March 10, 2026 • 7 mins
We talk about MPI’s emergency preparedness events starting today, and ask who was the smartest person in the room last night at the Zanda McDonald Awards?
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And someone who was meant to be at the conference yesterday,
(00:02):
but somehow did it make it a Vanessa Wanning from MPI. Vanessa,
before we actually we're going to talk about let me
describe your text up here. I'm totally unprepared because I've
literally jumped off a plane and into a studio. We're
going to talk emergency preparedness events that are starting today.
But I first met you, as I think I said
(00:23):
a month ago or so when we were chatting at
Field Days at the Triple PA Farming conference. Are the
brainschild of Shane mcmanaway, and we did the smartest person
in the room and you actually won it. Now last
night you'll be pleased to know, Vanessa, that the smartest
two people in the room with my heads and tails
eliminating everyone. It only took seven questions. Were Jane Field,
(00:48):
who's a keyweed originally I think from Mochawacre, but farming
and Tasmania with her husband. And the other one was
Liz Hegerton who was runner up. She's farming seventeen thousand
hectares and we'ren Australia. And as fate would have it, Vanessa,
she was the next door neighbor to one of my
best mates who was a West Australian when I was
(01:09):
at Lincoln. What a small world we live in a
huge That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
And do you guys still remember what you did back
in those days in terms of behavior in Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Well, he turned up at my wedding. His name was
Joe Young, and I think because back in the Lincoln
days we used to do that tooth tar thing and
I'm sure we'll reminisce on that tomorrow night in Wanaka.
But it did involve a wee bit of murder ty.
I obviously didn't partake on my wedding day, but the
Lincoln boys did and I remember Joe leading it. So
(01:40):
hello Joe, if you're listening and coaching up in Western Australia.
Now Liz and Jane got down. They were the last
one standing. After six questions. The seventh question decided the winner.
So I'm going to throw it at you. How smart
are you? Vanessa?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Winning?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
What was the name of pop star at most recent album?
Was it twenty fifteen or twenty twenty one? What would
you have gone for?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I would have gone for twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
One and you would have won.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Well, you would have been tied with Jane Field. So
there you go, four albums and they all kind of
had dates and names around them. Tell me about this
emergency preparedness stuff from MPI.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, sure, So, as you know, we're in ten regions
and so we're trying to help farmers and growers get
ready for weather activity. So we've had a massive first
few months of the year across the country in terms
of you know, whend rain, hail, storm. So the idea
(02:44):
behind them is to try and build up as much
resilience as we can, and we're starting today because we've
got a very first one at West Coast and essentially
it's out being ready for what's going to hit. We
generally know a couple of days out something bigs coming
or expected to come. So what do you need to
do to get ready for it? So? Do you need
(03:05):
to milk cows earlier? Do we need to get the
processes in there to pick up the milk earlier? Do
you have access to a generator? Are you plugged in
for a generator? All of those sorts of things. So
we've prepared checklists. Is going to a function going on
in each of these events. I think there's about twenty
odd of them across the country, so go to our
website you can find out more information about them. But
(03:28):
essentially what we're trying to do is really help farmers
and growers get ready and to be honest tomy, they
are getting better and better every time and it's amazing
how resilient farmers have become.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Though well mind you, they need to be.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
And we spoke to carn Deli well Awey bit earlier,
the New Zealand winner of the Zanda McDonald wards. He's
a market gardener, is into horticulture in the White Caddow
region there and he is now saying he's effectively farming
for a one and fifty year event. And I don't
know whether Gabrielle is a one and fifty year event,
but we're certainly going to get more of that sort
of stuff absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So you know, take what you can do, what you can,
be as much in control as you can and you'll
be able to get through it a lot better. There
doesn't mean there won't be extremes that are just outside
of your control, but reducing the impact as much as
possible that will also reduce the burden on insurance etc. Toe.
So I take my head off to farmers and girls
(04:23):
across the country. They really are taking us on board
and they are getting a lot more resilient. So we
just here to help them and provide them with those
checklists and support where we can.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
You've sent me a list of all the events that
are happening on the Egg Primary sect the calendar over
the next month or two. Amazing, such a busy time.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Oh my god, it's so huge and it's so positive.
I mean, you're just talking about Exandra McDonald woods garcid
to have missed it, but you just can't beat everything
at the moment. But you know, you think about last week.
We've also had the Golden Shoes as well. This week
we've got Wanica. Next week we've got Centralstricts Field Days,
got the Air Games. You know, it is a huge
(05:03):
period of time for activity. So you know, I'm so
impressed at how much you know, mostly volunteer based organizations
are out there getting farmers and growers off, celebrating wins.
And the positivity is massive, Like you know, the description
that you were giving in terms of Sander McDonald's awards,
(05:23):
that positivity is just raining through the country, which is
so good to see.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Yeah one at a show Friday and Saturday, the Rural
Games and Parmeerston North Friday, Saturday Sunday. And we haven't
even mentioned the likes of the ongoing ones, the Young
Farmer Regional Finals, the Balance Farm Environment Awards, Industry Awards,
Dairy Industry Awards at a South Island dairy event. That's
a great event that's on at Lincoln again this year.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yes see Saints and fasteenth of April. You know, really
cold line up this year, so honestly, anyone in the
South Island is in dairy, you really should get along.
We've got Cam doing his camp, Baggery doing his breakfast
which is always a sellout. You know, getting an hour
and a half with home is huge. And we've also
got this extra program this year at side called the
(06:10):
Legends of Dairy, so we've got Colin Glass, Leanna Guiney
and Well Grayling giving their warts and all conversation around
you know, how to be successful, how to grow, how
to support others what they're doing for the industry. So
you know, Legends of Theory with Inside is such a cool,
unique little spot that we're doing for the first time.
(06:30):
But you know we talk about just the veggie sector.
I've never seen so much positivity in the vegetable growing sector.
And you're so cool that the Zenda McDonald Award winner
was a market gardener. But last Tuesday the Veggie Center
of Excellence hosted five hundred growers from across New Zealand.
(06:54):
Across people came up from the South Island, people came
across from Australia looking at what new technologies they were
to reduce application of pesticides, herbicide, etc. So they were
taken through a series of trials. It was so good
to see in so much positivity. It did happen to
be a beautiful day and PoCA.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Coe that Okay, Vanessa got to go, thanks for your time.
You mentioned Will Growling. Of course, he's twenty eleven young
farmer of the Air at the time and this was
a compliment at the time. I said he was a
Prince Harry lookalike. I don't think he want to be
one of those these days. Anyhow, I got to go, Hey,
thanks for your time and good luck getting to some
of these events over the next month or two.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, thanks Jamie, Hopefully I'll see you there.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yep, good on Vanessa winning there from MPI
And someone who was meant to be at the conference yesterday,
(00:02):
but somehow did it make it a Vanessa Wanning from MPI. Vanessa,
before we actually we're going to talk about let me
describe your text up here. I'm totally unprepared because I've
literally jumped off a plane and into a studio. We're
going to talk emergency preparedness events that are starting today.
But I first met you, as I think I said
(00:23):
a month ago or so when we were chatting at
Field Days at the Triple PA Farming conference. Are the
brainschild of Shane mcmanaway, and we did the smartest person
in the room and you actually won it. Now last
night you'll be pleased to know, Vanessa, that the smartest
two people in the room with my heads and tails
eliminating everyone. It only took seven questions. Were Jane Field,
(00:48):
who's a keyweed originally I think from Mochawacre, but farming
and Tasmania with her husband. And the other one was
Liz Hegerton who was runner up. She's farming seventeen thousand
hectares and we'ren Australia. And as fate would have it, Vanessa,
she was the next door neighbor to one of my
best mates who was a West Australian when I was
(01:09):
at Lincoln. What a small world we live in a
huge That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
And do you guys still remember what you did back
in those days in terms of behavior in Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Well, he turned up at my wedding. His name was
Joe Young, and I think because back in the Lincoln
days we used to do that tooth tar thing and
I'm sure we'll reminisce on that tomorrow night in Wanaka.
But it did involve a wee bit of murder ty.
I obviously didn't partake on my wedding day, but the
Lincoln boys did and I remember Joe leading it. So
(01:40):
hello Joe, if you're listening and coaching up in Western Australia.
Now Liz and Jane got down. They were the last
one standing. After six questions. The seventh question decided the winner.
So I'm going to throw it at you. How smart
are you? Vanessa?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Winning?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
What was the name of pop star at most recent album?
Was it twenty fifteen or twenty twenty one? What would
you have gone for?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I would have gone for twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
One and you would have won.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Well, you would have been tied with Jane Field. So
there you go, four albums and they all kind of
had dates and names around them. Tell me about this
emergency preparedness stuff from MPI.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, sure, So, as you know, we're in ten regions
and so we're trying to help farmers and growers get
ready for weather activity. So we've had a massive first
few months of the year across the country in terms
of you know, whend rain, hail, storm. So the idea
(02:44):
behind them is to try and build up as much
resilience as we can, and we're starting today because we've
got a very first one at West Coast and essentially
it's out being ready for what's going to hit. We
generally know a couple of days out something bigs coming
or expected to come. So what do you need to
do to get ready for it? So? Do you need
(03:05):
to milk cows earlier? Do we need to get the
processes in there to pick up the milk earlier? Do
you have access to a generator? Are you plugged in
for a generator? All of those sorts of things. So
we've prepared checklists. Is going to a function going on
in each of these events. I think there's about twenty
odd of them across the country, so go to our
website you can find out more information about them. But
(03:28):
essentially what we're trying to do is really help farmers
and growers get ready and to be honest tomy, they
are getting better and better every time and it's amazing
how resilient farmers have become.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Though well mind you, they need to be.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
And we spoke to carn Deli well Awey bit earlier,
the New Zealand winner of the Zanda McDonald wards. He's
a market gardener, is into horticulture in the White Caddow
region there and he is now saying he's effectively farming
for a one and fifty year event. And I don't
know whether Gabrielle is a one and fifty year event,
but we're certainly going to get more of that sort
of stuff absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So you know, take what you can do, what you can,
be as much in control as you can and you'll
be able to get through it a lot better. There
doesn't mean there won't be extremes that are just outside
of your control, but reducing the impact as much as
possible that will also reduce the burden on insurance etc. Toe.
So I take my head off to farmers and girls
(04:23):
across the country. They really are taking us on board
and they are getting a lot more resilient. So we
just here to help them and provide them with those
checklists and support where we can.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
You've sent me a list of all the events that
are happening on the Egg Primary sect the calendar over
the next month or two. Amazing, such a busy time.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Oh my god, it's so huge and it's so positive.
I mean, you're just talking about Exandra McDonald woods garcid
to have missed it, but you just can't beat everything
at the moment. But you know, you think about last week.
We've also had the Golden Shoes as well. This week
we've got Wanica. Next week we've got Centralstricts Field Days,
got the Air Games. You know, it is a huge
(05:03):
period of time for activity. So you know, I'm so
impressed at how much you know, mostly volunteer based organizations
are out there getting farmers and growers off, celebrating wins.
And the positivity is massive, Like you know, the description
that you were giving in terms of Sander McDonald's awards,
(05:23):
that positivity is just raining through the country, which is
so good to see.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Yeah one at a show Friday and Saturday, the Rural
Games and Parmeerston North Friday, Saturday Sunday. And we haven't
even mentioned the likes of the ongoing ones, the Young
Farmer Regional Finals, the Balance Farm Environment Awards, Industry Awards,
Dairy Industry Awards at a South Island dairy event. That's
a great event that's on at Lincoln again this year.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Yes see Saints and fasteenth of April. You know, really
cold line up this year, so honestly, anyone in the
South Island is in dairy, you really should get along.
We've got Cam doing his camp, Baggery doing his breakfast
which is always a sellout. You know, getting an hour
and a half with home is huge. And we've also
got this extra program this year at side called the
(06:10):
Legends of Dairy, so we've got Colin Glass, Leanna Guiney
and Well Grayling giving their warts and all conversation around
you know, how to be successful, how to grow, how
to support others what they're doing for the industry. So
you know, Legends of Theory with Inside is such a cool,
unique little spot that we're doing for the first time.
(06:30):
But you know we talk about just the veggie sector.
I've never seen so much positivity in the vegetable growing sector.
And you're so cool that the Zenda McDonald Award winner
was a market gardener. But last Tuesday the Veggie Center
of Excellence hosted five hundred growers from across New Zealand.
(06:54):
Across people came up from the South Island, people came
across from Australia looking at what new technologies they were
to reduce application of pesticides, herbicide, etc. So they were
taken through a series of trials. It was so good
to see in so much positivity. It did happen to
be a beautiful day and PoCA.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Coe that Okay, Vanessa got to go, thanks for your time.
You mentioned Will Growling. Of course, he's twenty eleven young
farmer of the Air at the time and this was
a compliment at the time. I said he was a
Prince Harry lookalike. I don't think he want to be
one of those these days. Anyhow, I got to go, Hey,
thanks for your time and good luck getting to some
of these events over the next month or two.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, thanks Jamie, Hopefully I'll see you there.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yep, good on Vanessa winning there from MPI
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