March 3, 2026 • 6 mins
The PM ponders the latest GDT Auction (up 5.7%), Trump's attacks on Iran, the media’s attacks on Luxon, and the Golden Shears and World Shearing Champs.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wednesdays on the Country, the bloke running the Country kicks
off the country. That's a lot of countries, isn't it. Well,
there are a lot of countries, Prime Minister Christopher Luxem
that are in trouble around this downright frightening world we
live in now. But thank the Lord, Praise the Lord
for dairy farmers GDT auction this morning up five point
seven percent. They're going to save you, They're going to
(00:22):
save the economy. The primary sector.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yeah, well, look them, the primary sector has been on
fire actually the last year, if we're honest about it.
I mean, we've had really good demand for dairy. We've
had outstanding demand for red meat around the world, and
there's actually more demand than there is supply given the
herds of shrunken other parts of the world. And then
you've actually got war actually a ten year high as well.
So it's a great opportunity for will to innovate and
need more value while they're making a little bit of money.
So look, I mean, it's been fantastic performance from our
(00:47):
dairy industry. But they've also got a government. Frankly from
day one and even before the election, we said that
we would back them and we have and we want
to get well into out of farming. We're getting rid
of the regulation it's been slowing them down. And we've
been out there in the world hustling, crouding yourportunities for.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
The Trump Trump, Trump and Trump. Where do you want
to start? Which one do we want to start with?
Which Donald Trump? Because there are several of them.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, look, I mean, obviously the big news of this
week is the strikes in Iran. You know, these are
sort of independent actions of the US and as well,
we're not parties to them. We don't get prior warning,
we haven't had any subsequent briefing about it, and it's
up to them too. You know, that's clearly their actions.
But clearly this is not a New Zealand over many
governments has had long supported action or long supported actions
(01:30):
to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon that's really
bad for the world. We've tried a series of diplomacies
and they've failed to deliver and flo out international law.
As a consequence, they've been funding a lot of the
global terrorism organizations and importantly they've been you know, they've
been killing their own people in huge quantities, and so yeah,
it's not a great regime, but obviously yes, it's concerning.
(01:51):
And what we want to see now is actually, you know,
this to be resolved very very quickly. We need to
not have escalation happen across the region. We want some
really life protecting on international law, up health.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Well, you're walking a bit of a political tightrope. Let's
be honest. You've got to try and please both sides.
Here are we but in terms of us as a
trading nation, because if we upset big brother, we're in trouble.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
No, no, we honestly, you know, we have our own
independent foreign policy and we have our own view on
these things, which I've tacked loaded over the last few days,
which is essentially.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Well you did, you did a bit of misspeaking their
prime minister. Why don't you be more like Winston? Why
aren't you to speak grumpy with the media.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Well, I'm not with important that the Prime Minister of
New Zealand. I explained the situation to New Zealanders and
we've had long standing support for action that actually moves
the threat of a neuclear weapon getting to our own,
removes the sponsoring of terrorism, and ultimately, you know, Stott
gets a government in place that ends up ultimately ensuring
it's representative of the people. And so you know, those
(02:53):
have been our actions. We know with respect to the strikes,
that's the US and Israeli action, and or we can
hope now is a rapid resolution of it and make
sure that we're keeping Kiwis in the region safe.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
You've talked about Trump's strikes on Iran. What about TV
one and TV three six pm news bulletin strikes on you.
They look like they're after you.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Well, look, I mean, I don't expect our media to
give us a free ride. They've got a job to do,
which is to hold a government to account in a
good democracy. But I think the public do expect media
to be fair and balanced, you know. And we had
some very positive news. As you know. Crime was a
major source of anxiety for New Zealanders going into the
last selection. Quite rightly so. Violent crime had gone through
the roof gang membership, retail crime. Remember, we had ram
(03:37):
rays every single day, and we set ourselves two goals
on day one, which was to have fewer victims of
violent crime and also to lower serious youth offending. It
was two of our nine big targets that we've been
working hard on. We had some fantastic news. We had
forty nine thousand fewer victims of serious violent crime, and
we've had a twenty two percent reduction in serious youth offending.
That is fantastic because that is New Zealanders and victims.
(03:59):
That and not getting bashed and hurt and having trauma
to deal with. And they were three straightforward facts. Obviously,
you know, we don't normally complain about the news, but
we felt we had to this time because frankly, we
didn't think it was fair and balance reporting at all.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
So you owned TV one or part thereof.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, but want you want your media always to be
independent of a government. I think that's been some of
the challenges is that, you know, you actually want your
media to play their role in a democracy, which is
to challenge a government. And we expect that, you know,
we understand their job and their role. But in this case,
you know, we felt we had to talk about it
and complain about it because you know, the public expects
(04:37):
media to be fair and balanced and in this case
it clearly wasn't and so we caught it up.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Do you see there are any in the two media
companies that you guys own the government TV in Z
and ARE in Zer probably your biggest critics.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Well, that's not something that we can control. That is,
you know, we may well own them, but the point
is we don't want governments ever directing media outlets to
push a government line. They have a job to do.
We've got states broadcasters and state radio network as you know,
and their job is to like in the media channel,
is to hold government took out. All we expect is
(05:10):
that steirmbalance. In this case, it wasn't.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Maybe you need to start up your own social media
account like someone else in the world who seems to
push out most of his information via that. Are you
going to the Golden Shares and the World Sharing Champs
and Masterden?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, looking forward, but actually going there tomorrow and given
how well I sort of know. I was with David
Fagan at my momoo the other day and it was
quite cool being able to see in close up action
that means a legend day just handling sheep and dealing
with it.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
And Prime Minister, with all due respect, you went better
in the press conference with the TV giur I was
the other day than you did on the end of
the handpiece with their David Fagan.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, let's be clear, I don't know. I knew that,
that's clear. Yeah, But it was a privilege to be
up close with the legend, you know, and to see
how he does it. And it's just incredible how he
man and the animal. But as to all our sharees
and it's just incredible work, hard work and now so
I want to go there tomorrow, there'll be this morning
whould be great, no doubt you'll.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Catch up with your doppel ganger. Sir David Fagan, Christopher
Luxe and Prime Minister. Thanks for your time on the country.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Good to be with you, Jamie. Have a great week.
Wednesdays on the Country, the bloke running the Country kicks
off the country. That's a lot of countries, isn't it. Well,
there are a lot of countries, Prime Minister Christopher Luxem
that are in trouble around this downright frightening world we
live in now. But thank the Lord, Praise the Lord
for dairy farmers GDT auction this morning up five point
seven percent. They're going to save you, They're going to
(00:22):
save the economy. The primary sector.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yeah, well, look them, the primary sector has been on
fire actually the last year, if we're honest about it.
I mean, we've had really good demand for dairy. We've
had outstanding demand for red meat around the world, and
there's actually more demand than there is supply given the
herds of shrunken other parts of the world. And then
you've actually got war actually a ten year high as well.
So it's a great opportunity for will to innovate and
need more value while they're making a little bit of money.
So look, I mean, it's been fantastic performance from our
(00:47):
dairy industry. But they've also got a government. Frankly from
day one and even before the election, we said that
we would back them and we have and we want
to get well into out of farming. We're getting rid
of the regulation it's been slowing them down. And we've
been out there in the world hustling, crouding yourportunities for.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
The Trump Trump, Trump and Trump. Where do you want
to start? Which one do we want to start with?
Which Donald Trump? Because there are several of them.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, look, I mean, obviously the big news of this
week is the strikes in Iran. You know, these are
sort of independent actions of the US and as well,
we're not parties to them. We don't get prior warning,
we haven't had any subsequent briefing about it, and it's
up to them too. You know, that's clearly their actions.
But clearly this is not a New Zealand over many
governments has had long supported action or long supported actions
(01:30):
to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon that's really
bad for the world. We've tried a series of diplomacies
and they've failed to deliver and flo out international law.
As a consequence, they've been funding a lot of the
global terrorism organizations and importantly they've been you know, they've
been killing their own people in huge quantities, and so yeah,
it's not a great regime, but obviously yes, it's concerning.
(01:51):
And what we want to see now is actually, you know,
this to be resolved very very quickly. We need to
not have escalation happen across the region. We want some
really life protecting on international law, up health.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Well, you're walking a bit of a political tightrope. Let's
be honest. You've got to try and please both sides.
Here are we but in terms of us as a
trading nation, because if we upset big brother, we're in trouble.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
No, no, we honestly, you know, we have our own
independent foreign policy and we have our own view on
these things, which I've tacked loaded over the last few days,
which is essentially.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Well you did, you did a bit of misspeaking their
prime minister. Why don't you be more like Winston? Why
aren't you to speak grumpy with the media.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Well, I'm not with important that the Prime Minister of
New Zealand. I explained the situation to New Zealanders and
we've had long standing support for action that actually moves
the threat of a neuclear weapon getting to our own,
removes the sponsoring of terrorism, and ultimately, you know, Stott
gets a government in place that ends up ultimately ensuring
it's representative of the people. And so you know, those
(02:53):
have been our actions. We know with respect to the strikes,
that's the US and Israeli action, and or we can
hope now is a rapid resolution of it and make
sure that we're keeping Kiwis in the region safe.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
You've talked about Trump's strikes on Iran. What about TV
one and TV three six pm news bulletin strikes on you.
They look like they're after you.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Well, look, I mean, I don't expect our media to
give us a free ride. They've got a job to do,
which is to hold a government to account in a
good democracy. But I think the public do expect media
to be fair and balanced, you know. And we had
some very positive news. As you know. Crime was a
major source of anxiety for New Zealanders going into the
last selection. Quite rightly so. Violent crime had gone through
the roof gang membership, retail crime. Remember, we had ram
(03:37):
rays every single day, and we set ourselves two goals
on day one, which was to have fewer victims of
violent crime and also to lower serious youth offending. It
was two of our nine big targets that we've been
working hard on. We had some fantastic news. We had
forty nine thousand fewer victims of serious violent crime, and
we've had a twenty two percent reduction in serious youth offending.
That is fantastic because that is New Zealanders and victims.
(03:59):
That and not getting bashed and hurt and having trauma
to deal with. And they were three straightforward facts. Obviously,
you know, we don't normally complain about the news, but
we felt we had to this time because frankly, we
didn't think it was fair and balance reporting at all.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
So you owned TV one or part thereof.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, but want you want your media always to be
independent of a government. I think that's been some of
the challenges is that, you know, you actually want your
media to play their role in a democracy, which is
to challenge a government. And we expect that, you know,
we understand their job and their role. But in this case,
you know, we felt we had to talk about it
and complain about it because you know, the public expects
(04:37):
media to be fair and balanced and in this case
it clearly wasn't and so we caught it up.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Do you see there are any in the two media
companies that you guys own the government TV in Z
and ARE in Zer probably your biggest critics.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Well, that's not something that we can control. That is,
you know, we may well own them, but the point
is we don't want governments ever directing media outlets to
push a government line. They have a job to do.
We've got states broadcasters and state radio network as you know,
and their job is to like in the media channel,
is to hold government took out. All we expect is
(05:10):
that steirmbalance. In this case, it wasn't.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Maybe you need to start up your own social media
account like someone else in the world who seems to
push out most of his information via that. Are you
going to the Golden Shares and the World Sharing Champs
and Masterden?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, looking forward, but actually going there tomorrow and given
how well I sort of know. I was with David
Fagan at my momoo the other day and it was
quite cool being able to see in close up action
that means a legend day just handling sheep and dealing
with it.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
And Prime Minister, with all due respect, you went better
in the press conference with the TV giur I was
the other day than you did on the end of
the handpiece with their David Fagan.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, let's be clear, I don't know. I knew that,
that's clear. Yeah, But it was a privilege to be
up close with the legend, you know, and to see
how he does it. And it's just incredible how he
man and the animal. But as to all our sharees
and it's just incredible work, hard work and now so
I want to go there tomorrow, there'll be this morning
whould be great, no doubt you'll.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Catch up with your doppel ganger. Sir David Fagan, Christopher
Luxe and Prime Minister. Thanks for your time on the country.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Good to be with you, Jamie. Have a great week.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!