Monday, 27 November 2017 11:55

Dedicated to DairyNZ

Written by 
Michael Spaans. Michael Spaans.

Even when ill, DairyNZ chairman Michael Spaans still made an effort to add value to the organisation.

Spaans died last Monday (November 20) of cancer.

A Te Aroha dairy farmer, Spaans joined the DairyNZ board in 2008 and became chair in November 2015. He was a director of Fonterra from 2013 until January 2017 when illness forced early retirement.  But he remained a director of ASB and Shoof International, and kept his farming interests in Canterbury, Chile, the US and his home farm.

DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says Spaans was dedicated to DairyNZ and even when ill made an effort to add value to the organisation.

“He was often quoted as saying how vital DairyNZ is in acting in the best interests of farmers, and the DairyNZ family will miss him.

“Our deep sympathies lie with his family, especially his wife Kristina, who has also dedicated her past nine years to us.”

Mackle says Spaans had a presence, and not just because of his 6ft 9in height; he was a thoughtful, considered man passionate about farming and dedicated to his wife Kristina and three children now aged 16, 20 and 22.

DairyNZ acting chair Barry Harris, says, “Michael will be greatly missed by the board, our staff, our farmers and the wider Waikato community.

“His passion and knowledge of the sector, and dedication to improving outcomes for dairy farming profitability and sustainability are well known.

“We will miss his thoughtful debating and farmer-first approach to investment, his involvement with the dairy leaders group, his focus as chair of the Waikato Dairy Leaders Group and the group’s desire to improve the state of the Waikato River, and support for the Healthy Rivers plan in particular.”

Growing up on a family farm at Tauhei, near Morrinsville, Spaans attended Mangateparu School, Morrinsville Intermediate and Morrinsville College. A keen basketballer as a young man, Spaans started farming life in Te Aroha as a young sharemilker. He later took over his parents’ farm at Manawaru, living there with his family until his death.

He started in governance about the time Fonterra was formed, with the NZ Dairy Group shareholders’ council, and became the Te Aroha ward rep when the council and company became part of Fonterra. He has held many governance positions, dedicating his life to improving farming in NZ.

Late last week DairyNZ appointed Waikato farmer Jim van der Poel as its new board chairman.

More like this

Strong uptake of good wintering practices

DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.

Fonterra trims board size

Fonterra’s board has been reduced to nine - comprising six farmer-elected and three appointed directors.

Returns 'not good enough'

Fonterra leaders are making their case for offloading the co-operative's $3 billion consumer business, noting that its return on capital has been nowhere near respectable.

Record milk price!

A record farmgate milk price for Fonterra shareholders is all but confirmed for this season.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of…

Machinery & Products

BA Pumps expand

Cambridge based BA Pumps & Sprayers, specialists in New Zealand-made spraying equipment, has acquired Tokoroa Engineering’s product range, including the…

Entries open for innovation award

Fieldays and its renowned Innovation Awards are celebrating their 57th year, marking a longstanding tradition in the agricultural calendar, with…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Chinese strategy

OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.

Not fair

OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter