Fonterra Shareholders' Council chairman Duncan Coull is urging the co-operative's farmer Shareholders to get behind the new elections process.

With voting in Fonterra's Directors' and Shareholders' Council elections closing December 6, he's putting the onus on shareholders to elect candidates with the skills to drive the co-op forward.

'Fonterra needs world-class, experienced directors if we are to continue to succeed in an increasingly competitive global marketplace and I encourage Shareholders to elect to their board the candidates with the governance skills and attributes our co-op needs.

'Making an informed decision as to which candidates have these skills and attributes, and the ability to contribute meaningfully at a Fonterra board level is absolutely key to this.”

Two seats on the Fonterra board are being contested by three candidates: Bay of Plenty's Donna Smit, Waikato's Michael Spaans and Canterbury's Stuart Nattrass.

While six Fonterra wards are holding Shareholders' Council Elections, including Western Bay of Plenty (Ward 9), Matamata (Ward 8) and Taupo (Ward 15).

Contesting the Western Bay election is Don Hammond, Ian Jeffrey and Rowan Thomas, while on the other side of the Kaimai, Terry Assen and James Barron are standing in the Matamata election. Further south, Vanessa Donald and Kylie Leonard are contesting the Taupo election.

Duncan says good information is contained in voting packs which all shareholders should have received by now, as well as on Fonterra's Farm Source website which includes videos of the candidates answering key governance questions.

'I encourage shareholders to give this their very close attention. As always, the final decision as to a candidates suitability sits with farmer shareholders and as such it's important that they take the responsibility to focus on the objectives of this process which is to have the best people governing our co-op.”

Voting for the Fonterra Directors' and Shareholders' Council elections in six Wards closes at 10.30am on Tuesday, December 6, with the results announced later that day.

For more information or questions regarding the Fonterra Elections call the Returning Officer on 0800 666 034.