# Fonterra Sees Strong Future for Christchurch

NEW ZEALAND – In welcoming the Government and Christchurch City Council’s Christchurch Central Recovery Plan to rebuild the city’s central business district, Fonterra says the move will help get businesses in Canterbury back on track.
Fonterra Chief Executive Theo Spierings says the plan, with overwhelming public and political support, will go a long way towards providing the necessary infrastructure and certainty about the future that businesses are looking for.
“Fonterra is absolutely committed to investing in Canterbury – one of the fastest growing regions of New Zealand – and we see the announcement as very positive steps forward, which will provide the momentum for businesses to re-establish or grow their operations in the Christchurch area,” he says.
Fonterra sees a strong future for Christchurch and the Canterbury region, and has invested $200 million in a new milk processing site at Darfield in Central Canterbury.
“Our new site is due to take its first milk in mid-August and plans are already underway for stage two which will see another NZ$300 million invested in the region,” says Mr Spierings.
“The investment in Darfied has created 60 new positions and is an important development for the region and the wider rebuild of Canterbury.
“Another 50 jobs will be created as part of stage two, which will see Canterbury become home to the world’s biggest and most efficient milk powder drier, capable of producing 30 metric tonnes per hour,” says Mr Spierings.
“Three-quarters of the new jobs at the new site have been filled by local people from the Canterbury region, many of them affected by the Christchurch earthquakes. Having a CBD will help companies like Fonterra attract and retain skilled workers and this will be important for both the regional and national economies.”
To date, the Co-operative, its 16,800 staff and 10,500 have donated a total of $6 million to the people of Christchurch through the Fonterra Earthquake Relief Fund and the New Zealand Red Cross.
“We have been behind the people of Christchurch since day one. We launched the Fund to enable our farmer-shareholders and staff to make personal donations, which the Co-operative matched dollar-for-dollar,” says Mr Spierings.
TheCattleSite News Desk