Fewer apples and pears

A cold spring in Hawkes Bay and Nelson means a smaller export crop of apples and pears this season.

Pipfruit New Zealand predicts the crop to be down about 15 per cent to be in a range from 261,000 to 266,000 tonnes compared with last year's final export volume of 308,000 tonnes.

New chief for AffcoMeat company Affco Holdings has named Hamish Simson as chief executive effective from February 12.

Rowan Ogg will be general manager effective from the same date.

The company held its annual meeting in Hamilton yesterday.

Shareholders voted to elected Bob Carter, Mike McCredie and Chris Spencer as directors.

Affco announced last week that Stuart Weston had resigned as chief executive.