Tuesday, 14 January 2020 08:55

Fonterra pioneer expects much better

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

One of the architects of Fonterra says he’s very disappointed with the co-op’s performance over the years.

Tirau farmer, Tony Wilding says farmers expected better when they formed the co-op in 2001.

“It’s not the performance we had in mind when we formed Fonterra,” he told Rural News.

Wilding received a New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s honours list for his contribution to the dairy sector and community.

Read: Dairy leader’s award richly deserved.

He was part of the negotiation team that merged Kiwi Cooperative Dairies and New Zealand Dairy Group, with the New Zealand Dairy Board to form Fonterra.


Tony Wilding.

With the negotiations tying up then NZDG chairman Henry van der Heyden and his deputy John Roadley for months, Wilding stepped up to serve as NZDG’s acting deputy chair. Despite his criticism Wilding fully supports Fonterra, pointing out he’s happy with the shift in strategy.

Wilding is also happy that “the days of hiring high-flying overseas CEO” are over.

He fully supports the appointment of New Zealander Miles Hurrell as chief executive last year.

“There is nothing wrong with us, Kiwis”.

More like this

New UHT plant construction starts

Construction is underway at Fonterra’s new UHT cream plant at Edendale, Southland following a groundbreaking ceremony recently.

Synlait lifts milk price to $10

Canterbury milk processor Synlait Milk has lifted its forecast base milk price for the season by 50c to $10/kgMS.

Fonterra's $64m investment to cut emissions by 9%

Fonterra is set to convert two coal boilers to wood pellets at its Clandeboye site in South Canterbury, a crucial step in Fonterra's commitment to exit coal by 2037.

Chilled milk partnership

Last month marked one year since the launch of an innovative collaboration known as the PAUS Programme (Pay- As-You-Save), which has made it easier for Fonterra farmers to access next generation milk chilling technology.

Fonterra ‘on track’ to meeting climate change, coal targets

Fonterra says it remains on track to meet its climate targets and be coal free in its North Island manufacturing.

Featured

Temptation Valley makes a splash

Later this month, Ardgour Valley Orchards apricots will burst onto the world stage and domestic supermarket shelves under the Temptation Valley brand.

PETA wants web cams in shearing sheds

Animal rights protest group PETA is calling for Agriculture Minister Todd McClay to introduce legislation which would make it mandatory to have live-streaming web cameras in all New Zealand shearing shed.

'End red tape'

ACT MP and farmer Mark Cameron is calling on Parliament to thank farmers by reinstating provisions within the Resource Management Act that prevent regional councils from factoring climate change into their planning.

Fires restricted in Waikato and Northland

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) has declared restricted fire seasons for the Waikato, Northland and Canterbury.

Mixed results on GDT

The first Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction drew mixed results, with drop in powder prices and lift in butter and cheeses.

'Give hunters a say on conservation' - ACT

ACT Party conservation spokesperson Cameron Luxton is calling for legislation that would ensure hunters and fishers have representation on the Conservation Authority.