Winston's crusade
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer and associated businesses.
FORMER FONTERRA director Greg Gent has been elected to the board of Southern Cross Medical Care Society, New Zealand’s largest health insurer with around 830,000 members.
Gent retired from Fonterra’s board at November’s annual meeting after ten years on the cooperative’s top table.
Southern Cross says Gent has a strong record of governance experience in mutual/co-operative businesses, insurance and health, currently chairing Farmers Mutual Group and sitting on the Northland District Health Board.
“Greg will be a very valuable addition to the Board,” says Southern Cross chairman Graeme Hawkins.
“His combination of experience, particularly in the governance of large, complex mutual businesses, aligns very well with the needs of Southern Cross.”
Gent replaces Mark Verbiest, who retired from Southern Cross to focus on his new role as Chair of Telecom.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.

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