Winston's crusade
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer and associated businesses.
The Hound has been a long-and-strong critic of Fonterra’s shareholder council.
So this old mutt was pleased to hear the council finally baring its teeth in its recent annual report on the performance – or more correctly non-performance – of Fonterra during the past year. Council chair Duncan Coull was brutally frank in his assessment of the mothership, telling farmers that Fonterra’s effort over the last 12 months has been “not good enough and fundamental change is required in thinking and practice to reverse the performance of the business”. Meanwhile, your old mate reckons another former shareholder council chairman – current Fonterra big-cheese John Monaghan – would not have enjoyed his former organisation finally growing a pair and giving the co-op a proper serve for once.
Following recent storms in the region, the 69th edition of the Tour of Southland cycling event has been postponed.
A function at Parliament on 7th October brought together central government decision-makers, MPs, industry stakeholders and commercial partners to highlight the need for strategic investment in the future of Fieldays and its home, the Mystery Creek Events Centre campus.
The Government's revised 2050 biogenic methane target range of 14-24% by 2050 is being welcomed by dairy farmers.
An increasing number of students are doing agricultural and horticultural degrees at Massey University by distance learning.
ANZ New Zealand is encouraging farmers and businesses impacted by the recent extreme weather that hit Southland and South Otago last week to seek support if they need it.
When Professor Pierre Venter takes up his new role as vice chancellor at Massey University next February it will just be a matter of taking a few steps across the road to get to his new office at the Palmerston North Campus.

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