By PHILIPPA STEVENSON and NZPA
Nominations close for the first election of Fonterra farmer directors next week.
Voting will be held in May.
The three sitting directors up for re-election - the first of an annual rotation but for this first election chosen by ballot - are deputy chairman Greg Gent, Earl Rattray
and Gerard Lynch.
Fonterra last week sent shareholders information packs on the director elections, and those in 10 wards of the company's Shareholders Council. A casual vacancy in the Te Aroha ward meant one more election to the council than expected.
Nominations close on March 28 and voting, using the single transferable vote system will run from April 30 to May 17 with results finalised on May 31.
A council committee chose the voting system as a fairer and more effective system for electing multiple candidates. It effectively ensures candidates can be elected only with the support of 50 per cent of voters.
Local Government Minister Sandra Lee - who has backed the single transferable vote as a possible way to boost turnout in local body elections - said the Fonterra elections would be closely watched. "The outcome of Fonterra's voting ... will be helpful in highlighting the merits of this voting system," she said.
The council elections are in Northern Northland, South Auckland, Otorohanga, South Waikato, Te Aroha, Hauraki, Central Taranaki, Wairarapa, Canterbury North, and South Central/Western Southland.
