Coming back to Farmers Fertiliser, he was sent to Whangarei as a plant chemist, transferred to its Morrinsville operation in the early 1980s for two years, then returned to Auckland. But by the mid-1980s, the fertiliser industry was entering into a period of major restructuring and consolidation of regional co-operatives following a cut in government subsidies.
Mr de Vere was posted back to the Whangarei operations as site manager. Fernz Corporation, which owned Farmers Fertiliser, took a shareholding in BOP Fertiliser through a merger in 1987, which saw the Tauranga company with 60 per cent and Fernz with a 40 per cent stake. BOP Fertiliser subsequently bought Farmers Fertiliser, while Fernz sold its stake in the Tauranga company. (See story Page 11).
BOP Fertiliser decided to centralise and streamline its systems and operations and the merged company was relaunched as Ballance in 2001.
"The aim was to create a unified company so that everyone knew they were working for one outfit," said Mr de Vere.
By then regional manager for Northland and on his second stint in Whangarei, he was considering moving to Australia. Instead, he accepted an offer to move to Tauranga in 2000 and became general manager for operations, initially looking after the superphosphate operations. He later added distribution, research and development and industrial chemicals to his roles during 14-plus years with the company.
He was also heavily involved in the international operations, looking for new phosphate supplies as traditional sources like Christmas Island and Nauru Island could no longer meet New Zealand's needs.
Three years ago, he and then chief executive Larry Bilodeau recognised they needed to begin succession planning and broaden the team's experience. Mr Bilodeau retired last September and was succeeded by Mark Wynne. And in February, Mr de Vere moved into a three-month role as adviser to the chief executive, pending his own departure at the end of this month.
However, his trusty oak desk, made in 1957, which he brought with him from Whangarei when he relocated in 2000, will remain with Ballance, a small piece of fertiliser industry history.
Mr de Vere and his wife Philippa decided five or six years ago that Tauranga would be their last move and would remain their home, and they have been strong supporters of the community. He served a three-year term as president of the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce and has also been active in the Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club, serving as treasurer.
Anne Pankhurst, the chamber's operations, events and training manager, said Mr de Vere was community-minded and a very pragmatic businessman.
"He is able to look at a situation, very quickly sum it up, articulate a solution and move on from that," she said.
Kevin Palmer, Trustpower's financial controller, who served with Mr de Vere on the chamber board as treasurer, said he was a man of integrity who always delivered on what he promised.
"Some chairmen are my way or the highway, but Warwick was much more consultative, letting people air their views, then supporting the decision of the board. He's commercial and not afraid to make the hard calls, but he does it in a straightforward, honest way. There will be a few boards and organisations that would value his input."
End of subsidies was a catalyst for change
Warwick de Vere's career has spanned a period of major changes in an industry that had its origins in the late 1800s when sulphur was mined at White Island and shipped to Tauranga for refining.
After World War II, farmers experiencing problems sourcing fertiliser began setting up their own co-operatives, resulting in the creation of the Bay of Plenty Fertiliser Co-operative and the Southland Co-operative Phosphate Company, among several other smaller regional co-operatives. But in 1984, government fertiliser subsidies were cut, forcing major change on the industry.
"Consumption went down to one-third of the previous amount and there were plant closures, ultimately leading to the rationalisation of the industry," said Mr De Vere.
BOP merged with Kiwi Fertiliser, a subsidiary of the Fernz Corporation in 1987, forming BOP Fertiliser Ltd, 60 per cent of which was owned by the Bay of Plenty Fertiliser Co-operative, and 40 per cent by Fernz.
By the late 1990s, the industry saw further consolidation, with BOP Fertiliser merging with the Southland Co-operative in 1997, and a year later buying Whangarei-based Farmers Fertiliser from Fernz Corporation. The co-operative then bought half of Fern's 40 per cent shareholding, while international fertiliser giant Norsk Hydro (now Yara), purchased the remainder. In 2001, the company was re-launched as Ballance Agri-Nutrients, in Tauranga, with other major production sites in Awarua, the Kapuni ammonia urea plant, and a sulphur operation in Whangarei.
Meanwhile, the consolidation of other fertiliser companies resulted in the emergence of Canterbury-based Ravensdown, the other major New Zealand fertiliser co-operative. Both compete nationally for farmer shareholders.
End of work means more time on the slopes
Warwick de Vere's first objective on retiring is to get his money's worth out of his season ski pass at Ruapehu, where he's been a founder member of the Snowline Ski Club since 1971.
"For the past few seasons I've had a pass, but never got more than two days' skiing because of work commitments. All I need is some snow and I'll be away."
Mr De Vere said he had never been good at ball sports, but discovered skiing in his teens. "I liked the idea of being carried to the top of a hill and sliding down."
He is also keen on the outdoors and tramping, and is a social golfer.
He and wife Philippa have two children, Stephen, an electrician, and Jennifer, a patent lawyer.
His wife is a leading light in the Tauranga Girl Guide movement, serving as treasurer and chairing the Welcome Bay scout and guide hall rebuild committee, and the couple spend time in the large garden at their home in Ohauiti Rd.
The major project for the next 12 months will be to travel round New Zealand, a trip they last did 15 years ago.
Warwick de Vere
Role - Adviser to the chief executive, Ballance Agri-Nutrients. (Retiring May 2015)
Born - Auckland
Age - 62
First job - trainee fertiliser industry chemist
