Misguided campaign
OPINION: Last week, Greenpeace lit up Fonterra's Auckland headquarters with 'messages from the common people' - that the sector is polluting the environment.
Fonterra director Donna Smit is retiring after serving six years on the board.
The Bay of Plenty farmer was first elected to the board in 2016.
Smit will also step down from her role as a Fonterra appointed director of FSF Management Company Limited, manager of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund.
Smit says she has been honoured to serve her fellow farmer shareholders for the past six years and thanked farmers for their support.
“I’m proud of the progress we have made as a board over the past six years and my contribution as part of that team.
“While there’s always more that can be done, I believe the co-op is in a relative position of strength compared to when I joined the board. “It’s the right time to support another farmer to come through and make a contribution to our great co-op.
“We have an incredible pool of diverse leaders within our farmer base, and I’d encourage them to consider putting themselves forward.”
Fonterra Chairman Peter McBride thanked Smit for her contribution through a period of significant change for the co-op.
“Donna has been a valued member of our board at a critical juncture for the co-op as we have overseen the reset of the co-op’s culture, long-term strategy, governance and risk settings, and our capital structure.”
Another sitting farmer director, Andy Macfarlane’s current three-year term also ends in November; he has decided to stand again.
Nominations for Fonterra’s director elections open on 5 August.
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.
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