Summary of the Executive Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD AT THE
HOTEL INTERCONTINENTAL, WELLINGTON
ON SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 2008 AT 8.30AM

Present:

Bruce Robertson, Patricia Bolger, Andreas Paxie, Martin Sheffield, John Arthur, Joy Cooper, Colin & Nalini Baruch, Annette Moore, Phyllis Heard, Roberta Moore, Michael McEwen, Jane Churchwell, Pam & Grant O’Donnell, Honor & Steuart Henderson, Diane & Colin Hadley, Gail & Rod Harford, John Edwards, Nathan Casey, Tony Casey, Elaine Stevens, Mary Harris, David Walshaw, Graeme & Chris Harris, Diana Jones, Chris Penman, Jen Syme, Chris Bridge, Richard Jewell, Gillian Preece, Judy & Barry Rae, Morry Vickers, David Cain, Brian & Lorraine Milne, Ross & Margaret Legh, Roger Armstrong, Colin Campbell, Julie & Richard Winder, Helen Meehan, Margaret Hanson

Apologies: 

 Ruth & Peter Graham, Roger & Sally Woolhouse, Mike & Jill Bryce, Bert van Heuckelum, Craig & Ruth Leafwright, Don Beaven, Chris Moore, Wayne & Maureen Startup

Jim Syme MOVED that the apologies be accepted.
 SECONDED: Tony Casey      CARRIED

Minutes of Previous Meeting: 

Jim Syme MOVED that the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 2007 be confirmed. SECONDED Margaret Edwards   CARRIED

Matters Arising

None

President’s Report

Jim Syme MOVED that the President’s Report is taken as read and adopted.  SECONDED Colin Campbell   CARRIED

Treasurer’s Report

Graham Keen presented his report and stated that he was concerned with the projected deficit and therefore getting a commodity levy was most important. 
The deficit is largely due to the cash contributions required for the Sustainable Farming Fund Projects. 
In answer to a question from Morry Vickers, Graham confirmed that ONZ is an incorporated society and therefore is tax exempt  

Morry Vickers MOVED that the Treasurer’s Report be adopted.
   SECONDED:  Roberta Moore           CARRIED

Election of Officers

Alastair Bridge announced the details of the new Board after stating that this year there were two vacancies on the Executive for “elected” members:

• Vice President : Margaret Edwards’ initial term of two years has expired but Margaret was available for re-election. There were no other nominations therefore Margaret was re-elected
• Another position was available due to the death of David Huggins. There were two nominations, a postal vote was held and Colin Campbell was elected.
• Regional Council 
  Mark Heard and Ed Scott have retired and Ian Manson became ineligible to be a member because of Rule 13.9.2(a)

There were 4 nominations for the 3 vacancies for the Regional Council representation on the Executive:
-Ian Juno (Wairarapa)
-Brian Milne (Kapiti)
-Tony Casey (Hawkes Bay)
-Ian Manson (Canterbury)
             Tony and Ian were ineligible because of Rule 13.9.2(a).
             Therefore Ian Juno and Brian became the Regional Council
             representatives on the Executive. There is still one vacancy
             due to the lack of nominations from regions not already
             represented on the Executive.
              Jim Syme stated that the restriction in the Rules of one
              representative per region might not make sense. If one
              region has more than one capable person who is willing to
              be on the Executive this should be possible and the Rules
              need to be amended to reflect this.
              With regards to Ian Manson’s position Jim said that the
              Executive can ill-afford to lose an enthusiastic member
              such as Ian and therefore he will suggest to the incoming
              Executive that Ian be co-opted.
              Jim welcomed Colin Campbell to the Executive. 
 
7. Appointment of Auditor

Jim Syme reported that Parker Chartered Accountants Limited were willing to remain as Auditors.
Jim MOVED that Parker Chartered Accountants Limited be appointed as Auditors.  SECONDED Colin Baruch  
CARRIED

8. Remits 
        There were no remits

9. General Business

• Morry Vickers moved a motion that “a sub-committee be set up to explore the AVANZA model re N Z exports because all growers are expecting ONZ to lead the way”
• Jim Syme agreed and said that we need to be well-planned and there needs to be dialogue amongst members
  The motion was seconded by Colin Campbell
• Helen Meehan said that there needed to be a distinction between commercial activities and the industry body.
•  Andrew Taylor agreed and said that ONZ should be a facilitator only
• Ed Scott said that we shouldn’t be only restricted to the AVANZA model.
• Nalini Baruch said there was also a desire for ONZ to have dialogue with government agencies.
• Brian Milne said that any initiative needed legislative underpinning and he would suggest we look at HEA –  although the present Act would need amending to cater for processed product.
           THE MOTION WAS CARRIED
•  Morry Vickers read the Australian press article about low grade imported oil in Australia and moved “that ONZ join with the AOA in pursuing this matter”.
           The motion was seconded by Gerrit Kruithoed.     
• Richard Jewell suggested that any such action could taint our industry by running down genuine olive oil.
• Helen Meehan said it would be more constructive to  support the OliveMark rather than spending a lot of money on this sort of thing.
• Margaret Edwards said the NZFSA’s advise was to concentrate on food safety issues and Graham Keen said that, in his opinion, NZFSA would not stand up on many food safety questions.
• Jim Syme quoted from Andrew Fenton of Hort N Z about country of origin labelling and said that ONZ will get dragged in to this issue very soon. The government have said that CoOL is blatantly protectionist. Jim was of the opinion that we should get in behind Hort N Z on this issue rather than trying to go it alone. 
• Colin Baruch agreed with Morry but said in our industry we have the red sticker to identify product but there are many producers do not certify or they are not members of ONZ.
• Phylis Heard said that N Z chefs don’t support NZ EVOO and all our efforts should be in marketing.
• Gerrit Kruithoed recommended we work more with chefs and support chefs course at tertiary institutions.
• Margaret Edwards said that we’re already trying very hard but said it was a good idea that we put up a prize at the chef’s course.
• Tony Casey said that many chefs are already supporting N Z EVOO 
• Joy Cooper said that we now have the Strategic Plan and we should concentrate on that and the Annual Plans 
• Nalini Baruch said that the industry profile needs to be lifted especially certification and quality. May be we could work with the likes of Laurence Eyres and media outlets. We need to push the OliveMark. 
• Jim reported that the Executive is working with regions to get the OliveMark promoted and there is funding available for this.Money is needed for our own marketing programme and this will be highlighted in the levy paper which will be out to members within 3 months.
• Phylis Heard reiterated that she didn’t think the industry is hungry enough and we need to sell and market NZ EVOO at all levels of retail. People in the provinces need to push NZ EVOO.    
• Nalini outlined Lot Eight’s marketing campaign for the next 3 months which will be at all levels of the market and will be pushing the OliveMark strongly. Once again she stressed that we need to push the OliveMark hard.
• Margaret said she was very sympathetic to the issue and we need to drive costs out of the industry.
• Ed Scott was of the opinion that we would be unwise to support the Australian initiative. They have big problems of their own and we should stick to our industry and push our quality.
• Jim reiterated we should get in behind the Hort N Z initiative.
  The motion was put to the meeting and was defeated.
• Helen Meehan raised the subject of the Strategic Plan and said it was an excellent initiative.
  Helen also said that the most important issue facing the industry is the levy and asked for comments.
• Jim Syme reported on the current situation and said an up-to-date position paper will be with members by March 2009. It is his hope that by the next AGM the decision can be made 
  to proceed to the ballot stage.
• Diana Jones said that her regional group (Wairarapa) was very negative about a levy because of a lack of advise as to what the levy will be spent on and what the level of levy will be.
• Ian Manson replied that a paper dealing with these issues had been emailed to members the week before the AGM.
• Jim Syme said that if any group had concerns the Executive was prepared to meet them face to face to discuss their concerns.
• Nalini Baruch said that there needs to be a strong, active Regional Council that debated issues and takes cases up with the Executive.
• Tony Casey supported Colin Campbell’s recommendation that Regional Council meetings should not be crammed in to a short timespace and Regional Council motions should be 
  taken more seriously.
• Jim reiterated that the whole Constitution needs to be looked
            at again.

Judy Rae said a bouquet was due to the Executive for the level of communication and the overall work of the Executive.

Jim Syme thanked, on behalf of everybody, Ed and Mark for their hard work and huge contribution.
He also acknowledged the contribution of Alastair Bridge. He then moved that Alastair be awarded an Honorary Member of Olives New Zealand.
This was accepted unanimously by the meeting.

          Jim thanked all the Executive and looked forward to the next                
          12 months.

The meeting closed at 10.00am