Halter raises $165m, company valued at $1.65b
New Zealand tech company Halter has raised $165 million from investors in its latest fundraising round.
A Farmlands shareholder is questioning the rural trader’s decision to more than double its annual card fee.
The shareholder, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Rural News that shareholders shouldn’t have to pay “a high amount of money just to get a card”
In an email to shareholders this week, Farmlands announced that starting from February, its card fee will rise to $65 plus GST per card. The current card fee is $28.75 plus GST.
Farmlands pointed out to shareholders that it is the first increase in five years.
“We have held off a fee increase for as long as we could.”
But one shareholder isn’t convinced.
“As we had to pay to belong to Farmlands Society, we don’t think we should have to pay a high amount of money just to get a card,” the shareholder says.
“When we rang Farmlands, we were told we had to have a card to have an account.”
In a statement to Rural News, Farmlands general manager of marketing Daniel Herd noted that Farmlands has charged an annual fee for a long-time and reiterated that this is the first increase to the fee in five years.
“We have held off any increase for as long as we could, while costs of managing and administering our services have gone up.
“The majority of our shareholders save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each year in rebates and discounts in our stores and from our Card Partners.
“The fee increase can be offset by the savings made on less than a tank of diesel per month or one visit to Card Partners such as Noel Leeming or Mitre 10.
“We’re committed to helping Farmlands Card users get even more value from their card.”
Herd says they’ve just released a new version of our Farmlands Card app – where it’s easy to find the nearest card partner and see transaction and account information.
“We’re also working to provide more shopping options – with the likes of Briscoes, Noel Leeming, and VetPost now accepting Farmlands Card online.”
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?