A Legacy of Leadership: John Tavendale’s commitment to New Zealand’s Cooperative Sector
Few individuals have had as profound an impact on New Zealand’s cooperative economy as John Tavendale (ONZM). For more than five decades, John has been a guiding force in agribusiness, lending his wisdom, resilience, and strategic vision to numerous organisations. His career is a testament to the enduring value of cooperatives and their role in the success and growth of New Zealand’s primary industries.
John’s contributions to New Zealand agriculture are perhaps best exemplified by his leadership of the New Zealand Blackcurrant Co-operative. He joined the co-op as a director in 2004 and assumed the role of chair in 2011. Just five years later, he was at the helm when Ribena, which purchased more than 50% of the local blackcurrant crop, pulled out of the New Zealand market.
“Suddenly, there was a whole lot of surplus fruit about, and that created some real challenges for the cooperative. We had to expand our existing markets and renew efforts into Japan, our principal export market.”
Under John’s leadership, the co-op not only weathered the storm but repositioned from a commodity to a high-value ingredient. Today, thanks to him, New Zealand blackcurrants are recognised globally for their potent health benefits, with extracts widely used in sports nutrition and brain and eye health supplements.
Beyond blackcurrants, John’s influence has spanned the entire agricultural sector. His career as a farm advisor and director on numerous boards has shaped the sheep, beef, and venison industries, and his deep understanding of farm-based ventures and agriculture support services has made him an indispensable voice in the sector. Whether in governance roles or advisory positions, John’s ability to navigate complex challenges successfully has seen him earn the respect of his industry peers.
His expertise also extends beyond agriculture. As director and later chair of EA Networks, Ashburton’s cooperatively owned electricity network, John played a pivotal role in expanding the network’s capacity to support regional irrigation and energy demands. Under his leadership, EA Networks not only tripled its capacity but also spearheaded initiatives like ultra-fast fibre expansion and the Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation Scheme, cementing its status as a cornerstone of Mid Canterbury’s development.
John’s lifelong commitment to cooperatives and agribusiness has not gone unnoticed. His contributions were recognised with an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013 for services to agribusiness, and in 2019, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Commerce from Lincoln University. In November 2024, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cooperative Business NZ Annual Awards.
Despite his many achievements, John remains as passionate as ever about the industries he has championed and says he firmly believes in the cooperative model.
“In my view, cooperatives provide farmers with an opportunity to control their destiny. I think a cooperative’s success is directly related to the prices achieved for the farmer’s products. Cooperative leaders must ensure members have positive benefits from being suppliers or users of the cooperative, and they don’t become just another commodity trader.”
Despite all his achievements in the agricultural sector, John says his biggest highlight is a more personal one: passing on the farm to his son. “The thing I’m most proud of is establishing my own family in farming from a low capital base, and having the support of my clients over a long number of years.” He also acknowledges the unwavering support of his late wife, Lynley, “I enjoyed very strong support from my wife, I couldn’t have achieved any of these things without her.”
John’s legacy is one of resilience, vision, and unwavering dedication—an inspiration to all who believe in the power of cooperative enterprise.
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