the year, and will look to hold more next year.
Fonterra Edendale has been recognised with the Mars Dairy Supplier Quality Award for the top performing supplier sites in the global food company's dairy supply chain.
Sheep milk processor Maui Milk has achieved grass-fed certification of milk supply against the AsureQuality Grass-Fed Scheme.
OPINION: What goes up must come down. So, global dairy prices retreating from lofty heights in recent months wouldn’t come as a surprise to many farmers.
Fonterra directors and councillors are in for a pay rise next month.
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.

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