2013 Agri Business Person & Agri Personality named

MEDIA RELEASE

4 July 2013

2013 Agri Business Person & Agri Personality named

Named during the gala Vodafone/Federated Farmers Cream of the Crop Awards, being held this year in Ashburton, the 2013 Allflex Agri Business Person is Kingi Smiler, Chairman of the Wairarapa Moana Incorporation.  The 2013 Agri Business Person is former Fonterra Cooperative Group Chairman, Sir Henry van der Heyden. 

“We are honoured to have the support of Vodafone and Allflex for our 2013 National Awards,” says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President.

“The Vodafone/Federated Farmers Cream of the Crop is totally unique in that we assemble almost all of agriculture’s major award winners over 2012/13 under the same roof.

“The fact that Vodafone Chief Executive Russell Stanners cut short international commitments to be in Ashburton really rams home the significance of this evening.   He was joined by some of Vodafone’s key rurally focused people to celebrate a great night for New Zealand farming.

“The first of Federated Farmers awards to be announced was our own Agri Personality of the Year.  This is to recognise the one outstanding personality who, over 2012/13, has influenced New Zealand farming.

“When the Board met to decide the award, Sir Henry van der Heyden was easily the one person who truly stood out over the past 12-months.  While he has left Fonterra his influence and mana has not diminished.

“The final award of the evening was the key Allflex Agri Business Person of the Year. 

“For this award we assembled an independent panel to review the shortlist.  That shortlist was made up of Landcorp’s Chris Kelly, Wairarapa Moana Incorporation/Miraka Chairman Kingi Smiler and Dr John Baker ONZM, of Baker No-Tillage.

“It was a tough decision but Kingi Smiler’s gifted business leadership of Wairarapa Moana Incorporation, a founding shareholder in Māori Dairy Company Miraka Limited, saw him emerge as first among equals.

“Kingi is simply put an outstanding business person, being a former partner in Ernst & Young and holding directorship across the agribusiness sphere.  He is the chairman of Tairawhiti Land Development Trust and is currently a director of Mangatu Incorporation, the Wi Pere Trust and Wellington Rugby Union.
“If that is not enough he has also completed 19 Ironman competitions.

“Federated Farmers warmly appreciates the support of Vodafone and Allflex in helping us recognise exceptional farmers and exceptional New Zealanders,” Mr Wills concluded.

ENDS

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