Fonterra's Whareroa Wins Directors Award
Fonterra's Whareroa site took home the prestigious Directors Award at the co-op's 'Oscars of Manufacturing', while Clandeboye led the way with multiple wins at this year's Best Site Cup.
Fonterra will reduce its board from 11 to 9 at the completion of the 2024 annual general meeting.
This follows a vote at today’s AGM, where 88.5% of shareholders voted in support of the change.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says that Fonterra can now move into the 2024 director elections with certainty.
“Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. The transition to a board of nine, comprising of six farmer elected directors and three appointed directors, will be completed at the conclusion of the 2024 annual meeting, 12 months from now.”
A counter proposal by Kaikohe farmer Richard Dampney to reduce only elected directors on the board wasn’t passed. Each of his four remits garnered only between 15% and 18% of votes.
Dampney told Rural News that he isn’t surprised at the result.
He claims Fonterra’s board and Co-operative Council stonewalled him.
“They killed my remits before they could even get off the ground,” he says.
“My remits were quite similar to Fonterra’s remit, but they told shareholders to vote against my remits.”
A proposal to increase director fees was passed by 76% support and another to boost councillors’ allowance passed with 77% support.
Independent directors Bruce Hassall and Holly Kramer were re-elected for another term.
“We’re not normal.” That’s how Jack Walters, executive director of Pungent Pukeko, describes his gin brand, which has just won gold at the World Gin Awards.
Dr Tim Harwood, a seafood food safety research leader, has been awarded the 2026 Significant Contribution Award at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Food Industry Awards.
Today marks the first day of operations for Waikato Waters, a new council-controlled organisation established by six district councils to deliver water and wastewater services for their communities.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has announced has opened applications for the 2026/27 funding round of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research (GHGIR) fund.
New Zealand’s vegetable sector will take centre stage at Parliament today, celebrating a vital industry and sharing a clear, future focused vision for how it can continue to thrive.
New Zealand red meat exports reached a second consecutive monthly record in May, rising to $1.6 billion, according to the Meat Industry Association.

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