Colin Harvey appointed chair for the Wool Group

Posted in Rural News

Agriculture Minister David Carter welcolmed Colin Harvey into this job, one that many in the sheep industry view as a key to turning around the poor profitability in that sector.

Having an independent chair, but one with a long agricultural history could be important to success.

He starts the job with the product in a strong recent recovery in price, but suffering huge falls in production.

With alternative land uses pressurising sheep returns, Colin Harvey and his group have little time to resurrect this industry.

"Mr Harvey brings to this role strong business acumen and a good understanding of the primary sector. For more than 20 years, he has made a significant contribution to growth and innovation in the animal health industry," said the Agriculture Minister.

"Most importantly, he brings an independent voice to the Wool Group which was tasked with finding a leader from outside the strong wool sector.

"This is vital if the group is to continue the work towards a 'single voice' for the industry, begun under interim chair Dr Murray Horn," says Mr Carter.

"I challenged the group to find the right person for the job and they have now delivered. While this will be no easy task, I am confident Mr Harvey has the right skill set to make the progress needed."

"This is an important step towards getting our strong wool industry back on track and ensuring the viability of sheep farming so it can deliver its true economic potential to New Zealand," says Mr Carter.

We welcome your help to improve our coverage of this issue. Any examples or experiences to relate? Any links to other news, data or research to shed more light on this? Any insight or views on what might happen next or what should happen next? Any errors to correct?

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4 Comments

I cant really see the point.

I cant really see the point. There are just so many vested interests and Turkeys dont  volunteer for xmas. In the real world WPI are putting together a good commercial business plan which I and I hope other wool growers will get behind. Enough talkfests!

Please do not miss the

Please do not miss the point.  "WPI are putting together a good commercial business plan" and you used the word 'hope"

I question the statement???.  Also if the entities involved can be classified "good planners"????

Recent history has proven that they could not function an industry solution, either meat or wool, commercially??

What makes  you think they are capable of working the magic with truck loads of PGF or internal taxing of wool producers???

An independant chair will not make any depth of difference.  Mr Carter should let the cold winds of real time commerce rule and let some of these turkeys follow dear old Allan SCF.

Jinni, I agree "let the cold

Jinni, I agree "let the cold winds of commerce rule". Thats why i,ll be backing WPI. Abacrombie has impressed me, he has a plan and hasnt over promised. Whats your answer? More of the same....surely not?

Abacrombie may be a nice guy

Abacrombie may be a nice guy but that's not the point.

How long has he been drawing his salary from WPI?#### Almost 2 years?

Astute business proposals are usually close to function when public canvas is actioned.  If sound?

Where is the prospectus??

Who has done due diligence on this not over promised plan?

Who is going to pay the established debt thus far???

Surely not the mesmerized loyal? farmers again?

Where is Mother Theresa these days?  Who pays her??

Real time commercial operations are silent and deliver.

Commerce has been functioning and the price of wool has lifted in spite of a rising $

True market share will come with performance.