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 has teamed up with non-profit group TupuToa for an internship programme for Māori and Pasifika graduates.
At the end of 2018, three tertiary students heading into their last year of study will join Fonterra for a twelve-week paid internship, where they will be exposed to different parts of the business and mentored by senior leaders.
Managing Director People and Culture Joanne Fair says the new partnership will help broaden the talent source for future leaders and increase diversity of thought.
“Māori and Pasifika make up around 22% of the general population but are currently underrepresented in New Zealand’s corporate workforce. We want to play our part in turning that around,” says Fair.
“We’re passionate about growing our diverse talent pool which is why we’ve joined forces with TupuToa, who have a proven model for identifying and preparing Māori and Pasifika talent for professional careers.”
Fonterra says research by McKinsey shows that diverse businesses outperform non-diverse businesses by 35% and notes that diversity is crucial to fostering innovation.
The programme is part of Fonterra’s wider efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).
This year’s Ruralco Instore Days is centred on staying local and local connections, as part of the co-operative’s ongoing commitment to supporting Mid Canterbury farmers.