The Country 09/12/25: Richard Dawkins talks to Jamie Mackay

Marlborough farmer and Federated Farmers’ Meat and Wool Chair. Today, he talks about the “Twelve Pests of Christmas” and why there are no politicians on the list. We also preview today’s RMA announcement from the Government and discuss the big dry. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
A countdown to Christmas continues here on the country. Someone
else who's counting down to Christmas. As Federated Farmers, they've
booked a large digital billboard in central Wellington outside the Beehive.
It's a real beauty and will feature a new pest
each day in the lead up to Christmas, and it's
along the theme of the Twelve Pests of Christmas. To

(00:21):
tell us more about it, Marlborough Farmer, a Federated Farmers
Meat and woolchair Richard Dawkins. The PR department at Federated Farmers,
led by Aaron who I affectionately call Rasputen, are doing
a really good job. I'd have to say this is
a great initiative.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah it is. And look, Jamie, this issue of weeds
and peas that's costing farmers, it's costing conservation and we're
just calling for a coordinated effort to be more effective
and look leading into Christmas. The campaign's a bit playful,
but it is about a serious issue. So, like you said,
wanted that billboard across from the beehives. So it's front

(00:59):
of my mindig for politicians. But you know, also every
day kiwis in Wellington, you know, having a Christmas barbecue
or yarning to your mates, or maybe they'll end up
at a barbecue with ministers Potucker or Hoggard or maclay
and can just say, Hey, this wheed and pest problem,
it's a huge issue. What are we doing about it?

Speaker 1 (01:19):
Yeah? I think you kicked off the first day of
Christmas was bush pigs. And I know you've got wild dare,
killer cats, goats, possums Canada, geese, rabbits, ducks, you name it,
all the pests that are really annoying the hell out
of farming. Were you attempted at Federated Farmers because I
know you like to poke a bit of borax to
include I don't know some politicians in there, Damien or Chloe.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
Look at it's a playful campaign, a bit lighthearted leading
into Christmas. So yeah, save those subtle jabs for another time.
But yeah, do want to highlight I mean we do.
We are a political and work across the really political
really Yeah, yeah, absolutely, quite a lot of effort actually
goes in from us on those cross party efforts with

(02:09):
red bands and our meat and Wall executive recently hosted
Joe Luxton and Prianca down there in Half so yeah,
the good effort across the aisle.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Well got on you for the apolitical approach to politics.
It's going to be a very political year next year.
The other big story out there at the moment, and
we're expecting an announcement at about one o'clock, is on
this new rama proposal. I know Feds have been hot
on this one, and we had David Clarke, of course,
a mid Canterbury arable farmer, former member of Federated Farmers.

(02:41):
He's leading the charge on the ridiculousness of the consenting process.
I know you've had a bit of a sneak preview.
You can't break the embargo, but do you think farmers
will be happy with what they hear at one o'clock?

Speaker 2 (02:55):
What I can say, Jamie is resource consents in that
process as a hell of a crisis for our real communities,
and we've run a campaign around that. You know it
could well be a good Christmas present, but you don't
unwrap your presence until Christmas morning, so.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Well, well we'll wait to unwrap ours at one o'clock
if indeed that is the time we get the announcement.
It's long over due, and I know, I know David
Parker had a crack at rewriting it. But the trouble
is when he rewrote the rama, I think his document
was nine hundred pages long.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, and it's just become a real stranglehold on productivity
and actual environmental outcomes, to be honest, Jamie. So yeah,
we're really welcoming, have welcomed the conversation and look forward
to hopefully what's a positive announcement at one o'clock.

Speaker 1 (03:47):
Just to finish with your farming in Marlborough, we know
the east coast of both islands are really starting to
get quite dry. I mean it's a bit of a
I'm loath to use the word crisis, but Hawks Bay's
in trouble. The dams are running low, they're running out
of air, gotion, water or maybe even stockwater. How are
you faring in Marlborough because you're typically very much summer
dry region.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
Yeah we are. Mulbra's a fairly diverse province Jamie. So
I know those sellers down the east coast are certainly
feeling the dry bit very early, and they waned early
in things. And by what does take the pressure off
is the current pricing. You know, store values going as
high as prime values in recent years, so that certainly
is the pain.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
Absolutely, the store marketers are running hot at the moment,
and there are certainly options for farmers who have to
quit stock early because of the dry. Hey Richard Dawkins,
thanks for your contribution throughout the year. You're the new
Federated Farmers Meet and woolchair. No doubt you'll have a
lot to say an election year next year. I hope
you and your family have a good Christmas.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
Yeah, thanks Jamie, you too,