New Zealand Sign Language Week Highlights Inclusion at Fonterra Clandeboye
Last week marked New Zealand Sign Language Week and a South Canterbury tanker operator is sharing what it's like to be deaf in a busy Fonterra depot.
John Wilson has been appointed the chairman elect of Fonterra.
Wilson will take up the role of chairman when Henry van der Heyden stands down as chairman at the cooperative's annual meeting in December.
Van der Heyden says Wilson brings lengthy experience in the dairy industry and has been on the board since 2003.
Wilson is a previous chairman of the Fonterra Shareholders Council. He lives on his family dairy farm near Te Awamutu and also manages a dairy farming business in South Canterbury. He is the chairman of South Auckland Independent Testing Society Ltd and a director of Turner & Growers Ltd.
"Over the past two years the board has been working through a considered and disciplined process to appoint a chairman elect and ensure the succession plan we have is in the best interest of the cooperative," says van der Heyden.
"John and I will work together over the next few months to assist with a smooth transition to provide continuity for the cooperative."
A move to boost farmer uptake of low methane emitting sheep is underway.
Silver Fern Farms has tackled the ongoing war-induced shipping challenges to mideast markets by airlifting 90 tonnes of chilled New Zealand lamb and beef to the United Arab Emirates.
The primary sector is leading New Zealand's economic recovery, according to economist and researcher Cameron Bagrie.
Dairy industry leader Jim van der Poel didn't make much of the invitation he received to the recent New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua.
Farmers around the country are going public big time, demanding their local district, city and regional councils come up with amalgamation plans that meet the needs of rural communities and don't allow urban councils to dominate.
The battle for the rural vote is on and parties are securing high profile names to try and bolster their chances at the general election.

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