25 Apr 2009

Driving force in dairy industry honoured

10:45 am on 25 April 2009

Lincoln University has awarded an honorary doctorate to the man credited with being the 'architect of Fonterra' - dairy farmer John Roadley.

In its citation for the Doctor of Commerce degree, the university says Mr Roadley quickly moved to the forefront of dairy farming development after arriving in the South Island in 1980.

He was the principal driving force behind the amalgamation of the co-operative dairies and marketing boards which led to the creation of Fonterra, and served as the company's foundation chairman.

Lincoln University says it publicly applauds Mr Roadley's "vision, energy and effort".

John Roadley says he is proud of his dairying career, though it was sometimes a struggle.

He says despite some issues at present with its capital structure, Fonterra is doing well on the global stage and is a "hugely important company".