Dannevirke: History revered as dairy giant opens plant

Malcolm Pettman, the first general manager of the then Tui Dairy Company, which opened on the Mangamutu site at Pahiatua in 1976, at the opening of the new P3 plant last Friday. Photo / Christine McKAy

Dairying in the Tararua is about families, Bill Boakes, the operations manager at Fonterra's Pahiatua plant said introducing Fonterra director and third-generation Eketahuna farmer John Monaghan last Friday.

And, while Mr Monaghan acknowledged the unique contribution the Monaghan family has made to our community, he applauded Malcolm Pettman, the original general manager of the Tui Dairy Company, Russell Jones and Paul Bailey, the chairman of Tui in the 1980s.

"The Monaghans have been in Eketahuna for 110 years and my father performed the opening ceremony when this plant originally opened 40 years ago," Mr Monaghan said.

The decision to build the $6 million plant at Pahiatua in 1975 came after directors of the Tui Dairy Company looked at Woodville and Eketahuna before deciding on Pahiatua. "This town had a strong community, water and a railhead and we've got to acknowledge the vision, trust and confidence those early leaders put into the industry.

"This is an industry run by those wearing gumboots and it's something to be proud of."

Mr Monaghan also reflected on the so-called words of wisdom of politician at the time, Trevor de Cleene.

"He said dairying was a sunset industry and we would all be better to plant shelter belts."

But times have changed, Mr Monaghan said, recalling how at 19 he told his father he didn't want to be spending his time attending dairy meetings.

"In those days, the average herd was 100 cows and we talked about butter fat. In fact, my father was known as Butterfat Jack. The average production was 250 to 270kg and now we're averaging 400kg of milk solids. Key people made Tui Dairy successful and, although we're now an international company, we're still local. Tui Dairy and Tui Milk Products have gone to history, but we still do the same business. Around the globe Fonterra is revered and I look forward to the company being revered here at home."

While last Friday was an important day in the economy of our district, it also marked a milestone for the Monaghan family, as Mr Monaghan and his wife Sarah left Eketahuna for pastures new.