Fonterra board candidates off to face farmers

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON

Candidates for three seats on the Fonterra board will face farmer electors at meetings in Te Awamutu and Rotorua today.

The 13 nationwide meetings began in Whangarei last Thursday and will finish in Nelson on Friday as the eight candidates canvas votes from about 13,000 shareholders. They are closed to the public and media.

Candidates are sitting directors Greg Gent, Earl Rattray and Gerard Lynch, and newcomers Philip van der Bijl, Malcolm Bailey, Jim van der Poel, David Graham and Colin Holmes. Postal voting runs until May 17, and appointments are expected by the end of the month.