A Year of Delivery for Fonterra
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
FEDERATED FARMERS believes Fonterra's $300,000 fine on charges relating to the 2012 whey protein recall is "proportionate".
Fonterra accepted four Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) charges relating to the recall.
"To a shareholder, $300,000 is much better than what the cooperative potentially faced," says Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers dairy chairperson.
"Given the size of negative coverage relating to the non-botulism scare and the dent it put into the coop's reputation, the size of the fine is proportionate.
"Especially given Fonterra did not contest the charges brought by MPI. Even the Crown Prosecutor acknowledges Fonterra has swiftly moved to put its house in order.
"As supplier shareholders and unit holders will ultimately meet the cost of the fine, we are certain Fonterra's management has got the message loud and clear," Leferink says.
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.
Dairy farmers, still holding onto their Fonterra shares despite switching milk supply elsewhere or exiting the industry, now face a stricter share sell-down requirement.
Hamilton-based agritech company Aimer Farming has completed a $3 million capital raise to support its next stage of growth, including a beef farming product due to launch in 2027.
When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.
Nominations are open for the 2027 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year Award.

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