June 22, 2025 • 5 mins
The Federated Farmers Dairy Chair is signing off this week at the Primary Industry Summit in Christchurch. We look at two of his biggest achievements in the role.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now you're stepping aside from Federated Farmers effectively this week
it's like your AGM. It's the primary Industry Summit and
the Primary Industry Awards tomorrow night. Then you're done.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Yeah, that's right, Jamie, it's you be honest. It's an
interesting sort of experience that winding down from a role
that of absolutely love. For the last three years, it's
been an absolute privilege, you know, to serve farmers. And yeah,
it's sort of mixed emotions really, but you know, I've
got some really good people coming through and it's time
to give them a crack.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I suppose I've been a bit waylaid by the naming
of the All Black Side, but I did read something
this morning about you talking about a couple of your
really big ones and I'm just trying to remember what
the second one was. But the first one, and you
have been driving this on behalf of Federated Farmers, is
the banking inquiry.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah. Well that's something that I've been mentally passionate about,
and you know it's something that you know, farmers absolutely need.
It's dumb, you know, FEDS to stand up on their
behalf and if you ask a few questions that farmers
asking behind the scenes, and you know, we fought really
hard to get their banking inquiry over the line. It's
taken place and we're now waiting for that report. But
(01:09):
what we really need to do, great Foods is really
push for some meaningful change so the real banking system
actually functions better for farmers.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
What was the other one?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So the other one was immigration. You know, we've had
had a heap of work to do in that space
to ensure that farmers have reasonable access to migrant staff
where they need it. And you know, we've had it's
been a bit of a political hot potato over the years,
and we've had some regulation which has made it really
hard for farmers to get staff when they need them
at times, you know, just really really long processing times
(01:38):
all that sort of stuff, and a lot of uncertainty
and farmers need certainly especially leading into carving, when they
need to have their workforces planned. So look, a lot
of if it went into into advocating with government to
make that better. And I think we've got most of
over the line, which is great.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
What would we do in this country without the Filipino community.
They're milking most of the coals in the country for us.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Oh, look, you know we do need access to migrant staff.
And you know, we've city do have a heap of
Filipinos and other nationalities that do help to milk our
cows and they add so much value to our rural
communities as well. So we need to make sure that
we can have a good immigration system that stands the
test of time and gives every uncertainty.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Are we too lazy to milk them ourselves?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Well, I think it's a little bit more complex than that.
You know, we've got a largely urbanized population and it's
really hard to get people to move out of cities
to work on farm You know, we've still got a
huge role to play and actually making you know, the
ag sector more attractive to urbanites in that respect, and
so we need to keep on pushing to do that.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
But Richard, if you were living in semi poverty, and
say South Auckland would be a good example, and you
hear stories of people working three jobs just to keep
a roof over their head and feed the family, you
could go down to Southland. Admittedly, if you could put
up with the cold and get a farmhouse, your kids
will go to a nice country primary school. You'll get
(03:02):
some meat and milk, you'll get a few other perks
with the job, and you'll build a career. You won't
just be a laborer. Why wouldn't people take it up?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah, Look, you're exactly right, and it is about getting
that message out there. There's also the issue around family
connection of that and often you know, people in those situations,
you know they've got a strong family connection and they
do have to move away from that. So we've got
to find ways to resolve that side. I think it's
you know, a better real connectivity would definitely help in
some areas because after the areas they find it hardest
to get staff also have very poor real connectivity, so
(03:34):
that people find it harder to stay in touch with
their loved ones.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Okay, as we said, you're signing off this week at
the Primary Industry Summit and christ Church. Do we know
who's going to replace you at Federated Farmers as dairy
chair or do they have an election? How does it work?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
No, we don't at this point, Jarry. This is an
exciting time for the SAIDs Dairy Council. We have an
election with our two candidates standing. We've got cald In
from Canterbury and Phil sher With from the why can
the So yeah, I'll be bringing a bit of popcorn
along to the age and to sort of see how
that plays out.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Are we going to have any other positions up for grabs.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
In terms of the dery County. Yes, we've got we're
different people standing for the vice chair roles and also
for the Deary Executive. So yeah, there will be elections
all round which will Yeah, it's good to have good
competition for space is and that sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
I take it. No one's challenging Yolo Wayne Langthor for
the presidency. He's to mind you, he's that busy selling
himself off to let me think Toyota Yamaha one New Zealand.
Has he had anyone else to responsor the stable since
I last chatted to him?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Look, not that he's declared in our conflicts of interest
for the board at this point, Jamie. So no, no,
and no one's challenging me the He's doing a very
good job on behalf of Farmers.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
He's a great front person for Federated Farmers and I
actually mean that in all sincerity. Right, Well, we'll see
you tomorrow at the Primary Industry Summit. And guess who's
them seeing the awards this year? And guess he's got
a week surprise in store for you and some of
your mates.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Oh no, yere you go, Jamie. If I just say
one last thing, like just thank you to all your listeners.
So many of them have actually reached out to me
over the years, so just you know, share these stories
and what's going on for them, and it's really really
helped my because you're on their behalf. So look, thank
you so much, really appreciate it, and like I said,
it's been an absolute privilege to serve.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Good on you.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
There we go.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Richard McIntyre Dairy Chair stepping aside from Feeds or the
dairy chair position at Feeds, but he's still here as
a board member of Dairy and Z
Now you're stepping aside from Federated Farmers effectively this week
it's like your AGM. It's the primary Industry Summit and
the Primary Industry Awards tomorrow night. Then you're done.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Yeah, that's right, Jamie, it's you be honest. It's an
interesting sort of experience that winding down from a role
that of absolutely love. For the last three years, it's
been an absolute privilege, you know, to serve farmers. And yeah,
it's sort of mixed emotions really, but you know, I've
got some really good people coming through and it's time
to give them a crack.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I suppose I've been a bit waylaid by the naming
of the All Black Side, but I did read something
this morning about you talking about a couple of your
really big ones and I'm just trying to remember what
the second one was. But the first one, and you
have been driving this on behalf of Federated Farmers, is
the banking inquiry.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah. Well that's something that I've been mentally passionate about,
and you know it's something that you know, farmers absolutely need.
It's dumb, you know, FEDS to stand up on their
behalf and if you ask a few questions that farmers
asking behind the scenes, and you know, we fought really
hard to get their banking inquiry over the line. It's
taken place and we're now waiting for that report. But
(01:09):
what we really need to do, great Foods is really
push for some meaningful change so the real banking system
actually functions better for farmers.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
What was the other one?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So the other one was immigration. You know, we've had
had a heap of work to do in that space
to ensure that farmers have reasonable access to migrant staff
where they need it. And you know, we've had it's
been a bit of a political hot potato over the years,
and we've had some regulation which has made it really
hard for farmers to get staff when they need them
at times, you know, just really really long processing times
(01:38):
all that sort of stuff, and a lot of uncertainty
and farmers need certainly especially leading into carving, when they
need to have their workforces planned. So look, a lot
of if it went into into advocating with government to
make that better. And I think we've got most of
over the line, which is great.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
What would we do in this country without the Filipino community.
They're milking most of the coals in the country for us.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Oh, look, you know we do need access to migrant staff.
And you know, we've city do have a heap of
Filipinos and other nationalities that do help to milk our
cows and they add so much value to our rural
communities as well. So we need to make sure that
we can have a good immigration system that stands the
test of time and gives every uncertainty.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Are we too lazy to milk them ourselves?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Well, I think it's a little bit more complex than that.
You know, we've got a largely urbanized population and it's
really hard to get people to move out of cities
to work on farm You know, we've still got a
huge role to play and actually making you know, the
ag sector more attractive to urbanites in that respect, and
so we need to keep on pushing to do that.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
But Richard, if you were living in semi poverty, and
say South Auckland would be a good example, and you
hear stories of people working three jobs just to keep
a roof over their head and feed the family, you
could go down to Southland. Admittedly, if you could put
up with the cold and get a farmhouse, your kids
will go to a nice country primary school. You'll get
(03:02):
some meat and milk, you'll get a few other perks
with the job, and you'll build a career. You won't
just be a laborer. Why wouldn't people take it up?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah, Look, you're exactly right, and it is about getting
that message out there. There's also the issue around family
connection of that and often you know, people in those situations,
you know they've got a strong family connection and they
do have to move away from that. So we've got
to find ways to resolve that side. I think it's
you know, a better real connectivity would definitely help in
some areas because after the areas they find it hardest
to get staff also have very poor real connectivity, so
(03:34):
that people find it harder to stay in touch with
their loved ones.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Okay, as we said, you're signing off this week at
the Primary Industry Summit and christ Church. Do we know
who's going to replace you at Federated Farmers as dairy
chair or do they have an election? How does it work?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
No, we don't at this point, Jarry. This is an
exciting time for the SAIDs Dairy Council. We have an
election with our two candidates standing. We've got cald In
from Canterbury and Phil sher With from the why can
the So yeah, I'll be bringing a bit of popcorn
along to the age and to sort of see how
that plays out.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Are we going to have any other positions up for grabs.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
In terms of the dery County. Yes, we've got we're
different people standing for the vice chair roles and also
for the Deary Executive. So yeah, there will be elections
all round which will Yeah, it's good to have good
competition for space is and that sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
I take it. No one's challenging Yolo Wayne Langthor for
the presidency. He's to mind you, he's that busy selling
himself off to let me think Toyota Yamaha one New Zealand.
Has he had anyone else to responsor the stable since
I last chatted to him?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Look, not that he's declared in our conflicts of interest
for the board at this point, Jamie. So no, no,
and no one's challenging me the He's doing a very
good job on behalf of Farmers.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
He's a great front person for Federated Farmers and I
actually mean that in all sincerity. Right, Well, we'll see
you tomorrow at the Primary Industry Summit. And guess who's
them seeing the awards this year? And guess he's got
a week surprise in store for you and some of
your mates.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Oh no, yere you go, Jamie. If I just say
one last thing, like just thank you to all your listeners.
So many of them have actually reached out to me
over the years, so just you know, share these stories
and what's going on for them, and it's really really
helped my because you're on their behalf. So look, thank
you so much, really appreciate it, and like I said,
it's been an absolute privilege to serve.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Good on you.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
There we go.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Richard McIntyre Dairy Chair stepping aside from Feeds or the
dairy chair position at Feeds, but he's still here as
a board member of Dairy and Z
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