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Michael Spaans.
Federated Farmers representatives have described Michael Spaans as a “kauri in the forest” and “an asset to the dairy sector and agriculture” with his extensive governance acumen.
Feds was “extremely saddened” to learn of his death and extends its condolences to the Spaans family.
Vice-president Andrew Hoggard says Spaans was an asset to dairy and agriculture -- “a farmer first and foremost and someone who especially cared about decisions and what they meant onfarm”.
“One enduring memory of Michael is 2013, at the launch of the Sustainable Dairy Water Accord.
“The various signatories were accepting plaques on behalf of their organisations and Michael was representing DairyNZ.
“Seeing PM John Key looking a long way up, dwarfed by Michael, was bloody amusing. When it came to the pictures you could see the PM actually shifting his feet to get on his tip-toes.”
Feds dairy industry chair Chris Lewis describes Spaans as a “kauri in the forest” and a considerate man who showed great leadership.
“I’ve worked with Michael on the Waikato Dairy Leaders Group and first met him five years ago,” says Lewis.
“I recall asking him if he played defence as a basketballer or a lock in the first 15. He probably got asked that question a lot; he’ll be greatly missed.”
A huge reduction in ACC claims from on-farm accidents over the last five years is due to thousands of small, practical decisions being made in sheds, yards, paddocks and around kitchen tables across the country, says Safer Farms ambassador Lindy Nelson.
Certainty and a clear understanding of the needs of rural communities is a critical outcome in the series of government reforms that are taking place at present.
Waikato farmers have been told that the Government’s new planning system legislation and the region’s Plan Change 1 (PC1) “won’t mesh together very well”.
Red meat farmers are using higher farmgate returns to make their farms more resilient, says Federated Farmers meat and wool industry group chair Richard Dawkins.
Newly appointed Federated Farmers vice president Sandra Faulkner says she is honoured and excited to hold the role.
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