A huge day for an iconic West Coast brand

Westland Dairy shareholders today vote on whether to sell the under-performing co-op to Chinese dairy giant, Yili .

They're being offered three dollars 41 a share.

Federated Farmers dairy spokesperson, Chris Lewis, says a lot of people will likely be voting with their head, not their heart.

He says this is probably an emotional day for suppliers, but sadly financial circumstance means something's happening, when it shouldn't.

Documents suggest former suppliers who've exited the co-op might wait years to see the 11-million-dollars they're owed.