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 chief executive Miles Hurrell says the popular Open Gates initiative is likely to go bigger next year.
On Sunday, November 10 about 7000 people flocked to 13 farms NZ-wide to see how a typical dairy farm operates.
Hurrell, who spent over two hours at Brad and Ellie Cockrell’s farm at Mercer, says he was a bit surprised by the uptake.
He told Rural News that all farms except one were sold out days before the event.
“It’s a bit hard to get more farms come on in the last minute. Given the overwhelming support, early indications are that we’re going to go bigger next year.”
Hurrell says it was great to see people given the opportunity to look at all aspects of dairy farming, to live and breathe the rural sector for a few hours.
While mingling with visitors at the Stewarts’ farm, Hurrell picked up questions on water quality and animal welfare.
He praised Brad Cockrell, a second generation farmer, for doing a great job on the farm.
The Cockerill’s milk 920 cows and are both passionate about caring for their animals and looking after the land.
Brad says they see themselves as the custodians of the land, rather than the owners.
“As a New Zealander and father of four, I’m committed to looking after the land and waterways on their farm.”
The Cockerill’s have planted several thousand natives across the farm in addition to a protected original bush block, next to the farm dairy.
A Fonterra spokesman says it planned for 14 farms to open, but poor weather forced cancellation of the Tauranga event.
“We know the wet weather across New Zealand would’ve put off a few people, but in the end we still had a good turnout with around 7000 people attending the 13 farms,” he told Rural News.
“The whole country cares about what’s happening with our environment, including us.
Fonterra says Open Gates is showing communities what its farmers are doing to help look after the land, waterways and their animals, while also providing a fun family day out on farm.
“Visitors got to see where their milk comes from, chat to our farmers about work being done on farm and sample some of our delicious products.”
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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