Whole milk powder prices - key to determining Fonterra's farmgate mik price, dropped by 10.3 per cent overnight.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson's verbal sharp-shooting skills were put to good effect at the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) ministerial negotiations in Maui.

Fonterra's board will meet on Friday to review the farmgate milk price.

Fonterra says it sets itself high environmental standards despite being fined $362,000 in two separate prosecutions for Resource Management Act breaches.

Fonterra's has copped some flak for its performance, but chief executive Theo Spierings says the co-operative dairy giant would not deviate from its current course.

As milk prices fall, farmers keep waiting for the cycle to turn. But what if Fonterra's problems are longer term, asks Jamie Gray.

Westland will decide on its final 2014/15 payout in September.

Is Fonterra on the right track? Or is it time for Plan B? Plan B would result in the company being split into a basic commodity player focused on growing the milk price.

As Fonterra's NZX-listed units languish near an all-time low, analysts say the market will remain cool on the dairy giant.

Jamie Gray writes: For Fonterra's farmers, investors and employees the severity of the dairy downturn will become clear early next month.

Having its main office in Auckland is a big part of the dairy giant's problem, writes Brian Gaynor.

BNZ has lowered its 2015/16 milk price forecast for Fonterra but says it expects dairy prices to recover late this year.

NZX dairy futures prices are trading at a discount to the physical market in the aftermath of a worse-than-expected GDT auction.

Dairy giant Fonterra cut 523 jobs yesterday - in a bid to cut its payroll bill by up to $60 million a year - on a day of bad news for the economy.

Hundreds of Fonterra employees and thousands of its farmer-shareholders have been dealt the twin blows of impending job losses and the prospect of a much lower farmgate milk price.

Chief Theo Spierings admits news unsettling for staff as co-op tries to reduce its payroll bill by up to $60m a year.

Liam Dann says axing 523 jobs may make financial sense to Fonterra's chiefs but the dairy slump is bigger than that.

Fonterra says it is disappointed about a poor first-half result expected by its Chinese infant formula investment, Beingmate Baby & Child.

Farmer sentiment has been dented by a slump in dairy prices and conditions which saw more stock sent to slaughter earlier.

In submissions to the Commerce Commission, Fonterra's competitors say there is insufficient competition to deregulate.

The Chinese dairy firm partially owned by Fonterra has been suspended from trading amid the Chinese stock market turmoil.

The family of Fonterra's first chief executive, Craig Norgate, may have to wait more than two weeks before they can bring his body home for a funeral in Taranaki.

Accolades for Craig Norgate rolled in yesterday from the rural and corporate sectors after the high-flying executive died suddenly in London.

The family of Fonterra’s first chief executive Craig Norgate may have to wait more than two weeks before they can bring the 50-year-old’s body home.

Shares in Beingmate - the Chinese company which is 18.8pc owned by Fonterra - have halved in value over the past three weeks.

Fonterra has begun consulting staff on proposals to streamline its business structures, a spokesman for the co-operative said.

The New Zealand dollar fell after prices for the nation's largest commodity export declined in the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction overnight.

The price for NZ's key dairy export, whole milk powder, is set to decline further at tonight's GlobalDairyTrade auction.

MP says cost to Kiwis unacceptable as Fonterra, supermarkets point finger at one another.