CSB - Bryn Rowden - Fonterra

The general manager of corporate planning out of Fonterra, who normally works in the co-op’s Tokyo office but is dialed in from Hamilton to chat about all things out of the co-op. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're back on the show. Were the good folks from
Frontierra and joining us on the show today is Brett
rd And, General Manager of Corporate Planning, who normally works
in the co Ops Tokyo office, but is dialing in
from Hamilton today and enjoying the winter down here. Brian.
What's brought you to our end of the world.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah, hi, Brian, thanks for having me on today. So,
as you said, I'm down in Hamilton today part of
the Game on English program, which is sponsored by Pontira
with some support from the New Zealand Embassy in Japan.
So what we do is every year Game on English
brings some talent in Japanese high school rugby players down

(00:37):
to New Zealand for a couple of weeks. So the
Game on English program was developed to meet Japan's sports
initiative Sports for Tomorrow initiative, which was designed to promote
international exchange in cooperation through sport. So we started sponsoring
the program in twenty fourteen. So we're really happy to
be celebrating the test anniversary of this year.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
That's really exciting, Bruin. So what's been the highlights over
the last ten years?

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, Brian, I think I mean, the biggest highlight is
definitely the unique cultural experience that the program provides for students.
We've seen a lot of the Game on English alumni
going on to have really great success in their subsequent
rugby careers. A number of them are playing in League One,
which is Japan's premiere rugby competition. So yeah, the alumni

(01:27):
really cherished the experience from Game on English and they
helped a gympie in the program as well. So one
example was recently one of our alumni, hake Hinata. He's
the co captain of the Rico Black Lams, so he
met with PM Luxon to promote the Game on English program.
That was when the Prime Minister visited Japan was trade

(01:48):
visiting Jerne. And also we sponsored an all girls team
last year that was an celebration of the Rugby World Cup.
So yeah, plenty of highlights the incentive.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
So what's on the agenda for the teams this year, bro, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
So this year we've got ten Japanese students and they
come from two schools. One is Corwyn Gatwin and the
other is Corkowin Gakuin Tochiyi, which are really strong rugby
high schools. In the Kuanto region in Japan, so this
is the first time out of Japan for all of them.
So we've been down here since til twenty fifth and
they're really having a great time so far. So the

(02:27):
students are staying with some Kiwi families and the day
it's basically English lessons in the morning and rugby training
in the afternoons. It's all hosted at Hamilton Boys Hide
and that you know, they have a really world class
rugby training program and they really couldn't have been better
host for the boys. So other than their training and

(02:48):
you know the English studies, the teams have also enjoyed
our day trip down to Rodeo. They had a great
time zip lining in one of our native forests. They've
also joined the South Sorry they've visited the FMG Stadium,
so the home to the way Ketla Chiefs, and they
played a rugby match against one of the Hamilton Boys
High schools. In this afternoon, we're taking them to our

(03:09):
white toa factory so they'll enjoy making some cream and
learning a little bit about the sustainability practices at the
Fonterrara sites. So that should be great.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
Well, hopefully they're adjusting to our winter down here because
I know it's love and warm and humored in Japan.
Heybrid enjoy your time back in New Zealand. Thanks for
joining us today.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
Thank you, Brian,