Fonterra Expands China Foodservice Business with New Anchor Essence Cream
Fonterra is strengthening its foodservice presence in China with the launch of a new cream for professional bakeries at Bakery China 2026 in Shanghai.
Flooding in the top of the South Island has disrupted Fonterra's milk collections. Photo Credit: Cherie Chubb
Fonterra says milk collections are disrupted in Northland and the top of the South Island due to flooding.
Charles Fergusson, Fonterra Regional Head Canterbury Tasman and Marlborough, told Rural News that the co-operative is “pulling all the stops to collect the milk where we can, but it’s really important that people stay safe right now”.
Ongoing road closures mean milk collections continue to be impacted across the region, but Ferguson says tankers are reaching farms as roads open and it is safe to do so.
“While this isn’t the busiest time of year for milk collections, farmers are in the midst of calving – which is really tough with so much water on the ground,” he says.
“We’ll be looking to assess how we can support farmers as the water recedes.”
Fonterra’s Tākaka and Brightwater sites are still processing milk, but some tankers have been diverted to Darfield.
![]() |
|---|
|
Road closures in the region have impacted milk collections across the region. |
Rai Valley Farm Source Store closed yesterday as water levels rose, but doors opened again this morning.
Fonterra’s regional head Northland Mike Borrie says milk collections are still being disrupted by flooding in the Far North.
“The team is closely monitoring road access and will work to get tankers to farms as soon as possible,” he told Rural News.
In advance of the Budget, Finance Minister Nicola Willis put a clear damper on expectations and delivered accordingly.
Farmers should be cautiously optimistic as the 2026/27 season kicks off, says DairyNZ.
RaboResearch senior analyst Emma Higgins expects the 2026/27 dairy season to be another profitable one.
The new dairy season is kicking off with plenty of risks to the forecast farmgate price, both upside and downside, says ANZ agricultural economist Matt Dilly.
A potential showdown between the top two Federated Farmers leaders looms at the farmer lobby's annual meeting later this month.
FarmIQ Systems has developed a free land management app to help remove barriers to New Zealand farmers and growers adopting digital tools.

OPINION: While we're on the topic of lumberjacks, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has no doubt used a chainsaw hundreds of…
OPINION: To a chorus of crying greenies, and not a minute too soon, the Government has moved to put the…