If you think you've got what it takes to help run New Zealand's largest farming cooperative then make sure you get your nomination in for the 2016 Fonterra Elections.

Elections are being held for two farmer-elected directors for Fonterra's Board of Directors, 13 members of the Fonterra Shareholders' Council, two members of the Directors' Remuneration Committee and one trustee of the Fonterra Farmer Custodian Trust.

As a result of the recent changes to Fonterra's governance and representation, the Director Elections will include two nomination options –independent nominations and self-nominations.

The independent nomination process will be run first with the selected candidates announced by the Returning Officer on Friday, November 4, says a Fonterra spokesperson.

'Self-nominations, where farmers can put themselves forward as a candidate for the board outside the independent nomination process, will follow with the nomination period running from Friday, November 4 to Thursday, November 10.

'The Returning Officer will confirm all Farmer Director Election candidates on November 10.”

The new processes for the election of farmer-elected directors involve the appointment of an Independent Selection Panel and a Nominations Committee.

Once the Panel and the Nominations Committee are appointed, the farmer-elected directors who are retiring by rotation will advise the Nominations Committee of their intentions to either re-stand or retire, and any necessary announcements will then be made, the spokesperson explains.

'For the Directors' Remuneration Committee, Scott Montgomerie and Gerard Wolvers are retiring by rotation. Both are eligible for re-election. In accordance with the Fonterra Farmer Custodian Trust Deed, trustee Paul Todd will retire and is eligible for re-election.”

While in accordance with the by-laws of the Shareholders' Council, elections will be taking place in 13 Wards across the country, including the Western Bay of Plenty (Ward 9), Matamata (Ward 8) and Taupō (Ward 15).

Councillors in Matamata, Western Bay of Plenty and Taupō, have advised the Returning Officer of their intention to retire resulting in vacancies in these wards.

All applications must be received by the Returning Officer Warwick Lampp of electionz.com by 12pm on Tuesday, October 25.

Candidates must satisfy eligibility requirements in order to be elected, and further procedural requirements are specified in the Election Rules.

Nomination Papers and Candidate Handbooks will be available by phoning the Election Helpline on free phone 0800 666 034 or emailing iro@electionz.com