Monday, 22 September 2014 10:30

Easy wins for Kuriger, Muller

Written by Sudesh Kissun

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Two prominent rural personalities easily won their parliamentary seats on National tickets Saturday night.

The inaugural Dairy Woman of the Year, Barbara Kuriger romped home in Taranaki-King Country; she polled 20,000 votes, 15,000 more than her nearest rival.

Former Fonterra executive Todd Muller breezed to victory in Bay of Plenty; he polled 20,000 votes and enjoyed a margin of 14,000 votes.

Kuriger will fill Shane Ardern's gumboots; Ardern retired after 16 years in politics.

In 2012 Kuriger was awarded the inaugural Dairy Women of the Year which came with a Fonterra scholarship to participate in the Global Women's breakthrough leadership program, from which she graduated in September 2013.

She also served as a board member for DairyNZ until her nomination.

Muller, 45 served as a general manager for Zespri; he resigned as group director cooperative affairs for Fonterra after his nomination.

He is a Waikato University councillor, and sits on the boards of Plant and Food Research and the Sustainable Business Council.

More like this

McClay Nats' new ag spokesman

National Party trade spokesman Todd McClay will become the party’s agriculture spokesperson, National leader Christopher Luxon announced today.

Resetting the relationship

National's agriculture spokesperson says his absolute priority, if his party gets into power, is to get rid of what he calls the 'punitive model' of engagement between government and farmers.

Back again

OPINION: The Hound notes that in all the media hoo-ha over outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her replacement by a Richie Cunningham from Happy Days look-alike, news that another quitter was back went under the radar.

A change is needed

OPINION: This has been a bloody tough year for farmers.

Over regulated and under stress

OPINION: The consultation period for the Government’s emissions pricing plan for agriculture is closing as I write this.

Featured

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 is crazy.

Federated Farmers launch “twelve pests of Christmas” to expose NZ’s growing pest crisis

Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for "The Twelve Pests of Christmas" in an effort to highlight the most troublesome farm pests.

Storm-hit Tararua farmers receive $120,000 in fencing packs from RRT

The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) has given farmers in the Tararua District a boost as they rebuild following recent storms.

PM hints Govt to deliver 46% reduction in farming consents

The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.

Leaving Paris Agreement would be a dumb move – PM

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.

University of Waikato breaks ground on new medical school

The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.

National

Te Radar celebrates kiwi farming heritage in latest release

Undoubtedly the doyen of rural culture, always with a wry smile, our favourite ginger ninja, Te Radar, in conjunction with…

Government approves nationwide recycling scheme for primary sector plastics

Rural recycling scheme Agrecovery is welcoming the Government's approval of regulations for a nationwide rural recycling scheme for agrichemicals and…