increase font size
Federated Farmers 2013 Allflex Agri Business Person is Kingi Smiler, chairman of the Wairarapa Moana Inc. The 2013 Agri Personality is former Fonterra cooperative group chairman, Sir Henry van der Heyden.
They were named in the Vodafone/Federated Farmers Cream of the Crop Awards at the Feds' annual conference in Ashburton.
President Bruce Wills says for the Agri Personality of the Year van der Heyden was easily the one person who truly stood out over the past 12 months. While he has left Fonterra his influence and mana has not diminished, he says.
The shortlist for the Allflex Agri Business Person of the Year included Landcorp's Chris Kelly, Wairarapa Moana Inc/Miraka chairman Kingi Smiler and Dr John Baker, of Baker No-Tillage.
"It was a tough decision but Kingi Smiler's gifted business leadership of Wairarapa Moana Inc, a founding shareholder in Māori Dairy Company Miraka Ltd, saw him emerge as first among equals.
"Kingi is simply put an outstanding business person, being a former partner in Ernst & Young and holding directorship across the agribusiness sphere. He is the chairman of Tairawhiti Land Development Trust and is currently a director of Mangatu Inc, the Wi Pere Trust and Wellington Rugby Union.
"If that is not enough he has also completed 19 Ironman competitions," says Wills.
OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
Farmers want the Government to scrap controversial freshwater rules that "put river spirits and ideology ahead of practical water use", says Federated Farmers board member Mark Hooper.
Listed rural trader PGG Wrightson chair Garry Moore and his deputy Sarah Brown have been voted out by shareholders.
It was love that first led Leah Prankerd to dairying.
DairyNZ has appointed Dr Jenny Jago to a newly created leadership team role - science partnerships & impact advisor - as part of a strategic refresh of the organisation's science leadership.
OPINION: Public pressure has led to Canterbury Police rightly rolling back its proposed restructure that would have seen several rural police stations closed in favour of centralised hubs.
When I interview Rachel Cox, she is driving - on her way to her next meeting.
With Fonterra's UHT plant at its Edendale site less than a year from completion, demand continues to grow for products the plant will produce, such as Anchor Whipping Cream.
