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Fran O'Sullivan
Head of Business

Head of Business, NZME

We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Check out Fran’s latest content
Premium
Fran O’Sullivan: Trump's trade vision could cost NZ $750m
Opinion

Fran O’Sullivan: Trump's trade vision could cost NZ $750m

22 Nov 04:00 PM
Premium
Doubling Kiwi exports to grow NZ’s wealth
The Country

Doubling Kiwi exports to grow NZ’s wealth

24 Jul 04:59 PM

NZTE has launched a new global investment drive.

Premium
Agribusiness and Trade: Luxon dubbed NZ’s ‘salesman in chief’
The Country

Agribusiness and Trade: Luxon dubbed NZ’s ‘salesman in chief’

24 Jul 04:59 PM

Business people accompanying Luxon in Tokyo called him 'chief marketing officer'.

Premium
Fran O’Sullivan: Minister scores world trade talks win but tough season looms
Opinion

Fran O’Sullivan: Minister scores world trade talks win but tough season looms

15 Mar 04:00 PM

OPINION: The Minister of Trade has his work cut out in a pivotal US election year.

Premium
NZ on the line in Dubai for COP28
The Country

NZ on the line in Dubai for COP28

08 Nov 03:59 PM

New Zealand political leaders have talked a big game on climate change.

When China sneezes the world (and New Zealand) catch a cold
The Country

When China sneezes the world (and New Zealand) catch a cold

28 Sep 03:59 PM

CEOs and directors respond to the Herald’s 2023 Election Survey.

NZ needs to flourish in international markets, MPI boss says
The Country

NZ needs to flourish in international markets, MPI boss says

16 Aug 04:59 PM

Half NZ's greenhouse gas emissions are from agriculture, here's how we stay in the game.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: How China’s growth story is changing
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: How China’s growth story is changing

24 May 04:59 PM

OPINION: Investors are fuelling up their corporate jets.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: Logging inquiry must be just the first step
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Logging inquiry must be just the first step

24 Feb 04:00 PM

Scale of damage on East Coast demands a Royal Commission.

Premium
NZ's objectives for CPTPP
The Country

NZ's objectives for CPTPP

16 Jan 04:00 PM

Trade ministers from 11 nations will gather in Auckland on Matariki weekend.

Premium
Big trade agenda for Damien O’Connor at Davos
The Country

Big trade agenda for Damien O’Connor at Davos

16 Jan 04:24 AM

The Minister for Trade and Export Growth acknowledges the situation has become dicey.

Premium
Three Waters 'the right thing to do’ - Grant Robertson
The Country

Three Waters 'the right thing to do’ - Grant Robertson

21 Nov 03:59 PM

Government will press ahead with plans for co-governance in Three Waters reforms.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: 'Shameless' PM spruiks NZ
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: 'Shameless' PM spruiks NZ

31 Aug 05:22 AM

OPINION: A jet setting Jacinda Ardern is clocking up the kilometres and trade deals.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: How many eggs fit into a Chinese basket?
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: How many eggs fit into a Chinese basket?

29 Apr 06:29 PM

Questions are again being asked about NZ reliance on giant market.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: NZ-UK free trade deal seen as a down payment
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: NZ-UK free trade deal seen as a down payment

04 Mar 04:00 PM

Britain keen to go further and join the Asia-Pacific region's CPTPP.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: Importance of trade a silver lining from Covid's dark clouds
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Importance of trade a silver lining from Covid's dark clouds

30 Jun 05:00 PM

The pandemic has exposed the need for co-operation on trade matters among countries.

Premium
'We saw China almost stop overnight' - Fonterra boss
The Country

'We saw China almost stop overnight' - Fonterra boss

25 Jun 06:08 PM

In China, the company's food service business effectively dried up through February.

Premium
Agribusiness shining star of the Covid-19 crisis
The Country

Agribusiness shining star of the Covid-19 crisis

25 Jun 04:58 PM

Fran O'Sullivan summarises this year's Agribusiness report.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: Zespri plans legal action over IP theft
The Country

Fran O'Sullivan: Zespri plans legal action over IP theft

19 Nov 06:00 AM

Litigation pending after up to 2500ha of illegal plantings propagated from prime plants.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra's challenge - keeping to its new plan
The Country

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra's challenge - keeping to its new plan

28 Sep 03:00 AM

Board and management will have to do better than they have so far.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: They were CEOs of three huge NZ companies. All foreign, all left under a cloud.
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: They were CEOs of three huge NZ companies. All foreign, all left under a cloud.

14 Aug 06:03 AM

COMMENT: Horrible symmetry in three vaunted arrivals.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: Four choice cuts from red meat talks
The Country

Fran O'Sullivan: Four choice cuts from red meat talks

30 Jul 05:00 PM

Some key takeouts from the Christchurch conference.

Premium
MPI boss outlines priorities amid challenging time for farmers
The Country

MPI boss outlines priorities amid challenging time for farmers

30 Jul 05:00 PM

Ray Smith spoke with Fran O'Sullivan at MPI's Wellington HQ to talk about his focus.

Premium
Fran O'Sullivan: Ardern's line in the sand on FTA with US
The Country

Fran O'Sullivan: Ardern's line in the sand on FTA with US

21 Jul 05:00 PM

Ardern discloses bottom lines after Winston Peters' bold pitch for a bilateral deal.

Parker tells officials to fast track China free trade agreement upgrade
The Country

Parker tells officials to fast track China free trade agreement upgrade

25 Apr 08:05 AM

Progress has been made but certain dairy industry proposals are off the table.

Fonterra resetting its strategy in China
The Country

Fonterra resetting its strategy in China

02 Apr 04:00 PM

Fonterra is putting its China investment setbacks behind it.

Fran O'Sullivan: Chinese relations must get back on track
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Chinese relations must get back on track

12 Feb 04:00 PM

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis should be on the first plane up to China.

Fran O'Sullivan: Brain tumour felled Fonterra's last hands on chairman
The Country

Fran O'Sullivan: Brain tumour felled Fonterra's last hands on chairman

29 Jan 04:00 PM

John Wilson was passionately devoted to Fonterra.

Act now to save the seeds of NZ's future
The Country

Act now to save the seeds of NZ's future

14 Dec 04:00 PM

Selling PGG Wrightson's "crown jewels" is an asset strip of the NZ rural services firm.

Fran O'Sullivan: There's still Miles of work ahead for Fonterra
The Country

Fran O'Sullivan: There's still Miles of work ahead for Fonterra

30 Oct 04:00 PM

Comment: Hurrell is still in the invidious position of being a caretaker CEO.

Why we need grown-ups to lead Fonterra
The Country

Why we need grown-ups to lead Fonterra

17 Aug 05:00 PM

Dairy co-operative's new leaders have a lot of work ahead of them.

Why appointment of Monaghan is a controversial choice
The Country

Why appointment of Monaghan is a controversial choice

27 Jul 05:00 PM

Fonterra's new chairman has many obstacles to navigate.

Sowing new seeds
The Country

Sowing new seeds

18 Jul 05:00 PM

Damien O'Connor is shaking up old thinking on agri-food with his ginger group.

Shining Green light on farms
The Country

Shining Green light on farms

18 Jul 05:00 PM

James Shaw says environmental goals can help foster new innovations for agribusiness.

Fran O'Sullivan: 'Rough' calculations are sobering reading
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: 'Rough' calculations are sobering reading

19 Jun 05:00 PM

COMMENT: The impact of Fonterra and Fletchers on the economy can't be ignored.

O'Sullivan: Ardern's oil ban short-sighted
Opinion

O'Sullivan: Ardern's oil ban short-sighted

17 Apr 05:00 PM

COMMENT: Announcement clearly timed to build up her international reputation.

Fonterra negotiating 'roadblocks' in China
The Country

Fonterra negotiating 'roadblocks' in China

28 Mar 08:18 PM

Fonterra's John Wilson and Theo Spierings talk about their China position.

Fletcher, Fonterra - time to get a grip
Opinion

Fletcher, Fonterra - time to get a grip

09 Feb 04:00 PM

OPINION: Blue-chip duo need to face up to problems at loss-making operations.

Fonterra's China plan far from clear
Opinion

Fonterra's China plan far from clear

02 Feb 04:00 PM

OPINION: Dairy giant risks losing the PR battle over problems at Beingmate.

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra has to face up to debacle at Beingmate
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra has to face up to debacle at Beingmate

26 Jan 04:00 PM

OPINION: Spierings and Wilson will have some tough questions to answer.

Fran O'Sullivan: No TPP glory for Trump
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: No TPP glory for Trump

10 Nov 05:00 PM

OPINION: While US President was flattered, other nations worked on a trade deal.

Fran O'Sullivan: 'Fat cats' in Peters' sights
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: 'Fat cats' in Peters' sights

26 Sep 04:00 PM

COMMENT: So what else is on NZ First's corporate reform agenda?

Come clean on tax? Let's do that
Opinion

Come clean on tax? Let's do that

25 Aug 08:39 PM

COMMENT: Voters deserve better than Labour's 'trust us' approach.

Welcome to the Agribusiness 2017
The Country

Welcome to the Agribusiness 2017

19 Jul 04:00 PM

Agribusiness 2017 covers the latest development in agriculture in the election year.

We're on your side, Nats tell farmers
Opinion

We're on your side, Nats tell farmers

15 Jun 12:00 AM

COMMENT: National is not going to shy away from a fight over polarising issues.

$80k Trump bash is money well spent
Opinion

$80k Trump bash is money well spent

28 Feb 05:37 AM

COMMENT: The $80,000 bill for a Trump Inauguration Gala was money well spent.

Mexico pushes for trade deal with NZ
The Country

Mexico pushes for trade deal with NZ

03 Feb 04:00 PM

Trade Minister Todd McClay will request that talks on a Mexican free trade deal be placed on the agenda when he meets his counterpart in Mexico.

Fran O'Sullivan: Reading between the lines
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Reading between the lines

31 Jan 05:02 PM

It didn't take an Einstein to get who Bill English was really talking about at his Chinese New Year dinner speech, Fran O'Sullivan writes.

Time for English to act on US trade deal
Opinion

Time for English to act on US trade deal

24 Jan 04:24 AM

COMMENT: Bill English should act sooner rather than later if he wants to get a bilateral trade deal with the US on the table, Fran O'Sullivan writes.

Fran O'Sullivan: Don't get down about Trump
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Don't get down about Trump

04 Dec 01:30 AM

COMMENT: John Key tries to smooth fears of a rising tide of US protectionism.

Good news for cash-strapped farmers
The Country

Good news for cash-strapped farmers

17 Nov 07:43 PM

Fonterra today increased its 2016/17 forecast Farmgate Milk Price by 75 cents to $6.00 per kgMS.

Fran O'Sullivan: Trump good news?
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Trump good news?

11 Nov 04:00 PM

COMMENT: There is a distinct possibility that Donald Trump's presidency may turn out to be good for business.

Ministers were played over Saudi sheep
Opinion

Ministers were played over Saudi sheep

06 Nov 07:57 AM

COMMENT: Auditor-General's findings are a scathing assessment of the lack of transparency, Fran O'Sullivan writes.

Fraud exposes Fonterra's supply chain
Opinion

Fraud exposes Fonterra's supply chain

25 Oct 04:00 PM

COMMENT: My lunch guest was the alleged fraudster at the heart of the expired milk products scam, Fran O'Sullivan writes.

Fran O'Sullivan: TPP hot topic on political agenda
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: TPP hot topic on political agenda

29 Sep 05:28 PM

COMMENT: Trump has turned international trade into a political minefield with his opposition to agreements like the TPP.

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra emerging from long winter
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra emerging from long winter

23 Sep 05:00 PM

COMMENT: It is still too early for Fonterra's top brass to perform a victory roll.

O'Sullivan: NZ refuses to learn lessons of failure
Opinion

O'Sullivan: NZ refuses to learn lessons of failure

09 Sep 05:00 PM

COMMENT: Aussies don't muck about when it comes to probing the cause of high-profile collapses - neither should we.

Bankers anxiously awaiting Fonterra's financial results
Opinion

Bankers anxiously awaiting Fonterra's financial results

31 Aug 05:00 PM

There's a lot riding on Fonterra's financial results due out on September 22.

Fonterra on the eve of disruption
The Country

Fonterra on the eve of disruption

31 Aug 04:00 AM

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings' challenge 'build windmills not walls' is galvanising the dairy co-operative.

Managing risk key to dairy farming future
The Country

Managing risk key to dairy farming future

30 Aug 03:00 PM

The current damaging period of low dairy incomes requires careful management, says Mark Hiddleston.

Fonterra raring to shake supply shackles
Opinion

Fonterra raring to shake supply shackles

23 Aug 05:00 PM

COMMENT: Growing competition in NZ dairy market means time is right to adopt growth focus.

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra makes the right call
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra makes the right call

22 Mar 09:20 PM

COMMENT: Fonterra has made the right call by accelerating dividend payments instead of extending its dairy farmer shareholders loan package, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Five key questions for Fonterra
Dairy

Five key questions for Fonterra

20 Mar 04:00 PM

Fonterra will unveil a strong half-year financial result on Wednesday, but this will not mute the criticism that has emerged.

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra departee delivers final offering
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra departee delivers final offering

15 Mar 04:00 PM

COMMENT: Next Wednesday will be another major milestone in the NZ dairy industry. Dairy giant Fonterra will unveil its latest results.

Fran O'Sullivan: Questions get even harder for milk giant
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Questions get even harder for milk giant

08 Mar 07:30 PM

It is incomprehensible Fonterra's board could have persistently got it so wrong.

Fran O'Sullivan: Time for serious rethink on dairy
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Time for serious rethink on dairy

11 Feb 12:32 AM

It is time for the industry and the politicians to take off their rose-tinted glasses and do some hard-thinking about our major goods export industry, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Legal challenge of Lochinver decision
Opinion

Legal challenge of Lochinver decision

16 Oct 08:00 PM

It was a big call for Chinese billionaire Jiang Zhaobai to seek a judicial review of the NZ Government's decision to veto a $88 million bid by one of his companies to buy Lochinver station.

Fran O'Sullivan: TPP needs own investment
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: TPP needs own investment

09 Oct 03:30 PM

Tim Groser has a sales job in front of him after the Trans-Pacific Partnership kept the doors open wide to foreign investment in Auckland's red hot housing market.

Fran O'Sullivan: TPP stepping stone to giant Asia-Pacific deal
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: TPP stepping stone to giant Asia-Pacific deal

06 Oct 06:30 PM

FRAN O'SULLIVAN: Geneva has the WTO. Brussels hosts the European Union. Will the Trans-Pacific Partnership put Auckland on the map?

Fran O'Sullivan: TPP deal - Tim Groser puts foie gras on dead rats
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: TPP deal - Tim Groser puts foie gras on dead rats

05 Oct 05:06 PM

OPINION: Trade Minister conceded a few nasty points but his brinksmanship in TPP negotiations allows him to stare down critics, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Fran O'Sullivan: Equality sets top table of Silver Fern Farm's joint venture
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Equality sets top table of Silver Fern Farm's joint venture

02 Oct 04:00 PM

Recapitalised meat processor's two chairmen hen Wei Ping and Rob Hewett will bring different values to Silver Fern Farms.

Fran O'Sullivan: Dairy at risk, China free trade deal updated
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Dairy at risk, China free trade deal updated

25 Sep 09:30 PM

China is poised to upgrade its ground-breaking free trade agreement with NZ but becoming in favour of NZ's dairy exporters will be problematic.

Govt scuttles $71m China farm sale
The Country

Govt scuttles $71m China farm sale

16 Sep 05:00 PM

Ministers turn down bid by Chinese billionaire Jiang Zhaobai to buy the Lochinver Station.

Bright Food tipped as Silver Fern bidder
The Country

Bright Food tipped as Silver Fern bidder

06 Sep 09:00 PM

China government backed Bright Food is understood to be the party in talks to take a stake in Silver Fern Farms.

Fran O'Sullivan: Landcorp has better options
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Landcorp has better options

18 Aug 09:28 PM

Landcorp should be lined up for a partial privatisation to inject new private capital into the company instead of selling off farm assets at the bottom of the dairy cycle, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Fran O'Sullivan: Interest-free loans softens payout hit
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Interest-free loans softens payout hit

07 Aug 05:00 PM

Much of the available loans it will offer will likely pass straight to banks to meet debt-servicing costs, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra chairman a force at TPP talks
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Fonterra chairman a force at TPP talks

04 Aug 09:40 PM

Fonterra chairman John Wilson's verbal sharp-shooting skills were put to good effect at the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) ministerial negotiations in Maui.

Fonterra should look at options
Opinion

Fonterra should look at options

29 Jul 05:00 PM

Is Fonterra on the right track? Or is it time for Plan B? Plan B would result in the company being split into a basic commodity player focused on growing the milk price.

Fran O'Sullivan: Kiwis the TPP deal-fixers
Opinion

Fran O'Sullivan: Kiwis the TPP deal-fixers

28 Jul 08:00 PM

Playing the TPP soft cop cannot be allowed to blind Groser and his senior negotiators to NZ's own interests.

TPP's soft cop has hard deals to make
Dairy

TPP's soft cop has hard deals to make

26 Jul 05:00 PM

Trade Minister Tim Groser and Deputy US Trade Representative Wendy Cutler got into Hawaii early last weekend to set the scene for a high-powered ministerial meeting to thrash out the bones of the....

Norgate - visionary deal-maker
Opinion

Norgate - visionary deal-maker

07 Jul 10:15 PM

Fran O'Sullivan reflects on Craig Norgate - a man with much more to him than mere business.

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