Two-thirds of Fonterra shareholders have voted in favour of implementing Trading Among Farmers (TAF).

About 1000 farmer-shareholders of New Zealand's biggest company turned out this morning to vote on the Fonterra board's proposal to introduce a new capital structure which would introduce share trading among farmers themselves.

The resolution for TAF received a 66.45 per cent vote in support at Fonterra's special meeting today, with two out of every three votes in favour.

Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said the final vote on the share trading scheme attracted a record voter turnout.

"Now we can move forward with this important evolution in our capital structure," he said.

"We've spent six years talking about capital structure and it has been a rigorous debate and process. Our farmer shareholders have made a great contribution and the final version of Trading Among Farmers is all the richer because of that input."

Sir Henry said TAF ensures a stable, permanent capital base for the co-operative and secures its future.

"We broke new ground with the formation of Fonterra and now we have the support from our farmer shareholders to refine that model and to break new ground again.

"As in the past, our farmer shareholders will now get behind the co-op as we move forward. That's what we all want, a united Fonterra.

"Over recent months we have used some of the best legal minds and co-operative specialists to stress test the concept and proposed trading system as part of the due diligence process. This final vote shows the majority agree that TAF is a fundamental pillar for the co-op and the board is absolutely unanimous in the belief that this is a lasting solution."

Sir Henry said the board listened to farmer shareholders' concerns on preserving 100 per cent farmer control and ownership and the integrity of the Farmgate Milk Price.

"We asked our farmers to vote on constitutional changes which would tighten limits on the size of the Fonterra Shareholders' Fund, which is fundamental to 100 per cent farmer control and ownership, and preserve the integrity of the Farmgate Milk Price. This resolution required a 75 per cent vote and received 72.8 per cent support."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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