The Country 13/02/26: Bryce McKenzie talks to Jamie Mackay

Groundswell's co-founder says that, while the prime minister isn't going for a water tax, that doesn't mean a future government won't impose one.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gee. I had to crowbar this next man away from
the Prime Minister. Bryce Mackenzie, co founder of Groundswong. You
were chewing. Is there a big time? Did he convince
you that he's not going to tax water?

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well, I think he's not going to Jamie. He assures
me of that, but as I said to him, it
leaves the door open for another government to do it.
If he's not going to do it, well done. But
then maybe if he wants an assurance it's never going
to happen, he needs to change the wording in the
Act so that it shows that. And you know, I'll
let the listeners be the judge, but I have got

(00:33):
the Act here and it's claused three one three one
the Governor General may by order and.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
I'm not going to read all that. You'll kill or Jamie.
They want to know that. They want to go to
the rugby and by the time you're not reading all that, Sorry, Bryce,
it's my show. Give me the colds notes.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
First, Well, it leaves the opening that it can be taxed.
The opening is there the water it can be taxed
as it can all other resources. And that's what it states.
So they and he assures me that it's not going
to happen. But they shouldn't. We shouldn't be even having
the discussion because it shouldn't be there.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
It's good that it's good that you and Federated Farmers
because I think to be fair, it was, to be fair,
it was Mark Hooper, wasn't it that was Federated Farmers
who first raised this issue.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yes, it definitely was. We've raised the issue about significant
natural areas and the sites and areas are recomnent to
Mali and those sort of things. But yes, we hadn't
got the water one, so that is quite.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
Right, yep. But so ground swell Federated Farmers. I know
talking to both of these other organizations at National Lambday
barbecue on Wednesday, de Beef and Lamb are both on
the case as well. Surely the submission process is going
to tidy all this up.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
Look, we would definitely hope so, and as a Prime
Minister has just said the four processes, so hopefully by
the end of the fourth process when it goes to
government to be brought and this is all gone, or
at least it's clearly worded so that no other government
can actually use that to start taxing water use.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
So what cars will ground Swell have the bark after
that price?

Speaker 2 (02:12):
Well, Jamie, you should have elaborate on that.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
I don't know.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
I guess there's always going to be something going fast
that needs looked at.

Speaker 1 (02:21):
Jay, farmers never happier, hey, when you're not being a
semi political figure with ground Swell. You are a West Otago,
a dairy farmer. And I hadn't been down south because
I'm a Southland boy as well. I hadn't been down
south since before Christmas and it was starting to look
a wee bit dry before Christmas. But I must say

(02:42):
driving down through South Otago, West Otago here and to
eastern Southland, the country's looking great.

Speaker 2 (02:48):
There's been a fantastic season, and especially as we know
that thunder plumps can.

Speaker 1 (02:53):
Be very localized.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Yeah, and we were fortunate that we got one in
the west of Targo Valley that a lot of people
out on and that just kept us going the whole time. Jamie,
So the country is looking really good, really boyant prices
are good. I think there'll be great field days now.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
You've been a farmer for a long time all your
adult life. Have you ever known and Bruce Ware might
come over and just listen to this question, because I'm
going to ask him. He's a wee bit younger than
you and I. But have you ever known the planets
to be in such alignment all at one time? Heaven
help us? Even strong Waller is doing a strong Wall
indicator up forty seven cents yesterday at the christ Church sale.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah, isn't that quite incredible? I know it's not normally
like that. And most farmers would always have said to
you you need three options, lamb, beef, and wool because
they won't all be at the top at the same time.
Maybe they're not all at the top, but they all
are doing very very well.

Speaker 1 (03:48):
Okay, Bryce, Look, thank you very much for your time,
and you owe me. You owe me a bear because
I got I just got you five or ten minutes
in the air of the Prime Minister. Do you think
do you think that'll keep ground Swell off my.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
Ca Well, he's hoping it'll keep it off. We'll keep
off his case, okay, mate.

Speaker 1 (04:04):
Bryce mackenzie, co founder of Groundswell along with Laurie Patterson.
Laurie will be here, asye, Bryce somewhere. No, he's not,
he's not here. Today,