Coutts appointed chair-elect of Mainland Group
Fonterra has named Elizabeth (Liz) Coutts the chair of Mainland Group, the proposed divestment entity of the co-operative’s consumer business.
The painted rock hide-and-seek craze that has taken the world by storm over the past couple of years has popped up at National Fieldays.
Prompted by the popularity of painting smooth pebbles and then hiding them for people to find, Rosie, the ‘cowbassador’ for New Zealand dairy farmers, has been busy in recent weeks ‘decorating’ rocks that are hidden around the Heritage Village for children, in particular, to find.
The Rosie Rocks feature colourful dairy related images that are hand-painted – or is that hoof-painted?
Finders can be keepers, but Rosie urges children discovering a colourful rock to hide it again for others to discover, taking a photo of themselves with it first. Or they can bring the Rosie Rock to the Old Schoolroom at the Heritage Village and exchange them for a small gift pack.
The global painted rock craze was started by people keen to make connections with others, which they do with special Facebook pages devoted to their particular rock, and via other forms of social media – and to get people into the outdoors.
Rosie says she wants her rocks to be a random act of kindness that will bring a smile to the faces of children attending Fieldays this year. And she admits she hopes the rocks will also help draw attention to the Fieldays show she stars in at the Village Green, and to the fun-filled Old School Classroom at the Heritage Village where she will be hanging out with the kids in between performances.
Child-friendly activities at the classroom include Rosie’s Moovie Theatre, Rosie’s Moogical Corner, and the opportunity to check out her dedicated website www.rosiesworld.co.nz, along with information about the DairyNZ Schools and Farm Visits programmes.
Painted rocks are popular in many communities internationally and around New Zealand, including Hamilton, near the Fieldays venue at Mystery Creek Events Centre.
Hamilton City Council reports the fad has people out and about most weekends looking for Tron Rocks as they enjoy the city’s parks and the beautiful Hamilton Gardens.
Palmerston North has Palmy Rocks, and there are Waiheke Rocks, Tauranga Rocks, Roto Rocks, Clutha Rocks (that’s Balclutha), Cavy Rocks (Dunedin), Invers Rocks (Invercargill), and many, many more Kiwi rocks.
Federated Farmers supports a review of the current genetic technology legislation but insists that a farmer’s right to either choose or reject it must be protected.
New Zealand’s top business leaders are urging the US Administration to review “unjustified and discriminatory tariffs” imposed on Kiwi exporters.
New tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump signal an uncertain future, but New Zealand farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions, says Auriga Martin, chief executive of Farm Focus.
A global trade war beckons, which is bad news for a small open economy like New Zealand, warns Mark Smith ASB senior economist.
Carterton's Awakare Farm has long stood as a place where family, tradition and innovation intersect.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
OPINION: Is it the beginning of the end for Greenpeace?
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.