FONTERRA IS on the slippery slope towards demutualisation and a board “update” on the cause, the Trading Among Farmers proposal, yet again failed to recognise this, says one of a growing number of shareholders calling for a second vote on the proposal.

ALLIANCE GROUP has a new face at the board table: Maniototo farmer Dawn Sangster.

New Zealand’s competitive advantage as the world’s largest and most efficient producer of velvet is being frittered away by market ill discipline and an obsession with competition at the farm-gate, says a producer-owned co-operative.

Lincoln University appears to be running the gauntlet of a green-lobby backlash by awarding an international alumni medal to a palm oil company chief executive.

HELP IS needed to pack and distribute food hampers to agencies working with Christchurch’s most vulnerable people in what Federated Farmers says will be the Farmy Army’s last operation.

For a man who co-founded the world's largest wine competition, Charles Metcalfe had a relatively easy task at hand as part of the senior judging panel at this year's Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

If there is one man in the country that knows all there is to know about the Air New Zealand Wine Show – it's Mark Compton, who has been involved for every one of the past 25 years. He was an Associate Judge back in 1987 and 25 years later, he is still there as Chief Steward.

The New Zealand Dollar has been New Zealand's domestic currency since a switch from the Pound in July 1967. Initially its value was pegged to the movements of the US Dollar; however on the 4th March 1985 the Kiwi was set free and entered the open market at a value of 0.4444.

While no figures are available in New Zealand, the cost of vine trunk disease in California alone is estimated at US$260 million a year. Given diseases such as Eutypa Dieback and Botryospaeria are found throughout New Zealand, it is reasonable to assume that the diseases are equally costly to our industry.

It has become a tradition established by Terry Dunleavy, to honour someone or something within the wine indsutry for their commitment and dedication to the betterment of New Zealand Wine.