The Country

The Country

Jamie Mackay delivers your daily fix of everything going on in NZ's biggest industry, along with a generous side-serve of news, sports and politics. The Country from Newstalk ZB, iHeartCountry NZ, Hokonui & iHeartRadio.

Episodes

June 7, 2026 40 mins

Jamie Mackay talks to Wayne Langford, David Seymour, Farmer Tom Martin, Blair McLean, and Phil Duncan. 

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Federated Farmers has launched a five-point plan for the next government, setting out what it says should be a major focus for political parties heading into the November election. President Wayne Langford says the organisation’s election platform, Backing Kiwi Farmers, is a practical blueprint for whichever parties form the next government.

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The Act Party leader and Deputy PM talks about Fieldays and why he’s leaving a lot of the heavy lifting there to his Ag Spokesperson, Andrew Hoggard. We also pay tribute to the departing Mark Cameron and cast a critical eye over the Labour Party list rankings.

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Our UK correspondent says the drought is over, thanks to a Lords Cricket test and Wimbledon on the horizon. We also look at diversification from unprofitable arable farming and whether Andy Burnham will be the next British PM.

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Our viticulture correspondent looks at an industry facing a wine glut and some headwinds as younger consumers look for products with less alcohol and fewer calories.

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Monday’s weatherman has a Fieldays forecast. And it’s all good. But could fog be an issue at the airport?

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Jamie Mackay talks to Sir David Ellis, Geoff Maber, Rachel Law, Shane Jones, and Jen Corkran. 

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Jamie Mackay talks to Nathan Guy, Stu Duncan, Stu Loe, Chris Brandolino and Barry Soper. 

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The former Minister for Primary Industries and current NZ Special Ag Trade Envoy, just back in the country, talks about Trump’s latest tariff debacle. Plus we look at the perilous state of the honey industry.

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Today’s panel talks farming and footy. 

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We are a nation of haves and have-nots when it comes to rain. And temperatures are set to drop this weekend.  So says Earth Sciences NZ’s "Friday Weatherman".

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We reflect on the NZ Radio Awards and ask, why did we send four no-name politicians to Taiwan? 

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Jamie Mackay talks to Shane Jones, Jen Corkran, Andrew Gibson, Chris Russell, and Simon Butler. 

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We find the self-anointed Prince of the Provinces at Marsden Point, where he’s claiming glory for saving the nation in election year! We also discuss his role in the Rural Industry Leaders Debate at Fieldays, and the six animal welfare complaints lodged with MPI after he “cradled a crayfish in its final hours” in Parliament. 

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Rabobank’s senior animal protein analyst previews the bank’s June Agribusiness Monthly Report, which has good news on the income side of the ledger for dairy, sheep and beef, but not such good news when it comes to the cost of farm inputs, oil and freight and interest rates.

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PGG Wrightson’s Taranaki Livestock Manager updates the dairy cow and beef bull sales.

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Our Australian correspondent talks Pauline Hanson, the "Unlucky" Country, and how to get rid of rabbits.

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We talk cow nutrition and supplements v grass with an expert in the field.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Matt Bolger, Mia Ryan, and Dr Jacqueline Rowarth.

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The Prime Minister ponders his Fieldays plans, the latest Roy Morgan poll, and whether we are freeloading on defence spending. Plus, should we remain nuclear-free, and why should we even contemplate bailing out Moana Pasifika?

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