August 31, 2025 • 6 mins
Labour’s trade spokesman and former Minister of Agriculture comments on the Miraka deal, Molesworth, his party’s long-awaited agriculture policy, and Trump’s tariffs.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It was good to catch up with this gentleman. Can
I call him that? On Friday night he turned up
at the Otago Golf Club for a bear and Edens's
new home sort of these days, Damien O'Connor and Damon,
I think I can convert you into a golfer and
to center right voter. You seem to fit like a
hand into a glove at our golf colb.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You can live in hope, Jamie. But I got more
more common sense in that. And I don't have the time,
you know, spend on the golf course. I can see
how you can become addicted to it, but it takes
quite a bit of time.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah, but you spend most of your time gallivanting around
the country on your trailbike.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Well, no, a little bit on that, mainly in cars
and planes. And it is to get from a to
b and it is to keep an eye on what's
happening around. I guess the benefit and I traveled to
the top to bottom of the South Island last week
just seeing what is happening, talking to people, getting a
mix of views, and I guess, you know, wigging that
(00:55):
back into the political system. We're in a process of
developing policies and ideas to to be a better government.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Damon, I reckon, I'll be an old man by the
time you and Joe Luxton get around to coming out
with some ag policy.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well just wait and see you just hold your breath
and you know you might be around. But coming up
with good innovative policy is really critical. I mean, the
primary sectors are still at the heart of our economy,
but there's a lot of farmers out there saying we're
not quite sure where we're going. We've got great payouts
at the moment, you know, dairy and beef and you know,
(01:28):
pretty good for land, but there's a whole lot of
other sectors that are struggling, and there's still no vision
for where we should be in twenty years time.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Well, I one start about the lack of vision you
had when you were in government. Talk to me about no, no, no, absolutely,
I meant that sincerely and in all honesty. Talk to
me about you need.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
To fit for a better world. Did you see what
we were attempting to do with the industry, to carry
it off and reach out and put that in place, you.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Would have killed it off. Now, what about what do
you make about today's big news story, Open Country Dairy
acquiring me Rucker.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Had a little surprising and I guess for mari acrobusiness
miracle was seen as you know, a bit of a jewel.
They had gone out, worked with Marie Farmers and others,
partnership with with Vietnamese and while I'm not familiar with
the details of it, I guess it's one more play
that Open Country, you know, a couple of weeks ago,
(02:24):
of course, had made a big player as well. So
they're certainly strengthening their base across New Zealand and be
interesting to see what happens from here.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
You're not a fan of Fonterra selling its consumer brands.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
No, I think there was a very good article by
Sam Stubbs over the weekend which nailed it. I think
that it might be a good play for Fonterra and
its shareholders in the short term, certainly not a good
play for New Zealand and in the long term. I mean, well,
we'll just have to wait and see. I you know,
the fact that they can use the equity better well
at a time when farmers have pretty healthy come and
(03:00):
Dairy another three point two billion or more. Going back
to them begs the question where will that go? And
someone say, oh, I'll pay down debt. I suspect it
will go into other areas, not all of it productive,
and I'm not sure it will secure the long term
future for future generations. Of course, that's what we have
to think about, you know, the generations ahead in the
(03:23):
dairy industry, not just shareholders. At the moment, I was.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Giving you a bit of stick about riding your trail
bike because I know you're a keen biker, off roader,
dirt biker, and I know you've been through Molesworth, and
I know you know Jim Ward Well I went to
school with him as well. Good bloke. He got the
don't come Monday from Palmu. What are your reckons going
on at Molesworth?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Well, I think it's a play by Knightahu to take
it over quite frankly, and you know, maybe they should
explain why I just sitting your head discussions with them.
It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it should be
a bit more transparent. I think Doc have said they're
going to put the lease up for interested parties. The
risk is that you know, it is an iconic location,
(04:05):
it's quite a fragile environment, a lot of wilding pines
in there. We spent a lot of money. And I
know that Jim as manager, you know, provided the flexibility
in that program wilding pines. He has done for you know,
tourism purposes. He shuts the place up when necessary, and
you know, I know that irks a lot of people.
I find him an outstanding guy who has been always
(04:28):
straight up with me. I've known him for many, many years,
and I think that Palmus shafted him, and I think
that they need to be able to funt up and
say what their intent is. And I understand the pressure
on some more long term experience managers around the country.
A bunch of shiny bums in Wellington making calls, some
(04:49):
of which are ridiculous, are impacting on the way that
Palmu is operating. Now it's come out with a good profit,
I'm sure Treasury will be happy, you know. And there
are some healthy for dairy and for meet at the moment.
So they should be making good money. But doesn't mean
to say they shouldn't be an ethical employer and be
able to explain their long term strategy.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Just a final one, because you were a former Minister
of trade. You did good work to be fair in
that portfolio. Are Trump's tariffs illegal? The Federal Appeals Court
has ruled that Trump does not have the authority to
use emergency economic powers to impose taxes on imports. But
let's face it, Trump will just do what he wants,
won't he.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I think he will. I don't think a llegal ruling
will change match. The issue really is the uncertainty and
the fact that you know, the stock markets are, you know,
going up and down like a yo yo. Some people
are making billions of dollars over there in the US,
but ultimately there will be people losing billions as well.
And you know, all of uncertainty just creates opportunities for
(05:55):
the wealthy, puts more pressure on the poor in not
just the US. Around the world are people who depend
upon just making or growing things that are traded, and
so the disruption across the globe is not good for
any of us. I'm not sure that Trump will care
about or bye by the legal rulings. We'll just have
(06:16):
to wait and see you. I think many of us
thought that the US had a robust constitutional legal system,
but the ability of the president to president to override
that is just quite as sounding.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Damian O'Connor, Labour's trade spokesperson, Thanks for your time. Just
hold the line there I'll get your address details for
your nomination for membership of the Otago Golf Club.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Live and Hope,
It was good to catch up with this gentleman. Can
I call him that? On Friday night he turned up
at the Otago Golf Club for a bear and Edens's
new home sort of these days, Damien O'Connor and Damon,
I think I can convert you into a golfer and
to center right voter. You seem to fit like a
hand into a glove at our golf colb.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
You can live in hope, Jamie. But I got more
more common sense in that. And I don't have the time,
you know, spend on the golf course. I can see
how you can become addicted to it, but it takes
quite a bit of time.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yeah, but you spend most of your time gallivanting around
the country on your trailbike.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Well, no, a little bit on that, mainly in cars
and planes. And it is to get from a to
b and it is to keep an eye on what's
happening around. I guess the benefit and I traveled to
the top to bottom of the South Island last week
just seeing what is happening, talking to people, getting a
mix of views, and I guess, you know, wigging that
(00:55):
back into the political system. We're in a process of
developing policies and ideas to to be a better government.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Damon, I reckon, I'll be an old man by the
time you and Joe Luxton get around to coming out
with some ag policy.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well just wait and see you just hold your breath
and you know you might be around. But coming up
with good innovative policy is really critical. I mean, the
primary sectors are still at the heart of our economy,
but there's a lot of farmers out there saying we're
not quite sure where we're going. We've got great payouts
at the moment, you know, dairy and beef and you know,
(01:28):
pretty good for land, but there's a whole lot of
other sectors that are struggling, and there's still no vision
for where we should be in twenty years time.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Well, I one start about the lack of vision you
had when you were in government. Talk to me about no, no, no, absolutely,
I meant that sincerely and in all honesty. Talk to
me about you need.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
To fit for a better world. Did you see what
we were attempting to do with the industry, to carry
it off and reach out and put that in place, you.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Would have killed it off. Now, what about what do
you make about today's big news story, Open Country Dairy
acquiring me Rucker.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Had a little surprising and I guess for mari acrobusiness
miracle was seen as you know, a bit of a jewel.
They had gone out, worked with Marie Farmers and others,
partnership with with Vietnamese and while I'm not familiar with
the details of it, I guess it's one more play
that Open Country, you know, a couple of weeks ago,
(02:24):
of course, had made a big player as well. So
they're certainly strengthening their base across New Zealand and be
interesting to see what happens from here.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
You're not a fan of Fonterra selling its consumer brands.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
No, I think there was a very good article by
Sam Stubbs over the weekend which nailed it. I think
that it might be a good play for Fonterra and
its shareholders in the short term, certainly not a good
play for New Zealand and in the long term. I mean, well,
we'll just have to wait and see. I you know,
the fact that they can use the equity better well
at a time when farmers have pretty healthy come and
(03:00):
Dairy another three point two billion or more. Going back
to them begs the question where will that go? And
someone say, oh, I'll pay down debt. I suspect it
will go into other areas, not all of it productive,
and I'm not sure it will secure the long term
future for future generations. Of course, that's what we have
to think about, you know, the generations ahead in the
(03:23):
dairy industry, not just shareholders. At the moment, I was.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Giving you a bit of stick about riding your trail
bike because I know you're a keen biker, off roader,
dirt biker, and I know you've been through Molesworth, and
I know you know Jim Ward Well I went to
school with him as well. Good bloke. He got the
don't come Monday from Palmu. What are your reckons going
on at Molesworth?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Well, I think it's a play by Knightahu to take
it over quite frankly, and you know, maybe they should
explain why I just sitting your head discussions with them.
It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it should be
a bit more transparent. I think Doc have said they're
going to put the lease up for interested parties. The
risk is that you know, it is an iconic location,
(04:05):
it's quite a fragile environment, a lot of wilding pines
in there. We spent a lot of money. And I
know that Jim as manager, you know, provided the flexibility
in that program wilding pines. He has done for you know,
tourism purposes. He shuts the place up when necessary, and
you know, I know that irks a lot of people.
I find him an outstanding guy who has been always
(04:28):
straight up with me. I've known him for many, many years,
and I think that Palmus shafted him, and I think
that they need to be able to funt up and
say what their intent is. And I understand the pressure
on some more long term experience managers around the country.
A bunch of shiny bums in Wellington making calls, some
(04:49):
of which are ridiculous, are impacting on the way that
Palmu is operating. Now it's come out with a good profit,
I'm sure Treasury will be happy, you know. And there
are some healthy for dairy and for meet at the moment.
So they should be making good money. But doesn't mean
to say they shouldn't be an ethical employer and be
able to explain their long term strategy.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Just a final one, because you were a former Minister
of trade. You did good work to be fair in
that portfolio. Are Trump's tariffs illegal? The Federal Appeals Court
has ruled that Trump does not have the authority to
use emergency economic powers to impose taxes on imports. But
let's face it, Trump will just do what he wants,
won't he.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I think he will. I don't think a llegal ruling
will change match. The issue really is the uncertainty and
the fact that you know, the stock markets are, you know,
going up and down like a yo yo. Some people
are making billions of dollars over there in the US,
but ultimately there will be people losing billions as well.
And you know, all of uncertainty just creates opportunities for
(05:55):
the wealthy, puts more pressure on the poor in not
just the US. Around the world are people who depend
upon just making or growing things that are traded, and
so the disruption across the globe is not good for
any of us. I'm not sure that Trump will care
about or bye by the legal rulings. We'll just have
(06:16):
to wait and see you. I think many of us
thought that the US had a robust constitutional legal system,
but the ability of the president to president to override
that is just quite as sounding.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Damian O'Connor, Labour's trade spokesperson, Thanks for your time. Just
hold the line there I'll get your address details for
your nomination for membership of the Otago Golf Club.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Live and Hope,
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