Misguided campaign
OPINION: Last week, Greenpeace lit up Fonterra's Auckland headquarters with 'messages from the common people' - that the sector is polluting the environment.
Dairy industry leader Tony Wilding says he’s absolutely delighted to be rewarded for his work in conservation and education sectors.
Read: Fonterra pioneer expects much better.
Unlike his stints in dairy companies, Wilding wasn’t paid for his work for promoting agri education and protecting the environment.
Last month, he received the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s honours list for services to the dairy industry and community.
“I’m happy that my volunteer work for conservation and education has been acknowledged,” he told Rural News. “My family and close friends are also delighted.”
Wilding, 69, is still actively involved in the dairy industry: owning a 420-cow farm with his daughter and son-in-law in Tirau and chairing Federated Farmers Sharemilker Farm Owners Section.
Wilding was a director of New Zealand Dairy Group for 14 years and the New Zealand Dairy Board for six years. He played a key role in the establishment of Fonterra, and was a director of the Dairy Research Institute.
He was the first community/landowner co-chair of the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust. He has built strong relationships between landowners and mana whenua.
Wilding is currently a trustee and was chair of Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand until August 2019, and has also been actively involved with the Pohlen Community Trust Hospital, the Okoroire School, and the Tirau Golf Club.
Wilding says he loves serving the community and has no plans to slow down.
As chair of Feds sharemilkers farm owners section, Wilding has worked closely with sharemilkers around the country.
Federated Farmers national sharemilkers section chairman, Richard McIntyre says the honour is well deserved.
“Tony is an absolute gentleman who has represented the Sharemilker farm owners well, for the betterment of the sharemilking industry,” he told Rural News.
“His wealth of experience in governance and in resolving sharemilking disputes has been of great benefit.
“He understands the issues sharemilking faces from both points of view and then communicates this in a way to ensure a full discussion is had and a fair outcome is reached.”
McIntyre says at Federated Farmers Wilding has worked tirelessly on the revisions of the various sharemilking agreements and has “a near encyclopaedic knowledge”.
“On a personal note, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Tony for the last five years,” he added.
“During this time, Tony has taught me a great deal about governance, chairmanship, finding consensus and working together to achieve a ‘fair’ outcome for all involved.”
McIntyre says sharemilking is – and will be – in a far better place due to Wilding’s involvement
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.
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