The Givealittle online page "Our cooperative needs our help" has attracted nearly $25,000 in donations by 22 donors to date.

Billed as assisting "a fellow Fonterra shareholder with legal defence costs to protect transparency in our cooperative", the page was started by Northland Fonterra farmer-shareholder Lyall Preston.

He said he's "a huge supporter" of Fonterra but is concerned about its behaviour and performance.