Sorry, this link is probably paywalled:

Questions over oat milk plant relocation

No additional detail, but it is good to see the more ‘mainstream’ papers finally picking the story up.

Some key points/quotes from the article:

Southland leaders are still scratching their heads wondering how a 10-year Great South project to construct an oat milk plant in Southland will end up in Canterbury.

Some Invercargill leaders were calling for a full inquiry into the matter.

The company has yet to explain how it intends to offset the transport costs and increased carbon footprint associated with transporting oats from Southland to Canterbury.

The company being NZFF.

The Otago Daily Times has yet to receive a response to what supply contract conditions would be provided to Southland oat growers to ensure they would be competitive with Canterbury’s agriculture and grain market.

The Otago Daily Times understands NZFF was having discussions with global investors that had influenced the decision to move the plant to the Canterbury region.

Since the only two NZFF investors listed are Great South (49%) and The Warehouse (51%), does that mean that The Warehouse is dictating terms or that other investors are being brought in?

Great South chief executive Chami Abeysinghe said she thought it was important Southland got the “bigger picture”. “While we’re putting that disappointment aside, we need to continue to support this project,” she said. "And that means we bring new technology to New Zealand, we place New Zealand in a position of advantage as a leader on a global scale. “So, we’re proud that we’ve been able to bring that to us, to this country, even if it’s not within Southland.”

It is a shame that no one has bothered to present the “bigger picture” to Southlanders for them to “get”!!!

Personally, I think Great South and the Southland Councils really need to be taken to task over this - the ratepayers have/are funding this, so have an absolute right to know what is going on and how/why these decisions are being made. Unfortunately, this is what Southlanders have come to expect from their Councils, and it is not good enough.