Fonterra’s Pierre Venter named next vice chancellor of Massey University
The head of Fonterra's R&D facility in Palmerston North is set to literally cross the road and become the new vice chancellor at Massey University.
Outgoing Zespri chairman Peter McBride and South Canterbury farmer Leonie Guiney have been voted onto Fonterra’s board.
However, a third director couldn’t be elected as the unsuccessful candidates - sitting director Ashley Waugh and Jamie Tuuta and John Nicholls failed to get 50% yes vote among the votes cast.
In accordance with the rules for election of directors, a second election must take place. Details of process and timing will be communicated to shareholders in due course. The board may appoint a director to fill the vacancy until the next election, but may not appoint an unsuccessful candidate.
Outgoing director Nicola Shadbolt could be asked to continue serving on the board until the new election.
McBride lives at Te Puna and has farming interests in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. He has extensive experience in the kiwifruit industry and has recently announced that he will step down as chairman of Zespri in February.
Guiney lives and farms near Fairlie, where she is a director of four dairy farming companies. She previously served on the Fonterra Board from 2014 to 2017.
Guiney’s nomination was supported by farmers and she bypassed the independent nomination process.
The three candidates chosen by the independent nomination process and backed by the board were McBride, Tuuta and Waugh.
With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) has launched the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand with an exclusive pop-up restaurant experience in Shanghai.
Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.

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