July 14, 2026 • 7 mins
The Minister of Agriculture and Trade is sitting in for the Prime Minister this week, and again, he has to defend the Indian Free Trade Agreement from Winston Peters’ criticism.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Todd McClay is the Minister of Agriculture and Trade. He's
sitting in filling in for the PM today. Who's having break? Todd?
Do you have aspirations longer term of doing the slot
every Wednesday? Would you like to be prime Minister?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'd love to be the Prime Minister of India with
one point four billion people and your own airplane, Jamie,
thanks for having me on the show. Chris Luckxon is
doing an amazing, wonderful job and no, I'm happy to
help out this week. Next week you'll be back on.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
If he's doing an amazing and wonderful job, why isn't
the voting public picking up on it?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Well, look, I think it's very challenging. If you look
across there's a splintering of votes all around the world,
and it's because ultimately, you know, times of the still
very very tough for citizens everywhere, and in the case
of New Zealand, it's still very challenging. You know, if
you think about the sort of last year a year
and a half, every time the economy started picking itself
up and people are feeling better, we've worked out to
(00:54):
get inflation and interest rates down. As an example, something
else happens internationally that gives us a bit of a
knock And you know, this week we're looking at America
fighting again in the golf of homos, and therefore prices
are going up. It's going to take money out of
people's pockets. So it's very, very hard when it's challenging
and post COVID, with everything that's been going on for
six years, for people to be buoyant. But we're just
(01:17):
working hard to fix those basics and to make sure
that you know, Kiwis can get ahead and he's going
to keep putting in the hard work.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
You reference the Indian Prime minister and his private jet.
What is it about Mody? What's this rock star quality
that everyone talks about.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
It's quite remarkable, isn't it. I mean, I've met him
a couple of times now and had a chance during
the day away from the meetings to talk to him,
and there's almost a little bit of a reverence about him,
quite a calmness. But what you sort of see a
little bit differently behind the scenes talking to him has
got quite a sense of humor as well. But you know,
one point four billion people there, world's biggest democracy, and
(01:56):
he's the longest serving prime minister. I think we're just
extremely fortunate that when he came to New Zealand because
he didn't need to, and two he genuinely seems to
not only like us, but Chris Luckxlin's got a very
very good relationship with him. I reckon Jamie on the
back of the free trade agreement and all the other
things we're doing now, the Indian economy is going to
become increasingly important to New Zealand and jobs for keywiks.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Well, there's almost man love going on, handholding, hugging.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
There's a little bit of handholding in rural New Zealand,
doesn't it, does it?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I don't know. It didn't happen on my day. But
anyhow to why can't Winston say that Mody's a good
blog Well.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Look, he probably does. I don't know if he's met him.
He probably does. But New Zealand first has always had
problems with some trade agreement. So look, I think that's
the case now. If you asked me if we were
able to conclude in the middle of last year, would
it be as noisy as this. Probably not, because it
wouldn't be an election year. You know, it took labor
four months to say they're going to support an agreement
(02:54):
that they were always going to support because it is
good for New Zealand. So you know you're going to
get some noise, and particularly from New Zealand First an
election year, they are doing every single thing they can
to get attention and to get a vote. It's just
a bit of a shame that's become personal number one
and number two. You know, this is a trade agreement
that is good for the primary sector and good for
New Zealanders. It is going to rival China in the future,
(03:18):
which gives us options. And I'm going to say to
New Zealand first, or anybody thinking to vote for New
Zealand first, to think about what's good for the country,
not just what might be good for a party called
New Zealanders.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, well you won't get an argument for me. Can
we just set the record straight because Winstan's on the
show tomorrow and I'll be banging my head against the
wall again arguing with them. No doubt about these two
sticking points. The twenty billion dollar investment. Is it an
investment or is it an aspirational target.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's an aspirational target to promote investment and the government
has taken our commitment to promote investment and it is
very clear in the legislation it has written down. Lawyers
on both sides scrutinized it. We negotiated this into the
night to make sure there was understanding of it, to
make sure that you know, no sides would would get
(04:06):
it wrong. Our responsibility is to promote it is not
to invest. But also of course it's aspiration already was
seeing people wanted to invest in India market and with
sertty stories of New Zegn companies want to establish a
starting there. It will work as the answer in the meantime.
You know, we shouldn't be worried about what might have
happened at fifteen years time. Let's do what key wees
(04:27):
do well, Roley sleeves up and just get on with
it and make the most of a fantastic agreement.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, Keshen, while you can, Hey, what about the unfitted
migration that he's going on about, banging on about selection year.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
He's absolutely completely one thousand percent wrong. One six hundred
and seventy skilled workers per year could come to New Zealand.
They're only allowed to stay for three years and they
have to go home. They can't reapply on that same
visa for another three years. And in part it's because
we do need these workers in our economy, you know, construction, engineers, healthcare.
(05:01):
It is to the standards of New Zealand that we set.
We retain the right to change the immigration rules and
India wants them back once they have some work experience.
There are not thousands and thousands and thousands of people
coming the Shane Joneses said. None of them are coming
to drive herbers. They're just rhyme and there's actually Jamie
time for us all to move on and focus on
(05:21):
exporting more, selling more and growing our economy, not bickering
in New Zealand election yet.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Now when is National going to get a celebrity candidate
like New Zealand first and actas well.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
All of the good ones are gone, but there's one
great one. As I'm putting a pitch for you on
you come on over. We'll find you a little seat
of Timaru or something.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I'd last two minutes. But that's a very hot well.
I'm sure Miles Anderson will be pleased to hear that.
That's going to be a hotly contested seat. You've now
got Miles Anderson. Of course Damian O'Connor. Damien will hate
me saying that, but he's coming in as a bit
of a carpetbagger on this one. At least Michael Laws
lives on the electorate.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Well look, I mean I've got respect for all three
of them, but you're talking about two has beans and
Miles Myles when that seat. He works very very hard,
is a good guy. Here's another, you know, another, a
good kiwi plake that's rolled a slees up and it's
just doing the hard yard. You're not going to see
him screaming, yelling about politics, but I reckon the debates
between Damien and Michael Laws if anything else will be comical.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
All right, Paul Henry, he's going to be a bit
of a thorn on your side.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Well, look, I quite like him and he's in the
good old days. Gee, it feels when I first went
to Parliament eighteen years ago he was on TV and
you got a little bit of trouble then because of
a sense of humor. But you know, each party is
going to he could roll their stops out and cast
for votes and we'll see where we go. I don't
think he's going to be a thorn on our side.
I think, if anything, it'll be a problem for the
(06:51):
Labor Party, the Green Party and the Maori Party, because
that's the alternative.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Jamie Oh, I am the Opportunity Party. Don't forget them.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Well, we'll see whether they get there. I think it's
still a long way before five percent, but here is
the alternative. If you're not voting National Labour, Green, Mallori Party.
I tell you what. Because people tell me they're going
to pick up and leave the country, that happens.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I'm starting to believe that I've already got my room
booked in Adelaide. All right, got to go. Todd McLay,
thanks for filling in for the Prime Minister today.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Pleasure, I see it.
Todd McClay is the Minister of Agriculture and Trade. He's
sitting in filling in for the PM today. Who's having break? Todd?
Do you have aspirations longer term of doing the slot
every Wednesday? Would you like to be prime Minister?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'd love to be the Prime Minister of India with
one point four billion people and your own airplane, Jamie,
thanks for having me on the show. Chris Luckxon is
doing an amazing, wonderful job and no, I'm happy to
help out this week. Next week you'll be back on.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
If he's doing an amazing and wonderful job, why isn't
the voting public picking up on it?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Well, look, I think it's very challenging. If you look
across there's a splintering of votes all around the world,
and it's because ultimately, you know, times of the still
very very tough for citizens everywhere, and in the case
of New Zealand, it's still very challenging. You know, if
you think about the sort of last year a year
and a half, every time the economy started picking itself
up and people are feeling better, we've worked out to
(00:54):
get inflation and interest rates down. As an example, something
else happens internationally that gives us a bit of a
knock And you know, this week we're looking at America
fighting again in the golf of homos, and therefore prices
are going up. It's going to take money out of
people's pockets. So it's very, very hard when it's challenging
and post COVID, with everything that's been going on for
six years, for people to be buoyant. But we're just
(01:17):
working hard to fix those basics and to make sure
that you know, Kiwis can get ahead and he's going
to keep putting in the hard work.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
You reference the Indian Prime minister and his private jet.
What is it about Mody? What's this rock star quality
that everyone talks about.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
It's quite remarkable, isn't it. I mean, I've met him
a couple of times now and had a chance during
the day away from the meetings to talk to him,
and there's almost a little bit of a reverence about him,
quite a calmness. But what you sort of see a
little bit differently behind the scenes talking to him has
got quite a sense of humor as well. But you know,
one point four billion people there, world's biggest democracy, and
(01:56):
he's the longest serving prime minister. I think we're just
extremely fortunate that when he came to New Zealand because
he didn't need to, and two he genuinely seems to
not only like us, but Chris Luckxlin's got a very
very good relationship with him. I reckon Jamie on the
back of the free trade agreement and all the other
things we're doing now, the Indian economy is going to
become increasingly important to New Zealand and jobs for keywiks.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Well, there's almost man love going on, handholding, hugging.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
There's a little bit of handholding in rural New Zealand,
doesn't it, does it?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
I don't know. It didn't happen on my day. But
anyhow to why can't Winston say that Mody's a good
blog Well.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Look, he probably does. I don't know if he's met him.
He probably does. But New Zealand first has always had
problems with some trade agreement. So look, I think that's
the case now. If you asked me if we were
able to conclude in the middle of last year, would
it be as noisy as this. Probably not, because it
wouldn't be an election year. You know, it took labor
four months to say they're going to support an agreement
(02:54):
that they were always going to support because it is
good for New Zealand. So you know you're going to
get some noise, and particularly from New Zealand First an
election year, they are doing every single thing they can
to get attention and to get a vote. It's just
a bit of a shame that's become personal number one
and number two. You know, this is a trade agreement
that is good for the primary sector and good for
New Zealanders. It is going to rival China in the future,
(03:18):
which gives us options. And I'm going to say to
New Zealand first, or anybody thinking to vote for New
Zealand first, to think about what's good for the country,
not just what might be good for a party called
New Zealanders.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, well you won't get an argument for me. Can
we just set the record straight because Winstan's on the
show tomorrow and I'll be banging my head against the
wall again arguing with them. No doubt about these two
sticking points. The twenty billion dollar investment. Is it an
investment or is it an aspirational target.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
It's an aspirational target to promote investment and the government
has taken our commitment to promote investment and it is
very clear in the legislation it has written down. Lawyers
on both sides scrutinized it. We negotiated this into the
night to make sure there was understanding of it, to
make sure that you know, no sides would would get
(04:06):
it wrong. Our responsibility is to promote it is not
to invest. But also of course it's aspiration already was
seeing people wanted to invest in India market and with
sertty stories of New Zegn companies want to establish a
starting there. It will work as the answer in the meantime.
You know, we shouldn't be worried about what might have
happened at fifteen years time. Let's do what key wees
(04:27):
do well, Roley sleeves up and just get on with
it and make the most of a fantastic agreement.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yeah, Keshen, while you can, Hey, what about the unfitted
migration that he's going on about, banging on about selection year.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
He's absolutely completely one thousand percent wrong. One six hundred
and seventy skilled workers per year could come to New Zealand.
They're only allowed to stay for three years and they
have to go home. They can't reapply on that same
visa for another three years. And in part it's because
we do need these workers in our economy, you know, construction, engineers, healthcare.
(05:01):
It is to the standards of New Zealand that we set.
We retain the right to change the immigration rules and
India wants them back once they have some work experience.
There are not thousands and thousands and thousands of people
coming the Shane Joneses said. None of them are coming
to drive herbers. They're just rhyme and there's actually Jamie
time for us all to move on and focus on
(05:21):
exporting more, selling more and growing our economy, not bickering
in New Zealand election yet.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Now when is National going to get a celebrity candidate
like New Zealand first and actas well.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
All of the good ones are gone, but there's one
great one. As I'm putting a pitch for you on
you come on over. We'll find you a little seat
of Timaru or something.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I'd last two minutes. But that's a very hot well.
I'm sure Miles Anderson will be pleased to hear that.
That's going to be a hotly contested seat. You've now
got Miles Anderson. Of course Damian O'Connor. Damien will hate
me saying that, but he's coming in as a bit
of a carpetbagger on this one. At least Michael Laws
lives on the electorate.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Well look, I mean I've got respect for all three
of them, but you're talking about two has beans and
Miles Myles when that seat. He works very very hard,
is a good guy. Here's another, you know, another, a
good kiwi plake that's rolled a slees up and it's
just doing the hard yard. You're not going to see
him screaming, yelling about politics, but I reckon the debates
between Damien and Michael Laws if anything else will be comical.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
All right, Paul Henry, he's going to be a bit
of a thorn on your side.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Well, look, I quite like him and he's in the
good old days. Gee, it feels when I first went
to Parliament eighteen years ago he was on TV and
you got a little bit of trouble then because of
a sense of humor. But you know, each party is
going to he could roll their stops out and cast
for votes and we'll see where we go. I don't
think he's going to be a thorn on our side.
I think, if anything, it'll be a problem for the
(06:51):
Labor Party, the Green Party and the Maori Party, because
that's the alternative.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Jamie Oh, I am the Opportunity Party. Don't forget them.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Well, we'll see whether they get there. I think it's
still a long way before five percent, but here is
the alternative. If you're not voting National Labour, Green, Mallori Party.
I tell you what. Because people tell me they're going
to pick up and leave the country, that happens.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I'm starting to believe that I've already got my room
booked in Adelaide. All right, got to go. Todd McLay,
thanks for filling in for the Prime Minister today.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Pleasure, I see it.
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