Misguided campaign
OPINION: Last week, Greenpeace lit up Fonterra's Auckland headquarters with 'messages from the common people' - that the sector is polluting the environment.
Fonterra says it has some reservations about the Government’s consultation document on agricultural emissions.
Fonterra chairman Peter McBride had told co-op shareholders that the Government proposal creates “an imbalance within the sector”.
McBride sent an email to shareholders after addressing a primary production select committee in Parliament this morning.
He told Fonterra farmers that Fonterra supports the intent of He Waka Eke Noa – a partnership of 13 members of the agriculture industry, including DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb NZ.
“It clearly aligns with our strategy of focusing on sustainable New Zealand milk.
“The Government has adopted some of the principles the HWEN partnership recommended, but its proposal differs on a number of key points.
“The primary sector worked on HWEN as a total package, to achieve equity on emissions reductions and pricing.
“The Government’s changes now create an imbalance within the sector that needs to be addressed during consultation.”
McBride says Fonterra will be seeking changes on these issues and working with DairyNZ to support farmers to engage in the process.
“It’s important that the final package works for the primary sector as a collective, so all voices need to be heard during the consultation process over the next six weeks.
“This is not a simple issue, and we acknowledge the unease it is creating in our rural communities.”
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.
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