Winston's crusade
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer and associated businesses.
Fonterra is being as transparent and open as possible, but questions on the timeline of events will need to wait until internal and external reviews, says managing director of New Zealand Milk Products, Gary Romano.
Asked at a press conference yesterday why Fonterra did not put a crisis plan in place when they had reason to retest the whey in March, Romano said "at that point there was no belief by anyone that this was going to lead to concern for the consumers".
However he said they did not want to comment further on timelines and decisions made at this stage.
"There will be a time when we go through the timeline," he said. "That timeline will be subject to our own internal review, and our expectation is that MPI will have oversight of that review. I don't want to pre-empt what is happening.
"What I would really like is for science to take over here and explain what we did when and why. There's a process for that, you can be assured there will be a process not only internally, but there will be external oversight. It's premature to ask about which tests were done when and why."
He said the focus right now was an operational one. "It is very much about getting information out to our customers, so they can do their job in getting product off the shelf. That's out immediate focus."
Earlier he said Fonterra will be as transparent and open as it could, and move at speed. "Sometimes that speed means we don't have all the complete information with us, but we are acting transparently, we are moving at speed and we are trying to do what is best for consumers."
Following recent storms in the region, the 69th edition of the Tour of Southland cycling event has been postponed.
A function at Parliament on 7th October brought together central government decision-makers, MPs, industry stakeholders and commercial partners to highlight the need for strategic investment in the future of Fieldays and its home, the Mystery Creek Events Centre campus.
The Government's revised 2050 biogenic methane target range of 14-24% by 2050 is being welcomed by dairy farmers.
An increasing number of students are doing agricultural and horticultural degrees at Massey University by distance learning.
ANZ New Zealand is encouraging farmers and businesses impacted by the recent extreme weather that hit Southland and South Otago last week to seek support if they need it.
When Professor Pierre Venter takes up his new role as vice chancellor at Massey University next February it will just be a matter of taking a few steps across the road to get to his new office at the Palmerston North Campus.
OPINION: Has the horse or horses bolted in parliament?
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer…