July 31, 2026 • 41 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Andrew Hoggard and Grant McCallum, Stefan Vogel, Jacqueline Rowarth, Jane Smith, and Shane Jones.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The best of the country with Robobank.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Grow with Rabobank, should.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Tack gambacked have.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
Giday In Good Morning New Zealand. I'm Jamie mckaine. This
is the best of the Country, brought to you by
Rabobank on a Saturday morning here on News Talk.
Speaker 5 (00:25):
Z b is.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
We're about to blow out one hundred candles. How exciting
is that? More about that next week. This week we're
going to kick off the best of the country, the
best Bits of our weekday show twelve to one with
our Farmer Politician Panel, Andrew Hogart and Grant McCullum. Andrews,
of course the Minister of Biosecurity, so he's got a
bit on his plate at the moment. With the bird
flu Stefan Vogel on Trump's latest tariffs, Jacqueline Roweth saying
(00:49):
we need to heed the warnings about the super al Nino.
Just look at the northern hemisphere if you don't believe
Jane Smith, North Otago Farmer. The sad story of the
week was the passing of our old mate Jim Hopkins.
Jane pays a lovely tribute to him, and we're going
to replay an interview that never played last week due
to technical difficulties beyond my control. I might add Shane
(01:11):
Jones just to lighten things up a week. But at
the end of the show, it's the best of the Country.
It's brought to you by Rabobank's Blues Week.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
The same.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
The best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Grow with Rubbobank.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Today's Farmer Politician panel features the Minister of Biosecurity Andrew
Hoggard and National MP for Northland Grant McCallum. Are both
dairy farmers when they're not at the beehive. Hey, lads,
just to kick things off, we we carving yet. We'll
start with you up in the far North, Grant, you
definitely will be Yeah.
Speaker 7 (01:49):
Now we're into Jamie. The team are going well. Yeah,
it's been pretty kind so far, with a little bit
of cold weather on the weekend, but the cows, the
carvey's going well. We know we're going to do with
more grass. That's an age of balming. But yeah, team
and good shape and Yeah, we're looking forward to a
good season.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Okay, Andrew, what about you in man Or two.
Speaker 8 (02:13):
Yeah, we're due first of August start, but yes, they've
already been coming in for the last week or so
so and it's starting to pick up now.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Andrew, you have a very serious job at the moment.
You are, of course, amongst other things, the Minister of Biosecurity.
What is the latest on the bird flow?
Speaker 6 (02:31):
So at this.
Speaker 8 (02:32):
Stage there have been no other detections apart from the
two we picked up a week in a bit back,
and it's been quite a bit of testing going on.
I believe a bit one thousand odd sumps that have
been tested and checked. We've had MPI teams out in
the Wiratha and around Wellington just checking the shoreline and
(02:54):
other places where potentially there might be dead birds. But
at the stage here it seems a bit strange. We
had that Russia or the two and then there's been
nothing for a week in a bit. I see Australia
is just confirmed their eighteenth bird. But again it's like
(03:16):
both of us had some rush of it and then
it's stopped dead. So I'll be looking forward to some
explanations from the impoid.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Okay from the perspective, sorry, from the perspective of the
poultry industry, how long will these flockdowns need to last?
Speaker 7 (03:35):
For?
Speaker 8 (03:36):
Well, this is going to be a challenge that we
need to we need to learn how to understand how
this is going to work. And so it's going to
be a you know, it's going to be a challenging
year for the poultry industry as we learn how this disease,
when it gets established in wildlife, when does it even flow?
We're going to have to work these things out. So
it's going to be quite a process with MP in
(03:58):
the industry where looking through in this next year and
a bit, I guess I'm trying to work out what
what that all looks like.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Andrew, you're doing largely, if you don't mind me saying so,
a good job. Are you a bit worried you might
be pushed down the party list by a celebrity candidate
like Paul Henry. Well, don't you laugh, Grant, because you're
not even on the list.
Speaker 7 (04:19):
That's true, That's true.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
The way you go, Andrew.
Speaker 8 (04:24):
Yeah, Look, I mean we've had Brook retire, so there's
one gap open. So look, I'm I'm somewhere where I
was last time. I'm more than happy with that. And
it's great to have Pauled on board because he certly
helps pull in the crowd and get the message out
of there.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Hey, grunt, there appears to be more infighting within the
Coalition than there is. You guys attacking Chippy and co.
Chippy and Chloe.
Speaker 7 (04:48):
Oh look, Chiffy and Karlie a really good target we've
got to get into. And I mean there are policies
I've come out. Well, actually Chippy hasn't brought any policies out.
There were only complement I'll give the Greens in the
fact that I've actually announced some policy. It might be
completely mad, but that's that's a different story. I mean
we've discussed your egg stuff and I don't know, it's
(05:09):
all it's all fun and fear in love and war
and the coalition at the moment, Jamie, we know it's
just you know, we're getting into election season and the
National Party announce policy and then ex party on out
some and that he's on first will so you know,
it's just part of politics.
Speaker 6 (05:23):
Mate.
Speaker 7 (05:23):
You know, another year and I have another election.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
By pure coincidence, you came out with the maternity leave policy.
Speaker 7 (05:31):
Well no, no, no, no, no, no, Jamie, you dear
Car's experisions. That's a well planned document that you know,
we're a very important piece of policy. We've got there
to increase for rental leave not only from twenty six
to thirty weeks. But the key part is it's allowing
both Money and Dad to take lead, either at the
(05:51):
same time or separately, so it doesn't have to be
only one parent. So I think that's where so they
can work out what's best for their family.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
So after Stuart's all advise comments, the timing was purely coincidental. Yeah, yeah, right,
Okay the Greens Andrew Hagard, do they have a fair
point about AI centers because I see this new one
that's planned for Macarewa just outside of him. The cargo
I know the area well is going to use up
six percent of our total electricity. That's a hell of
(06:21):
a lot, isn't it.
Speaker 8 (06:23):
Well, it is a hell of a lot of electricity.
But this is critical infrastructure we actually need in New
Zealand as we get more and more of these technological tools.
You know, you're just got to look at our difference
between our farms from today and twenty years ago. The
amount of data that's needed to actually help make help
us make the decisions and bring all the information to
(06:45):
us make their farms a hell of a lot more productive.
That's just increasing. And so you actually need these data
centers and if we want technology to run fast, we
need them. In New Zealand. Yep, we do need to
make sure that we're drodding more electricity. But you know,
interesting fact is at this point in time we're actually
(07:06):
building more generation in New Zealand than we have at
any time since Think Big. So the electricity generation is happening,
and we're just going to make sure that, you know,
we could be able to walk walk in through gam
at the same time, not just sit still and go
let's not do anything for a year and fall behind
while we work out some policy. Actually, you know, let's
(07:28):
get on with it. But also at the same time,
keep building that electricity generation we need.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Grant McCullum, the final comment from you, because I know
you're a National Party stalwart and historian and Andrew mentioned
the most generations since Think Big, doesn't it change history?
Speaker 5 (07:44):
Awe.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
But we look back at Bill Birch and I know
his funeral was last week, and history probably didn't judge
him as well as it should have with this think big.
Speaker 7 (07:54):
I couldn't agree more, Jamie. I mean, effectively, what that
whole big big policy about was all at once again
a response to an energy crisis. We were looking to
be more independent in our energy supply and that's what
they're the client. Dam was your classic out of that
is anyone complaining about the fact we've got a damn
creating so much electricity for the country now renewable antriacy. No,
(08:17):
you know, I think you well to highlight it because
sir William was a great He is a great newsial
on the fascinating character and boy he had some influence
he did and did a great job. And they were
actually quite visionary, those guys. You know, they took some
risks and did not everything was perfect, but hey, you've
got to crack a few eggs to make an omelet,
and good on them. And I really won't pay respects
(08:39):
to Bell and my thoughts with his family.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Yeah, I thought well spoken. Okay, Grant McCallum, thanks for
your time. Andrew Hoggard, good luck with the bird flu.
Speaker 7 (08:48):
Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
The best of the country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agri business experience.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Grow with rubber Bank.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
It was Friday's big story, but hardly a surprise. Yes,
Donald Trump found a way to increase tariffs upon New Zealand,
Australia and numerous and about sixty other countries, to be honest,
from ten to twelve point five percent effective Friday. To
tell us a way bit more about it and what
it might mean for Australasian farmers and growers is Stephan
(09:20):
Vogel at a Rabobank Sydney offices, the GM of Rabo research.
Disappointing but no surprise, Stefan.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Yeah, Jamie, it is unfortunately not a surprise. We already
knew that the Supreme Court in February had ruled that
the reciprocal tariffs of ten percent, which were kind of
as low as they could be for all the countries,
would expire on Friday, and wild surprised we have seen
that on that Friday comes the announcement that by the
(09:49):
evening time the new terrifs will be in place, replacing
the old ones. So that yes, the justification is that
is all about slave labor and the likes. And you
can for sure assume that our governments from both New
Zealand and Australia have spoken up against it. But we
all know how politics sometimes work. There was a need
(10:10):
to find a new tariff and they found a way
to make it happen.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
It's rather fast goal, isn't it that we had US, Australia, US,
the UK, Japan, you name, any number of developed nations
have inadequately enforced bands on goods produced by forced labor,
which is really rich coming from the Americans with all
the forced legal and illegal labor they used to produce
stuff Rodio. Okay, so ten to twelve to twelve and
(10:37):
a half percent, I'll be a Pollyanna here, Stephan. It
could have been a lot worse. We're doing okay, at
teen into the US market will survive twelve and a half.
Speaker 6 (10:46):
I think that's exactly how you want to look at it.
The good thing is, basically it is a small increase.
It's usually painful when you're that exporter that has goods
on the water and you were planning with ten percent
and then it jumps to twelve and a half. But
I would assume that many exporters knew that the teriff
is expiring and that there is a chance that the
US will come up with some new ideas. So with that,
(11:06):
I think looking into the next couple of months and
we will have to see if these terrafs will remain
a long time or if we will have once again
a local US cord ruling if they are actually justified.
But it's all going to take time. We have to
live with these terrats for a while. And the good
news is basically, if you thought through the commodities that
were actually shipping from New Zealand into that US market,
(11:29):
the big one is not included in that one. Let's beef.
We know that the beef terrafts were zero percent already
for quite a while, given the higher prices in the
US and the pressure on President Trump to try and
find a way to make them cheaper. So those terrafts
were gone for a long time and they will not
be imposed or not imposed now either. So that's the
(11:49):
good news for that part. But clearly products like lamb,
where we ship quite a bit as well these days,
or wine, they will see a slight increase from ten
percent tariffs to twelve and a half. But as you.
I think we can manage. Most all of our competitors
are in the same ballpark. You see a few South
American countries that you can be a little surprised about
(12:11):
it only facing ten percent rather than twelve and a half.
But I don't think we are out of the market
with those terriffs that we have, So with that, I
think the good news is there. It's okay. But there's
one more thing to keep a real close eye on,
and that is sheep meat. We also know that early
in July another investigation has been launched into the imports
(12:32):
of sheep meat and lamb into that US market, and
we will have to sit tight and see if those
might result at some point in time in further tariffs. Clearly,
local producers in the US do not appreciate the competition,
so with that we will have to see if and
when those terrifts might be increased for lamb. But that
(12:52):
could be bad news for US, so let's hope for
the best that they not come. But clearly, if you
look at whose supply all that lamb into the US market,
it's largely Australia and New Zealand and barely anybody else,
so it would hit the two of us.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Okay, Stephan, that's not such good news on the sheep
meat front. You talked about beef being exempt. Is keyw
fruit still exempt?
Speaker 6 (13:14):
And I don't honestly know, so you may know better
than I do, but I think it is so. I
don't think there has been a change of products.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Okay, Stephan A Vogel out of Rubbobank Sydney office. Thanks
for your time. There's not much rhyme or reason to this,
but that is Donald Trump for you. Thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
As I said, thanks for having me Janie, the best
of the country with Rubbobak. Choose the bank with one
hundred and twenty years global agribusiness experience, grow with Rubbobag.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Her name is Jacqueline Rowath, doctor Jacqueline Rowath to be
more correct, she is one of our leading primary sector academics.
Today on the menu for a yarn as she makes
her way towards Pepew in the king Country, super al
Nino warning fertilizer fires and we're going to get a
bit of an economics lesson as well, and talk to
(14:00):
me about super Alninio warnings that should be heeded because
the trouble is they're being greeted in some quarters with
quite a bit of negativity, and weather forecasters are accused
of scaremongering.
Speaker 9 (14:13):
Well, it does feel as though there has been some
of that going along. But the trouble is poor old
weather forecast is if they don't say there's going to
be a flood or a drought or whatever, they get
blamed for not doing that either. So they are trying
to go on the side of safety and human life
and all of those sorts of things, and I feel
they're pretty much in a no win situation. But let
(14:35):
us think about if it is a super al Nino
and we're looking at what's happened in Europe and we
see that the serial yields are a third down, and
we're looking at things simply getting burnt up in France
and Spain, we need to be thinking about the very
hot conditions that we are likely to experience, and think
(14:57):
about some of the fives that have been are caused
fundamentally by a piece of metal maybe on my disc,
or some piece of agricultural machinery actually creating grass fires,
as they have done in for instance, Nelson in the past.
Things get damaged people are in danger and we just
(15:17):
need to think of the temperatures get up. All sorts
of things happen. And of course you just mentioned the
fertilizer explosion in Essex, my old stamping ground, and that
was caused by a grass fire which overheated a building,
a let building, and the ammonium nitrate, which we don't
have in New Zealand and the big companies. The ammonium
(15:38):
nitrate gasified and exploded and there was lots of people
damaged to it, dated to hospital about thirty one of
them and one of the firefighters died.
Speaker 10 (15:48):
That's awful.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Yeah, yeah, sorry. You're a director for Rivings down, so
you know a wee bit about this. You're a scientist
as well, so it goes without saying are we in
danger here in news ill And? I think are products
like not ammonium nitrate, which they make bombs out of,
but people also make bombs out of urea, don't they.
Speaker 9 (16:09):
They can do all sorts of chemical transformations, but that's
a deliberate thing. I think what we have to be
very careful is the potential for fires. Grass fires just
caused by road sides that aren't trimmed, and we know
that farmers do a lot of roadside mowing.
Speaker 11 (16:26):
Particularly of course for own Christmas when they're making it
look pretty for the people going on holiday, but keeping
the grass down and making sure that if you are
using agricultural equipment, particularly on stony soils, that the temperatures
aren't sufficient to create a spark which then takes off check.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Well, and maybe we need to go sorry, maybe we
need to go back to grazing the long acre.
Speaker 11 (16:49):
Well, people do.
Speaker 9 (16:51):
In the country on the smaller owns roads, but it's
actually for the animal owner more than slightly terrifying, because
you know, we feel for the animals and they have
to be tar animals and all of those sorts of things.
And yes, there is a point to it. But you
also ship fox live in that's doing the grazing of
(17:15):
the long acre around berms in towns to see what
that's like. And then you get the whole business about effluent.
So I think there are all sorts of problems with
doing that, but some people do, and they've got car
animals and they hope that tourists and trucks will be
sensible around the animals.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Yeah, be careful what you wish for. Hey, just really
quickly to finish on. You're a former university lecturer at
Messi University, Wika University, Lincoln as well. I think do
you still lecture?
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Yes or no?
Speaker 4 (17:48):
No? No? Okay, But you're taking me back to nineteen
seventy nine Otago University Economics one oh one, when my
economics lecturer was none other than Heather Simpson. Do you
remember her? Yes, yes, Helen Clark's right hand woman. They
used to They used to be called H one and
H two A. But like the bird flow, But I
(18:08):
haven't heard about ken Zen or Kensian economics since nineteen
seventy nine. I've got about a thirty or forty seconds chequeline.
Why should we be taking note of it?
Speaker 9 (18:19):
We just need to consider liberating the economy to allow
it to expand. If we shut it down, then this
was John King's theory. The paradox had twisted too much,
saving results in decreased consumer demand, leading to reduce business revenues, redundancies,
and economic recession. We must have the new money coming
into the country to stimulate growth, and most of the
(18:42):
new money comes in from agriculture. So let's liberate agriculture
and get the science right that underpins it.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Are you saying Spen don't save.
Speaker 9 (18:51):
I'm saying be sensible about it. I gave you the
Kinsian theory about the saving. What I want us to
be able to do is to liberate the economy, and
that means making sure we've got the science right to
do agriculture properly exactly.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
That's how we make our money, That's how we make
our way in this country. Doctor jaquallin Rowis, good luck
making your way today to Pew Pew.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
I the best of the country with Rubbo Bag.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience Grow with Rubbo Bag.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
Kicking off the show today, Jane Smith, North Otago farmer
who took a little bit of time off the farm
this morning to go into the metropolis of Omoru and
paid tribute to our great friend the late Jim Hopkins.
Good afternoon, Jane.
Speaker 10 (19:38):
Good afternoon, Jamie.
Speaker 12 (19:39):
And certainly it was a lovely tribute to Jim before
he headed north in his final journey to back to
his family in Canterbury this morning. So it was just
on the council chamber steps and we were all able
to pay tribute to Jim, and as the Mayor said,
he was a man that gave so much of himself
to the community that he loved.
Speaker 10 (19:58):
And you know, he was a I was thinking this morning,
he was a living, breathing thesaurus.
Speaker 12 (20:03):
You know, he was such an outstanding orator, and you
know through his young farmer's days, and I had a
lot to do with amen throughout the regions, you know,
back in the Simon Hotcroft and Robert Kempthorn days.
Speaker 10 (20:14):
He was he just gave those competitors.
Speaker 12 (20:16):
Such a hard time in a good humid way and
gave it, you know, a real profile to to that competition.
Speaker 10 (20:22):
And Jim and I clashed on many things.
Speaker 12 (20:24):
I enjoyed him as a sparring partner in council meetings
when you know, during for example, the reposed district plan changes.
And after one of those meetings he said to me,
you know, Jane, I can't work out whether you are
an asset or a liability, but you're sure as how
made some splendid points, but you put counsel in a
really difficult position. So you know he would acknowledge when
(20:45):
you did challenge challenge him. And I guess the one
one major area that Jim and I absolutely, you know,
we agreed upon was the net zero alarmism. And Jim
understood the costs and the opportunity costs of net zero
and as sort of an again in sort of net
zero way. And you'll remember this well, Jamie, he said
(21:07):
this on your show many times. How poor do you
want our country to be? You know, how far do
you want a country to be?
Speaker 4 (21:14):
So?
Speaker 12 (21:14):
Basically, and he could see that from from a local
point of view, in a New Zealand point of view.
I mean, we had a crump, We've got a crumbling
Victoria era a water system in Omoru. Yet we were
looking at spending up to one hundred and fifty million
on net zero headline work, which again was going to
make no difference whatsoever.
Speaker 10 (21:33):
So Jim and I really agreed.
Speaker 12 (21:35):
On that, and gosh, I had some fantastic conversations and
he'll be sawly missed, Jamie.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Yep, he was famous for his red glasses. I wonder
if he had a red coffin anyhow. Rest in peace,
Jim Hopkins, and enjoy your trip as we speak back
to your family in Canterbury. Okay, Jane, talking about things political,
you want a pre election pre nup.
Speaker 12 (21:55):
I certainly do, Jamie, And like a lot of people,
I've sort of feeling that elct kile dysfunction at the moment.
Speaker 10 (22:01):
You know, we're very scared of what the vote may
may bring, and you know.
Speaker 12 (22:05):
The election result and the formation of the next government
are two very different things, the latter being what should
be keeping us awake at nights.
Speaker 10 (22:14):
So you know, and almost a try before you buy.
Speaker 12 (22:16):
I'd love to see a matrix that showed what we
may be signing up for, depending on what sort of
bizarre coupling or thruptling we may end up with. But
just a matrix it shows, you know, again on those
really important issues, So not the not the lolly scramble stuff,
not the social media ban and the fireworks ban and
free fees for students, but infrastructure, health, and the tax policies,
(22:39):
which of course some have come out, you know, to
talk about that. But again, we can't tax our way into.
Speaker 10 (22:46):
Prosperity, you know.
Speaker 12 (22:47):
We need that trifector of new money, new ideas and productivity,
all of which we don't have at the moment.
Speaker 7 (22:52):
Jamie.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
Well, look at the Opportunity Party and I'm going to
talk to Chris Hipkins about this one and find out
where he stands on their tax proposals. If you want,
a land tax would be a real killer for farmers.
That that's a given. But they are a party of
taxing because I know they're going to simplify the income
tax brackets, and their income tax brackets will range from
(23:14):
twenty eight to thirty nine percent. Okay, same as our
current structure at the top end, but at the moment
here in New Zealand, we have ten and a half
percent on income ranging from zero to fifteen thy six hundred.
So we're all going to pay a whole lot more tax,
including a land tax, to pay for a universal basic income.
Speaker 12 (23:34):
Do we need it exactly, Jamie, And I mean, essentially
they're trying to turn everyone into beneficiaries. And you know,
these unhinged parties don't understand, well, don't seem to understand
the law of unintended consequences.
Speaker 10 (23:49):
I mean, you've got to remember a land tax.
Speaker 12 (23:50):
Is actually a tax on food production, and we will
all ultimately pay more for food, and we barely can
afford food. You know, our own New Zealand produced food
at the moment, So you know, they shouldn't be in charge.
The Opportunity Party should not be called the Opportunity Party.
And I'll tell you who gets my vote is someone
that comes up with intergenerational plans for those big three infrastructure,
(24:12):
health and education, because again, that is a thing that's
going to move our country forward, Jamie.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Infrastructure is a real challenge facing this country, not only
at local body level, like the Waitaki District Council where
you got pinged by a huge rate rise and it's
not even enough to wash your face. Similar type thing
for the kluth And District Council are just down the
road staring at the barrel of thirty percent rate rises.
These are unsustainable. People can't afford that, No, they can't, Jamie.
Speaker 12 (24:40):
I think you know that, along with the Council of Magnations,
we've got to be careful about that because it's not
necessarily the utopia that it's made out to be, because
bigger is a better and two wrongs don't make it
right in terms of putting to you know, two infrastructures
that aren't working at the moment in terms of local body.
Speaker 10 (24:57):
But yeah, the infrastructure thing is massive.
Speaker 12 (24:59):
The RMA change that is massive as well, and I
guess on that in terms of the things that are
holding us back at the moment, in terms of progress
and consents. I did actually have to have to laugh
at the irony, and it's quite a serious irony. This
week when I see NITA who have slammed Docks for
stalling their consents for their salmon farming proposal, and FOVO
(25:19):
straight and I quote, well quote off the top of
my head, they had said that that doc went responding
in a timely manner. They were bringing up new matters
in an irrational and unpredictable way, and they were operating
way outside their mandate and they shouldn't have been involved
in the process of consenting anyway.
Speaker 10 (25:37):
Well, bugger me, isn't that sound like sound very familiar
in terms of the pot calling the kettle.
Speaker 6 (25:43):
Black, Jamie.
Speaker 12 (25:44):
I mean, there's so many things that have been held
to ransom by EWE, and I think, you know, hopefully
with the new Resource Management Act, whatever shape or form
that takes, that we should actually only having those that
effects being to have an opinion lead alone hold up
a process, Jamie. So I did think that that irony
(26:04):
and that was unbelievable. However, also talking about land management change, gosh,
it was enlightening and exciting to see Sam Hayn and
Kyluth and Gisbon with cows going into pine trees for
getting rid of pine trees. Jamie, that was music to
my ears.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Well, that's on the Federated Farmer's Podcast and we've tracked
those guys down. Bit difficult to get them today, but
we're going to get them on the show tomorrow. I
think it's wonderful, warms.
Speaker 12 (26:29):
My heart absolutely, and putting that land back into food
producing land is just fantastic, Jamie. So great to see
people taking literally taking the ball by the horns and
making those changes happen.
Speaker 10 (26:40):
So bloody good stuff.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
Jane Smith, thanks for your time. Jim Hopkins, rest in peace.
Speaker 10 (26:45):
Thanks Jammie.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
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Speaker 4 (26:57):
Just what Good morning, New Zealand. I'm Jamie McKay. Welcome
back to the Best of the Country brought to you
by Rabobank. We're growing a better New Zealand together. Shane
Ownes to wrap the Best of the Country more about
him in a tick, But last month. This is a
great story. Twenty five secondary school students from around New
(27:17):
Zealand completed a three day residential program designed to explore
career opportunities across the food and fiber production supply chain.
Held from July seven to nine, the Farm to Future
Education camp, which was fully funded by Rabobank and run
by our friends at Lincoln University, brought together or Brought
(27:37):
together year twelve students from schools across the nation. During
the program, participants visited a range of agri businesses throughout Candrey,
including Racaiah Island Dairy Farm, Oakley's Premium Fresh Vegetables, PGG
Rights and Original Foods, Zenta Wall Company and Foodstuffs. To
find out more, go to the Rabobank website rabobank dot
(28:00):
co dot nzen. Now I'm going to wrap the Best
of the Country with Shane Jones. Due to technical difficulties,
you didn't get to hear him last week. We recorded
him late the week before, and I think he's worth
a rerun. Shane Jones not backward in coming forward when
it comes to emissions targets, but does he have a
selective memory when it comes to some of his own
(28:23):
policy U turns of the past. Enjoy Shane Jones.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
The best of the country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
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Speaker 1 (28:36):
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Speaker 4 (28:37):
Shane Jones is the New Zealand First Deputy Leader. Shane,
I'm going to come back to Kneepads and Stewart Nash,
but I want to start with if I can, because
I know you're in Otargo today. I want to talk
about emissions targets. In twenty nineteen, the woke hold Dunedin
City Council declared a climate emergency. It was sort of
fashionable to do so in those days. Now they've scrapped
(28:59):
net zero twenty thirty. These were ridiculous targets we were
never going to meet. Are climate emergencies so twenty nineteen
and Jacinder are diurnished.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
These days, the climate emergency rhetoric has ebbed in the
face of sheer economic reality. What to Cinda at Dern
did in eighteen, nineteen and twenty reflects that juvenile period
(29:31):
of political leadership. We cannot afford all these luxury beliefs.
We are already spending a great deal of money in
the South Island with your councils on boosting flood mitigation
through stopbanks and related work. That's the kind of result,
(29:52):
not the rhetorical flourishes that characterize Chippy and the Green
Party and various other fellow travelers. You to know, I
have always been the doubting Thomas checked any of my
rhetorical contributions.
Speaker 7 (30:07):
I've said all.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
Along, till every cow close every factory, you will not
have zero impact on the world's climate until America, India,
China actually pursue actions that meet the froththingness of that
sort of rhetoric.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
You did have an opportunity way back in Jacinda's first term,
when you were standing behind and nodding, albeit with your
hand over your eyes, you could have spoken up then. Shane.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Of course, at that particular time she sprung a captain's
call on us. But fortunately nine years on we're dealing
with the circumstances that surround us and we're not living
in the past. We moved very quickly to a tone
I personally did for those misdeeds, and that's why a
lot of what I'm up to resonates well with you.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
South Land, New Zealand is at risk of missing all
its climate targets for what they're worth, and time to
get back on track is running out, according to the
Climate Change Commission. You're obviously not taking a jot of
notice about what they're talking about.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
I'm only interested in our economic robustness, our societal durability.
If you keep closing down all of the firms and
the key contributors to our economy, like the cement factory,
like Jacinda and Meghan, closing down the refinery will be
hollowed out, will be zombie like, but apparently we'll have
(31:39):
some sort of vicarious pleasure that we saved the planet.
That's the opposite of what NZ at first believes.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Do you still believe in planting heaps of trees?
Speaker 5 (31:50):
A right tree, right place, right tree, right place? And
obviously after I left.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
It, you were never going to fit a billion trees
in the right place. Have you atoned for that terrible error?
Speaker 5 (32:01):
Well, look, it's up to the landowners. They're in charge
of their own property. This' or planting trees, And I
don't think you should pluck one particular policy they've got
over in xuberant and and pin and pin, some stigmatized
shame Shane.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
That's called a sect, that's called a selective memory. Come on,
you've got to admit admits your faults.
Speaker 5 (32:23):
There's nothing wrong with forestry and we will not be vaporizing.
We will not be assassinating the carbon forestry sector. They
have legitimate rights. But however, we will be refining, and
we will be dealing with the ragged edges of the
ets and the ridiculous expectations that the rest of the
(32:46):
world have on us through Paris.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
Well, we're not going to meet these targets. But the
irony of the whole situation is when we don't meet
these targets, as we clearly won't, all we're going to
get is a slap over the wrist with a wet
bus ticket.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
Yeah, well, there'll be an onslaught of frothy language from
the media. There'll be a few trading partners, I'm told.
But you know my message to the trading partners UK.
Your people already are trying to reinvent a new avenue
back to explore uncover gas and oil Europe. You're burning
(33:25):
coal all the time. China just built a new railway track.
I'm told to bring Mongolian coal to China. And here
we are in New Zealand sort of fleecing ourselves, closing
down factories, allowing the gent tailors to rout what's left
of our productive economy. Of course, all that will change
after the election.
Speaker 4 (33:46):
You're in Otargo today, You're heading up to your happy
place McCrae's mind. This is all part of your campaign. Well,
you're going to try and get a billion dollars to
survey the offshore oil and gas. Gas reserves are not
to mention everything you can on shore.
Speaker 5 (34:03):
Well, there's nothing wrong with any modern nation having an
incredibly high quality reservoir, knowledge about the wealth the potential
that lies off the coastline, and then use that as
a basis to find ways of co investing with either
the Japanese or variety of others who may want to
(34:23):
secure our oil and gas, and we'll reserve some for ourselves.
I'm already presiding over a successful march of miners through
parts of the South Island, and Okay, certain landscapes have
to be protected, and I'm willing to live within those guardrails.
And of course the reason I'm going to the gold
mine today within Otago is because there's something akin to
(34:46):
a talisman. There they're going to show me an incredibly
amazing gold bar. And you know, in another part of
my life, I would have maybe have got a job
as an gold miner. But I hope to actually put
a bit in old and the tooth that I've recently lost.
Speaker 4 (35:02):
Let's just finish on knee pads and Stuart Nash has
he been treated harshly? Have you got off lightly?
Speaker 5 (35:09):
Oh? Look, the media they feasted on one colorful expression
with my reference quite frankly pertain to maintain our steadfastness.
We don't need to bow down to any foreign leader
who was holding an Ethno nationalist rally. I don't even
know how on earth that rally took place.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
Come on, Shane, Shane, Shane, you're bullshitting a bullshitter here.
Now you know as well as I do there was
a sexual reference to your comments.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
Now you know as well as I do. It was
a whole woke, riddled younger generation of journos who conveniently
tried to inject something risk guy into that remark.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
That completely innocent remark.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
I mean that remark could have related to health and safety,
could have related to sport, could have related to gardening.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
I think five too much of it on to finish
on Stuart Nash. He's a bit accident prone, but my
understanding is correct me if I'm wrong. That was a
private text to former National Minister Chris Finlasson, who has
a podcast. Should Chris Finnlersen have sat on that? Because
I can tell you over the years I've received texts
(36:18):
and communications from government ministers and if I was to
make them public they would be hung out to dry.
But you respect the privacy.
Speaker 5 (36:28):
Well, Look, Chris Finlayson has used this opportunity to seek
grace and favor within the National Party. It's sad that
the matter has ended in this way. I've known Stu
for a long time. But look at it was probably
Shakespeare who said it best were it done? When it's done?
(36:50):
Better done? Well?
Speaker 4 (36:53):
Did Shakespeare quickly? Did Shakespeare say dig it up and
damn it up? Or was that you the other great wordsmith?
Speaker 5 (37:00):
You've you've already corrected me. Look, Stewie offered his resignation.
I'm advised it's a sensible outcome. We wouldn't want this
distraction stewing indefinitely as we run up to the campaign.
Winston will be home soon from overseas and no doubt
Stewie will go on with his life and addressed local
(37:22):
issues with his community. Is far No. He is someone
I've known for a long long time, but he will
not be a part of our campaign running up to
November seventh.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Shane Jones, thanks for your time. Enjoy your day at
your happy place, the mccraze Mining gold Mine.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
See buddy The Best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Grow with Rubberbank.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
Shane Jones wrapping The Best of the Country recorded Thursday
week ago, but I thought he was worth a rerun.
Sayin we couldn't get him to you last week. I'm
Jamie McKay. The show's brought to you alright, Rabobank. Shout
out to Smiley Barrett if you listen and get well, mate,
I need you for my correspondent in South Africa. I
will leave you with Ella Langley was in homage for
(38:11):
thatcom spark.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
She's from Texas. I can tell by the way he's
just stamping around the room. I'm judging by the smile
tree and all his face. There's nothing I can do.
It doesn't take a Christal bar to see a cowboy
(38:35):
always find awayly drinking jackob by myself. He's choosing Texas.
I can tell well, I guess he fergot about the
(38:57):
Smoky Mountain rain, the boat hangtons, the my fist blues
Wiss's the same. He always loved the oil by morning.
I shouldn't taken that as a warning. She's from Texas
(39:20):
sock till. By the way, he's too stepping around the
room and judging by the smile the tree and all
his face, there's nothing I can do. It doesn't take
a Christal Ball to see a cowboy always bods away
(39:44):
and ly drinking jack all by myself. He's choosing Texas.
Icon test well, he's bout don Kane helping cracks. I'm
forty big, is longlier with every mile. I don't know
that his mind wasn't never gone to change, because his
(40:08):
are still belongs to a long star stake. She's from
Texas second tail. By the way, he's too stepping round
the room and judging by the smile of the tree
on his face, there's nothing I can do. No, it
(40:32):
doesn't take Christis the Ball to see a cowboy always
find away and leave drinking.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Jack all by myself. He's choosing Texas.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
I can tesl. No drinking jack all by myself. He's
choosing Texas.
Speaker 10 (40:54):
I can tell.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
Come on, baby, Oh God, just when.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
I thought I got in the fall in love A
tennes ship
Speaker 10 (41:15):
H
The best of the country with Robobank.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Grow with Rabobank, should.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Tack gambacked have.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
Giday In Good Morning New Zealand. I'm Jamie mckaine. This
is the best of the Country, brought to you by
Rabobank on a Saturday morning here on News Talk.
Speaker 5 (00:25):
Z b is.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
We're about to blow out one hundred candles. How exciting
is that? More about that next week. This week we're
going to kick off the best of the country, the
best Bits of our weekday show twelve to one with
our Farmer Politician Panel, Andrew Hogart and Grant McCullum. Andrews,
of course the Minister of Biosecurity, so he's got a
bit on his plate at the moment. With the bird
flu Stefan Vogel on Trump's latest tariffs, Jacqueline Roweth saying
(00:49):
we need to heed the warnings about the super al Nino.
Just look at the northern hemisphere if you don't believe
Jane Smith, North Otago Farmer. The sad story of the
week was the passing of our old mate Jim Hopkins.
Jane pays a lovely tribute to him, and we're going
to replay an interview that never played last week due
to technical difficulties beyond my control. I might add Shane
(01:11):
Jones just to lighten things up a week. But at
the end of the show, it's the best of the Country.
It's brought to you by Rabobank's Blues Week.
Speaker 6 (01:19):
The same.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
The best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Grow with Rubbobank.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Today's Farmer Politician panel features the Minister of Biosecurity Andrew
Hoggard and National MP for Northland Grant McCallum. Are both
dairy farmers when they're not at the beehive. Hey, lads,
just to kick things off, we we carving yet. We'll
start with you up in the far North, Grant, you
definitely will be Yeah.
Speaker 7 (01:49):
Now we're into Jamie. The team are going well. Yeah,
it's been pretty kind so far, with a little bit
of cold weather on the weekend, but the cows, the
carvey's going well. We know we're going to do with
more grass. That's an age of balming. But yeah, team
and good shape and Yeah, we're looking forward to a
good season.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Okay, Andrew, what about you in man Or two.
Speaker 8 (02:13):
Yeah, we're due first of August start, but yes, they've
already been coming in for the last week or so
so and it's starting to pick up now.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Andrew, you have a very serious job at the moment.
You are, of course, amongst other things, the Minister of Biosecurity.
What is the latest on the bird flow?
Speaker 6 (02:31):
So at this.
Speaker 8 (02:32):
Stage there have been no other detections apart from the
two we picked up a week in a bit back,
and it's been quite a bit of testing going on.
I believe a bit one thousand odd sumps that have
been tested and checked. We've had MPI teams out in
the Wiratha and around Wellington just checking the shoreline and
(02:54):
other places where potentially there might be dead birds. But
at the stage here it seems a bit strange. We
had that Russia or the two and then there's been
nothing for a week in a bit. I see Australia
is just confirmed their eighteenth bird. But again it's like
(03:16):
both of us had some rush of it and then
it's stopped dead. So I'll be looking forward to some
explanations from the impoid.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Okay from the perspective, sorry, from the perspective of the
poultry industry, how long will these flockdowns need to last?
Speaker 7 (03:35):
For?
Speaker 8 (03:36):
Well, this is going to be a challenge that we
need to we need to learn how to understand how
this is going to work. And so it's going to
be a you know, it's going to be a challenging
year for the poultry industry as we learn how this disease,
when it gets established in wildlife, when does it even flow?
We're going to have to work these things out. So
it's going to be quite a process with MP in
(03:58):
the industry where looking through in this next year and
a bit, I guess I'm trying to work out what
what that all looks like.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Andrew, you're doing largely, if you don't mind me saying so,
a good job. Are you a bit worried you might
be pushed down the party list by a celebrity candidate
like Paul Henry. Well, don't you laugh, Grant, because you're
not even on the list.
Speaker 7 (04:19):
That's true, That's true.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
The way you go, Andrew.
Speaker 8 (04:24):
Yeah, Look, I mean we've had Brook retire, so there's
one gap open. So look, I'm I'm somewhere where I
was last time. I'm more than happy with that. And
it's great to have Pauled on board because he certly
helps pull in the crowd and get the message out
of there.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Hey, grunt, there appears to be more infighting within the
Coalition than there is. You guys attacking Chippy and co.
Chippy and Chloe.
Speaker 7 (04:48):
Oh look, Chiffy and Karlie a really good target we've
got to get into. And I mean there are policies
I've come out. Well, actually Chippy hasn't brought any policies out.
There were only complement I'll give the Greens in the
fact that I've actually announced some policy. It might be
completely mad, but that's that's a different story. I mean
we've discussed your egg stuff and I don't know, it's
(05:09):
all it's all fun and fear in love and war
and the coalition at the moment, Jamie, we know it's
just you know, we're getting into election season and the
National Party announce policy and then ex party on out
some and that he's on first will so you know,
it's just part of politics.
Speaker 6 (05:23):
Mate.
Speaker 7 (05:23):
You know, another year and I have another election.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
By pure coincidence, you came out with the maternity leave policy.
Speaker 7 (05:31):
Well no, no, no, no, no, no, Jamie, you dear
Car's experisions. That's a well planned document that you know,
we're a very important piece of policy. We've got there
to increase for rental leave not only from twenty six
to thirty weeks. But the key part is it's allowing
both Money and Dad to take lead, either at the
(05:51):
same time or separately, so it doesn't have to be
only one parent. So I think that's where so they
can work out what's best for their family.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
So after Stuart's all advise comments, the timing was purely coincidental. Yeah, yeah, right,
Okay the Greens Andrew Hagard, do they have a fair
point about AI centers because I see this new one
that's planned for Macarewa just outside of him. The cargo
I know the area well is going to use up
six percent of our total electricity. That's a hell of
(06:21):
a lot, isn't it.
Speaker 8 (06:23):
Well, it is a hell of a lot of electricity.
But this is critical infrastructure we actually need in New
Zealand as we get more and more of these technological tools.
You know, you're just got to look at our difference
between our farms from today and twenty years ago. The
amount of data that's needed to actually help make help
us make the decisions and bring all the information to
(06:45):
us make their farms a hell of a lot more productive.
That's just increasing. And so you actually need these data
centers and if we want technology to run fast, we
need them. In New Zealand. Yep, we do need to
make sure that we're drodding more electricity. But you know,
interesting fact is at this point in time we're actually
(07:06):
building more generation in New Zealand than we have at
any time since Think Big. So the electricity generation is happening,
and we're just going to make sure that, you know,
we could be able to walk walk in through gam
at the same time, not just sit still and go
let's not do anything for a year and fall behind
while we work out some policy. Actually, you know, let's
(07:28):
get on with it. But also at the same time,
keep building that electricity generation we need.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Grant McCullum, the final comment from you, because I know
you're a National Party stalwart and historian and Andrew mentioned
the most generations since Think Big, doesn't it change history?
Speaker 5 (07:44):
Awe.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
But we look back at Bill Birch and I know
his funeral was last week, and history probably didn't judge
him as well as it should have with this think big.
Speaker 7 (07:54):
I couldn't agree more, Jamie. I mean, effectively, what that
whole big big policy about was all at once again
a response to an energy crisis. We were looking to
be more independent in our energy supply and that's what
they're the client. Dam was your classic out of that
is anyone complaining about the fact we've got a damn
creating so much electricity for the country now renewable antriacy. No,
(08:17):
you know, I think you well to highlight it because
sir William was a great He is a great newsial
on the fascinating character and boy he had some influence
he did and did a great job. And they were
actually quite visionary, those guys. You know, they took some
risks and did not everything was perfect, but hey, you've
got to crack a few eggs to make an omelet,
and good on them. And I really won't pay respects
(08:39):
to Bell and my thoughts with his family.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Yeah, I thought well spoken. Okay, Grant McCallum, thanks for
your time. Andrew Hoggard, good luck with the bird flu.
Speaker 7 (08:48):
Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
The best of the country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agri business experience.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Grow with rubber Bank.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
It was Friday's big story, but hardly a surprise. Yes,
Donald Trump found a way to increase tariffs upon New Zealand,
Australia and numerous and about sixty other countries, to be honest,
from ten to twelve point five percent effective Friday. To
tell us a way bit more about it and what
it might mean for Australasian farmers and growers is Stephan
(09:20):
Vogel at a Rabobank Sydney offices, the GM of Rabo research.
Disappointing but no surprise, Stefan.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Yeah, Jamie, it is unfortunately not a surprise. We already
knew that the Supreme Court in February had ruled that
the reciprocal tariffs of ten percent, which were kind of
as low as they could be for all the countries,
would expire on Friday, and wild surprised we have seen
that on that Friday comes the announcement that by the
(09:49):
evening time the new terrifs will be in place, replacing
the old ones. So that yes, the justification is that
is all about slave labor and the likes. And you
can for sure assume that our governments from both New
Zealand and Australia have spoken up against it. But we
all know how politics sometimes work. There was a need
(10:10):
to find a new tariff and they found a way
to make it happen.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
It's rather fast goal, isn't it that we had US, Australia, US,
the UK, Japan, you name, any number of developed nations
have inadequately enforced bands on goods produced by forced labor,
which is really rich coming from the Americans with all
the forced legal and illegal labor they used to produce
stuff Rodio. Okay, so ten to twelve to twelve and
(10:37):
a half percent, I'll be a Pollyanna here, Stephan. It
could have been a lot worse. We're doing okay, at
teen into the US market will survive twelve and a half.
Speaker 6 (10:46):
I think that's exactly how you want to look at it.
The good thing is, basically it is a small increase.
It's usually painful when you're that exporter that has goods
on the water and you were planning with ten percent
and then it jumps to twelve and a half. But
I would assume that many exporters knew that the teriff
is expiring and that there is a chance that the
US will come up with some new ideas. So with that,
(11:06):
I think looking into the next couple of months and
we will have to see if these terrafs will remain
a long time or if we will have once again
a local US cord ruling if they are actually justified.
But it's all going to take time. We have to
live with these terrats for a while. And the good
news is basically, if you thought through the commodities that
were actually shipping from New Zealand into that US market,
(11:29):
the big one is not included in that one. Let's beef.
We know that the beef terrafts were zero percent already
for quite a while, given the higher prices in the
US and the pressure on President Trump to try and
find a way to make them cheaper. So those terrafts
were gone for a long time and they will not
be imposed or not imposed now either. So that's the
(11:49):
good news for that part. But clearly products like lamb,
where we ship quite a bit as well these days,
or wine, they will see a slight increase from ten
percent tariffs to twelve and a half. But as you.
I think we can manage. Most all of our competitors
are in the same ballpark. You see a few South
American countries that you can be a little surprised about
(12:11):
it only facing ten percent rather than twelve and a half.
But I don't think we are out of the market
with those terriffs that we have, So with that, I
think the good news is there. It's okay. But there's
one more thing to keep a real close eye on,
and that is sheep meat. We also know that early
in July another investigation has been launched into the imports
(12:32):
of sheep meat and lamb into that US market, and
we will have to sit tight and see if those
might result at some point in time in further tariffs. Clearly,
local producers in the US do not appreciate the competition,
so with that we will have to see if and
when those terrifts might be increased for lamb. But that
(12:52):
could be bad news for US, so let's hope for
the best that they not come. But clearly, if you
look at whose supply all that lamb into the US market,
it's largely Australia and New Zealand and barely anybody else,
so it would hit the two of us.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Okay, Stephan, that's not such good news on the sheep
meat front. You talked about beef being exempt. Is keyw
fruit still exempt?
Speaker 6 (13:14):
And I don't honestly know, so you may know better
than I do, but I think it is so. I
don't think there has been a change of products.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Okay, Stephan A Vogel out of Rubbobank Sydney office. Thanks
for your time. There's not much rhyme or reason to this,
but that is Donald Trump for you. Thanks for your time.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
As I said, thanks for having me Janie, the best
of the country with Rubbobak. Choose the bank with one
hundred and twenty years global agribusiness experience, grow with Rubbobag.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Her name is Jacqueline Rowath, doctor Jacqueline Rowath to be
more correct, she is one of our leading primary sector academics.
Today on the menu for a yarn as she makes
her way towards Pepew in the king Country, super al
Nino warning fertilizer fires and we're going to get a
bit of an economics lesson as well, and talk to
(14:00):
me about super Alninio warnings that should be heeded because
the trouble is they're being greeted in some quarters with
quite a bit of negativity, and weather forecasters are accused
of scaremongering.
Speaker 9 (14:13):
Well, it does feel as though there has been some
of that going along. But the trouble is poor old
weather forecast is if they don't say there's going to
be a flood or a drought or whatever, they get
blamed for not doing that either. So they are trying
to go on the side of safety and human life
and all of those sorts of things, and I feel
they're pretty much in a no win situation. But let
(14:35):
us think about if it is a super al Nino
and we're looking at what's happened in Europe and we
see that the serial yields are a third down, and
we're looking at things simply getting burnt up in France
and Spain, we need to be thinking about the very
hot conditions that we are likely to experience, and think
(14:57):
about some of the fives that have been are caused
fundamentally by a piece of metal maybe on my disc,
or some piece of agricultural machinery actually creating grass fires,
as they have done in for instance, Nelson in the past.
Things get damaged people are in danger and we just
(15:17):
need to think of the temperatures get up. All sorts
of things happen. And of course you just mentioned the
fertilizer explosion in Essex, my old stamping ground, and that
was caused by a grass fire which overheated a building,
a let building, and the ammonium nitrate, which we don't
have in New Zealand and the big companies. The ammonium
(15:38):
nitrate gasified and exploded and there was lots of people
damaged to it, dated to hospital about thirty one of
them and one of the firefighters died.
Speaker 10 (15:48):
That's awful.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Yeah, yeah, sorry. You're a director for Rivings down, so
you know a wee bit about this. You're a scientist
as well, so it goes without saying are we in
danger here in news ill And? I think are products
like not ammonium nitrate, which they make bombs out of,
but people also make bombs out of urea, don't they.
Speaker 9 (16:09):
They can do all sorts of chemical transformations, but that's
a deliberate thing. I think what we have to be
very careful is the potential for fires. Grass fires just
caused by road sides that aren't trimmed, and we know
that farmers do a lot of roadside mowing.
Speaker 11 (16:26):
Particularly of course for own Christmas when they're making it
look pretty for the people going on holiday, but keeping
the grass down and making sure that if you are
using agricultural equipment, particularly on stony soils, that the temperatures
aren't sufficient to create a spark which then takes off check.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Well, and maybe we need to go sorry, maybe we
need to go back to grazing the long acre.
Speaker 11 (16:49):
Well, people do.
Speaker 9 (16:51):
In the country on the smaller owns roads, but it's
actually for the animal owner more than slightly terrifying, because
you know, we feel for the animals and they have
to be tar animals and all of those sorts of things.
And yes, there is a point to it. But you
also ship fox live in that's doing the grazing of
(17:15):
the long acre around berms in towns to see what
that's like. And then you get the whole business about effluent.
So I think there are all sorts of problems with
doing that, but some people do, and they've got car
animals and they hope that tourists and trucks will be
sensible around the animals.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
Yeah, be careful what you wish for. Hey, just really
quickly to finish on. You're a former university lecturer at
Messi University, Wika University, Lincoln as well. I think do
you still lecture?
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Yes or no?
Speaker 4 (17:48):
No? No? Okay, But you're taking me back to nineteen
seventy nine Otago University Economics one oh one, when my
economics lecturer was none other than Heather Simpson. Do you
remember her? Yes, yes, Helen Clark's right hand woman. They
used to They used to be called H one and
H two A. But like the bird flow, But I
(18:08):
haven't heard about ken Zen or Kensian economics since nineteen
seventy nine. I've got about a thirty or forty seconds chequeline.
Why should we be taking note of it?
Speaker 9 (18:19):
We just need to consider liberating the economy to allow
it to expand. If we shut it down, then this
was John King's theory. The paradox had twisted too much,
saving results in decreased consumer demand, leading to reduce business revenues, redundancies,
and economic recession. We must have the new money coming
into the country to stimulate growth, and most of the
(18:42):
new money comes in from agriculture. So let's liberate agriculture
and get the science right that underpins it.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Are you saying Spen don't save.
Speaker 9 (18:51):
I'm saying be sensible about it. I gave you the
Kinsian theory about the saving. What I want us to
be able to do is to liberate the economy, and
that means making sure we've got the science right to
do agriculture properly exactly.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
That's how we make our money, That's how we make
our way in this country. Doctor jaquallin Rowis, good luck
making your way today to Pew Pew.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
I the best of the country with Rubbo Bag.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience Grow with Rubbo Bag.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
Kicking off the show today, Jane Smith, North Otago farmer
who took a little bit of time off the farm
this morning to go into the metropolis of Omoru and
paid tribute to our great friend the late Jim Hopkins.
Good afternoon, Jane.
Speaker 10 (19:38):
Good afternoon, Jamie.
Speaker 12 (19:39):
And certainly it was a lovely tribute to Jim before
he headed north in his final journey to back to
his family in Canterbury this morning. So it was just
on the council chamber steps and we were all able
to pay tribute to Jim, and as the Mayor said,
he was a man that gave so much of himself
to the community that he loved.
Speaker 10 (19:58):
And you know, he was a I was thinking this morning,
he was a living, breathing thesaurus.
Speaker 12 (20:03):
You know, he was such an outstanding orator, and you
know through his young farmer's days, and I had a
lot to do with amen throughout the regions, you know,
back in the Simon Hotcroft and Robert Kempthorn days.
Speaker 10 (20:14):
He was he just gave those competitors.
Speaker 12 (20:16):
Such a hard time in a good humid way and
gave it, you know, a real profile to to that competition.
Speaker 10 (20:22):
And Jim and I clashed on many things.
Speaker 12 (20:24):
I enjoyed him as a sparring partner in council meetings
when you know, during for example, the reposed district plan changes.
And after one of those meetings he said to me,
you know, Jane, I can't work out whether you are
an asset or a liability, but you're sure as how
made some splendid points, but you put counsel in a
really difficult position. So you know he would acknowledge when
(20:45):
you did challenge challenge him. And I guess the one
one major area that Jim and I absolutely, you know,
we agreed upon was the net zero alarmism. And Jim
understood the costs and the opportunity costs of net zero
and as sort of an again in sort of net
zero way. And you'll remember this well, Jamie, he said
(21:07):
this on your show many times. How poor do you
want our country to be? You know, how far do
you want a country to be?
Speaker 4 (21:14):
So?
Speaker 12 (21:14):
Basically, and he could see that from from a local
point of view, in a New Zealand point of view.
I mean, we had a crump, We've got a crumbling
Victoria era a water system in Omoru. Yet we were
looking at spending up to one hundred and fifty million
on net zero headline work, which again was going to
make no difference whatsoever.
Speaker 10 (21:33):
So Jim and I really agreed.
Speaker 12 (21:35):
On that, and gosh, I had some fantastic conversations and
he'll be sawly missed, Jamie.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Yep, he was famous for his red glasses. I wonder
if he had a red coffin anyhow. Rest in peace,
Jim Hopkins, and enjoy your trip as we speak back
to your family in Canterbury. Okay, Jane, talking about things political,
you want a pre election pre nup.
Speaker 12 (21:55):
I certainly do, Jamie, And like a lot of people,
I've sort of feeling that elct kile dysfunction at the moment.
Speaker 10 (22:01):
You know, we're very scared of what the vote may
may bring, and you know.
Speaker 12 (22:05):
The election result and the formation of the next government
are two very different things, the latter being what should
be keeping us awake at nights.
Speaker 10 (22:14):
So you know, and almost a try before you buy.
Speaker 12 (22:16):
I'd love to see a matrix that showed what we
may be signing up for, depending on what sort of
bizarre coupling or thruptling we may end up with. But
just a matrix it shows, you know, again on those
really important issues, So not the not the lolly scramble stuff,
not the social media ban and the fireworks ban and
free fees for students, but infrastructure, health, and the tax policies,
(22:39):
which of course some have come out, you know, to
talk about that. But again, we can't tax our way into.
Speaker 10 (22:46):
Prosperity, you know.
Speaker 12 (22:47):
We need that trifector of new money, new ideas and productivity,
all of which we don't have at the moment.
Speaker 7 (22:52):
Jamie.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
Well, look at the Opportunity Party and I'm going to
talk to Chris Hipkins about this one and find out
where he stands on their tax proposals. If you want,
a land tax would be a real killer for farmers.
That that's a given. But they are a party of
taxing because I know they're going to simplify the income
tax brackets, and their income tax brackets will range from
(23:14):
twenty eight to thirty nine percent. Okay, same as our
current structure at the top end, but at the moment
here in New Zealand, we have ten and a half
percent on income ranging from zero to fifteen thy six hundred.
So we're all going to pay a whole lot more tax,
including a land tax, to pay for a universal basic income.
Speaker 12 (23:34):
Do we need it exactly, Jamie, And I mean, essentially
they're trying to turn everyone into beneficiaries. And you know,
these unhinged parties don't understand, well, don't seem to understand
the law of unintended consequences.
Speaker 10 (23:49):
I mean, you've got to remember a land tax.
Speaker 12 (23:50):
Is actually a tax on food production, and we will
all ultimately pay more for food, and we barely can
afford food. You know, our own New Zealand produced food
at the moment, So you know, they shouldn't be in charge.
The Opportunity Party should not be called the Opportunity Party.
And I'll tell you who gets my vote is someone
that comes up with intergenerational plans for those big three infrastructure,
(24:12):
health and education, because again, that is a thing that's
going to move our country forward, Jamie.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Infrastructure is a real challenge facing this country, not only
at local body level, like the Waitaki District Council where
you got pinged by a huge rate rise and it's
not even enough to wash your face. Similar type thing
for the kluth And District Council are just down the
road staring at the barrel of thirty percent rate rises.
These are unsustainable. People can't afford that, No, they can't, Jamie.
Speaker 12 (24:40):
I think you know that, along with the Council of Magnations,
we've got to be careful about that because it's not
necessarily the utopia that it's made out to be, because
bigger is a better and two wrongs don't make it
right in terms of putting to you know, two infrastructures
that aren't working at the moment in terms of local body.
Speaker 10 (24:57):
But yeah, the infrastructure thing is massive.
Speaker 12 (24:59):
The RMA change that is massive as well, and I
guess on that in terms of the things that are
holding us back at the moment, in terms of progress
and consents. I did actually have to have to laugh
at the irony, and it's quite a serious irony. This
week when I see NITA who have slammed Docks for
stalling their consents for their salmon farming proposal, and FOVO
(25:19):
straight and I quote, well quote off the top of
my head, they had said that that doc went responding
in a timely manner. They were bringing up new matters
in an irrational and unpredictable way, and they were operating
way outside their mandate and they shouldn't have been involved
in the process of consenting anyway.
Speaker 10 (25:37):
Well, bugger me, isn't that sound like sound very familiar
in terms of the pot calling the kettle.
Speaker 6 (25:43):
Black, Jamie.
Speaker 12 (25:44):
I mean, there's so many things that have been held
to ransom by EWE, and I think, you know, hopefully
with the new Resource Management Act, whatever shape or form
that takes, that we should actually only having those that
effects being to have an opinion lead alone hold up
a process, Jamie. So I did think that that irony
(26:04):
and that was unbelievable. However, also talking about land management change, gosh,
it was enlightening and exciting to see Sam Hayn and
Kyluth and Gisbon with cows going into pine trees for
getting rid of pine trees. Jamie, that was music to
my ears.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Well, that's on the Federated Farmer's Podcast and we've tracked
those guys down. Bit difficult to get them today, but
we're going to get them on the show tomorrow. I
think it's wonderful, warms.
Speaker 12 (26:29):
My heart absolutely, and putting that land back into food
producing land is just fantastic, Jamie. So great to see
people taking literally taking the ball by the horns and
making those changes happen.
Speaker 10 (26:40):
So bloody good stuff.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
Jane Smith, thanks for your time. Jim Hopkins, rest in peace.
Speaker 10 (26:45):
Thanks Jammie.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
The Best of the Country with Rubbo Bag Choose the
Bank with one hundred and twenty years global agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Grow with Rubbobag.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Just what Good morning, New Zealand. I'm Jamie McKay. Welcome
back to the Best of the Country brought to you
by Rabobank. We're growing a better New Zealand together. Shane
Ownes to wrap the Best of the Country more about
him in a tick, But last month. This is a
great story. Twenty five secondary school students from around New
(27:17):
Zealand completed a three day residential program designed to explore
career opportunities across the food and fiber production supply chain.
Held from July seven to nine, the Farm to Future
Education camp, which was fully funded by Rabobank and run
by our friends at Lincoln University, brought together or Brought
(27:37):
together year twelve students from schools across the nation. During
the program, participants visited a range of agri businesses throughout Candrey,
including Racaiah Island Dairy Farm, Oakley's Premium Fresh Vegetables, PGG
Rights and Original Foods, Zenta Wall Company and Foodstuffs. To
find out more, go to the Rabobank website rabobank dot
(28:00):
co dot nzen. Now I'm going to wrap the Best
of the Country with Shane Jones. Due to technical difficulties,
you didn't get to hear him last week. We recorded
him late the week before, and I think he's worth
a rerun. Shane Jones not backward in coming forward when
it comes to emissions targets, but does he have a
selective memory when it comes to some of his own
(28:23):
policy U turns of the past. Enjoy Shane Jones.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
The best of the country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
Grow with Rubbobank.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
Shane Jones is the New Zealand First Deputy Leader. Shane,
I'm going to come back to Kneepads and Stewart Nash,
but I want to start with if I can, because
I know you're in Otargo today. I want to talk
about emissions targets. In twenty nineteen, the woke hold Dunedin
City Council declared a climate emergency. It was sort of
fashionable to do so in those days. Now they've scrapped
(28:59):
net zero twenty thirty. These were ridiculous targets we were
never going to meet. Are climate emergencies so twenty nineteen
and Jacinder are diurnished.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
These days, the climate emergency rhetoric has ebbed in the
face of sheer economic reality. What to Cinda at Dern
did in eighteen, nineteen and twenty reflects that juvenile period
(29:31):
of political leadership. We cannot afford all these luxury beliefs.
We are already spending a great deal of money in
the South Island with your councils on boosting flood mitigation
through stopbanks and related work. That's the kind of result,
(29:52):
not the rhetorical flourishes that characterize Chippy and the Green
Party and various other fellow travelers. You to know, I
have always been the doubting Thomas checked any of my
rhetorical contributions.
Speaker 7 (30:07):
I've said all.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
Along, till every cow close every factory, you will not
have zero impact on the world's climate until America, India,
China actually pursue actions that meet the froththingness of that
sort of rhetoric.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
You did have an opportunity way back in Jacinda's first term,
when you were standing behind and nodding, albeit with your
hand over your eyes, you could have spoken up then. Shane.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Of course, at that particular time she sprung a captain's
call on us. But fortunately nine years on we're dealing
with the circumstances that surround us and we're not living
in the past. We moved very quickly to a tone
I personally did for those misdeeds, and that's why a
lot of what I'm up to resonates well with you.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
South Land, New Zealand is at risk of missing all
its climate targets for what they're worth, and time to
get back on track is running out, according to the
Climate Change Commission. You're obviously not taking a jot of
notice about what they're talking about.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
I'm only interested in our economic robustness, our societal durability.
If you keep closing down all of the firms and
the key contributors to our economy, like the cement factory,
like Jacinda and Meghan, closing down the refinery will be
hollowed out, will be zombie like, but apparently we'll have
(31:39):
some sort of vicarious pleasure that we saved the planet.
That's the opposite of what NZ at first believes.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Do you still believe in planting heaps of trees?
Speaker 5 (31:50):
A right tree, right place, right tree, right place? And
obviously after I left.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
It, you were never going to fit a billion trees
in the right place. Have you atoned for that terrible error?
Speaker 5 (32:01):
Well, look, it's up to the landowners. They're in charge
of their own property. This' or planting trees, And I
don't think you should pluck one particular policy they've got
over in xuberant and and pin and pin, some stigmatized
shame Shane.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
That's called a sect, that's called a selective memory. Come on,
you've got to admit admits your faults.
Speaker 5 (32:23):
There's nothing wrong with forestry and we will not be vaporizing.
We will not be assassinating the carbon forestry sector. They
have legitimate rights. But however, we will be refining, and
we will be dealing with the ragged edges of the
ets and the ridiculous expectations that the rest of the
(32:46):
world have on us through Paris.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
Well, we're not going to meet these targets. But the
irony of the whole situation is when we don't meet
these targets, as we clearly won't, all we're going to
get is a slap over the wrist with a wet
bus ticket.
Speaker 5 (33:01):
Yeah, well, there'll be an onslaught of frothy language from
the media. There'll be a few trading partners, I'm told.
But you know my message to the trading partners UK.
Your people already are trying to reinvent a new avenue
back to explore uncover gas and oil Europe. You're burning
(33:25):
coal all the time. China just built a new railway track.
I'm told to bring Mongolian coal to China. And here
we are in New Zealand sort of fleecing ourselves, closing
down factories, allowing the gent tailors to rout what's left
of our productive economy. Of course, all that will change
after the election.
Speaker 4 (33:46):
You're in Otargo today, You're heading up to your happy
place McCrae's mind. This is all part of your campaign. Well,
you're going to try and get a billion dollars to
survey the offshore oil and gas. Gas reserves are not
to mention everything you can on shore.
Speaker 5 (34:03):
Well, there's nothing wrong with any modern nation having an
incredibly high quality reservoir, knowledge about the wealth the potential
that lies off the coastline, and then use that as
a basis to find ways of co investing with either
the Japanese or variety of others who may want to
(34:23):
secure our oil and gas, and we'll reserve some for ourselves.
I'm already presiding over a successful march of miners through
parts of the South Island, and Okay, certain landscapes have
to be protected, and I'm willing to live within those guardrails.
And of course the reason I'm going to the gold
mine today within Otago is because there's something akin to
(34:46):
a talisman. There they're going to show me an incredibly
amazing gold bar. And you know, in another part of
my life, I would have maybe have got a job
as an gold miner. But I hope to actually put
a bit in old and the tooth that I've recently lost.
Speaker 4 (35:02):
Let's just finish on knee pads and Stuart Nash has
he been treated harshly? Have you got off lightly?
Speaker 5 (35:09):
Oh? Look, the media they feasted on one colorful expression
with my reference quite frankly pertain to maintain our steadfastness.
We don't need to bow down to any foreign leader
who was holding an Ethno nationalist rally. I don't even
know how on earth that rally took place.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
Come on, Shane, Shane, Shane, you're bullshitting a bullshitter here.
Now you know as well as I do there was
a sexual reference to your comments.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
Now you know as well as I do. It was
a whole woke, riddled younger generation of journos who conveniently
tried to inject something risk guy into that remark.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
That completely innocent remark.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
I mean that remark could have related to health and safety,
could have related to sport, could have related to gardening.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
I think five too much of it on to finish
on Stuart Nash. He's a bit accident prone, but my
understanding is correct me if I'm wrong. That was a
private text to former National Minister Chris Finlasson, who has
a podcast. Should Chris Finnlersen have sat on that? Because
I can tell you over the years I've received texts
(36:18):
and communications from government ministers and if I was to
make them public they would be hung out to dry.
But you respect the privacy.
Speaker 5 (36:28):
Well, Look, Chris Finlayson has used this opportunity to seek
grace and favor within the National Party. It's sad that
the matter has ended in this way. I've known Stu
for a long time. But look at it was probably
Shakespeare who said it best were it done? When it's done?
(36:50):
Better done? Well?
Speaker 4 (36:53):
Did Shakespeare quickly? Did Shakespeare say dig it up and
damn it up? Or was that you the other great wordsmith?
Speaker 5 (37:00):
You've you've already corrected me. Look, Stewie offered his resignation.
I'm advised it's a sensible outcome. We wouldn't want this
distraction stewing indefinitely as we run up to the campaign.
Winston will be home soon from overseas and no doubt
Stewie will go on with his life and addressed local
(37:22):
issues with his community. Is far No. He is someone
I've known for a long long time, but he will
not be a part of our campaign running up to
November seventh.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Shane Jones, thanks for your time. Enjoy your day at
your happy place, the mccraze Mining gold Mine.
Speaker 1 (37:39):
See buddy The Best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Grow with Rubberbank.
Speaker 4 (37:48):
Shane Jones wrapping The Best of the Country recorded Thursday
week ago, but I thought he was worth a rerun.
Sayin we couldn't get him to you last week. I'm
Jamie McKay. The show's brought to you alright, Rabobank. Shout
out to Smiley Barrett if you listen and get well, mate,
I need you for my correspondent in South Africa. I
will leave you with Ella Langley was in homage for
(38:11):
thatcom spark.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
She's from Texas. I can tell by the way he's
just stamping around the room. I'm judging by the smile
tree and all his face. There's nothing I can do.
It doesn't take a Christal bar to see a cowboy
(38:35):
always find awayly drinking jackob by myself. He's choosing Texas.
I can tell well, I guess he fergot about the
(38:57):
Smoky Mountain rain, the boat hangtons, the my fist blues
Wiss's the same. He always loved the oil by morning.
I shouldn't taken that as a warning. She's from Texas
(39:20):
sock till. By the way, he's too stepping around the
room and judging by the smile the tree and all
his face, there's nothing I can do. It doesn't take
a Christal Ball to see a cowboy always bods away
(39:44):
and ly drinking jack all by myself. He's choosing Texas.
Icon test well, he's bout don Kane helping cracks. I'm
forty big, is longlier with every mile. I don't know
that his mind wasn't never gone to change, because his
(40:08):
are still belongs to a long star stake. She's from
Texas second tail. By the way, he's too stepping round
the room and judging by the smile of the tree
on his face, there's nothing I can do. No, it
(40:32):
doesn't take Christis the Ball to see a cowboy always
find away and leave drinking.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Jack all by myself. He's choosing Texas.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
I can tesl. No drinking jack all by myself. He's
choosing Texas.
Speaker 10 (40:54):
I can tell.
Speaker 1 (40:57):
Come on, baby, Oh God, just when.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
I thought I got in the fall in love A
tennes ship
Speaker 10 (41:15):
H
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