Wednesday, 09 September 2015 14:00

Long queue for DairyNZ board

Written by 
DairyNZ chairman John Luxton is stepping down. DairyNZ chairman John Luxton is stepping down.

This year's DairyNZ director elections has attracted 10 candidates, the most in recent years.

Voting opens on September 14 for the three director seats; results will be announced at DairyNZ’s annual meeting in Morrinsville on October 13.

The field includes two sitting directors: Michael Spaans and Ben Allomes, who are retiring by rotation; a director serves a four-year term before re-election. The third director and DairyNZ chairman John Luxton is stepping down from the board after 12 years.

The other candidates are Murray Jamieson (Hamilton), Steve Hines (Mangakino, Waikato), Elaine Cook (Hamilton), Grant Wills (Walton, Waikato), Michelle Wilson (Waihi, Waikato), Kevin Ferris (Te Awamutu, Waikato), Greg Maughan (Marton, Manawatu) and Kevin Old (Lincoln, Canterbury).

The greatest number of candidates in a DairyNZ director election was 14 in 2009; last year there were five.

Meanwhile four farmer candidates have put their name forward for three seats on DairyNZ’s directors’ remuneration committee. They are Federated Farmers Waikato president Chris Lewis (Pukeatua, Waikato), David Gasquoine (Matamata, Waikato), Gerard Wolvers (Te Awamutu, Waikato) and Harry Rich (Taupiri, Waikato).

Returning officer Anthony Morton, electionz.com, is encouraging farmers to have their say.

“It’s easy to vote and quick to do. Farmer levy payers can vote by the internet, post or fax – or in person at the AGM. These candidates will represent dairy farmers nationwide so it would be great to see a strong turnout of voters,” says Morton.

All dairy farmers who pay a levy on milksolids can vote for their preferred candidates in both elections for the board and the directors’ remuneration committee.

Voting opens when packs, with candidate profiles, are sent to levy paying farmers on September 14. 

“If anyone has any queries or doesn’t receive their voter pack by the end of September they can contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 0800 666 030,” says Morton. 

More like this

Owl Farm marks 10 years as NZ’s first demonstration dairy farm

In 2015, the signing of a joint venture between St Peter's School, Cambridge, and Lincoln University saw the start of an exciting new chapter for Owl Farm as the first demonstration dairy farm in the North Island. Ten years on, the joint venture is still going strong.

Featured

New target 'political theatre'

OPINION: Farmers are being asked to celebrate a target that changes nothing for the climate, wastes taxpayer money, and ignores real science.

MPI defends cost of new biosecurity lab

The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.

National

Machinery & Products

New pick-up for Reiter R10 merger

Building on experience gained during 10 years of making mergers/ windrowers, Austrian company Reiter has announced the secondgeneration pick-up on…

Krone EasyCut B1250 fold

In 2024, German manufacturer Krone introduced the F400 Fold, a 4m wide disc front mower, featuring end modules that hinge…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Microplastics problem

OPINION: Microplastics are turning up just about everywhere in the global food supply, including in fish, cups of tea, and…

Job cuts

OPINION: At a time when dairy prices are at record highs, no one was expecting the world's second largest dairy…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter