Trust Chinese investors - banker
A Chinese business leader says Chinese investors are unfairly viewed as potential security risks in New Zealand.
FONTERRA IS offering winter milk contracts in Waikato to keep its new $120m UHT plant in year-round production. The plant at Waitoa has eight lines and can produce 28 packets of UHT milk and cream per second; it needs 100m L of milk every year.
The plant produces cream for food service clients in Asia and pineapple flavoured ‘Kids Milk’ for China.
Year-round milk supply is needed for high value, short shelf-life products.
Fonterra chairman John Wilson says some farmers are moving off the strict grass curve and milking cows throughout the year.
“This gives us an opportunity to work with these farmers. We have signalled we need more milk for this plant over the next 18 months,” he told Dairy News. “Farmers in Waikato will now plan for that.”
Winter milk suppliers are paid a premium and get “deferential” transport pricing. They must spend heavily to commit to year-around milking, most needing to calve two or three times a year to produce quality milk in autumn and winter.
In addition to a premium price for winter milk, the suppliers need good returns from such a deal, Wilson says. “They are proud to see quality milk turned into high value products for export [but] also need to see returns coming in above milk prices.”
The Waitoa UHT factory was opened by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy last month. It has five production lines with provision for three more lines.
Fonterra global director operations Robert Spurway says 1200 staff and contractors completed the 12-month project. “We are proud of the finished plant.”
No milk is stored at the plant. Fresh milk arriving is immediately processed by heating for the required shelf life then turned into products.
Tetra Pak supplied the plant, which has a helix-shaped accumulator that allows filling lines to keep running during minor repairs and adjustments.
Two butcheries have claimed victory at the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards for 2025.
A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.
The Climate Change Commission’s 2025 emissions reduction monitoring report reveals steady progress on the reduction of New Zealand’s climate pollution.
Another milestone has been reached in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis with the compensation assistance service being wound up after helping more than 1300 farmers.
The Government’s directive for state farmer Landcorp Farming (trading as Pamu) to lifts its performance is yielding results.
The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.
OPINION: Will synthetic milk derail NZ's economy?
OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a…