Ah Tatua, You've Done It Again!
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
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.
The potato industry is celebrating the success of two rising stars - James Blair, the 2026 Young Grower of the Year and runner-up and innovation award winner, Amber Davy.
Twenty-eight emerging leaders from across the horticulture sector spent two days last month learning valuable skills and connecting with industry experts.
There are five entrants in this year’s Young Horticulturist of the Year, competing in a series of technical, practical, business and leadership challenges.
A seasoned horticulturist has been appointed to deliver the Apple Action Plan, a key initiative of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
New Zealand's citrus growers have been told to compete on the value built into their fruit rather than the volume they grow.
Hawke's Bay fruit growers are being reminded of the need to prepare for whatever the El Niño weather system may bring in the coming months.

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