Also seeking the directorship were Temuka intensive cropping and livestock finishing farmer, Nick Ward, and former chief executive of Silver Fern Farms, Keith Cooper.

Taggart, who is also chairman of meat co-operative Alliance Group, joined the Ballance board in 2009. He is a past director of CRT Society and Southern Farms NZ, past chairman of the National Meat and Wool Council and Federated Farmers, and past member of the National Board of Federated Farmers.

Gray Baldwin was returned unopposed as a Ward B director. He first joined the board in 2009.  Baldwin, who farms in Putaruru in the Waikato, is also a director of Livestock Improvement Corporation and registered charity Trinity Lands.

Ballance Chairman, David Peacocke, congratulated the pair on their re-election, saying both had brought strong governance and farming experience to the co-operative for six years. “I’d also like to acknowledge the other candidates for their participation in the elections, and thank all our shareholders who engaged in the ballot.”