The Country 13/03/26: Alan Livingston talks to Jamie Mackay

QEII National Trust chair on his rugby years at Lincoln University. Plus, where he’s farming and how he got involved with the QEII National Trust.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
One guy I met last night at the Lincoln fundraising
dinner who actually went to Lincoln with Andy Dalton and
Ian Hurst for that matter, another former All Black who's
done very well in life as Allan Livingston and Alan.
I've got you on because you're the chair of an
organization very near and dear to my own heart, and
that is the KIWI two National Trust. You've taken over

(00:22):
from Bruce Wills, who did a sterling job. Graham Murray's
been involved as he's still on the board. He's still
on the board. Yes, Yes, some smart guys played rugby
for New Zealand in the seventies and eighties. You look
at Andy Dalton and Graham Murray. Obviously, Ian Hurst's another
guy who's done very well. Halfternoon, Jamie, it's a pleasure
to be here and talking of rugby. Yes, I thoroughly

(00:46):
enjoyed my years at Lincoln and in my first year
I was actually in the under twenty Bees, which was
captain by infamous Southlander by the names of Alistair Macintosh. Oh, yes,
father of Jamie Correct and Andy Dalton was a captain
of the A's and we had the honor of beating
the Bees beating the a's. We had a notable Paul

(01:07):
Quinn that was a big help to our team. Oh yes,
Wellington flanker. And then I was under Andy's captain c
in the next year in the under twenty a's and
the second fifteen the following year. Yeah. Because the interesting
thing about Andy Dalton Minde. As I said last night,
there were some great rugby players at Lincoln who never
made the first fifteen out and we won't go into
that one, but Andy Dalton went on to be a

(01:27):
great All Black but never cracked the first fifteen at
Lincoln College. And I guess that's a reflection of the
caliber of players that were there, Jamie, because they were
outstanding players that didn't make the first fifteen yet went
on to play rep rugby. And I think of Ross McGlashan,
who played a large number of games for y KTTO,
who didn't crack the first fifteen. Andy was behind Mark

(01:53):
Peacock who went on and played for kin Country and
his brother Phil played for Canterbury and the South Island.
So there was some quality players from one to fifteen.
Where are you farming and how did you get involved
in the KIWI two National Trust? I take it. You've
got covenance on your property, correct, Yes, a passionate covenant
or farming a sheep and cattle property near Taomutu, southwest

(02:18):
of Hamilton, and I've got two covenants. I've always had
an interest in biodiversity and the environment, and I was
involved in local government for twenty four years and heavily
involved there as well. And it's great to be involved
and contribute to what is an absolute stunning role that

(02:39):
we plan in New Zealand's biodiversity. Now I know the
government's got no money, which is a real shame. You
and I were discussing this last night. The best thing,
bar none, the government could do for the environment is
triple quadruple ten times the contribution they make to the
Kiwi two National Trust, because that locks and farmers to

(03:00):
pot land. And I've got a covenant myself and it's
protected forever and the farmers do all the hard yards. Look,
you could be our advocate, Jamie, because what you say
is absolutely right. We haven't had an increase in funding
for fifteen years from the government, other than we appreciate
Minister Potarker finding one and a half million from the

(03:21):
International Visitor Levy. But look at the moment, we're only
covenanting in extra thirty five new covenants, whereas previously we're
doing one hundred and fifty. Our priority is our existing
covenant tours and looking after them, so we've had to
cut back on new covenants, which is damn tough because

(03:42):
we've got people lining up to covenant their bush. Well,
I've got Mark Patterson, who's the Minister of Wall I mean,
who knows. If Winston becomes prime minister, he could end
up being the Minister of Agriculture. Who knows, so we
might chew his there on that one. Allen, great to
meet you. Did you enjoy the night last night? Went
those guys? Interesting? Interesting, not surprising with Andy, but I

(04:03):
hadn't met the Steads before. But Garry Stead really interesting,
very interesting and very successful as a player, but more
so as a coach, as you said in Rachel his
wife very successful but highlighting the value of volunteers. Absolutely,
Alan Linenstein, what a pleasure to catch up with you.