May 12, 2026 • 6 mins
The Prime Minister ponders further lamb tariffs in the US, whether climate polluters are being let off the hook, whether Labour can win without TPM, Judith Collins' valedictory, and the fuel price crisis.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
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 Prime Minister kicks off the show.
We're going to be speaking hopefully to Kate Acklin from
Beef and Lamb New Zealand shortly about these further Lamb
tariffs or the prospect of further Lamb tariffs in the US.
Just briefly, Prime Minister, what's your take on it?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Look good to be with you, Jamie. The first thing
I'd say is that the Americans, as I am said,
haven't formally announced anything. We've been anticipating they could, given
the lobbying that they've got from their own sheep farmers
within the US. But again, we feel very very strongly
that there's nothing in our actions that's damaging or hurting
the US sheep grower, sheep farmer. I mean, essentially our
(00:38):
products are complementary. We would defend that case really strongly.
We've got a good relationship with the US on trade
and we would make that case strongly. Interesting. I'd also
noted that a Narska I read that Trump was also
considering actually relaxing beef tariffs going into the US, And
of course we've got you know, we're in quite a
good position there. We've got very good lean beef, high
quality cuts, and a really good product into the US
(01:00):
as well. So let's just see what happens before we
jump get too exercised about it. But rest assured, we
don't know. We don't think we're causing any injury to
the US sheep farmer. In fact, we think it's complementary
and we'll make that case very strongly.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yes, we know policy can change on or worm over there,
Shark Horror leading the two network news programs are last night,
we're letting climate polluters such as Fonterra off the hook.
Why are we giving this Mike Smith bloke the bloker,
chop chop down. I think it's the same guy the
tree on one tree. Hell, why are we giving him oxygen?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, we know what we're doing is he took a
legal case to the courts taking on these companies and
blaming them for climate change issues, and he had this
particular case he was arguing, we're very simply coming in
with legislation, and that's what we announced this week to say, look,
you know, we want to give certainty and clarity to
the business environment about issues like this. In a case
(01:55):
like this, because it actually has quite a chilling effect
on businesses. If they company don't think that they can
be under threaten this way, that just doesn't encourage them
to invest in this country. So that's why you know,
my government's coming in over the top and we say, look,
we want certainty and clarity for businesses, and as a result,
we're passing legislation about that.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Let's just have a look at the most recent polls.
And I know you're probably going to be like Bulger
and say, look, bug of the poles, but they're going
better for you. The poll of polls would show the
return of the center right coalition, taxpayers Union poll as
you now as preferred PM. Do you think this new
hard ass kicker Sluso rambo sort of image you're trying
(02:35):
to take on as working.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Oh you're unbelievable. No. Look, I don't commune on poles,
as you know, but you know I've tried to be
very clear at the beginning of the year to say, look,
we're having an election November seven. If you really want
a center right government, you've got a two T explore.
I'll make that case all year long as we go
into election. I've already said who I will and won't
work with you. I can't work with Labor. They created
us on godly mess. They don't deliver anything, they don't
(02:59):
get things done. I just want to tax more and
borrow more. Pretty much the same with the Green So
they are out and to Party Mari and whatever other
independent parties that we've seen form in the last week.
I'm not working with them either.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah, but I don't see a path sorry, I don't
see a pathway for Chippy to the Treasury benches without
to Party Maray. He may be cutting off his nose
to Spider's face by winning the MARI seats, and I
think he probably will win them.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Mate, You're the political commentator, not me. I'm just very
much focused on navigating a fuel crisis and making sure
we get this country through this current set of challenges
really well so and we get to the other side
and make sure we maximize the opportunities that we've got.
So I'll leave those for comments for others to make.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Do you enjoy Judith Collins's fellaedictory. I've always found it
to be quite witty and cutting.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yeah, yeah, Look, I mean Judas had twenty four years
in Parliament. She's done some incredible jobs. He's done some
hard stuff and some tough stuff, but she's actually a
good friend of mine and she's also really wonderful. You know,
she's been a really good support person, she's wonderful with staff,
she's super well respected and so you know, it was
really good to see her go off in great style
with her valedictory. And then we had a very nice
(04:04):
after match at Premier House for her last night as well,
which was wonderful. So no, she's been loved by our
party and she's and I think, you know New Zealand,
she left the legacy in New Zealand we shall be
very proud of, you know, and she's going on to
be President of the Law Commission, which is another contribution
to public service as well. So no, it was great
to see a golf and great stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I heard Shane Jones talking to the Husk I think
yesterday morning saying there isn't a fuel crisis, it's just
a price crisis. There's not a supply issue. Do you
concur with that?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, Well, what I've having been to Singapore and actually
met with the refiners and the fuel importers and the
fuel executives, what's happened Essentially Jamie's is that three quarters
of the crude oil that's been produced in the Middle East,
half of it's actually coming through pipelines and other access
points out of the Middle East, and about a quarter
of it actually has been replaced by volumes from the US,
(04:55):
from West Africa and other parts of the world. And
there's about a quarter of what's been reduce it actually,
you know, is short and so yes, the prices have
gone up. But you know, when we look out to now,
we've got confirmed orders through to the end of July,
we've got planned orders into August. We've done sensible things
like this Singapore. You know, relationship that guarantee of no
(05:16):
export controls is excellent. We've got the extra ninety million
leaders of diesel. They will be in place in the
new tanks that we've built by the end of June.
You know, we've got constant contact with the fuel importers industry,
and all we're saying is, look in the highly highly
unlikely event, you know, very yet you have to have
a severe disruption for six months or something. You know,
(05:37):
here's how we might approach this. But what we're not
doing is COVID tolouil to and in any state. What
we're not doing is, you know, telling people what that
can can't do and they have a parent card relationship.
We want an adult adult between government and industry and
that's what we've done. We've met with all the different
folk from day one and made sure we've got sensible
things going on and we just have a high trust
model if we ever got to that situation. So I
(06:00):
really want New Zealanders not worrying about that. I know
the pricing as a challenge, but even then diesels down
fifty cents or so from three or four weeks ago
and had its highest and we've got we're very assured
about our supply, which is the most important thing.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Prime Minister Christopher Lux and thanks as always for your
time on the country for the birth take care
Wednesdays on the Country, the Prime Minister kicks off the show.
We're going to be speaking hopefully to Kate Acklin from
Beef and Lamb New Zealand shortly about these further Lamb
tariffs or the prospect of further Lamb tariffs in the US.
Just briefly, Prime Minister, what's your take on it?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Look good to be with you, Jamie. The first thing
I'd say is that the Americans, as I am said,
haven't formally announced anything. We've been anticipating they could, given
the lobbying that they've got from their own sheep farmers
within the US. But again, we feel very very strongly
that there's nothing in our actions that's damaging or hurting
the US sheep grower, sheep farmer. I mean, essentially our
(00:38):
products are complementary. We would defend that case really strongly.
We've got a good relationship with the US on trade
and we would make that case strongly. Interesting. I'd also
noted that a Narska I read that Trump was also
considering actually relaxing beef tariffs going into the US, And
of course we've got you know, we're in quite a
good position there. We've got very good lean beef, high
quality cuts, and a really good product into the US
(01:00):
as well. So let's just see what happens before we
jump get too exercised about it. But rest assured, we
don't know. We don't think we're causing any injury to
the US sheep farmer. In fact, we think it's complementary
and we'll make that case very strongly.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yes, we know policy can change on or worm over there,
Shark Horror leading the two network news programs are last night,
we're letting climate polluters such as Fonterra off the hook.
Why are we giving this Mike Smith bloke the bloker,
chop chop down. I think it's the same guy the
tree on one tree. Hell, why are we giving him oxygen?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Well, we know what we're doing is he took a
legal case to the courts taking on these companies and
blaming them for climate change issues, and he had this
particular case he was arguing, we're very simply coming in
with legislation, and that's what we announced this week to say, look,
you know, we want to give certainty and clarity to
the business environment about issues like this. In a case
(01:55):
like this, because it actually has quite a chilling effect
on businesses. If they company don't think that they can
be under threaten this way, that just doesn't encourage them
to invest in this country. So that's why you know,
my government's coming in over the top and we say, look,
we want certainty and clarity for businesses, and as a result,
we're passing legislation about that.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Let's just have a look at the most recent polls.
And I know you're probably going to be like Bulger
and say, look, bug of the poles, but they're going
better for you. The poll of polls would show the
return of the center right coalition, taxpayers Union poll as
you now as preferred PM. Do you think this new
hard ass kicker Sluso rambo sort of image you're trying
(02:35):
to take on as working.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Oh you're unbelievable. No. Look, I don't commune on poles,
as you know, but you know I've tried to be
very clear at the beginning of the year to say, look,
we're having an election November seven. If you really want
a center right government, you've got a two T explore.
I'll make that case all year long as we go
into election. I've already said who I will and won't
work with you. I can't work with Labor. They created
us on godly mess. They don't deliver anything, they don't
(02:59):
get things done. I just want to tax more and
borrow more. Pretty much the same with the Green So
they are out and to Party Mari and whatever other
independent parties that we've seen form in the last week.
I'm not working with them either.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah, but I don't see a path sorry, I don't
see a pathway for Chippy to the Treasury benches without
to Party Maray. He may be cutting off his nose
to Spider's face by winning the MARI seats, and I
think he probably will win them.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Mate, You're the political commentator, not me. I'm just very
much focused on navigating a fuel crisis and making sure
we get this country through this current set of challenges
really well so and we get to the other side
and make sure we maximize the opportunities that we've got.
So I'll leave those for comments for others to make.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Do you enjoy Judith Collins's fellaedictory. I've always found it
to be quite witty and cutting.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yeah, yeah, Look, I mean Judas had twenty four years
in Parliament. She's done some incredible jobs. He's done some
hard stuff and some tough stuff, but she's actually a
good friend of mine and she's also really wonderful. You know,
she's been a really good support person, she's wonderful with staff,
she's super well respected and so you know, it was
really good to see her go off in great style
with her valedictory. And then we had a very nice
(04:04):
after match at Premier House for her last night as well,
which was wonderful. So no, she's been loved by our
party and she's and I think, you know New Zealand,
she left the legacy in New Zealand we shall be
very proud of, you know, and she's going on to
be President of the Law Commission, which is another contribution
to public service as well. So no, it was great
to see a golf and great stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I heard Shane Jones talking to the Husk I think
yesterday morning saying there isn't a fuel crisis, it's just
a price crisis. There's not a supply issue. Do you
concur with that?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Yeah, Well, what I've having been to Singapore and actually
met with the refiners and the fuel importers and the
fuel executives, what's happened Essentially Jamie's is that three quarters
of the crude oil that's been produced in the Middle East,
half of it's actually coming through pipelines and other access
points out of the Middle East, and about a quarter
of it actually has been replaced by volumes from the US,
(04:55):
from West Africa and other parts of the world. And
there's about a quarter of what's been reduce it actually,
you know, is short and so yes, the prices have
gone up. But you know, when we look out to now,
we've got confirmed orders through to the end of July,
we've got planned orders into August. We've done sensible things
like this Singapore. You know, relationship that guarantee of no
(05:16):
export controls is excellent. We've got the extra ninety million
leaders of diesel. They will be in place in the
new tanks that we've built by the end of June.
You know, we've got constant contact with the fuel importers industry,
and all we're saying is, look in the highly highly
unlikely event, you know, very yet you have to have
a severe disruption for six months or something. You know,
(05:37):
here's how we might approach this. But what we're not
doing is COVID tolouil to and in any state. What
we're not doing is, you know, telling people what that
can can't do and they have a parent card relationship.
We want an adult adult between government and industry and
that's what we've done. We've met with all the different
folk from day one and made sure we've got sensible
things going on and we just have a high trust
model if we ever got to that situation. So I
(06:00):
really want New Zealanders not worrying about that. I know
the pricing as a challenge, but even then diesels down
fifty cents or so from three or four weeks ago
and had its highest and we've got we're very assured
about our supply, which is the most important thing.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Prime Minister Christopher Lux and thanks as always for your
time on the country for the birth take care
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.
Hey Jonas!
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.