Print this page

Thursday, 11 April 2019 11:49

Not happy with Westland

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size

Westland Milk's decision to sell to Chinese company Yili may get the nod of farmer shareholders but politicians aren’t happy.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, the West Coast-Tasman MP, says the impending sale is “personally of concern for me coming from the West Coast”.

NZ First MP Mark Patterson expresses similar sentiment: “Let’s hope Westland Milk shareholders think long and hard before selling the family silver”.

NZ First was highly critical of the sale of agribusinesses to Chinese interests before the election. However, the party has toned down its criticism since stepping into coalition Government with Labour and the Greens.

More like this

Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade

Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade

When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.

Buttery prize

Buttery prize

OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having the last laugh when it comes to cashing in on NZ grass-fed butter.

Strong growth for Yili's NZ operations

Chinese dairy giant Yili Group says its New Zealand operations are on track for strong revenue growth in 2025 after recording significant year-on-year growth for the first half of the year.

Feds support live animal exports

Federated Farmers have reiterated their support for the coalition Government to abolish the present ban on the live export of animals.

Live exports battle

As the coalition Government mulls new regulations to reinstate the export of live animals, debate is heating up between supporters and opponents.

Popular Reads

Open Country opens butter plant

When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give…

MPI launches industry-wide project to manage feral deer

An industry-wide project led by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is underway to deal with the rising number of feral…

Waituna Lagoon consent puts farms at risk, Federated Farmers Say

According to Federated Farmers, Environment Southland has mishandled the consent process for Waituna Lagoon, leaving the community with numerous bad…

Fonterra shareholders watch performance after sale

Fonterra shareholders say they will be keeping an eye on their co-operative's performance after the sale of its consumer businesses.

Idea of killing cows to curtail methane emissions 'crazy'

Visiting US climate change expert Dr Will Happer says the idea of reducing cow numbers to greatly reduce methane emissions…

Featured

Nathan Guy is the new special agricultural trade envoy

Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).

Alliance commissions major heat pump system at Mataura, cutting coal use and emissions

Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.

Fonterra slashes forecast milk price, again

Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.

NZ meat industry seeks removal of US 15% lamb tariff

Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.

Early drought fears ease in Hawke’s Bay, but caution remains

Fears of a serious early drought in Hawke’s Bay have been allayed – for the moment at least.

Consent Rollovers and $13b Savings: What the new RMA bills could mean

There was much theatre in the Beehive before the Government's new Resource Management Act (RMA) reform bills were introduced into Parliament last week.

National

Fonterra capital return could boost GDP – ANZ Report

The Fonterra divestment capital return should provide “a tailwind to GDP growth” next year, according to a new ANZ NZ report,…

Fonterra upgrades Eltham cheese production for global growth

Fonterra's Eltham site in Taranaki is stepping up its global impact with an upgrade to its processed cheese production lines,…

Michelle Pye elected to Fonterra board

Canterbury farmer Michelle Pye has been elected to Fonterra’s board for a three-year term.

Government plan to scrap regional councils faces criticism

Government plans to get rid of regional councillors shows a lack of understanding of the fundamental problem affecting all of…

Lactose to join fat and protein in Fonterra milk price model

For over 20 years, Whakatane farmer Gerard Van Beek has been attending Fonterra annual general meetings with the same message…

Machinery & Products

Case IH Unveils New RB6 Round Balers & 2026 Square Baler Upgrades

Case IH has released details of its all-new round balers and redesigns to its large square balers aimed at increasing…

How to Improve Milking Efficiency in Swing-Over Herringbone Sheds

The swing-over herringbone is the most common dairy type in New Zealand, used on 69% of dairy farms. Simple changes…

Claas Jaguar 1000 Series sets new forage harvesting world record

The recently released Claas Jaguar 1000 Series has seen its flagship 1200 set a new official Guiness World Record in…

CB Norwood appoints John Skurr as new general manager

CB Norwood Distributors Limited has announced the appointment of John Skurr to the position of general manager.

AIMER, Bovonic and Herd-i join forces to advance NZ dairy tech

Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.