John Spencer, Wellington, CNZM, for services to business
Mr John Spencer is the Chair of KiwiRail and has been Chair of Tainui Group Holdings since 2003, along with other Crown and private Director and Chairpersonships. He was Chief Executive of the New Zealand Dairy Group, one of the two dairy companies that merged to form Fonterra. He continues as a board member of Dairy NZ. He has worked to establish Tainui as one of the most commercially successful iwi groups in New Zealand. Under his leadership, Tainui Group Holdings has built the largest retail centre in New Zealand: ‘The Base’, at Te Rapa, Hamilton. Mr Spencer has brought the highest standards of corporate governance and accountability to his role. He is known for his vision for achieving long-term success through Tainui Group Holdings with the goal of helping to improve the lives of Tainui iwi. He serves on the board of Tower Ltd and Disputes Resolution Services Ltd and is an independent advisor to the board of the Mitre 10 Group.