Fonterra, Sharesies join to make share trading easier
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.
A New Zealand Herald columnist, who questioned the retirement of former Fonterra chairman John Wilson in July last year, is facing calls to apologise to his family.
Read: Tributes flow for former Fonterra chair John Wilson.
Wilson, who passed away yesterday morning, stepped down in July last year citing health reasons.
However, columnist Rachel Stewart tweeted at the time that she didn’t buy Wilson’s reason for leaving the co-op and is now coming under fire on social media.
“I’m confident that John Wilson is in fine fettle and his ‘health scare’ was an excuse to slip quietly out the back door of Fonterra. Can anyone prove me wrong,” she tweeted on August 15.
On Twitter today, Stewart is facing calls from farmers and industry leaders to apologise and admit that she got it wrong.
NZ Food and Grocer Council head Katherine Rich re-tweeted Stewart’s original tweet with Stewart's comment.
And I hope people who questioned the retirement of John Wilson from @Fonterra’s chairmanship think next time before they cast judgement on things they have no personal knowledge about. The reasons given are usually the reasons. pic.twitter.com/asdnJZVtjr
— Katherine Rich (@KatherineRichNZ) January 28, 2019
Even respected NZ Herald business writer Fran O’Sullivan commented on Twitter; “Vale, John Wilson. Took at lot of mean-spirited comments when he stood down as Fonterra chairman, His loss today will be felt throughout the dairy industry.”
Vale, John Wilson. Took at lot of mean-spirited comments when he stood down as Fonterra chairman, His loss today will be felt throughout the dairy industry.
— Fran O'Sullivan (@FranOSullivan) January 28, 2019
Direct message
Farmer Dean Rabbidge called for her to be blacklisted from writing for media outlets.
Class is something that @RFStew does not have and never will, I really hope that every media outlet in the country uses this vile comment to blacklist her from contributing ever again.
— Dean Rabbidge ?????? (@deanrabbidge) January 28, 2019
Farmer Craig Douglas said it was a good time for Stewart to make her apology.
Nasty Rachel Stewart - so quick to ignorantly bad mouth John Wilson on Twitter.
— Craig Douglas ?? ? (@GPEC1292) January 28, 2019
Now is a suitable time for your public apology on the same forum.
Disgusting! pic.twitter.com/5SX1EUNklp
Stewart, who has a history of causing controversy with farmers, did respond with a tweet today.
Turns out John wasn't in "fine fettle" - but neither was Fonterra at the time. Before his deification gathers full steam, who do I make my unreserved apology out to? pic.twitter.com/9pJ0ibGVTb
— Rachel Stewart (@RFStew) January 28, 2019
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
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Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.