June 12, 2026 • 41 mins
Jamie talks to Christopher Luxon and Todd McClay, Ray Smith, Kate Acland and Kate Scott, and Winston Peters.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The best of the country with Rabobank.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Grow with Rabobank.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
You remember Will Knows Palms Party. You'll forget the sun
in as jealousca as.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We walk in fields.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
Goody, I'm good morning New Zealand. I'm Jamie McKay. This
is the best of the country each and every Saturday
morning here on news Talks they'd be It is brought
to you by Rabobank. Spent a lot of time with
those guys this week at field Days and together we're
growing a better New Zealand, especially Rabobank. Every dollar you
invest with them gets invested back into the primary sector.
(00:48):
This is Fields of Gold by the way, by Sting
and that's what Mystery Creek was like. I don't know
the official numbers yet, I've only just got back to Dunedin,
but definitely in my mind record crowds.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
So we've got a bit of a Field Day special
for you.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
It's live, it's raw, and it's totally unedited. I can't
even remember half of it because I was that busy,
so it'll be a surprise to me as well as you.
So we're going to play you some of the audio
from some interviews we did this week. We're going to
kick it off with the interview that kicked off our
three day broadcast on Wednesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Minister
(01:23):
of Agriculture and Trade Todd McLay. It was a big
week of announcements from the NATS at Field Days. Ray
Smith is the Director General of MPI. Every year at
Field Days they released their Situation and Outlook for Primary
Industries report some outstanding numbers.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
We're going to dig into those with Ray.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
The Food and five a sector in this country is
forecast to top sixty four billion dollars in export earnings.
We continued on that theme on of course, that announcement
was made on Thursday. We continued that theme on Thursday
by talking to the two Kates Kate Ackland, Chair of
Beef and Lamb and Kate Scott, Chief Executive of Horticulture
(02:07):
and New Zealand. The numbers were good for them as well.
Meat and wallup fourteen percent to fourteen point one billion dollars.
Of course, Deirry's leading the charge by a country mile.
Horticultures going great Guns up seven percent to nine point
five billion, leaving forestry in its wake. It's not that
(02:27):
long ago that horticulture and forestry were neck and neck
for third place behind derry and red meat. And Wall's
making a comeback. That's contributing there as well. And we're
going to wrap it with one of the most entertaining
interviews I thought of the week Winston Peters yesterday New
Zealand First Leader along with his loyal deputy Prince, the
(02:50):
Prince of the Province's my TWOA Shane Jones. They were
shaking things up at Field Days. So on yesterday's show
he was well and truly on a soapbox as we
broadcast from the farmland site, Lots of people gathered to
hear him talk.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
He was fired up over poles Paris.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
The Indian FDA National super and we had a yard
about the Middle East warp all that. It's a Field
Day special here on the best of the country, the.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience, Grow with Rubbobank.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Good Afternoon the New Zealand And Good Afternoon, Day one
of Field Days here at Mystery Creek. I'm Jamie mckaye,
host of the Country, broadcasting from the Farmland site. Got
a cast of thousands today, let's get into it. Todd McLay,
Minister of Agricultures with us and I think we've got
the Prime Minister, Christopher luxon on the phone. We'll just
get him on and get him off. Prime Minister. Good afternoon.
(03:52):
I'm looking forward to your company tonight at the big
fundraiser for the Rural Support Trust. And I can tell
you I've worked really hard on a gag for you.
I hope you've got something in return.
Speaker 6 (04:02):
Oh well, Jamie at a mutually assured destruction, my friend,
if you launched one at me, I'll launch one back
at you as we did last year. But hey, listen,
great to be talking with you, and again, thank you
mate for all of your support of the sector and
what you're doing with the Royal Support Trust as well.
You've been awesome.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
Well.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
I think six hundred and thirteen people are going along
to the Claudlands Events Center tonight. The Minister of Agriculture
will be there as well. We're going to When I
say we, Mike Green and his team are going to
raise three four or five hundred thousand dollars who knows
how much for the Royal Support Trust.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
It's magnificent. Yeah, it's all good stuff.
Speaker 6 (04:36):
And I just think you know, we've obviously put some
more investments in there last year, as you were aware.
And there's a number of great organizations doing some great work,
and Royal Support Trust as one of them for sure.
Just making sure that farmers know that getting over the
stigma of talking about how things are for themselves and
actually it's about getting them access to those health and
well being services.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Now, your Minister of Agriculture, Todd mclach who's sitting right
beside me here, he was enough to turn up in person.
You told me you were too big of a celebrity
to walk down the aisles here at Field Days because
everyone wanted to stop and shake your hand.
Speaker 6 (05:09):
I love it. I will see you at some point.
I didn't if we're talking now, but it's good to
be with you. But isn't he doing a great job
that Tom McLay. You've got to be happy, don't you
As a farmer. He's opening up new markets all around
the world, he's getting rid of Wellington, out of farming,
he's backing rural New Zealand. He's getting the conditions right
for growth. And you know, just already in a few
hours I've been here just walking around. I mean, you know,
(05:30):
Gerry's on fire, Red Meats are doing well, Wolve's doing fantastic.
We've got Kiwi fruit going great, and there's really good,
you know, really good feel here, which is great.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
We're going to hear from Todd and just Key's made
a couple of announcements this morning. I think you're making
a big one this afternoon. You're going to let us
in on the secret.
Speaker 6 (05:48):
I won't yet. I'm about got to go announce it
I think at twelve thirty or.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Twelve forty five today.
Speaker 6 (05:52):
But yeah, again, we just want to we want the
sex to know where a government that's actually working with them,
not doing things to them. And actually we've to do
our job, which is making sure we create the conditions
for the success ambition, aspiration and growth, which is important.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Well, Prime Minister, I know you've got a busy dance
card this afternoon. I'll leave you, thank you very much
for your time and we will see you tonight at
the big Rural Industry Leaders Debate and event.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
It's going to be great. It'll be lovely Jamie.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
And thanks again for your support.
Speaker 7 (06:19):
Mate.
Speaker 6 (06:19):
We appreciate it what you do the sector.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Thank you very much. Well, here's a man who's doing
a lot more than me for the sector. He's never
at home. He is the Minister of Agriculture, Todd maclay.
I wouldn't mind your air points. Well, you can have
them if you want that, no problem at all. Hey, Jamie.
Speaker 8 (06:33):
Thanks having on the sunshining of the white out of
the grass is growing and I've seen at least one
farmer that's smiling.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
So it's a good start of the day. The Prime
Minister has a big announcement coming up. He's got his
luncheon and O Todd charteris is out there somewhere. He's
got to go to the lunch and Lawrence Meredith, the
EU Ambassadors coming on the show. He's got to get
to the luncheon, as do you. You've made a couple
of announcements this morning, one of them around the Minister
of Agriculture's Future Leaders Scholarship three being presented annually.
Speaker 5 (07:02):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 8 (07:03):
So I've been thinking a lot about it the last
sort of four or five months. And how do we
identify the farm leaders of the future and how do
we mentor them and bring them on. And so we're
doing is creating a scholarship. We'll announce it at the
Field Days. Every year three young New Zealanders are going
to mentor they're be able to go and do some
study in New Zealand overseas, you know, look at best practice.
(07:23):
How do we start reinvesting in the young farmers of
today and grow those leaders of the future. And so
a little step in the right director, I'll tell you
what's really pleasing. After we made the announcement at another
event and the Field Days organized themselves come out and
said they thought it was a greater year. They want
to join it and chuck some money. And so at
the moment it will be three scholarships year at ten
(07:45):
thousand dollars each. I'm going to go and bend their
arm a little bit. Will grow that because I think
we could do four or five people a year.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
I was choking to the Prime Minister about them being
a big time celebrity not being able to walk down
the aisles and the streets here at Field Days.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
That's actually true.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
He's gets stopped all the time as to you, what's
the feedback you're getting from the punters at the coal face,
I e.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
The farmers.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Look.
Speaker 8 (08:07):
Look, I think there's two things going on. You know,
the sector rightly is feeling good about itself. You know,
you've produced the highest quality, safest food and fiber of
any country in the world, and consumers overseas are wanting
it and they're paying more for it. You think about America,
and I was asked the other day, am I frustrated
by what's happening in the States. It's hard to be
(08:28):
frustrated when it happens again and again and again. Feels
like every time, you know, we get inflation down, a
cost down, production up, America does something else. But even
with those tariffs, actually we're selling them about four percent
more by value than we were a year ago. It's
the primary sector. You think about that European Union free
trade agreement which we came to government.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
We got in six months before.
Speaker 8 (08:49):
We're told we could in the first two years three
billion dollars worth of extra exports the EU. It's the
primary sector leading that. So across the board, farmers have
a right to feel good, and I reckon New Zealanders
are backing you. Now they're recognizing the importance of what
you're doing. The second thing that I think that I'm
noticing as I wander around, as you know, people are happy,
(09:12):
but I just want to get back on the farms
and farm some more. We've worked hard as a coalition
government to simplify rules and get rid of them, get
rid of the costs, get rid of those stupid bloody
taxes that Chris Hipkins was always trying to put on
farmers everywhere, and back you and you should be proud
of what you're doing.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
You got a government. It's going to work hard. How
fortuitous was the timing around the Indian FTO.
Speaker 8 (09:33):
Well, we worked very hard of it. Do you know
April of this year, sixteen years ago was the first
negotiation New Zealand had with India and successive governments have had.
As an ambition, Chris Luxon said before the election, we'll
do a deal in her first term. He backed me
to get on a plane and Jamie, I've been there
eight or nine times in the two years. From start
to finish, it took as nine months. I was just
(09:56):
up in Europe last week and I saw the and
Commissioner for Trade and he was a little bit grumpy
with me because I've just done a trade deal and
his question was Todd, you're only five million people, you're
a little economy. Your deal in many places is better
than how's how do you do it? And it comes
to relationship, right, We build a strong relationship with any
(10:17):
of the government and actually I know farmers to do
well with it. So in an uncertain world we're not
sure what America is doing and everywhere else, we've got
one point four billion consumers that want what we produce
and they're willing to pay for it. I think that's
going to be very important for rural New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
And you've done a great job. Then I'm going to
give you one more of the government, one more pat
on the back, or maybe even the National Party at
the risk of sounding like a bit of a National
Party Lackey, but you've proposed the policy this week doubling
funding for the Q two National Trust. That is the
best bang for buck you can get for conservation.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
It really really is.
Speaker 8 (10:51):
When I go overseas Agricultural Minister, I've got the easiest
job in the world because our farmer is the best
at what they do and everybody wants to be like
you there as Trade minister. It's a bliming hard job
because you're too good at what you do and they
want to block you from being there. And what it
gets raised occasionally is what is New Zealand doing about environment?
So the doubling of the QILI Trust Fund means much
(11:12):
more to do and this is just helping farmers to
do what they do so very well themselves, which is
to care about the land. We're got some other announcements
this week as well in that space that are going
to help. The PM wouldn't tease for you what he's
about to announce, but let me put it this way.
We've spent three years simplifying roles, making it easier for
you to meet your obligations.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
You know.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
The only way we get to maximize all these trade deals.
We're going to produce more because we now there's more
demand for what we're allowed to produce. How about this,
If you can show the same or an improved environment
of climate foot print, why shouldn't you be able to
do whatever you want on your own land? You know,
choosing a land use to increase productivity except plant pine
trees because I banned.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
That the best of the country with Robber Bank.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agri business experts grow with rubber Back.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
You're a number will.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Thoses Palms Party.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
You'll forget the.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Good morning news, Ellen, and welcome back to the Best
of the Country. I'm Jamie Mackay, just back from field
Days last day.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Today.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
A lot of the urban folks turn up to Mystery
Creek on a Saturday. As I said at the top
of the show, I don't know the attendance numbers, but
it's got to be a record.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
There was people for Africa at field Days.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
This is fields of Gold and that would That's what
it was like for many of the exhibitors at field Days.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Happy times, Happy Days Now.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
On Thursday, the Director General of MPI released the Situation
and Outlook for Primary Industries Report. He did it on
Thursday morning at Field Days. We caught up with them
at lunchtime on our show as we broadcast from Farmland
site between twelve and one. So the numbers were pretty
impress of food and fiber sector forecast top sixty four
(13:05):
billion in export earnings. Deerry leading the charge up five
percent to twenty eight point six billion. Also later that
hour on Thursday Show, we caught up with the two Kates,
Kate Ackland, Chair of Beef and Lamb New Zealand and
Kate Scott, Chief Executive of Horticulture New Zealand. Both of
(13:25):
their sectors are growing gate great guns, meat and wallup
fourteen percent to fourteen point one billion, Horticulture seven percent,
up seven percent to nine point five billion. And we're
going to wrap the Best of the Country the Field
Day's Special edition with Winston Peters who was amusing all
in Sundry at Mystery Creek yesterday. This is the Best
(13:47):
of the Country brought to you by Rabobank. I'm Jamie McKay.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
The best of the Country with Rabobank. Choose the bank
with one hundred and twenty years global acris business experience
grow with Rubberbag.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
This is Ray Smith, Director General of MPI. You come
out with some outstanding numbers, Ray Smith, with the situation
and outlook for primary industries. For people out there or
who are listening live on the radio, summarize those numbers
for me.
Speaker 9 (14:19):
Well, thanks, Jamie. You look, look, this is the happiest
day of the year for the primary sector, because we
just have this outstanding result sixty four billion dollars six
percent growth. You see dairy up five percent, horticulture up
seven and of course our red meat sector that was
struggling a couple of years ago, up fourteen percent. And
if you look at the overall result, we've grown twenty
(14:42):
We've grown twenty percent in the last two years. That's
an extra ten billion dollars extport earnings that we brought
into the country and that makes a massive difference to
all the things that New Zealanders want to be able
to do well.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
We know there's some great numbers out of dairy, we
know there's now some great numbers out of largely read meat, but.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
Wall is starting to pick up act.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
But in some ways, the standout number for me, and
we're going to be talking to Kate Scott from Horticulture
in New Zealand, is the rise and continued rise of horticulture.
Only a few years ago, two or three years ago, horticulture.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
And forestry were neck and neck.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Forestry is unfortunately going nowhere. Horticulture is up seven and
a half percent.
Speaker 5 (15:22):
To nine billion.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Kiwi fruit leading the charge up sixteen percent to nearly
five billion.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
It's phenomenal result, isn't it. And it just shows two things.
The world wants our fresh products and global prices are
good and is quite tight supplying out of a range
of countries for New Zealand's products. But you're right to
contrast with forestry. I mean, what's going to happen is
the kiwi fruit industry itself will end up being bigger
than the forestry sector. It's almost gone past it and
(15:51):
if you look at global kiwi fruit, it's probably about
six billion, four point eight billion out of New Zealand.
And even in wine, you know, wine's been a really
tough story for the last for the last year or two,
but we continue to increase our market share worldwide to
seventy on blanc. It's a unique product. People want to
drink it, but prices have been tough. But think about
the apple industry too. You know, they had those massive
(16:13):
cyclones down through the East Coast wiped out a lot
of ulchards, but it's now one point three billion and
great growth in the last year.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
You made special mention this morning in your address you've
mentioned viticulture.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Tough times for wine.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
We've got a bit of a grape glutt out there.
Arable also under the pump at the moment, along with
our vegetable grows.
Speaker 9 (16:34):
You've got to feel for them, the arable sector. You know,
they've had a shocking run of oversupply, the bad weather,
and we need those arable farmers to be doing your things.
So look, we think that'll come right in the mid term.
Vegetable sector. You know, vegetable sector is large year domestic sector,
and so fuel prices, fertilizer prices, all those input costs
being so high really hurt getting those products to market
(16:56):
for us.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
One of the other standout figures because you had some graphs.
Unfortunately graphs don't translate that well to live radio, but
you showed a growth of our primary export and that
was the ups and downs. But this, you know, it
was interesting just looking at some of the historical blips,
the global financial crisis, COVID cyclone, Gabrielle obviously the latest one.
(17:19):
We've had tariffs last year and of course this year,
the Middle.
Speaker 9 (17:23):
East crisis, and you can go all the way back
to the fifties with the Korean War, the seventies that
you know a lot of us went through with the
Royal crisis, from seventy three through to seventy nine.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Well, you're old enough to remember Carlos.
Speaker 9 (17:35):
Da I do remember we he Thursday was our Cali
Carlos Day at home. And you know, the thing that's
really impressive about the primary sector is that through you know,
fifty odd years of crisis, we've continued to grow. We've
grown phenomenally actually, and we continue to accelerate our growth rate.
And I think the reason for that, Jamie, is this
New Zealand has a comparative advantage and growing primary products
(17:58):
compared to the rest of the world. We've got great
so oils, a moderate climate, plenty of water. Our animals
eat outside, they live outside. We don't have to grow
grain to feed animals, so we've got a relatively much
more efficient system and we are always going to be
able to outcompete and many other countries and producing protein
for the world.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
We've had outstanding and growth in the primary sector in
the past two years or seasons, but twenty six twenty seven,
the farming season we're just heading into, is likely to
be muted, if that's the quiet right word, by the
fuel crisis, the Middle East War.
Speaker 9 (18:31):
I think two things that the Middle East crisis, you know,
the uncertainty around what's going to happen next there. We
just don't need to see a bomb drop on the
wrong place and actually affect those who all supplies into
New Zealand. And we're good for the moment, but that
crisis is not over. And I think the second thing is,
you know, we're heading into this al Nino weather pattern.
Whereas last year we had massive pasture growth, this year
it will flatten out a bit through the warmer months
(18:52):
and we'll see production come off a little bit. So
we're still going to do really well. Deer is going
to be great, red meat's going to be outstanding. Look,
there's a shortage the United States, is it a seventy
year low in supply of red meat? And New Zealand's
filling that spot, and it's filling China and Europe as well.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
How good are fat Americans for US? I shouldn't say that,
should I? But I mean they like to eat. They
love their hamburgers, which is why they're wanting out lean
grinding beef by the way, But the irony is they
are really chasing protein now because of the GLP one
weight loss strokes.
Speaker 9 (19:23):
Well, that's right, that's right. And so you know, with
the growth in people trying to get a bit of
weight off, particularly those of us with a few years
under our beout and taking these weight loss strokes. Want
they want proteins and New Zealand produces very high value proteins.
So they don't want to eat a lot, but they
want to eat a high value protein product and that's
what we produce here in New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
I want a cherry pick.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
I think one more stat that you're throughout this morning,
which was really interesting, great address, by the way, they
should film that and put it on Netflix. It was
that good ray the middle class in the world. Seventy
percent of the middle class people in.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
The world, they're just down there. Does this bloke realize
that we're on live?
Speaker 9 (20:02):
He just give me his credit card?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
We're away, Jamie.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Is that the NPI credit card? Right? Don't want drinks
are on us?
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Let me cherry pick the last figure, seventy percent of
the world's middle class and the next I don't know
how many years will be in the Indo Pacific region
that's our back door.
Speaker 9 (20:22):
Hey, listen, the world's population is going to grow by
another two billion people between now in twenty fifty and
a lot of those are going to be in India.
And so if you think about the rising, you know,
these countries that we're seen as developing countries, they're growing
in the numbers of people that are disliked you and meat.
You know, they want a decent holiday, they want their
kids to do well, and they want to eat the
(20:43):
foods that you and I eat. And so New Zealand
is so well placed and even with climate related effects,
New Zealand will be in a better place than most
countries in the world. So to everyone that's listening to
this in the primary sector, you're in the right place,
and just keep doing more of what you're doing and
know that the world loves your product.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Ray Smith, Direct General of MPI, thanks for your time.
Thanks on behalf of the rest of us for what
the primary sector is doing for this country.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (21:07):
Thanks, Jimmy. Don't spend up too much on that card.
You know we were in a bit of pressure in
the public service. Don't you go spending too much.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
Well. I've had some interesting broadcasting moments over thirty two years,
but I think that's the first time a stranger has
come up and interrupted a radio broadcast to give me, well,
give you.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
I thought he was like one of your starfs.
Speaker 9 (21:25):
This because we're friendly mate in the primary sector.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
So Colin Quigley, if you're out there, I've got your
credit card, mate, sheesus.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
Oh well, you live and learn. There's always a new experience.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
The best of the country with Rubbo back Choose the
bank with one hundred and twenty years global agribusiness experience
grow with rubboback.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
Wrapping the country.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
On day two from the field days, we're at Farmland's
the two Kates Ackland and Scott. I'm sorry for the
wee bit of dead air with Mike Casey at the start.
I'm going to throw him under the bus because other
than that he's been excellent over the past two days.
My tech Liamsson from Auckland, I think he had I
think he had too many emersons hazed and confused on
(22:07):
Tuesday night, Big night out on the tron for him. Okay,
we'll start with you, Kate Ackland, Beef and lamb New
Zealand outstanding numbers. Let me look at yours meat and
wool and wolves coming to the party now up fourteen
percent to fourteen point one billion, you're starting to chase
down Derry.
Speaker 10 (22:24):
Well that is absolutely our goal. But look how fantastic
is it and you can feel it here at Field
Days at the moment. You know, the energy is amazing
and you know we've had an amazing result fourteen point
one percent up but closely followed by horticulture.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Well, let's look at those Hawt numbers with Kate Scott,
Chief Executive of Horticulture New Zealand. Where are your numbers
up seven point five percent to nine But then you've
left forestry in your wake, because it's not that long
ago that forestry and horticulture were neck and neck. Can
we fruit no surprise leading the charge up sixteen percent
(22:59):
to four point eight billion?
Speaker 7 (23:01):
Yeah, look, key, we through it has had an absolutely
outstanding here and it's fair to say that they are
the cornerstone of the horticulture sector. But look, apples have
also had an amazing season. They're up close to one
point two and then we have our Tier two crops
that are also starting to show signs of ongoing growth
as well.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
So look, we're.
Speaker 7 (23:18):
Incredibly excited about the future trajectory for horticulture.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Now.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
Ray Smith made a special mention this morning of the
sectors that are doing it tough viticulture and you two
are both involved in that, obviously arable farming. And the
other one we mentioned, which is under your portfolio, Kate Scott,
is the veggie growers.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
That's a tough gig, isn't it. Yeah, look it is.
Speaker 7 (23:38):
Those veggie growers certainly go out and work incredibly hard
every day, and you know, they are the ones that
are feeling the pressure from increase in input costs, particularly
increased fuel, increased fertilizer when they're out there trying to
grow fresh vegetables for New Zealanders every day.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
So they do have a hard gig, but look.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
They remain incredibly resilient and you know, looking towards those
opportunities to keep chasing down some profitability for them as well.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
And the other one he mentioned was viticulture, and I
alluded it to it. You two have both got an
interest in there.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
Kate.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
That's how you started out, Kate Ackland here, that's how
you started out your professional career, isn't it I did.
Speaker 10 (24:13):
I'm a winemaker by training who married a farmer, and yes,
I saw the light and moved to the farm. And
I haven't looked back, but I do still have a
Vignelda winery and Marlboro and look, it is really really challenging,
incredibly challenging there. But I think, you know, the green
shoots are starting to appear on some of our markets.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Has the world changed to the younger people of today
not want to get suzzled.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
Like the boomers used to? My stereotyping here.
Speaker 10 (24:38):
I know the millennials. The millennials will save the wine industry.
Kate and I are millennials. We went to high school
together and we're doing our beast between us to save
the wine.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
You two went to high school together? Yeah? What the
school was that?
Speaker 3 (24:50):
In collegiate?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
Well you live in Bannockburn now, Kate Scott you made
the move I think from Wellington?
Speaker 5 (24:57):
Or are you back in Wellington?
Speaker 7 (24:58):
No, we're living in Wellington, but we still have piece
of bannock Boom paradise.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
No, that is paradise. You've got a vineyard down there.
How are you going with that?
Speaker 7 (25:05):
Well, look, it's fair to say it wasn't a great year.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
This year.
Speaker 7 (25:07):
We didn't harvest any grapes. We chose to leave them
on the vine and that's the second year in a row.
So I can attest to the challenges that the wine
sector is facing. But look, I'm a no expert at
making it, like Kates, my expertise might lie in the
drinking it.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Well, let's just finish with.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
The future for both of your industries. We'll start with you,
Kate Ackland would appear to me that red meat in
particular has a wonderful future. And this is off the
back of the protein boom.
Speaker 10 (25:31):
People want it, people absolutely want it. And you know,
the great thing is that's happening in all of our markets,
really really strong demand and strong prices in all markets,
and we're not sort of seeing that usual turn away
to check and all Paul for some of those turnative proteins.
The other thing that was mentioned in this morning is well,
really good to see a big uptick in wool prices. Finally,
(25:52):
and I hear that the auction might have been up
seven percent again today.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Oh yes, I've got some real Rachel shar has sent
me some big, big numbers for the strong wall industry.
Just find a word from you, Kate Scott. Horticulture, especially
Kiwi fruit, it's a super food. Is the future limitless?
Speaker 7 (26:08):
Look, I think the future is looking pretty bright for
the horticulture sector. We have ten billion insights and we
are going to try and keep on the coattails of
our friends in the sheep and beef sector. So we
are really excited about the future trajectory for horticulture.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
There we go, the two Kates wrapping the country on
day two from the Field Days, Kate Scott and Kate Ackland.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
The Best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
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Speaker 1 (26:37):
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Speaker 3 (26:39):
You remember Will Knows palmfuse body, You'll forget this.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Good morning, New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Welcome back to the Best of the Country Field Days
Special Live raw unedited audio. For Better or for Worse.
I'm Jamie the Kai. The show is brought to you
by Rabobank. We're growing a better New Zealand together. Well,
yesterday at Field Days he had the crowds flocking around
our broadcast site at Farmlands.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
His name is Winston.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Peters, New Zealand first Leader, cunning enough not to be
Deputy Prime Minister in the second half of the coalition
term of government. It'll be fair to say he's firing
a few grenades left, right and center. Well, yesterday he
was well and truly on a soapbox over Poles, Paris,
the Indian FTA National super and the Middle East War.
(27:34):
Just just to mention a few of the topics we
covered just before I forget from Rabobank.
Speaker 5 (27:40):
Gee, they're good outfit. They love giving away money.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
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Speaker 5 (27:46):
Do you know of a rural community.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
Initiative that could do with the funding boost, Whether it's
a grassroots group, charity or established community organization in a
rural area, Rabobank would love to hear from you.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Applications close August.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Three and can be and can be made via the
Rabobank website, rubobank dot co dot and z Winnie to
wrap the best of the Country Next Farmers.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
The best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience, Grow with Rubbobank as.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
That keynote interview for today. And there's a good crowd
turned up to see them and to hear them, including
Smiley Barrett who wants to meet Winston Peters. Okay, Winston Peters,
I went and listened to you at Federated Farmers this morning.
You got stuck into the poor old Feds. You're in
a cantankerous mood.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
No I wasn't.
Speaker 11 (28:36):
I've to tell people the facts. They've st of here
celebrating the fact that we've got sort of record exports
and we haven't. Our exports are good, yes, but they
could be so much better if the added value was
coming to our economy, our workforce and our people. But
it's not. It's going to other economies, and we're working that.
We're setting off to the French, we're setting off to
the Arts, we're setting off to everybody, but looking after
our own people. And when you've got things like added
(28:59):
value and it's lost to our economy, you become a
price taker and not a price May.
Speaker 4 (29:03):
You realize there's probably heaps of Fonterra Farmer shareholders out
there who quite happily pocketed the four hundred grand.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Well that quite have we.
Speaker 11 (29:11):
But don't forget they went into China blew one point
four bill and went bankrupt and nobody couldst sent the
prison for it. Well that was that, over and over
I was for a long long time. I was on
the Rag Cultural Sect Committee in nineteen seventy eight when
Harthy were never born. That's how long I've been watching
the ad culturals at Setting. And what I'm really saying
is that we were a clever, smart country like Singapore
(29:34):
like that I say crazy as at the moment, or
like the Irish at the moment and have been since
they become the Celtic Tiger. We'd be doing so much better.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
You made the announcement this morning a pout some pole
that's coming out this afternoon. I don't know whether it's
all legit pole, and I know you only comment on
good poles, the ones that suit your So you said
this's going to be a sea change.
Speaker 11 (29:57):
Now I tell him there is a sea change. I'm
talking about a poll that I saw last night, a
poll of ten thousand New Zealanders, not this hopeless one
thousand pole which is coming out today. But even that
pole will indicate that there's a sea change going on
at the moment. And the great news for you, Jami
and your audiences, there's a big move to a party
called New Zealand First. Now I know that as a
(30:19):
long national party supporter. You're going to want to celebrate that,
won't you, because when I were the only thing properly
the national party up at the moment, don't you realize that?
Speaker 5 (30:27):
Well? I realized that.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
I realized that you've kept chippy to touch, which is
good because you didn't really stay.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
True to your word in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 11 (30:35):
I've always been true. I've always been true to my word.
I never ever gave a commitment before twenty twenty three,
So which way I'd go. Didn't do it in twenty seven,
and didn't do it in forteen, didn't do it in
nine ninety three before the m MP, or nine inety
six when the first MP starting. I never have, So
don't tell a lie on your program.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Shane Jones was on the program yesterday and he was
very definitive about where New Zealand first and you stood
over the Paris Agreement. Tell the punters what you're going
to do with Paris.
Speaker 11 (31:04):
I've been saying for a long time. If you've got
four countries India, China, Russia and the United States guilty
of and responsible for sixty percent of the emissions already,
what hope have we got of changing anything? With our
small percentage and you know we can sneeze. Now they
can sneeze. That'll be our whole emissions for the year.
It's dramatically a hopeless cause were on and yet you
(31:26):
got the National Party went off to Paris and signed up.
Now I know you all voted for them, but when
Paula Benna went off to Paris and signed up, what
are these things you're signing up to. Well that it's
worse as twenty two billion dollars coming out of our
economy to try and correct our responsibility to the Paris Accord.
That's the worst case scenario. And can we afford that, No,
we can't. Just in case we can't afford it, they've
(31:47):
gone and committed themselves to pay thirty five billion to
India over the next fifteen years. And you'll look at
me and I a bet about now. I don't thought
you've been down here rioting and protesting when had the
best turned up to the day they're back in the deal.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
I'm not.
Speaker 11 (32:02):
And what I'm saying about the Paris Accord, it's over,
it's finished, it's to waste about time, and we are
not going to go along with it.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
Why do you keep burying your head in the sand
over issues such as the India Free Trade Agreement and
age of eligibility for national super I know you're going
to buy any a.
Speaker 11 (32:18):
Free trade of them. It's not a trade agreement, it's
a immigration to them. It's agreement for immigration, and serious
immigration coming in from India and out here in this
cunning and there's not a matter of being Indian or
pro in In or pro Chinese. Our immigration policies based
on people we need, not who need us. Look at
Ireland at the moment, Look at the UK, look at
the Europe and the Epean disaster of careless immigration, and
(32:40):
we're not having it here.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
You said this morning at Federated Farmers that we can
afford the current superannuation scheme.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
It's currently using.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Something like five or just over five five five two
percent of GDP. You threw the example out there of
nations such as some of these European nations where they
retire when they're about forty five eight or ten percent
for Spain. But realistically, you know as well as I do,
that we can't afford to stay on this current path.
Speaker 11 (33:09):
Is this amazing? Did he mention the colorn fun The
Color Fund was a fun begun twenty years ago to
put away money for when there was a big cost
rise in supernuation. It's now ninety two billion dollars. But
National KNAC never mentioned that fun and I'll tell you why.
The purpose of which there was mean to be used.
They don't tend to do that. They want to privatize it.
(33:30):
And you know what they wanted to actually do. What
they're saying is we can't run an economy properly, and
so we'll keep on getting grandmother and grandfather's savings to
try and disguise how badly we're doing. That's certainly what's
going on. And there are people sitting here, right here,
right now who remember when we were going at five
and a half percent year after year after year, five
and a half percent growth year after year after year,
(33:51):
and becoming number one in the world. We're still that
great count.
Speaker 5 (33:54):
Yeah, but hang on there.
Speaker 11 (33:54):
You know the Minister for Labor back then, the Minister
of Labor back then, this is how good we were.
He didn't have an elephantine memory or fantastic memory, but
he knew every unemployed people, a person registered. Guess why
they're only twenty nine not on thousand, three, one hundred
and twenty nine. And I'm telling these people and National
(34:14):
Layer Puddy get out of the way. You can't run
the economy. Give me a chance.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
How can we afford a final question on this one,
how can we afford a system where by the year
twenty fifty or sixty or whatever it does, we'll have
two workers for every one super anuitant.
Speaker 11 (34:30):
But that's such a joke. Look, we've got Ai coming.
Ai is with us said right here, right now, there
are going to be dramatic changes going forward. Everybody have
made all these sorts of forecasts that's going to happen.
That's not going to happen. The reason why we backed,
and we were in opposition at the time, the then
Cullen Fund, because it was designed to smooth out the
rising costs of the baby boomers. Well, the money has
(34:51):
been put away, there's ninety two billion in rising. It's
been the most successful fund. But nobody mentions that. And
the only reason why they don't mention is they they
don't intend to use it for its purpose. It's a
great way instead of saying to everybody, I'm hopeless, I'll
just go and get the retired all the savings from
a former era, and then I'll privatize those and then
(35:14):
I'll somehow make the balance the books balance. Well, the
books are never going to balance their way until we
turn our economy's growth rate around. Is it possible to
grow at four and five percent? Of course it is,
But no of their policies. You and I'll agree to
disagree on India. Free trade and superannuation. One thing he
does not really talking about on any free trade deal.
(35:35):
On any free trade deal, there's a luxo out there
and he's promising you that there's going to be big
trade and meat. Well, look, this is the farming show.
He can't tell me Australia success record of the last
five years in India because their sales in India when
it comes to meat have been pathetic, and so will
there be for us. Take apples for example, we now
able to nextport apples to India. Yes, when the two
(35:58):
months we don't produce apples, you know, do some research here.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
One thing we can agree on. It's one thing we
can aground.
Speaker 4 (36:08):
No, No, you're stuck in the seventies with the country
these days, Winston.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
We used to be the farming show. Just one more.
Let let's just agree on something.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
I think you and I will both agree that you're
doing a good job as foreign minister. I'm not going
to get an argument from you. There, am I so
wearing that hat?
Speaker 11 (36:26):
Well, I'm good. I'm out there using all my experiences
for long and the betterment of my country.
Speaker 5 (36:31):
And doing a good job. Talk to me, what do
you know?
Speaker 4 (36:34):
What's what's the intel you've heard this morning about the
Middle East and Trump.
Speaker 11 (36:39):
Look at everyone to build people's hopes up. But it's
quite promising. There's a momentum of understanding. We send our
ambassador back in just in the last few days into
Iran so that we'd be closer to the action. There
is it possibility that peace might at long last break out.
But all I'm saying is keep your fingers grasped, but
don't be too optimistic. Let's hope it develops and they
(37:04):
realize that there's no winners here now anymore.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Winston Peter's New Zealand first leader foreign minister. To give
him a big hand. He's largely doing a good job
for his country. Ay, and just one there's one thing
before I go. You got to vote you though you
can carry on your ponchean birding for hopeless political parties.
But I suggest on your second bird you take out
some insurance.
Speaker 5 (37:30):
Hey, you'll be pleased to know.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
I've just got a text and from Federated Farmers the
PR Department, and they're saying, Shane Jones yesterday, Winston Peters today.
You're sure you're not standing for New Zealand. First I
can assure you I'm not. But there it goes.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Winston Peter's the best of the country with Robbobank. Choose
the bank with one hundred and twenty years global agri
business experience.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Grow with Robbobank.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
You're in Winston Peter's Live yesterday at Mystery. My name's
Jamie McKay. This is the best of the country. It's
been a bit of a field. Day's Special. Had a
great three days in Hamilton, the fourth and final days
on today, beautiful weather more of the same. How good
were those Chiefs last night? I think the Canes are
(38:16):
going to be far too good for the Blues. Chiefs, Canes,
that's the best two teams in my mind in a
final next weekend.
Speaker 5 (38:23):
We'll see if I can give them.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
The commentators kiss the death I'm gonna leave you with
sting and fields of gold, just for field days.
Speaker 5 (38:29):
Catch you back next Saturday. The fields of.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
William Steiner will be among the fields of body. We'll
forget this in as jealousca as.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
We lie in fields of see the western.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Nor like a love a soul find the fields body,
feel her body and eyes.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Will you kiss on mouth among the fields of good?
Never made promise says.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
That never have been something I woke, I swearyskin. Enough
you walk and things.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
You walk in fields of.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
Many years, have past sisters, sons mong the fields body,
see the children around as the sun goes down among
the fields of wol you remember me well. The worst
(40:26):
will lose fond the fields. Body, you can tell the
son it is jealous Scot. When we walked in fields
of food, and we walked in fields of cool, and
(40:47):
we walked in fields of
The best of the country with Rabobank.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Grow with Rabobank.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
You remember Will Knows Palms Party. You'll forget the sun
in as jealousca as.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We walk in fields.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
Goody, I'm good morning New Zealand. I'm Jamie McKay. This
is the best of the country each and every Saturday
morning here on news Talks they'd be It is brought
to you by Rabobank. Spent a lot of time with
those guys this week at field Days and together we're
growing a better New Zealand, especially Rabobank. Every dollar you
invest with them gets invested back into the primary sector.
(00:48):
This is Fields of Gold by the way, by Sting
and that's what Mystery Creek was like. I don't know
the official numbers yet, I've only just got back to Dunedin,
but definitely in my mind record crowds.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
So we've got a bit of a Field Day special
for you.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
It's live, it's raw, and it's totally unedited. I can't
even remember half of it because I was that busy,
so it'll be a surprise to me as well as you.
So we're going to play you some of the audio
from some interviews we did this week. We're going to
kick it off with the interview that kicked off our
three day broadcast on Wednesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Minister
(01:23):
of Agriculture and Trade Todd McLay. It was a big
week of announcements from the NATS at Field Days. Ray
Smith is the Director General of MPI. Every year at
Field Days they released their Situation and Outlook for Primary
Industries report some outstanding numbers.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
We're going to dig into those with Ray.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
The Food and five a sector in this country is
forecast to top sixty four billion dollars in export earnings.
We continued on that theme on of course, that announcement
was made on Thursday. We continued that theme on Thursday
by talking to the two Kates Kate Ackland, Chair of
Beef and Lamb and Kate Scott, Chief Executive of Horticulture
(02:07):
and New Zealand. The numbers were good for them as well.
Meat and wallup fourteen percent to fourteen point one billion dollars.
Of course, Deirry's leading the charge by a country mile.
Horticultures going great Guns up seven percent to nine point
five billion, leaving forestry in its wake. It's not that
(02:27):
long ago that horticulture and forestry were neck and neck
for third place behind derry and red meat. And Wall's
making a comeback. That's contributing there as well. And we're
going to wrap it with one of the most entertaining
interviews I thought of the week Winston Peters yesterday New
Zealand First Leader along with his loyal deputy Prince, the
(02:50):
Prince of the Province's my TWOA Shane Jones. They were
shaking things up at Field Days. So on yesterday's show
he was well and truly on a soapbox as we
broadcast from the farmland site, Lots of people gathered to
hear him talk.
Speaker 5 (03:04):
He was fired up over poles Paris.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
The Indian FDA National super and we had a yard
about the Middle East warp all that. It's a Field
Day special here on the best of the country, the.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience, Grow with Rubbobank.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Good Afternoon the New Zealand And Good Afternoon, Day one
of Field Days here at Mystery Creek. I'm Jamie mckaye,
host of the Country, broadcasting from the Farmland site. Got
a cast of thousands today, let's get into it. Todd McLay,
Minister of Agricultures with us and I think we've got
the Prime Minister, Christopher luxon on the phone. We'll just
get him on and get him off. Prime Minister. Good afternoon.
(03:52):
I'm looking forward to your company tonight at the big
fundraiser for the Rural Support Trust. And I can tell
you I've worked really hard on a gag for you.
I hope you've got something in return.
Speaker 6 (04:02):
Oh well, Jamie at a mutually assured destruction, my friend,
if you launched one at me, I'll launch one back
at you as we did last year. But hey, listen,
great to be talking with you, and again, thank you
mate for all of your support of the sector and
what you're doing with the Royal Support Trust as well.
You've been awesome.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
Well.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
I think six hundred and thirteen people are going along
to the Claudlands Events Center tonight. The Minister of Agriculture
will be there as well. We're going to When I
say we, Mike Green and his team are going to
raise three four or five hundred thousand dollars who knows
how much for the Royal Support Trust.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
It's magnificent. Yeah, it's all good stuff.
Speaker 6 (04:36):
And I just think you know, we've obviously put some
more investments in there last year, as you were aware.
And there's a number of great organizations doing some great work,
and Royal Support Trust as one of them for sure.
Just making sure that farmers know that getting over the
stigma of talking about how things are for themselves and
actually it's about getting them access to those health and
well being services.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Now, your Minister of Agriculture, Todd mclach who's sitting right
beside me here, he was enough to turn up in person.
You told me you were too big of a celebrity
to walk down the aisles here at Field Days because
everyone wanted to stop and shake your hand.
Speaker 6 (05:09):
I love it. I will see you at some point.
I didn't if we're talking now, but it's good to
be with you. But isn't he doing a great job
that Tom McLay. You've got to be happy, don't you
As a farmer. He's opening up new markets all around
the world, he's getting rid of Wellington, out of farming,
he's backing rural New Zealand. He's getting the conditions right
for growth. And you know, just already in a few
hours I've been here just walking around. I mean, you know,
(05:30):
Gerry's on fire, Red Meats are doing well, Wolve's doing fantastic.
We've got Kiwi fruit going great, and there's really good,
you know, really good feel here, which is great.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
We're going to hear from Todd and just Key's made
a couple of announcements this morning. I think you're making
a big one this afternoon. You're going to let us
in on the secret.
Speaker 6 (05:48):
I won't yet. I'm about got to go announce it
I think at twelve thirty or.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Twelve forty five today.
Speaker 6 (05:52):
But yeah, again, we just want to we want the
sex to know where a government that's actually working with them,
not doing things to them. And actually we've to do
our job, which is making sure we create the conditions
for the success ambition, aspiration and growth, which is important.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Well, Prime Minister, I know you've got a busy dance
card this afternoon. I'll leave you, thank you very much
for your time and we will see you tonight at
the big Rural Industry Leaders Debate and event.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
It's going to be great. It'll be lovely Jamie.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
And thanks again for your support.
Speaker 7 (06:19):
Mate.
Speaker 6 (06:19):
We appreciate it what you do the sector.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Thank you very much. Well, here's a man who's doing
a lot more than me for the sector. He's never
at home. He is the Minister of Agriculture, Todd maclay.
I wouldn't mind your air points. Well, you can have
them if you want that, no problem at all. Hey, Jamie.
Speaker 8 (06:33):
Thanks having on the sunshining of the white out of
the grass is growing and I've seen at least one
farmer that's smiling.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
So it's a good start of the day. The Prime
Minister has a big announcement coming up. He's got his
luncheon and O Todd charteris is out there somewhere. He's
got to go to the lunch and Lawrence Meredith, the
EU Ambassadors coming on the show. He's got to get
to the luncheon, as do you. You've made a couple
of announcements this morning, one of them around the Minister
of Agriculture's Future Leaders Scholarship three being presented annually.
Speaker 5 (07:02):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 8 (07:03):
So I've been thinking a lot about it the last
sort of four or five months. And how do we
identify the farm leaders of the future and how do
we mentor them and bring them on. And so we're
doing is creating a scholarship. We'll announce it at the
Field Days. Every year three young New Zealanders are going
to mentor they're be able to go and do some
study in New Zealand overseas, you know, look at best practice.
(07:23):
How do we start reinvesting in the young farmers of
today and grow those leaders of the future. And so
a little step in the right director, I'll tell you
what's really pleasing. After we made the announcement at another
event and the Field Days organized themselves come out and
said they thought it was a greater year. They want
to join it and chuck some money. And so at
the moment it will be three scholarships year at ten
(07:45):
thousand dollars each. I'm going to go and bend their
arm a little bit. Will grow that because I think
we could do four or five people a year.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
I was choking to the Prime Minister about them being
a big time celebrity not being able to walk down
the aisles and the streets here at Field Days.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
That's actually true.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
He's gets stopped all the time as to you, what's
the feedback you're getting from the punters at the coal face,
I e.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
The farmers.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Look.
Speaker 8 (08:07):
Look, I think there's two things going on. You know,
the sector rightly is feeling good about itself. You know,
you've produced the highest quality, safest food and fiber of
any country in the world, and consumers overseas are wanting
it and they're paying more for it. You think about America,
and I was asked the other day, am I frustrated
by what's happening in the States. It's hard to be
(08:28):
frustrated when it happens again and again and again. Feels
like every time, you know, we get inflation down, a
cost down, production up, America does something else. But even
with those tariffs, actually we're selling them about four percent
more by value than we were a year ago. It's
the primary sector. You think about that European Union free
trade agreement which we came to government.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
We got in six months before.
Speaker 8 (08:49):
We're told we could in the first two years three
billion dollars worth of extra exports the EU. It's the
primary sector leading that. So across the board, farmers have
a right to feel good, and I reckon New Zealanders
are backing you. Now they're recognizing the importance of what
you're doing. The second thing that I think that I'm
noticing as I wander around, as you know, people are happy,
(09:12):
but I just want to get back on the farms
and farm some more. We've worked hard as a coalition
government to simplify rules and get rid of them, get
rid of the costs, get rid of those stupid bloody
taxes that Chris Hipkins was always trying to put on
farmers everywhere, and back you and you should be proud
of what you're doing.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
You got a government. It's going to work hard. How
fortuitous was the timing around the Indian FTO.
Speaker 8 (09:33):
Well, we worked very hard of it. Do you know
April of this year, sixteen years ago was the first
negotiation New Zealand had with India and successive governments have had.
As an ambition, Chris Luxon said before the election, we'll
do a deal in her first term. He backed me
to get on a plane and Jamie, I've been there
eight or nine times in the two years. From start
to finish, it took as nine months. I was just
(09:56):
up in Europe last week and I saw the and
Commissioner for Trade and he was a little bit grumpy
with me because I've just done a trade deal and
his question was Todd, you're only five million people, you're
a little economy. Your deal in many places is better
than how's how do you do it? And it comes
to relationship, right, We build a strong relationship with any
(10:17):
of the government and actually I know farmers to do
well with it. So in an uncertain world we're not
sure what America is doing and everywhere else, we've got
one point four billion consumers that want what we produce
and they're willing to pay for it. I think that's
going to be very important for rural New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
And you've done a great job. Then I'm going to
give you one more of the government, one more pat
on the back, or maybe even the National Party at
the risk of sounding like a bit of a National
Party Lackey, but you've proposed the policy this week doubling
funding for the Q two National Trust. That is the
best bang for buck you can get for conservation.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
It really really is.
Speaker 8 (10:51):
When I go overseas Agricultural Minister, I've got the easiest
job in the world because our farmer is the best
at what they do and everybody wants to be like
you there as Trade minister. It's a bliming hard job
because you're too good at what you do and they
want to block you from being there. And what it
gets raised occasionally is what is New Zealand doing about environment?
So the doubling of the QILI Trust Fund means much
(11:12):
more to do and this is just helping farmers to
do what they do so very well themselves, which is
to care about the land. We're got some other announcements
this week as well in that space that are going
to help. The PM wouldn't tease for you what he's
about to announce, but let me put it this way.
We've spent three years simplifying roles, making it easier for
you to meet your obligations.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
You know.
Speaker 8 (11:34):
The only way we get to maximize all these trade deals.
We're going to produce more because we now there's more
demand for what we're allowed to produce. How about this,
If you can show the same or an improved environment
of climate foot print, why shouldn't you be able to
do whatever you want on your own land? You know,
choosing a land use to increase productivity except plant pine
trees because I banned.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
That the best of the country with Robber Bank.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agri business experts grow with rubber Back.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
You're a number will.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Thoses Palms Party.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
You'll forget the.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Good morning news, Ellen, and welcome back to the Best
of the Country. I'm Jamie Mackay, just back from field
Days last day.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Today.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
A lot of the urban folks turn up to Mystery
Creek on a Saturday. As I said at the top
of the show, I don't know the attendance numbers, but
it's got to be a record.
Speaker 5 (12:31):
There was people for Africa at field Days.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
This is fields of Gold and that would That's what
it was like for many of the exhibitors at field Days.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
Happy times, Happy Days Now.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
On Thursday, the Director General of MPI released the Situation
and Outlook for Primary Industries Report. He did it on
Thursday morning at Field Days. We caught up with them
at lunchtime on our show as we broadcast from Farmland
site between twelve and one. So the numbers were pretty
impress of food and fiber sector forecast top sixty four
(13:05):
billion in export earnings. Deerry leading the charge up five
percent to twenty eight point six billion. Also later that
hour on Thursday Show, we caught up with the two Kates,
Kate Ackland, Chair of Beef and Lamb New Zealand and
Kate Scott, Chief Executive of Horticulture New Zealand. Both of
(13:25):
their sectors are growing gate great guns, meat and wallup
fourteen percent to fourteen point one billion, Horticulture seven percent,
up seven percent to nine point five billion. And we're
going to wrap the Best of the Country the Field
Day's Special edition with Winston Peters who was amusing all
in Sundry at Mystery Creek yesterday. This is the Best
(13:47):
of the Country brought to you by Rabobank. I'm Jamie McKay.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
The best of the Country with Rabobank. Choose the bank
with one hundred and twenty years global acris business experience
grow with Rubberbag.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
This is Ray Smith, Director General of MPI. You come
out with some outstanding numbers, Ray Smith, with the situation
and outlook for primary industries. For people out there or
who are listening live on the radio, summarize those numbers
for me.
Speaker 9 (14:19):
Well, thanks, Jamie. You look, look, this is the happiest
day of the year for the primary sector, because we
just have this outstanding result sixty four billion dollars six
percent growth. You see dairy up five percent, horticulture up
seven and of course our red meat sector that was
struggling a couple of years ago, up fourteen percent. And
if you look at the overall result, we've grown twenty
(14:42):
We've grown twenty percent in the last two years. That's
an extra ten billion dollars extport earnings that we brought
into the country and that makes a massive difference to
all the things that New Zealanders want to be able
to do well.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
We know there's some great numbers out of dairy, we
know there's now some great numbers out of largely read meat, but.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
Wall is starting to pick up act.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
But in some ways, the standout number for me, and
we're going to be talking to Kate Scott from Horticulture
in New Zealand, is the rise and continued rise of horticulture.
Only a few years ago, two or three years ago, horticulture.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
And forestry were neck and neck.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Forestry is unfortunately going nowhere. Horticulture is up seven and
a half percent.
Speaker 5 (15:22):
To nine billion.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Kiwi fruit leading the charge up sixteen percent to nearly
five billion.
Speaker 9 (15:29):
It's phenomenal result, isn't it. And it just shows two things.
The world wants our fresh products and global prices are
good and is quite tight supplying out of a range
of countries for New Zealand's products. But you're right to
contrast with forestry. I mean, what's going to happen is
the kiwi fruit industry itself will end up being bigger
than the forestry sector. It's almost gone past it and
(15:51):
if you look at global kiwi fruit, it's probably about
six billion, four point eight billion out of New Zealand.
And even in wine, you know, wine's been a really
tough story for the last for the last year or two,
but we continue to increase our market share worldwide to
seventy on blanc. It's a unique product. People want to
drink it, but prices have been tough. But think about
the apple industry too. You know, they had those massive
(16:13):
cyclones down through the East Coast wiped out a lot
of ulchards, but it's now one point three billion and
great growth in the last year.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
You made special mention this morning in your address you've
mentioned viticulture.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Tough times for wine.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
We've got a bit of a grape glutt out there.
Arable also under the pump at the moment, along with
our vegetable grows.
Speaker 9 (16:34):
You've got to feel for them, the arable sector. You know,
they've had a shocking run of oversupply, the bad weather,
and we need those arable farmers to be doing your things.
So look, we think that'll come right in the mid term.
Vegetable sector. You know, vegetable sector is large year domestic sector,
and so fuel prices, fertilizer prices, all those input costs
being so high really hurt getting those products to market
(16:56):
for us.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
One of the other standout figures because you had some graphs.
Unfortunately graphs don't translate that well to live radio, but
you showed a growth of our primary export and that
was the ups and downs. But this, you know, it
was interesting just looking at some of the historical blips,
the global financial crisis, COVID cyclone, Gabrielle obviously the latest one.
(17:19):
We've had tariffs last year and of course this year,
the Middle.
Speaker 9 (17:23):
East crisis, and you can go all the way back
to the fifties with the Korean War, the seventies that
you know a lot of us went through with the
Royal crisis, from seventy three through to seventy nine.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Well, you're old enough to remember Carlos.
Speaker 9 (17:35):
Da I do remember we he Thursday was our Cali
Carlos Day at home. And you know, the thing that's
really impressive about the primary sector is that through you know,
fifty odd years of crisis, we've continued to grow. We've
grown phenomenally actually, and we continue to accelerate our growth rate.
And I think the reason for that, Jamie, is this
New Zealand has a comparative advantage and growing primary products
(17:58):
compared to the rest of the world. We've got great
so oils, a moderate climate, plenty of water. Our animals
eat outside, they live outside. We don't have to grow
grain to feed animals, so we've got a relatively much
more efficient system and we are always going to be
able to outcompete and many other countries and producing protein
for the world.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
We've had outstanding and growth in the primary sector in
the past two years or seasons, but twenty six twenty seven,
the farming season we're just heading into, is likely to
be muted, if that's the quiet right word, by the
fuel crisis, the Middle East War.
Speaker 9 (18:31):
I think two things that the Middle East crisis, you know,
the uncertainty around what's going to happen next there. We
just don't need to see a bomb drop on the
wrong place and actually affect those who all supplies into
New Zealand. And we're good for the moment, but that
crisis is not over. And I think the second thing is,
you know, we're heading into this al Nino weather pattern.
Whereas last year we had massive pasture growth, this year
it will flatten out a bit through the warmer months
(18:52):
and we'll see production come off a little bit. So
we're still going to do really well. Deer is going
to be great, red meat's going to be outstanding. Look,
there's a shortage the United States, is it a seventy
year low in supply of red meat? And New Zealand's
filling that spot, and it's filling China and Europe as well.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
How good are fat Americans for US? I shouldn't say that,
should I? But I mean they like to eat. They
love their hamburgers, which is why they're wanting out lean
grinding beef by the way, But the irony is they
are really chasing protein now because of the GLP one
weight loss strokes.
Speaker 9 (19:23):
Well, that's right, that's right. And so you know, with
the growth in people trying to get a bit of
weight off, particularly those of us with a few years
under our beout and taking these weight loss strokes. Want
they want proteins and New Zealand produces very high value proteins.
So they don't want to eat a lot, but they
want to eat a high value protein product and that's
what we produce here in New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
I want a cherry pick.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
I think one more stat that you're throughout this morning,
which was really interesting, great address, by the way, they
should film that and put it on Netflix. It was
that good ray the middle class in the world. Seventy
percent of the middle class people in.
Speaker 5 (19:57):
The world, they're just down there. Does this bloke realize
that we're on live?
Speaker 9 (20:02):
He just give me his credit card?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
We're away, Jamie.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
Is that the NPI credit card? Right? Don't want drinks
are on us?
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Let me cherry pick the last figure, seventy percent of
the world's middle class and the next I don't know
how many years will be in the Indo Pacific region
that's our back door.
Speaker 9 (20:22):
Hey, listen, the world's population is going to grow by
another two billion people between now in twenty fifty and
a lot of those are going to be in India.
And so if you think about the rising, you know,
these countries that we're seen as developing countries, they're growing
in the numbers of people that are disliked you and meat.
You know, they want a decent holiday, they want their
kids to do well, and they want to eat the
(20:43):
foods that you and I eat. And so New Zealand
is so well placed and even with climate related effects,
New Zealand will be in a better place than most
countries in the world. So to everyone that's listening to
this in the primary sector, you're in the right place,
and just keep doing more of what you're doing and
know that the world loves your product.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Ray Smith, Direct General of MPI, thanks for your time.
Thanks on behalf of the rest of us for what
the primary sector is doing for this country.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (21:07):
Thanks, Jimmy. Don't spend up too much on that card.
You know we were in a bit of pressure in
the public service. Don't you go spending too much.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
Well. I've had some interesting broadcasting moments over thirty two years,
but I think that's the first time a stranger has
come up and interrupted a radio broadcast to give me, well,
give you.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
I thought he was like one of your starfs.
Speaker 9 (21:25):
This because we're friendly mate in the primary sector.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
So Colin Quigley, if you're out there, I've got your
credit card, mate, sheesus.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
Oh well, you live and learn. There's always a new experience.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
The best of the country with Rubbo back Choose the
bank with one hundred and twenty years global agribusiness experience
grow with rubboback.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
Wrapping the country.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
On day two from the field days, we're at Farmland's
the two Kates Ackland and Scott. I'm sorry for the
wee bit of dead air with Mike Casey at the start.
I'm going to throw him under the bus because other
than that he's been excellent over the past two days.
My tech Liamsson from Auckland, I think he had I
think he had too many emersons hazed and confused on
(22:07):
Tuesday night, Big night out on the tron for him. Okay,
we'll start with you, Kate Ackland, Beef and lamb New
Zealand outstanding numbers. Let me look at yours meat and
wool and wolves coming to the party now up fourteen
percent to fourteen point one billion, you're starting to chase
down Derry.
Speaker 10 (22:24):
Well that is absolutely our goal. But look how fantastic
is it and you can feel it here at Field
Days at the moment. You know, the energy is amazing
and you know we've had an amazing result fourteen point
one percent up but closely followed by horticulture.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Well, let's look at those Hawt numbers with Kate Scott,
Chief Executive of Horticulture New Zealand. Where are your numbers
up seven point five percent to nine But then you've
left forestry in your wake, because it's not that long
ago that forestry and horticulture were neck and neck. Can
we fruit no surprise leading the charge up sixteen percent
(22:59):
to four point eight billion?
Speaker 7 (23:01):
Yeah, look, key, we through it has had an absolutely
outstanding here and it's fair to say that they are
the cornerstone of the horticulture sector. But look, apples have
also had an amazing season. They're up close to one
point two and then we have our Tier two crops
that are also starting to show signs of ongoing growth
as well.
Speaker 5 (23:18):
So look, we're.
Speaker 7 (23:18):
Incredibly excited about the future trajectory for horticulture.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Now.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
Ray Smith made a special mention this morning of the
sectors that are doing it tough viticulture and you two
are both involved in that, obviously arable farming. And the
other one we mentioned, which is under your portfolio, Kate Scott,
is the veggie growers.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
That's a tough gig, isn't it. Yeah, look it is.
Speaker 7 (23:38):
Those veggie growers certainly go out and work incredibly hard
every day, and you know, they are the ones that
are feeling the pressure from increase in input costs, particularly
increased fuel, increased fertilizer when they're out there trying to
grow fresh vegetables for New Zealanders every day.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
So they do have a hard gig, but look.
Speaker 7 (23:55):
They remain incredibly resilient and you know, looking towards those
opportunities to keep chasing down some profitability for them as well.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
And the other one he mentioned was viticulture, and I
alluded it to it. You two have both got an
interest in there.
Speaker 5 (24:07):
Kate.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
That's how you started out, Kate Ackland here, that's how
you started out your professional career, isn't it I did.
Speaker 10 (24:13):
I'm a winemaker by training who married a farmer, and yes,
I saw the light and moved to the farm. And
I haven't looked back, but I do still have a
Vignelda winery and Marlboro and look, it is really really challenging,
incredibly challenging there. But I think, you know, the green
shoots are starting to appear on some of our markets.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Has the world changed to the younger people of today
not want to get suzzled.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
Like the boomers used to? My stereotyping here.
Speaker 10 (24:38):
I know the millennials. The millennials will save the wine industry.
Kate and I are millennials. We went to high school
together and we're doing our beast between us to save
the wine.
Speaker 5 (24:46):
You two went to high school together? Yeah? What the
school was that?
Speaker 3 (24:50):
In collegiate?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
Well you live in Bannockburn now, Kate Scott you made
the move I think from Wellington?
Speaker 5 (24:57):
Or are you back in Wellington?
Speaker 7 (24:58):
No, we're living in Wellington, but we still have piece
of bannock Boom paradise.
Speaker 4 (25:01):
No, that is paradise. You've got a vineyard down there.
How are you going with that?
Speaker 7 (25:05):
Well, look, it's fair to say it wasn't a great year.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
This year.
Speaker 7 (25:07):
We didn't harvest any grapes. We chose to leave them
on the vine and that's the second year in a row.
So I can attest to the challenges that the wine
sector is facing. But look, I'm a no expert at
making it, like Kates, my expertise might lie in the
drinking it.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Well, let's just finish with.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
The future for both of your industries. We'll start with you,
Kate Ackland would appear to me that red meat in
particular has a wonderful future. And this is off the
back of the protein boom.
Speaker 10 (25:31):
People want it, people absolutely want it. And you know,
the great thing is that's happening in all of our markets,
really really strong demand and strong prices in all markets,
and we're not sort of seeing that usual turn away
to check and all Paul for some of those turnative proteins.
The other thing that was mentioned in this morning is well,
really good to see a big uptick in wool prices. Finally,
(25:52):
and I hear that the auction might have been up
seven percent again today.
Speaker 4 (25:55):
Oh yes, I've got some real Rachel shar has sent
me some big, big numbers for the strong wall industry.
Just find a word from you, Kate Scott. Horticulture, especially
Kiwi fruit, it's a super food. Is the future limitless?
Speaker 7 (26:08):
Look, I think the future is looking pretty bright for
the horticulture sector. We have ten billion insights and we
are going to try and keep on the coattails of
our friends in the sheep and beef sector. So we
are really excited about the future trajectory for horticulture.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
There we go, the two Kates wrapping the country on
day two from the Field Days, Kate Scott and Kate Ackland.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
The Best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
acribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
Grow with Rubbobank.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
You remember Will Knows palmfuse body, You'll forget this.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
Good morning, New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Welcome back to the Best of the Country Field Days
Special Live raw unedited audio. For Better or for Worse.
I'm Jamie the Kai. The show is brought to you
by Rabobank. We're growing a better New Zealand together. Well,
yesterday at Field Days he had the crowds flocking around
our broadcast site at Farmlands.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
His name is Winston.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Peters, New Zealand first Leader, cunning enough not to be
Deputy Prime Minister in the second half of the coalition
term of government. It'll be fair to say he's firing
a few grenades left, right and center. Well, yesterday he
was well and truly on a soapbox over Poles, Paris,
the Indian FTA National super and the Middle East War.
(27:34):
Just just to mention a few of the topics we
covered just before I forget from Rabobank.
Speaker 5 (27:40):
Gee, they're good outfit. They love giving away money.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
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Speaker 5 (27:46):
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Speaker 4 (27:48):
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a grassroots group, charity or established community organization in a
rural area, Rabobank would love to hear from you.
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Applications close August.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Three and can be and can be made via the
Rabobank website, rubobank dot co dot and z Winnie to
wrap the best of the Country Next Farmers.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
The best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience, Grow with Rubbobank as.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
That keynote interview for today. And there's a good crowd
turned up to see them and to hear them, including
Smiley Barrett who wants to meet Winston Peters. Okay, Winston Peters,
I went and listened to you at Federated Farmers this morning.
You got stuck into the poor old Feds. You're in
a cantankerous mood.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
No I wasn't.
Speaker 11 (28:36):
I've to tell people the facts. They've st of here
celebrating the fact that we've got sort of record exports
and we haven't. Our exports are good, yes, but they
could be so much better if the added value was
coming to our economy, our workforce and our people. But
it's not. It's going to other economies, and we're working that.
We're setting off to the French, we're setting off to
the Arts, we're setting off to everybody, but looking after
our own people. And when you've got things like added
(28:59):
value and it's lost to our economy, you become a
price taker and not a price May.
Speaker 4 (29:03):
You realize there's probably heaps of Fonterra Farmer shareholders out
there who quite happily pocketed the four hundred grand.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Well that quite have we.
Speaker 11 (29:11):
But don't forget they went into China blew one point
four bill and went bankrupt and nobody couldst sent the
prison for it. Well that was that, over and over
I was for a long long time. I was on
the Rag Cultural Sect Committee in nineteen seventy eight when
Harthy were never born. That's how long I've been watching
the ad culturals at Setting. And what I'm really saying
is that we were a clever, smart country like Singapore
(29:34):
like that I say crazy as at the moment, or
like the Irish at the moment and have been since
they become the Celtic Tiger. We'd be doing so much better.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
You made the announcement this morning a pout some pole
that's coming out this afternoon. I don't know whether it's
all legit pole, and I know you only comment on
good poles, the ones that suit your So you said
this's going to be a sea change.
Speaker 11 (29:57):
Now I tell him there is a sea change. I'm
talking about a poll that I saw last night, a
poll of ten thousand New Zealanders, not this hopeless one
thousand pole which is coming out today. But even that
pole will indicate that there's a sea change going on
at the moment. And the great news for you, Jami
and your audiences, there's a big move to a party
called New Zealand First. Now I know that as a
(30:19):
long national party supporter. You're going to want to celebrate that,
won't you, because when I were the only thing properly
the national party up at the moment, don't you realize that?
Speaker 5 (30:27):
Well? I realized that.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
I realized that you've kept chippy to touch, which is
good because you didn't really stay.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
True to your word in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 11 (30:35):
I've always been true. I've always been true to my word.
I never ever gave a commitment before twenty twenty three,
So which way I'd go. Didn't do it in twenty seven,
and didn't do it in forteen, didn't do it in
nine ninety three before the m MP, or nine inety
six when the first MP starting. I never have, So
don't tell a lie on your program.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
Shane Jones was on the program yesterday and he was
very definitive about where New Zealand first and you stood
over the Paris Agreement. Tell the punters what you're going
to do with Paris.
Speaker 11 (31:04):
I've been saying for a long time. If you've got
four countries India, China, Russia and the United States guilty
of and responsible for sixty percent of the emissions already,
what hope have we got of changing anything? With our
small percentage and you know we can sneeze. Now they
can sneeze. That'll be our whole emissions for the year.
It's dramatically a hopeless cause were on and yet you
(31:26):
got the National Party went off to Paris and signed up.
Now I know you all voted for them, but when
Paula Benna went off to Paris and signed up, what
are these things you're signing up to. Well that it's
worse as twenty two billion dollars coming out of our
economy to try and correct our responsibility to the Paris Accord.
That's the worst case scenario. And can we afford that, No,
we can't. Just in case we can't afford it, they've
(31:47):
gone and committed themselves to pay thirty five billion to
India over the next fifteen years. And you'll look at
me and I a bet about now. I don't thought
you've been down here rioting and protesting when had the
best turned up to the day they're back in the deal.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
I'm not.
Speaker 11 (32:02):
And what I'm saying about the Paris Accord, it's over,
it's finished, it's to waste about time, and we are
not going to go along with it.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
Why do you keep burying your head in the sand
over issues such as the India Free Trade Agreement and
age of eligibility for national super I know you're going
to buy any a.
Speaker 11 (32:18):
Free trade of them. It's not a trade agreement, it's
a immigration to them. It's agreement for immigration, and serious
immigration coming in from India and out here in this
cunning and there's not a matter of being Indian or
pro in In or pro Chinese. Our immigration policies based
on people we need, not who need us. Look at
Ireland at the moment, Look at the UK, look at
the Europe and the Epean disaster of careless immigration, and
(32:40):
we're not having it here.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
You said this morning at Federated Farmers that we can
afford the current superannuation scheme.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
It's currently using.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Something like five or just over five five five two
percent of GDP. You threw the example out there of
nations such as some of these European nations where they
retire when they're about forty five eight or ten percent
for Spain. But realistically, you know as well as I do,
that we can't afford to stay on this current path.
Speaker 11 (33:09):
Is this amazing? Did he mention the colorn fun The
Color Fund was a fun begun twenty years ago to
put away money for when there was a big cost
rise in supernuation. It's now ninety two billion dollars. But
National KNAC never mentioned that fun and I'll tell you why.
The purpose of which there was mean to be used.
They don't tend to do that. They want to privatize it.
(33:30):
And you know what they wanted to actually do. What
they're saying is we can't run an economy properly, and
so we'll keep on getting grandmother and grandfather's savings to
try and disguise how badly we're doing. That's certainly what's
going on. And there are people sitting here, right here,
right now who remember when we were going at five
and a half percent year after year after year, five
and a half percent growth year after year after year,
(33:51):
and becoming number one in the world. We're still that
great count.
Speaker 5 (33:54):
Yeah, but hang on there.
Speaker 11 (33:54):
You know the Minister for Labor back then, the Minister
of Labor back then, this is how good we were.
He didn't have an elephantine memory or fantastic memory, but
he knew every unemployed people, a person registered. Guess why
they're only twenty nine not on thousand, three, one hundred
and twenty nine. And I'm telling these people and National
(34:14):
Layer Puddy get out of the way. You can't run
the economy. Give me a chance.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
How can we afford a final question on this one,
how can we afford a system where by the year
twenty fifty or sixty or whatever it does, we'll have
two workers for every one super anuitant.
Speaker 11 (34:30):
But that's such a joke. Look, we've got Ai coming.
Ai is with us said right here, right now, there
are going to be dramatic changes going forward. Everybody have
made all these sorts of forecasts that's going to happen.
That's not going to happen. The reason why we backed,
and we were in opposition at the time, the then
Cullen Fund, because it was designed to smooth out the
rising costs of the baby boomers. Well, the money has
(34:51):
been put away, there's ninety two billion in rising. It's
been the most successful fund. But nobody mentions that. And
the only reason why they don't mention is they they
don't intend to use it for its purpose. It's a
great way instead of saying to everybody, I'm hopeless, I'll
just go and get the retired all the savings from
a former era, and then I'll privatize those and then
(35:14):
I'll somehow make the balance the books balance. Well, the
books are never going to balance their way until we
turn our economy's growth rate around. Is it possible to
grow at four and five percent? Of course it is,
But no of their policies. You and I'll agree to
disagree on India. Free trade and superannuation. One thing he
does not really talking about on any free trade deal.
(35:35):
On any free trade deal, there's a luxo out there
and he's promising you that there's going to be big
trade and meat. Well, look, this is the farming show.
He can't tell me Australia success record of the last
five years in India because their sales in India when
it comes to meat have been pathetic, and so will
there be for us. Take apples for example, we now
able to nextport apples to India. Yes, when the two
(35:58):
months we don't produce apples, you know, do some research here.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
One thing we can agree on. It's one thing we
can aground.
Speaker 4 (36:08):
No, No, you're stuck in the seventies with the country
these days, Winston.
Speaker 5 (36:11):
We used to be the farming show. Just one more.
Let let's just agree on something.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
I think you and I will both agree that you're
doing a good job as foreign minister. I'm not going
to get an argument from you. There, am I so
wearing that hat?
Speaker 11 (36:26):
Well, I'm good. I'm out there using all my experiences
for long and the betterment of my country.
Speaker 5 (36:31):
And doing a good job. Talk to me, what do
you know?
Speaker 4 (36:34):
What's what's the intel you've heard this morning about the
Middle East and Trump.
Speaker 11 (36:39):
Look at everyone to build people's hopes up. But it's
quite promising. There's a momentum of understanding. We send our
ambassador back in just in the last few days into
Iran so that we'd be closer to the action. There
is it possibility that peace might at long last break out.
But all I'm saying is keep your fingers grasped, but
don't be too optimistic. Let's hope it develops and they
(37:04):
realize that there's no winners here now anymore.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
Winston Peter's New Zealand first leader foreign minister. To give
him a big hand. He's largely doing a good job
for his country. Ay, and just one there's one thing
before I go. You got to vote you though you
can carry on your ponchean birding for hopeless political parties.
But I suggest on your second bird you take out
some insurance.
Speaker 5 (37:30):
Hey, you'll be pleased to know.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
I've just got a text and from Federated Farmers the
PR Department, and they're saying, Shane Jones yesterday, Winston Peters today.
You're sure you're not standing for New Zealand. First I
can assure you I'm not. But there it goes.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Winston Peter's the best of the country with Robbobank. Choose
the bank with one hundred and twenty years global agri
business experience.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Grow with Robbobank.
Speaker 4 (37:53):
You're in Winston Peter's Live yesterday at Mystery. My name's
Jamie McKay. This is the best of the country. It's
been a bit of a field. Day's Special. Had a
great three days in Hamilton, the fourth and final days
on today, beautiful weather more of the same. How good
were those Chiefs last night? I think the Canes are
(38:16):
going to be far too good for the Blues. Chiefs, Canes,
that's the best two teams in my mind in a
final next weekend.
Speaker 5 (38:23):
We'll see if I can give them.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
The commentators kiss the death I'm gonna leave you with
sting and fields of gold, just for field days.
Speaker 5 (38:29):
Catch you back next Saturday. The fields of.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
William Steiner will be among the fields of body. We'll
forget this in as jealousca as.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
We lie in fields of see the western.
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Nor like a love a soul find the fields body,
feel her body and eyes.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Will you kiss on mouth among the fields of good?
Never made promise says.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
That never have been something I woke, I swearyskin. Enough
you walk and things.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
You walk in fields of.
Speaker 3 (40:05):
Many years, have past sisters, sons mong the fields body,
see the children around as the sun goes down among
the fields of wol you remember me well. The worst
(40:26):
will lose fond the fields. Body, you can tell the
son it is jealous Scot. When we walked in fields
of food, and we walked in fields of cool, and
(40:47):
we walked in fields of
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