Tuesday, 14 June 2022 15:55

Former co-op chair accepts Queen's Birthday honour

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Former Fonterra chair John Monaghan says he's quite humbled by the appointment. Former Fonterra chair John Monaghan says he's quite humbled by the appointment.

Former Fonterra chairman John Monaghan says he's quite humbled to make the Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee honours list.

Monaghan, who stepped down as the co-operative chairman in 2020, was appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM).

He was one of a handful of recipients associated with the agriculture sector.

Monaghan told Dairy News that he received an email a couple of weeks ago confirming his CNZM honour.

He couldn't tell family until Monday morning, the Queen's Birthday public holiday. The award coincided with another happy occasion - his youngest daughter's wedding over the long weekend.

Monaghan says the award was unexpected.

"I'm quite humbled by it: made me take out time to reflect. It was a call-out for the dairy industry and I'm proud to accept it on behalf of the industry."

Monaghan says the dairy industry keeps delivering for everyone.

"It starts on our farms, goes through our staff and plants and across the global markets and it keeps on delivering."

Monaghan, who now lives in Martinborough, still owns a farm in Eketahuna and farming interests in Otago.

He remains very proud of the co-op and these days keeps "a close eye on the co-op from the back paddocks".

"Fonterra is showing good results and good leadership," he says. 

Monaghan has been associated with Fonterra since its formation in 2001.

He was an inaugural Fonterra Shareholders Council member and served as the council chairman from 2004 to 2007.

In 2008, he joined Fonterra as a director. He chaired the co-op board from 2018 to 2020, overseeing a reset of the co-operative's strategy and culture, and a global change management process.

He was a director of Wellington Centrepoint Limited. Within his community, Monaghan chaired Eketahuna School's Board of Trustees and is former club captain and junior-side coach of the Eketahuna Rugby Club.

Minister for Rural Communities Damien O'Connor extended his congratulations to the rural New Zealanders recognised for their service.

"I'm so pleased to see the recipient recognised for their contribution to rural communities, and to Aotearoa New Zealand more widely," O'Connor says.

"John Monaghan, appointed as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, has been influential in the dairy industry through his work with Fonterra since its formation in 2001, supporting the company to become one of New Zealand's top performing internationalcompanies."

Taranaki farmer Bryan Hocken and veteran agricultural journalist Hugh Stringleman also received honours - both appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).

Hocken, who has has a farming career of more than 50 years, was president of Taranaki Federated Farmers from 2006 to 2008.

More like this

Fonterra updates earnings

Fonterra says its earnings for the 2025 financial year are anticipated to be in the upper half of its previously forecast earnings range of 40-60 cents per share.

No buyers

OPINION: Australian dairy is bracing for the retirement of an iconic dairy brand.

Grass-fed faux pas

OPINION: It seems Fonterra has quietly conceded a labelling faux pas on its iconic butter brand.

Featured

Fruit fly discovery 'concerning'

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that discovery of a male Oriental fruit fly on Auckland’s North Shore is a cause for concern for growers.

Fonterra updates earnings

Fonterra says its earnings for the 2025 financial year are anticipated to be in the upper half of its previously forecast earnings range of 40-60 cents per share.

Nedap NZ launch

Livestock management tech company Nedap has launched Nedap New Zealand.

National

Certainty welcomed

There's been very little reaction to the government science reform announcement, with many saying the devil will be in the…

Science 'deserves more funding'

A committee which carried out the review into New Zealand's science system says the underinvestment will continue to compromise the…

Machinery & Products

Landpower win global award

Christchurch-headquartered Landpower and its Claas Harvest Centre dealerships has taken out the Global After Sales Excellence award in Germany, during…

Innovation, new products galore

It has been a year of new products and innovation at Numedic, the Rotorua-based manufacturer and exporter of farm dairy…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

No buyers

OPINION: Australian dairy is bracing for the retirement of an iconic dairy brand.

RIP Kitkat V

OPINION: Another sign that the plant-based dairy fallacy is unravelling and that nothing beats dairy-based products.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter