Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company has confirmed that chair and director Stephen Allen will retire at the co-operative's annual general meeting (AGM) on 3 December 2026, ending 30 years of service, including more than 20 years as Chair. Allen joined the Tatua board in 1996 and was appointed deputy chair in 1997. He became chair in 2003, succeeding Sir Alan Frampton, and has held the position for more than two decades. His time on the board spanned major shifts in the New Zealand dairy sector, including the lead-up to dairy sector deregulation. In a statement, Allen says he is grateful to the people who contributed to the co-operative over the past three decades.