Federated Farmers elects new president

Bruce Wills File photo

Bruce Wills has been elected as the new president of rural lobby group Federated Farmers at its annual meeting in Rotorua today.

The leadership vote, the first to be contested in 15 years, sees Wills assume the helm from Don Nicolson who is stepping down from the position he's occupied since 2008. Nicolson was elected unopposed.

Wills won out against for other candidates who put their names forward for the position, which included South Canterbury high-country farmer Donald Aubrey, Frank Brenmuhl of Christchurch, and Lachlan McKenzie of Rotorua, the body's dairy spokesman.

Wills had previously served as president of Federate Farmer's Hawkes Bay chapter.

South Canterbury farmer, biotechnologist and current Federated Farmers South Canterbury provincial president, Dr William Rolleston, has been elected as Federated Farmers vice-president.

- BusinessDesk / NZ Herald Online