Colin Bull, Auckland Provincial President, and John Aspinall, South Island High Country Committee, were elected unopposed to the Federated Farmers of New Zealand National Board at the Federation's National Conference in Rotorua this week.

Colin Bull is a dairy farmer from Clevedon, who has experience in the poultry, pig, market gardening and kiwifruits industries. Colin and his wife Gwen have been members of Federated Farmers since 1972. Mr Bull has represented the Federation as Clevedon Branch Secretary 1991-93, Franklin District Chairman 1993-1999, and Auckland President since 1997.

Mr Bull replaces Roger Barton, who recently stood down as Wairarapa Provincial President.

John Aspinall is returning for his second term on the National Board. John farms with his wife Sue at Mt Aspiring Station. Mr Aspinall chairs the Hieracium Control Trust and previously chaired the South Island High Country Committee from 1996-99. He has been involved in the Young Farmers Club, and has been member of the Otago Executive since 1986.

As previously advised FFNZ President Alistair Polson and Vice President Tom Lambie were also returned unopposed.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>