Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)
Business / Trading Name: Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)
Company Number: 1347782
NZBN: 9429043111930
Entity Type: Incorporated Society (registered 09 July 2003 under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908)
Business Classification: Industry association representing dairy processing and exporting companies (primary sector trade association)
Industry Category: Dairy product manufacturing and exporting (Agriculture/Food Industry)
Year Founded: 2003
Addresses:
Registered Office: Level 6, 45 Johnston Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Postal Address: PO Box 5693, Wellington 6145, New Zealand
Former Address: 2 Woodward Street, Wellington (used as registered office until Jan 2020)
Website URL: dcanz.com (official website)
LinkedIn URL: Data Not Found (no dedicated LinkedIn company page located; key staff maintain individual profiles)
Company Hub NZ URL: Data Not Found (no profile on CompanyHub; see NZ Companies Office entry)
NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.businessregisters.govt.nz/sber-businesses/viewInstance/view.html?id=229a78e05307b6d8bf1b29667f00cb17c460fd9f9e246740 (Incorporated Societies Register)
Social Media URLs: DCANZ has a low public social media presence. (No official Twitter or Facebook account found; occasional content appears via member or partner channels)
Ultimate Holding Company: None (independent non-profit association owned by its member companies)
Key Shareholders: Not applicable (industry association with members rather than shareholders)
Independent Chair: Alister Hulbert (as of 2024) – succeeded Matt Bolger (appointed Aug 2022) upon retirement of long-time chair Malcolm Bailey. Bailey served as DCANZ Chair from 2008 to 2022. The founding Chairman (2003–2008) was Earl Rattray.
Executive Director: Kimberly Crewther – leads day-to-day operations since 2013 (first appointed part-time, became full-time in 2015).
Executive Committee: Comprised of CEOs/senior executives of each member company and the independent chair (one representative per member).
Staff: (small Wellington-based secretariat)
Kimberly Crewther – Executive Director (since 2013). Background: over 20 years in NZ primary industries, including DairyNZ, Fonterra, Meat New Zealand.
Dianne Schumacher – Regulatory Manager (since 2016). Background: former Global Regulatory Manager at Fonterra; senior manager at NZ Food Safety Authority.
Elizabeth Kamber – Trade Policy Manager (since 2019). Background: former National Policy Manager at DairyNZ and 10+ years as an NZ trade negotiator (MFAT).
Paul Goldstone – Policy & Market Access Manager (joined 2023). Background: ex-Policy Director in Parliament and former Policy Manager at Meat Industry Association; also worked at MPI and Crown Law.
Staff that have held previous government roles:
Elizabeth Kamber – former diplomat/trade policy officer at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (led FTA negotiations).
Paul Goldstone – former Parliamentary policy adviser (Policy Director) and public servant at MPI and Crown Law Office.
Dianne Schumacher – former senior manager at NZ Food Safety Authority (government regulator).
(No known former Ministers or MPs on staff, but note: Executive Director Crewther is the sister of a current government Minister, illustrating close public-private connections.)
Past Employees:
Malcolm Bailey – Independent Chair 2008–2022 (not a salaried staff role, but a key figure). Former Fonterra director and Federated Farmers president; influential in DCANZ’s growth.
Earl Rattray – Founding Chair 2003–2008 (dairy industry leader, former Fonterra Director).
Chris Galloway – Executive Director prior to 2013 (part-time capacity via secondment, role later taken over by Crewther). (DCANZ’s first full-time Executive Director was Crewther, as the role was made full-time in 2015).
Other past staff not publicly profiled. The organisation’s small size means key personnel often stay long-term or are drawn from member companies.
Clients: Not applicable – DCANZ does not serve external “clients” for profit. Its “clients” are its member companies (New Zealand dairy processors/exporters) whose collective interests it represents.
Industries/Sectors Represented: The New Zealand dairy processing and export sector – including milk powder, butter, cheese, infant formula, and other dairy product manufacturers/exporters. DCANZ’s 11 member companies account for ~98–99% of all milk processed in NZ and the vast majority of dairy exports.
Publicly Disclosed Engagements:
Lobbying/Consultations: Frequent submissions to government agencies and Parliament on trade agreements, food regulations, biosecurity, and environmental policy. For example, DCANZ made a formal submission to MFAT on the NZ–EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations in 2016, and contributed to the Productivity Commission’s Low-Emissions Economy report consultation (2018) as submitter “DCANZ (DR 380)”.
Select Committee Appearances: DCANZ officials have appeared before Parliamentary committees (e.g. on dairy industry regulation and trade issues)
Ministerial/Agency Meetings: DCANZ is regularly consulted by MPI, MFAT, and ministers on dairy trade and policy. Official Information Act releases and ministerial diaries have disclosed meetings (e.g. with the Minister for Trade or Agriculture) where DCANZ advocated industry positions. (Such engagements are not comprehensively public, as NZ has no mandatory lobbying register.)
International Forums: DCANZ represents NZ at international dairy forums (e.g. International Dairy Federation meetings) and has engaged foreign regulators (e.g. submissions to overseas inquiries affecting dairy trade).
Affiliations (Domestic and International):
Domestic: Member of BusinessNZ’s Affiliated Industries Group, partnering with DairyNZ and Federated Farmers on industry-wide strategies (e.g. Dairy Tomorrow strategy for sustainable dairy). DCANZ is a core partner in the He Waka Eke Noa primary sector climate action partnership with government (representing dairy processors). It is also a signatory to the Dairy Sector Water Accord and subsequent Dairy Tomorrow initiatives on environmental best practices.
International: National representative body in the International Dairy Federation (IDF) – DCANZ’s Executive Director chairs the NZ IDF Committee. Associate member of the Global Dairy Platform, a global industry alliance. Signatory to the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam (global dairy sustainability commitment). DCANZ also collaborates with sister organisations in other countries: e.g. joint advocacy with the Australian Dairy Industry Council and US Dairy Export Council on trade issues (such as protesting Canada’s dairy trade barriers). It is a member of the International Business Forum in NZ, aligning with wider trade advocacy networks.
Sponsorships / Collaborations:
Research and Reports: Co-funds economic and sustainability studies with DairyNZ and government (for example, a joint report on dairy’s economic contribution to NZ). DCANZ has collaborated with MPI on food safety science initiatives post-2013 whey protein inquiry.
Industry Programmes: Partner in government-industry programmes like the Biosecurity Business Pledge and GIA Biosecurity partnership – DCANZ formally joined the Government Industry Agreement on biosecurity readiness in 2017, committing resources to biosecurity responses.
Education and Events: Works with universities and institutions (e.g. University of Waikato Management School) on dairy leadership initiatives – for instance, DCANZ’s incoming Chair in 2022 was the Waikato business school Pro-Vice-Chancellor, reflecting ties to academia. Collaborates with trade promotion agencies on events highlighting NZ dairy (e.g. “NZ Dairy Story” marketing initiative under NZ Inc branding).
Events (Organised or Hosted): DCANZ operates mostly through closed industry forums rather than public events, but it occasionally convenes or co-hosts:
Annual General Meetings & Industry Forums: Regular member meetings and an annual conference for member CEOs (not public). Ministers and officials are sometimes invited for dialogue.
Webinars/Seminars: DCANZ has hosted webinars on dairy trade issues. For example, in 2023 it co-hosted a webinar with Australian dairy leaders on “trade-distorting subsidies” in global markets (“Beggar thy neighbour: shifting costs and implications of market price support”).
Joint Industry Events: Participates in dairy sector conferences (e.g. Primary Industries Summit, international dairy summits) as a representative voice. It was involved in launching the Dairy Tomorrow initiative and related events on sustainability (with DairyNZ and Dairy Women’s Network).
(DCANZ tends to work behind the scenes; it does not run large public expos or consumer-oriented events.)
Political Donations: No record of any political donations by DCANZ as an organisation. As a not-for-profit industry body, DCANZ does not appear in NZ Electoral Commission donation disclosures (and DCANZ’s own policy forbids it from making party donations). Its member corporations (e.g. Fonterra, Synlait) have occasionally made donations or contributions individually, but DCANZ itself maintains neutrality in party politics. (For instance, Fonterra made no use of the 2020 political donations “fast-track” scheme and even declined COVID wage subsidies, reflecting caution in this area.)
Controversies:
Infant Formula Marketing Lobbying (2023): DCANZ was at the centre of a controversy over lobbying against proposed stricter infant formula labeling rules. An RNZ investigation revealed DCANZ (led by Crewther) coordinated with multinational formula companies to persuade ministers to drop new health-driven regulations on infant formula marketing. The case raised alarms about industry influence outweighing public health, especially when it emerged that Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard – whose sister is DCANZ’s Executive Director – intervened in line with DCANZ’s position. This conflict of interest and successful lobbying effort drew public criticism and was cited as a glaring example of opaque influence-peddling.
Climate Policy Opposition: DCANZ has faced criticism from environmental groups for its stance on agricultural emissions regulation. It lobbied against the Government’s 2022 farm-level emissions pricing proposal, arguing it would “cut dairy production” and cause emissions leakage, and pushed for a watered-down approach. Greenpeace and others accuse DCANZ (and allied agri-lobbies) of obstructing stronger climate action to protect industry profits, pointing to DCANZ’s role in the He Waka Eke Noa process as potentially diluting climate policy ambition. DCANZ’s public comments that the Government’s climate plan was “grossly inaccurate” and too harsh on dairy were seen by critics as an attempt to weaken environmental regulations.
“Revolving Door” and Transparency Concerns: The close relationships between DCANZ and government insiders have been controversial. Beyond the Hoggard–Crewther family connection, DCANZ’s hiring of former officials (and vice versa) has drawn scrutiny. The lack of a public lobbying register in NZ means DCANZ’s frequent behind-closed-doors meetings (e.g. with ministers, as revealed in diaries) escape full public accountability. Transparency advocates have singled out DCANZ as a powerful lobby that operates with little sunlight, benefitting from NZ’s permissive lobbying rules. Academic and media commentators have noted that DCANZ often prefers quiet negotiations to public debate, which can be controversial when decisions align closely with its wishes.
Other: DCANZ’s aggressive trade advocacy occasionally attracts controversy abroad – for instance, its successful push for New Zealand to initiate legal action against Canada over dairy import quotas under CPTPP was criticized by Canadian dairy interests. Domestically this was less controversial (viewed as defending NZ exporters), but it underscores DCANZ’s willingness to spark international disputes. There have also been historical environmental controversies around the dairy sector (“dirty dairying”), where DCANZ, along with DairyNZ, was seen as slow to acknowledge and address issues like water pollution – preferring voluntary accords over mandatory regulation, a stance environmentalists questioned.
Other Information of Note (Media and Public Profile): DCANZ generally maintains a low public profile given its influence. It has no consumer-facing role and is known mostly to officials, politicians, and industry insiders. Media Coverage: Its press releases on trade wins or policy stances get occasional pickup in business media, but DCANZ rarely fronts on mainstream media unless responding to sector-wide issues (food safety scares, trade disputes, etc.). In recent years, investigative journalism has shone a light on DCANZ’s political influence – notably RNZ’s 2023 exposé on infant formula lobbying, which prompted broader discussion of lobbying transparency in NZ. Political analyst Dr. Bryce Edwards highlighted this case as emblematic of “who runs New Zealand”, arguing it revealed deep problems with unregulated lobbying and conflicts of interest in policymaking. DCANZ’s ability to get its way behind closed doors – seldom noticed by the public – has led commentators to call for greater scrutiny of industry lobby groups. Public Perception: While not a household name, DCANZ is respected within government as the authoritative voice of NZ’s most important export industry. This grants it significant access and influence. However, its lack of public engagement means it operates “under the radar,” which critics say contributes to a lack of democratic oversight in how dairy sector policies are shaped. DCANZ does engage in some reputational initiatives (promoting NZ dairy’s image of sustainability and safety), but these messages are typically delivered through aligned bodies like DairyNZ or international forums rather than by DCANZ in public campaigns.
Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: No. DCANZ did not receive any COVID-19 wage subsidy in 2020–21. As a non-profit industry body, its revenue (membership fees) was not demonstrably impacted to meet the scheme’s criteria. Major member companies like Fonterra also declined to claim the wage subsidy during the pandemic. The Government’s public wage-subsidy database shows no entry for Dairy Companies Association of NZ. (DCANZ continued operating via remote work during lockdowns without layoffs, so it had no need for wage support.)
Sources
[1] “About DCANZ (Formed in 2003 to represent collective interests).” Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand – Media Release (Dec 2014). dcanz.com. https://dcanz.com/dairy-companies-association-commits-to-working-with-government-to-maintain-new-zealand-dairy-food-safety-leadership/
[2] “BizDb Company Profile – Dairy Companies Association Of New Zealand Incorporated.” BizDb.co.nz – New Zealand Business Directory. https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429043111930/
[3] “DCANZ – Representing NZ Dairy Exporters & Processors (Website Home Page).” Dairy Companies Association of NZ. dcanz.com
[4] “DCANZ Governance and Members.” Dairy Companies Association of NZ. dcanz.com/about-us/
[5] Edwards, Bryce. “Fonterra – Corporate Profile (Affiliations: DCANZ etc.).” The Democracy Project – The Integrity Institute (Substack, 2024).
[6] “Integrity Briefing: How dairy lobbyists get their way in the Beehive.” Democracy Project by Bryce Edwards (Aug 2023). (via LinkedIn Pulse).
[7] Bradley, Anusha. “How multinational dairy companies convinced ministers to back away from new rules for baby formula.” RNZ News (Aug 31, 2023). https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/alert-top/556997/how-multinational-dairy-companies-convinced-ministers-to-back-away-from-new-rules-for-baby-formula
[8] Edwards, Bryce. “Andrew Hoggard’s conflicts of interest and NZ’s culture of complacency.” The Democracy Project (Substack, Sep 3, 2024).
[9] “Govt emissions plan will lead to production loss and leakage – DCANZ.” Rural News – ruralnewsgroup.co.nz (21 Dec 2022). https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/govt-emissions-will-lead-to-production-loss-and-leakage-dcanz
[10] “Dairy Companies Association To Welcome New Chair.” Scoop Business (Press Release, 11 July 2022). https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2207/S00167/dairy-companies-association-to-welcome-new-chair.htm
[11] “Growth Drives Dairy Companies to Step Up Joint Activities (DCANZ appoints first full-time Executive Director).” DCANZ Press Release (14 Oct 2014). https://dcanz.com/growth-drives-dairy-companies-to-step-up-joint-activities/
[12] “NZ-EU FTA Submission – Dairy Companies Association of NZ.” Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (Public Consultation document, Feb 2016). https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Trade-agreements/EU-NZ-FTA/24.-Dairy-Companies-Association-of-NZ.pdf
[13] Stringleman, H., & Scrimgeour, F. “Dairy factories in the 20th and 21st centuries.” Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand (2008). *(Snippet: “DCANZ, formed in 2003, took over dairy board’s role…”)
[14] “BusinessNZ Affiliated Industries Group Members.” BusinessNZ (businessnz.org.nz). https://businessnz.org.nz/major-companies-group/aig/
[15] “DCANZ Partnerships – Biosecurity, Dairy Tomorrow, Global Dairy Platform.” Dairy Companies Association of NZ (About Us page). dcanz.com/about-us/
[16] “DairyNZ and DCANZ Joint Report – Economic Contribution of Dairy.” DairyNZ News Release (dairynz.co.nz, 2020).
[17] “TPP does not add up for NZ without good dairy outcomes – DCANZ.” Scoop News (Aug 2015).
[18] “Joint letter: Dairy lobby groups urge action against Canada’s dairy policies.” Farmers Weekly (NZ) – farmersweekly.co.nz (Aug 2022).
[19] “Minister Andrew Hoggard’s sister lobbied him opposing tougher infant formula rules.” RNZ Checkpoint (Radio NZ, Aug 31, 2023). https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018906778/minister-andrew-hoggard-s-sister-lobbied-him-opposing-tougher-infant-formula-rules
[20] New Zealand Gazette Notice: “Approval of Dairy Companies Assoc. of NZ Inc as Rep. Org for Dairy Processors (Biosecurity Act).” NZ Gazette 2017-go4158 (11 Aug 2017). https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2017-go4158
[21] Danone. “Danone Policy on Advocacy (December 2023).” Danone.com (Policy document listing industry associations and stance on political contributions).
[22] “NZ dairy industry – economic importance and ongoing challenges.” Interest.co.nz News Article (2019).
[23] “Lobbying 101 – Greenpeace NZ” (Guide on lobbying influence, 2020) – mentions influence of dairy lobby.
[24] “WTO agrees to end agricultural export subsidies – NZ dairy response.” Politico (Dec 2015) – quoting Malcolm Bailey, DCANZ Chair.
[25] “Dairy companies unhappy with Govt’s HWEN stance.” Rural News (Oct 2022) – quoting Kimberly Crewther on climate policy.
Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz