increase font size
Chris Lewis.
Throwing mud at New Zealand First over its comments about Fonterra would not be constructive for the dairy industry, says Federated Farmers dairy industry group chairman Chris Lewis.
He knows some Fonterra shareholders are upset by comments made by Cabinet minister Shane Jones about Fonterra chairman John Wilson, and further comments by NZ First leader Winston Peters about Fonterra’s financial performance.
“I know some Fonterra shareholders are a bit upset by the comments but we must also remember that New Zealand First is a vital part of this government and we are going through a Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) process at the moment,” Lewis told Dairy News.
“NZ First is very influential in this government, and they seem to get their way on certain things. So as members of the dairy community we want the government to do a really good job on this DIRA bill, so we must be mindful of what we say in this political climate, and understand that Shane Jones and his fellow MPs have a fair bit of influence.
“We have to take their feedback on board but we have to make sure we can also still be heard by having a constructive conversation with all those three parties.
“Throwing mud or sh** back is probably not the most constructive thing for the dairy community to be doing at the moment.”
Lewis said he was at that KPMG breakfast where Jones made his comments under Chatham House Rules and those comments took the crowd by surprise.
Lewis says Jones is entitled to his personal opinion like everyone else “but for a Cabinet minister is there a different standard?”.
But Lewis told Dairy News he had declined to talk about this to other media and the media have made more out of it than the people who were there or the people concerned.
He understands the frustration felt by a few people, he says. But Fonterra is owned by 10,000 shareholders and they decide what Fonterra does.
“Fonterra was put together by a government Act -- the DIRA Act -- and the Commerce Commission makes changes to allow a big monopoly to take place.
“That happens with government support so we’ve got to be mindful that we still want government support for Fonterra to be successful in the future and have the DIRA review done properly,” he says.
Many contract milkers in badly drought affected regions around the country are coming under severe financial stress and farm owners are being urged to help them through a bad patch until the start of the new season.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
The 'atmospheric river' of rain that swept down the country last week almost completely avoided one of the worst drought-affected regions in the country – coastal Taranaki.
Farmers and wool carpet manufacturers are welcoming a Government decision to use wool fibre products in the construction and refurbishment of state buildings.
OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.
The annual Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival – a fusion of books and storytelling - celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Emissions by dairy cattle decreased by 1.6% according to the latest NZ Greenhouse Gas Inventory report.
Tasman sharemilkers Warric and Rachel Johnson haven't let the 2006 milk payout crash put them out of business.
Labour's agriculture spokesperson says the Government’s decisions are set to hamstring growth within the farming sector.
A recent clinical study has highlighted the potential for a bioactive whey protein to support immune responses to influenza vaccinations.
Many contract milkers in badly drought affected regions around the country are coming under severe financial stress and farm owners are being urged to help them through a bad patch until the start of the new season.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.
