Council Elections Open Next Week

Nominations For Fonterra Shareholders’ Council Elections Open Next Week

Nominations open on Monday 29 January for Fonterra Shareholders’ Council 2007 elections.

In March 2007, the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council’s new structure will come into effect. This will increase the number of Council wards from 25 to 35. It will also see a move to one Councillor per ward, resulting in a reduction in the current number of Councillors from 46 to 35.

Nominations for a Council representative in all 35 wards must be received by the Returning Officer, Warwick Lampp of electionz.com, by 12 noon on Monday, 12 February 2007. Nominations can be free faxed to 0508 666 447 or mailed to the Returning Officer, P O Box 3138, Christchurch 8140.

Fonterra shareholders, or a shareholder of a company or member of a partnership or entity that is a Fonterra shareholder, are eligible to seek election to the Shareholders’ Council. Candidates do not have to live in the ward they seek to represent, but must be nominated and seconded by shareholders from that ward.

Nomination forms and Candidate Information Packs are available from the Returning Officer by calling the Election Hotline on free phone 0508 666 446.

All incumbent Councillors are eligible for re-election, however 15 of the current 46 Councillors have advised the Returning Officer that they will not be standing in 2007.

These include the Shareholders’ Council’s current Chairman John Monaghan from the Wairarapa who is retiring. Other retiring Councillors are Stuart Muir, Robyn Clements, Allan Crafar, Trish Pamment, Philip White, David Gasquoine, Tony Sclater, John Bubb, Barbara Kuriger, Bill Gribble, Dave Hopkins, Dean Nikora, Mike Elliot, and Russell Falconer.

Thirty-one Councillors have advised the Returning Officer that they will be standing for election in the following new wards.

The voting period is from Wednesday, 28 February until 12 noon on Thursday, 22 March 2007. Results will be announced on Thursday, 22 March 2007.

The Councillors elected in March 2007 will serve for at least 18 months, as there will be no retirement by rotation at the 2007 Annual Meeting. Shareholders’ Council elections will return to the rotational cycle, where an election is held in every third ward every three years, at the 2008 Fonterra Annual Meeting.

The Shareholders’ Council has advised Fonterra farmers of the new wards their farms are in.

ENDS

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