Fonterra realigns management ahead of consumer business divestment, mixed results for rural science teams in government’s Callaghan Innovation decision, and young leaders from sheep and seafood sectors triumph in Zanda McDonald Awards.

Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather!

 

Fonterra realigns management ahead of consumer business divestment

Fonterra has restructured its senior management team as it prepares for its consumer business divestment. CEO Miles Hurrell announced the changes aimed at strengthening the co-op's global foodservice and ingredients businesses.

Richard Allen will expand his role as president of global ingredients to include Fonterra's ingredients business in Greater China and Middle East Africa. Allen, who joined the management team in August, previously led the Atlantic business before taking responsibility for ingredients across North America, North Asia, Asia Pacific and Europe.

Shanghai-based Teh-han Chow will now lead the global foodservice business, with his responsibilities growing to include Fonterra's foodservice operations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and other markets, while continuing as chief executive for Greater China. 

Australia-based René Dedoncker's title will change from managing director global markets consumer and foodservice to managing director global markets consumer. Dedoncker was recently named chief executive-elect for Mainland Group if it proceeds with a listing rather than a trade sale. He and proposed CFO Paul Victor are currently meeting with potential investor groups to gauge interest.

Hurrell says the restructure will enable teams to have a clear end-to-end view of their channels, strengthening their ability to deliver greater value to farmer shareholders as the co-op moves forward with its consumer business divestment. The changes also include Matt Bolger returning to replace Mike Cronin as managing director of co-operative affairs, with Cronin now serving as MD of M&A and Strategic Divestments until the divestment process concludes.

 

Mixed results for rural science teams in government’s Callaghan Innovation decision

Rural science teams at Callaghan Innovation have received mixed news with Science Minister Dr Shane Reti extending funding for biotechnology specialists while leaving applied technology researchers in limbo. The announcement provides certainty for some but leaves others questioning their future in New Zealand's agricultural research sector.

Five biotechnology teams will now have their funding extended for two years and will transfer to the new Bioeconomy Public Research Organisation. This decision saves approximately 40 skilled jobs previously targeted for redundancy according to figures obtained by the Public Service Association. PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons welcomed the move, saying the expertise has great value to New Zealand's primary industries and rural communities.

However, applied technology teams at Callaghan have only received a three-month funding extension with no permanent home identified. Around 30 science and research staff with skills critical to driving rural economic growth remain at risk of being lost to overseas competitors. Other functions including the commercialisation team, R&D Solution Specialists, IT, administration, and the Māori Innovation Team also face uncertain futures despite their importance to rural innovation.

The Minister's announcement also outlined plans to merge several Crown Research Institutes ahead of establishing new Public Research Organisations. GNS and NIWA will combine before forming the Earth Sciences PRO, while Scion, Manaaki Whenua, AgResearch and Plant and Food Research will merge before establishing the Bioeconomy PRO. These new organisations are scheduled to launch on October 1st.

Fitzsimons expressed concern about the government's approach, describing it as clumsy with job cuts announced before the science system reform plan was finalized. She warned hundreds of redundancies at Callaghan Innovation could still occur before year's end, potentially impacting research programs vital to New Zealand's agricultural and primary industries.

 

Rural copper network faces deregulation while industry group raises concerns

The Commerce Commission is seeking feedback on its draft recommendation to remove access regulation from Chorus' copper network in rural areas outside the national fibre footprint.

The regulation has already been removed in urban areas, and Telecommunications Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson believes it's time to extend this to rural regions.

Gilbertson maintains most rural consumers now have access to three alternative technologies that often deliver more reliable and affordable service than copper. Rural customers have been migrating from copper in significant numbers, creating what the Commission sees as sufficient competitive constraint to justify removing regulation.

If adopted by the Minister for Media and Communications, Chorus would be allowed to begin withdrawing copper services still used by consumers who haven't yet switched to alternatives. Gilbertson emphasizes the importance of implementing a managed withdrawal process similar to the Copper Withdrawal Code used in urban areas.

Technology Users Association (TUANZ) CEO Craig Young acknowledges the need to transition away from legacy networks but expresses concern about impacts on rural users, especially as they already face the 3G mobile network shutdown this year.

Young says TUANZ is ready to collaborate to ensure the right approach, noting this will be a key topic at their upcoming Connecting Aotearoa Summit in May.

The Commission is accepting public submissions until April 9, followed by cross-submissions until May 5.

 

Young leaders from sheep and seafood sectors triumph in Zanda McDonald Awards

A mussel farmer and a sheep producer have claimed the prestigious 2025 Zanda McDonald Award, marking a significant milestone for diversity in agricultural leadership recognition.

Marlborough's Maegen Blom has made history as the first aquaculture representative to receive the transtasman rural leadership honour. The 24-year-old Mills Bay Mussels operations manager oversees the family business supplying Greenshell mussels throughout New Zealand while also driving industry connections as founding member of Young Fish NZ.

On the Australian side, Jack O'Connor from Harden, NSW earned recognition for his forward-thinking approach to farming. The 32-year-old manages multiple aspects of his family's Oxton Park enterprise, bringing innovation through his work in genetics, animal welfare, renewable energy integration and carbon accounting across their cropping, wool and prime lamb operation.

The award, established eleven years ago to boost young agricultural careers, provides winners with tailored development opportunities including mentorship from industry leaders. Both recipients emerged from a strong field of finalists spanning diverse agricultural sectors across Australia and New Zealand.

 

24-year-old sharemilkers claim top Auckland/Hauraki dairy honours

Brad and Courtney Edwards have been named Auckland/Hauraki Share Farmers of the Year. The couple received the award at the regional Dairy Industry Awards dinner held at Thames Civic Centre this week.

The Edwards are 50/50 sharemilking for Maureen Martinovich on her 90-hectare, 240-cow Ngatea property. After placing as runners-up in the same category last year, the young couple made significant improvements to their business through benchmarking against others using Dairybase. They secured $11,975 in prizes along with six merit awards.

Steven Pratt took out the region's Dairy Manager of the Year title, plus three merit awards. Runner-up Owen Clifford and third-place Satbeer Singh Sandhu rounded out the manager category.

In the Dairy Trainee section, Caitlin Snodgrass claimed top honours and two merit awards after finishing as runner-up last year. 

The Auckland/Hauraki field day will be held March 26th at 10:30am near Morrinsville, offering farmers the opportunity to learn from the winners' operations and management approaches.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.