The Country 21/11/24: Jo Luxton talks to Jamie Mackay

Labour's Ag spokesperson has been on the road visiting high-profile Kiwi farmers at the coal face.  And we agree to disagree over Te Pāti Māori and the Hīkoi.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I always enjoy catching up with Labour's egg A spokesperson

(00:03):
Joe Luxton, even though we might not agree on everything. Joe,
You've been tracing around the country visiting some high profile
farmers Nadia Lim and Carlos Bagri, Kate and Dave Ackland,
Jody Drysdale. But does Blair Drysdale actually fit in that
lot celebrity high profile? I don't think so. He's just
a lion, brown drinking Belfa farmer.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
I'm good, Jamie. You know, I've been out and about.
I'm visiting with all those different people and they're all
doing different things on farm, which is really interesting. She's
invaluable for me to get and meet them and see
what they're doing and learning about what they do and
what their visions and things are. But yeah, Blair and
Jody are pretty cool. Cup. We're actually in Blair. He's

(00:50):
a bit of a laugh all right?

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Are they chewing your ear? Especially in his case? Of
course we use them occasionally on this show if we
get desperate for an arable farmer. He's never back and
coming forward with his opinions, and it'll be fair to
say I wouldn't think he would be a center left voter.
I mean, what sort of feedback are you getting around
the country when you meet farmers.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah, you're right, you're right. I mean Vera has never
backwards and coming forwards. But he's actually a really he's
actually a really great listener and he's open and yous.
He'll he'll tell you how he feels. But I think
he said to me, I'm the first labor and Peter
ever go down there and visit. And you know, I
think that you have the best conversations where you put

(01:32):
yourself in places that aren't you know, where you may
naturally you know, a line or fate. And we had
a really great visit, the wonderful host and you had
a lot of laughs as well, so it was really good.
And you know, we had a little photo and the
true lips there. It was that great check.

Speaker 1 (01:50):
Yeah, and you've also been visiting Mike Casey the electric
When I say the electric cherry grower, he's the all
electric cherry grower and from all there he does a
good job. He's a bit like Nadia lem and Carlos Bagri.
He's showcasing New Zealand agriculture and farming and a very
positive light.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
Well. Absolutely it was a fascinating visit actually, and I
even had a drive with the tractory trusted me enough
her have we drive, but surprisingly easy. But yeah, he's
a very very clever man with lots of really great
ideas and we did enjoy our but there and again
in Nadia and Kalas. They're an amazing, amazing un couple

(02:30):
with him and their farmer is absolutely gorgeous, gorgeous place
and they're doing some really great stuff there and they
were also wonderful hosts and we had some really great
conversations with film as well. It's been really really ruthful,
really valuable getting out and having sitting down to these
sorts of people.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Were you marching in the hecoy on Tuesday? Was it Tuesdays?

Speaker 2 (02:52):
It was? Oh yeah, I wasn't marching in the hequy,
but I was out on the fore court when the
hecoy arrived.

Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah, can I talk ask you about the behavior of
Tapati Mari inside the house. I'll leave the he coy alone.
People have a right to protest or leave it at that.
I don't necessarily agree about protesting about something that's not
going to happen. But what about the behavior in the House,
the dress standards in the House.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Yeah, yeah, just before I will answer that question. But
I do actually want to talk a little bit about
the he coy. I want to talk about the fact
that it was really my loganize that was peaceful and
everything else. And you just mentioned people protesting about something
that's not actually going to happen. I think that's kind
of beside the point, Jamie. I think the fact that
this has been introduced and has been allowed to go

(03:37):
to select committee stage is at that point there's going
to there's going to be a lot of hurt during
that process, is going to be a lot of awful,
awful submissions, and I think it's terribly unfair and it's
just not right that people are being put through that
when it is we've been told a bill that is
not going to go any any further beyond there, and

(03:59):
I just think that's right. I think the Prime Minister
has jown no leadership here and could have stopped this
from happening and all the hurt that is going to come.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
Okay, Well, the treaty principles well devisive. I'm not going
to argue on that one. The behavior of Tapati Maury
in the House is more divisive if you ask me.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
Yeah, I'll disagree with you on that one as well too.
I think Jamie and it was other members' Emparliament as well,
who are really there is a lot of strong feeling
about this. This is just another thing that people are
feeling really strongly about as far as the different policies
and the direction of this current government is taking us

(04:41):
in as far as issues for Mari. People react when
they feel very strongly about something, and it's not really
for me to judge. I understand that there's been some
correspondence with the Speaker about the behavior and he will
on it as he sees best.

Speaker 1 (05:02):
All right, we'll leave it at that. We'll agree to
disagree on that one. But Joe Luxton always appreciate your time,
and good on you. Good on you by the way
for getting around the country, going to the Cold Face
and talking to real farmers plus Blair.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Yeah, thanks Dannie, good on you.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
See you later, yeah,