New DairyNZ Chief Executive Campbell Parker Has Hit The Ground Running Experiencing His First Annual Meeting As CEO Last Week

New DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker has hit the ground running experiencing his first annual meeting as CEO last week, and with chair Jim van der Poel re-elected to the board. Campbell Parker says DairyNZ’s priorities are the same as they have always been – giving farmers the tools and support they need to succeed on farm and advocating on their behalf in Wellington. He has also echoed the words of Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland that the three industry groups – Feds, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ – need to work together to advance farmers’ interests. He says they also need to be conscious that they represent 11,000 dairy farmers and they won’t always agree and that’s actually okay as well. Campbell Parker says the industry has a history of being cyclical but it’s some of the newer entrants to the industry or new farm owners that probably need more help around that space particularly if they have higher debt loading.