(Mossburn)
Services to the meat industry
John Turner still constantly thinks about the meat industry.
Mr Turner (68), who has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, was a director of Alliance Group from 1987 until 2007, which included serving as chairman from 1998 until 2007.
He helped guide the company through a recovery from being in a weak financial position to becoming the world's largest sheep meat processor and marketer, with a turnover of more than $1 billion.
News of the honour came as "a bit of a surprise", he said,and he accepted it on behalfof all shareholders and suppliers.
He enjoyed his involvement with the industry and the people in it and, after going "full throttle", there was a "bit of a vacuum" when he left.
He was a strong advocate for the co-operative principles of ownership allowing farmers to become involved in the meat industry beyond the farm gate, encouraging them to become knowledgeable about the end-user of their products, thus ensuring quality.
While chairman, he initiated a range of programmes that encouraged farmers to be on the leading edge in the production and quality of their product.
He was renowned for his ability to examine situations from multiple angles and make sound commercial decisions.
He has also been a Southland district councillor and is a long-serving and active member of the Lions Club.
Now semi-retired, Mr Turner divides his time between the Mossburn farm, which his son has now taken over and where he still lends a hand, and Te Anau. Directorships on various private companies also keep him busy.
