WRONZ to step up?

 The levy was rejected in a nationwide referendum of wool growers in October, but several industry players at that time supported the need for expanded leadership and education for wool.

Chairman Derrick Millton says WRONZ members have been advised of a meeting on December 11 and will look at some of the organisation’s rules, and whether its role can be expanded.

 “It is a possibility that WRONZ can be involved in the education to a greater degree, or alter the funding of education, and also alter some of the advocacy and collaborative stuff we do for the wool industry because we are already a pan-sector group.

“We are keen to at least have a discussion over this. It is a collaborative process and the outcome of the meeting [of members] will be taken on by the board.

The possibility of WRONZ taking an expanded role was suggested by an industry player just as the levy, which would have raised $4.6m a year, went to the vote in October and was rejected.

Wool sales and marketing company Wools of NZ opposed the levy at the time as creating “another structure in an already cluttered industry”. 

At that time, Wools of NZ chair Mark Shadbolt said there was a need for some industry leadership activities and additional training and tech transfer. He suggested WRONZ could broaden its mandate to take on some of those activities.