October 27, 2025 • 5 mins
The first female president of Federated Farmers, and a good West Coaster, shares her thoughts on the country’s weather woes and Labour’s proposed capital gains tax.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, as we know, things are none too flash in
the Deep South at the moment, but the rest of
the country's born the brunt of this weather as well.
On the West coast, they tell me, Katie Milon, former
president of Federated Farmers, a woman who broke the grass
ceiling becoming the first president. You're on days sixty five
of rain in a row. That must be wearing you down.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, it is, Jamie. It's now into the second round
of wet grazing on the farm, so it's certainly tagging
its toll. And a few farms have got water that's
on paddocks like permanently now, not just not draining away
because all the water tables are so full, rivers are
full up high, lakes are high. So there's no reprieve
(00:43):
unless we get ten days of fine weather, I think
right at the moment. So, yes, she's time to be
very proactive on what you're doing on farm. And I
noticed some guys that are moving some cattle off to
those who've got copious amounts of grass, and Canterbury those
that do, and things like that early coloring once a
day or sixteen hours, all those things that we know
we should be doing, And it's all about making those
(01:05):
decisions early so that you try and limit the damage
to this season. And one thing someone an old pharma
said to me years ago, when you're having a crap season,
you'd better be having a good payout and fingers crossed,
that still holds up.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
We know there's some serious animal welfare issues around the
power being off, animals not being able to be milked, masstitis,
you name it. But adrenaline drives people through the first
two or three days of a storm or an emergency.
But people are just dog tired. There's a real human
welfare element to this as well.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, there is, And that's always the worry when these
events are so big that they go on for so long.
In the clean up phase or whatever it is, you
or you just can't do anything in some cases, but
you're still an overdrive in your system, even though you
may not feel like you are. So that's about communecating
with people trying and I notice sounds it's all corny
(02:03):
and it sounds stupid. But if you can get away
for an evening meal somewhere else, or join up with
someone get them to come around, you'll have a pot
luck whatever with a few neighbors to try and just
have someone else to talk to about it, because sometimes
you find actually it just raises your spirits or weather,
and it's difficult when you're under the pump. But it's
(02:24):
the little things that make a difference to make you think, Okay,
I can get through this. We know that someone's going
to shine again, or the wind's going to stop blowing,
or the snow's going to stop falling, and at least
things will be on a rising plane. Probably got a
bit of firewood around that I'm going to get for
free that I didn't intend on having. But yeah, it's
keeping communicating and reaching out to the odd person. Even
(02:45):
just a phone call when you're driving home to wherever
the other part of the farm, just pick it up
and heavy yect to someone. There's been a bit of
that going on over here, and it's been really good
just to have someone ring up and go, see, I
see you're in a bit of shit situation. How's it going?
What do you need a hand or whatever? Even if
you don't need a hand and say nnah, it's still
(03:06):
nice to know that people realize that we're in the
same boat. Or you might be the worst one off
and people are willing to reach out. So ring an
Abor have a chat.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah, fair enough, Hey have you had a chant? Quick chance.
The other big story today is to look at Our
Labour's proposed capital gains tax. I'm calling it the Clayton's CGT,
the capital gains tax you have when you're not really
having one. I think this is just an exercise in
dipping your toe into the water of seeing how a
capital gains tax will go. But the fact that they're
(03:36):
going to use the money for free doctor visits fine
for those who need it, but there's a lot of
people a bit like the winter energy payment Katie, who
don't need a free doctor's visit.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Exactly a lot. When I do need a doctor's visit
in the future, I'm happy to take it, but actually
I'm happy to pay for it. I can afford it,
and there'll be different people at different levels, But so
bring it up to everybody. Three free visits is just stupid.
There's lots of people who don't go at all because
they don't need to, and we know it's there and
we need it. The other side to that is you
(04:09):
don't want to overload the system just putting it in
there that I can go down there for fifteen minutes
or half an hour or whatever and have a chat
to a doctor just when there's people who need it.
You're just cluttering up the books too. What is that
going to do to stats? I don't know what the
ulterior motive really is apart from that everybody should be
even under socialist policies. But it just doesn't make any
(04:30):
sense and it does show you the same old, same mold.
But sorry to say it that government departments are not
the best or governments in general are not great at
spending other people's money. They really don't put it to
the best productive use, which is what we need right
now more than anything, because the country needs expert dollars
and money coming in that's not borrowed or printed, and
(04:54):
this sort of policy isn't going.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
To do it. Well, you talk a lot of sense.
Have you ever thought of going to Wellington? Hold that thought,
Katie Melne, You're too valuable on the farm. Hey, thanks
for some of your time, and I hope you get
a bit of a break in the weather. We'll talk
to Phil Duncan about that. See if we can do
something for you.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, you order it up for us, that'd be great.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I'm a very best. Thank you, Katie,
Well, as we know, things are none too flash in
the Deep South at the moment, but the rest of
the country's born the brunt of this weather as well.
On the West coast, they tell me, Katie Milon, former
president of Federated Farmers, a woman who broke the grass
ceiling becoming the first president. You're on days sixty five
of rain in a row. That must be wearing you down.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah, it is, Jamie. It's now into the second round
of wet grazing on the farm, so it's certainly tagging
its toll. And a few farms have got water that's
on paddocks like permanently now, not just not draining away
because all the water tables are so full, rivers are
full up high, lakes are high. So there's no reprieve
(00:43):
unless we get ten days of fine weather, I think
right at the moment. So, yes, she's time to be
very proactive on what you're doing on farm. And I
noticed some guys that are moving some cattle off to
those who've got copious amounts of grass, and Canterbury those
that do, and things like that early coloring once a
day or sixteen hours, all those things that we know
we should be doing, And it's all about making those
(01:05):
decisions early so that you try and limit the damage
to this season. And one thing someone an old pharma
said to me years ago, when you're having a crap season,
you'd better be having a good payout and fingers crossed,
that still holds up.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
We know there's some serious animal welfare issues around the
power being off, animals not being able to be milked, masstitis,
you name it. But adrenaline drives people through the first
two or three days of a storm or an emergency.
But people are just dog tired. There's a real human
welfare element to this as well.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, there is, And that's always the worry when these
events are so big that they go on for so long.
In the clean up phase or whatever it is, you
or you just can't do anything in some cases, but
you're still an overdrive in your system, even though you
may not feel like you are. So that's about communecating
with people trying and I notice sounds it's all corny
(02:03):
and it sounds stupid. But if you can get away
for an evening meal somewhere else, or join up with
someone get them to come around, you'll have a pot
luck whatever with a few neighbors to try and just
have someone else to talk to about it, because sometimes
you find actually it just raises your spirits or weather,
and it's difficult when you're under the pump. But it's
(02:24):
the little things that make a difference to make you think, Okay,
I can get through this. We know that someone's going
to shine again, or the wind's going to stop blowing,
or the snow's going to stop falling, and at least
things will be on a rising plane. Probably got a
bit of firewood around that I'm going to get for
free that I didn't intend on having. But yeah, it's
keeping communicating and reaching out to the odd person. Even
(02:45):
just a phone call when you're driving home to wherever
the other part of the farm, just pick it up
and heavy yect to someone. There's been a bit of
that going on over here, and it's been really good
just to have someone ring up and go, see, I
see you're in a bit of shit situation. How's it going?
What do you need a hand or whatever? Even if
you don't need a hand and say nnah, it's still
(03:06):
nice to know that people realize that we're in the
same boat. Or you might be the worst one off
and people are willing to reach out. So ring an
Abor have a chat.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah, fair enough, Hey have you had a chant? Quick chance.
The other big story today is to look at Our
Labour's proposed capital gains tax. I'm calling it the Clayton's CGT,
the capital gains tax you have when you're not really
having one. I think this is just an exercise in
dipping your toe into the water of seeing how a
capital gains tax will go. But the fact that they're
(03:36):
going to use the money for free doctor visits fine
for those who need it, but there's a lot of
people a bit like the winter energy payment Katie, who
don't need a free doctor's visit.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Exactly a lot. When I do need a doctor's visit
in the future, I'm happy to take it, but actually
I'm happy to pay for it. I can afford it,
and there'll be different people at different levels, But so
bring it up to everybody. Three free visits is just stupid.
There's lots of people who don't go at all because
they don't need to, and we know it's there and
we need it. The other side to that is you
(04:09):
don't want to overload the system just putting it in
there that I can go down there for fifteen minutes
or half an hour or whatever and have a chat
to a doctor just when there's people who need it.
You're just cluttering up the books too. What is that
going to do to stats? I don't know what the
ulterior motive really is apart from that everybody should be
even under socialist policies. But it just doesn't make any
(04:30):
sense and it does show you the same old, same mold.
But sorry to say it that government departments are not
the best or governments in general are not great at
spending other people's money. They really don't put it to
the best productive use, which is what we need right
now more than anything, because the country needs expert dollars
and money coming in that's not borrowed or printed, and
(04:54):
this sort of policy isn't going.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
To do it. Well, you talk a lot of sense.
Have you ever thought of going to Wellington? Hold that thought,
Katie Melne, You're too valuable on the farm. Hey, thanks
for some of your time, and I hope you get
a bit of a break in the weather. We'll talk
to Phil Duncan about that. See if we can do
something for you.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, you order it up for us, that'd be great.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
I'm a very best. Thank you, Katie,
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