New Zealand Sign Language Week Highlights Inclusion at Fonterra Clandeboye
Last week marked New Zealand Sign Language Week and a South Canterbury tanker operator is sharing what it's like to be deaf in a busy Fonterra depot.
Federated Farmers dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard says as shareholder of Fonterra he’s heard “didley squat” about the US cheese licence saga.
He’s also unimpressed by Fonterra’s “lack of contrition”.
Speaking as a shareholder of Fonterra and not in his capacity as a Fed Farmers board member, Hoggard says he and other farmers are disappointed and not amused at the “mistake”.
“Dairy farmers are facing all sorts of challenges right now including the drought and prospect of a low payout,” he told Dairy News.
“This is not what they want to hear. In the big scheme of things the loss is not big and won’t materially impact badly on farmers. But it’s a morale deflater, one of those things you don’t want to hear. You want to hear the co-op is making smart decisions and that everyone is on their game; you don’t want to see dumb little things like this happening.”
Hoggard says people in Fonterra are being paid some “serious money” to get these things right.
“Fonterra [might] have flicked an email out to shareholders saying ‘sorry we stuffed up; this is bad, forgive us and it won’t happen again’ but I haven’t seen anything and that doesn’t impress me.”
Hoggard says Fonterra’s mistake could result from recent restructuring.
More than 1200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at next month’s National Fieldays, with sites nearly sold out.
Despite difficult trading conditions for European machinery manufacturers brought about conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, alongside the United States imposing punitive tariffs, Italian manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo, has seen turnover increase 12% in 2025 to €390 million (NZ$775m) with a net profit of €11.2 million (NZ$22.3).
New Zealand innovation company Techion, best known for its animal diagnostics platform, FECPAK has signed an exclusive strategic partnership with Farmlands to bring independent animal health disease intelligence to its customers.
Zespri says it welcomes the recently signed Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal, describing it as an important step towards supporting growth in the region and for New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.
Westgold butter has been named New Zealand's tastiest in a blind tasting conducted by Consumer New Zealand.