February 2, 2025 • 9 mins
The Act leader talks about surviving Waitangi Day, the new government emissions targets (51-55% by 2035), woke banks, fake news from Ted Cruz, and ungrateful kids, parents and teachers over school lunches.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's kick off the show with David Seymour, act party leader.
You're a brave man heading to White Tonguey on Thursday.
This could end in tears for you, This could be
the last time we talk.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well, there's always the possibility, Janie, but I actually think
you'll make it through the week and I look forward to.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about you.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I know what you're saying. But look, ultimately, New Zealand
the country where people can talk to each other, We're
not so very different. I've gone up to White Tonguey
every year that i've been an mp COVID committing and
I know that there'll be a lot of people who
will be focused on what the media amplify, which is
(00:45):
actually annoysy minority. But I think it's important that our
country can come together and people can talk to each other.
That's what I intend to do. Yep.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Well, I don't think you're going to be talking to
each other. They're going to be yelling at you. Look
I'm going to yell at you.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
What's the story with your new climate target's emissions? Well,
your climate target of fifty one to fifty five percent
emissions by twenty thirty five, Federated Farmers David A quite
rightly saying the twenty thirty target of fifty percent reduction
in all greenhouse gas emissions is already totally beyond reach.
(01:25):
Why are you setting a goal that we won't be
able to reach.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, first of all, that the government has taken a
position in accordance with its commitment to Paris, which was
signed up to under the previous government. I think New
Zealand first, the Greens and Labor all signed up and
made that commitment. We remain bound by now. As a party,
we're part of this government. We support its positions. There's
(01:52):
a wider question of whether the government of New Zealand
should be committed to the Paris Accord where half the
world appears to be pulling out of it. Anyway, that's
the discussion for another time and perhaps another election. But
I just make the point that I Act alone has
long said that the Zero Carbon Act, which every other
(02:15):
party and the current Parliament voted for, is wrong, and
that the Paris Accord is wrong. Our policy should be
based on our public servants and diplomats going out and
representing New Zealand to these global institutions. They seem to
(02:36):
spend a lot of their time representing the global institution's interests.
To New Zealander is however, at the moment in the government,
we've got these commitments that's every other party is signed
up to, and as a result we have to go
along with.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
On David, we can just do it Trump just pick
at the touch.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Well, that's the question I'm raising. If you want to
talk about the targets within the agreements we have as
part of the government, I support those. If you want
to have the wider conversation about whether or not New
Zealand should be involved in this at all, well exposition
is it's for you, and we're the only party that's
(03:17):
been there on this and consistent throughout.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Right. Well, let's stick with Trump because he's slapped these
new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. Interestingly, what Mexico
and Canada twenty five percent, China are only ten percent.
He's gone away bit soft on them. But this is
going to have far reaching ramifications not only for the
American economy and these other said economies, but also for
(03:41):
global trade. And basically, Trump softened up his own people
by saying Americans may find themselves paying the costs. So
is this a bit of a self defeating prophecy for Trump?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
This well, I hate to do it, but let me
give you the usual disclaimer. The United States is a democracy.
They just had an election. They elected a president and
he's carrying out the policies he campaigned on. And just
as we would never want an American government to interfere
in a New Zealand elected government doing that. I don't
(04:17):
intend to comment on there. What's in our interests as
a country and what our government will be advancing at
every opportunity, and I think that Todd players do a
pretty good job as a trade minister, is that we
need a world of free trade and a world that
is based on rules rather than misas right and New
(04:39):
Zealand be making that case that point at every moment.
That if I was going to make an observation just
about pure economics, when I was in the States at
the start of last year, I asked people, who are
you voting for? Why? They said Trump? Because life's got
too expensive under Biden. If the government of the US
(05:02):
does that are inflationary, I think they will disappoint those voters.
But that's just that's just me eq on one oh one.
It's up for them to make it.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Just a couple of quickly finish on. Good to see
you in Winston for once agreeing on something that Ted Cruise.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Is rather actually achieve something.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Well, Ted Cruise, I reckon he's the slimiest politician in America.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, I mean it's well, you know, I just make
the point that there's many people in New Zealand who
I disagree with and they don't represent my views, and
I'm sure he has the same thing. Rather odd that
anyone would think that John Minto was someone you should
actually listen to in any country, but he seems to
(05:48):
have got John Minto confused with an actual leader. The
position of the New Zealand government that Israeli citizens can
come in under the visa waiver program. They can fill
out an online form and come here for three months,
just like about forty or fifty other country citizens can.
We're a very good friend of Israel in that regard,
(06:10):
and Asraeli tourists absolutely welcome here as our tourists from
it over.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Sorry, I do have two more to quickly take off.
Woke Banks. Do you support Shane Jones on this one.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, he's got a point up to a point, which
is that there is for one of the wokery in
the banks. It starts in the universities, comes into the graduates,
and all of a sudden they are in the boardroom
and they're pursuing goals on behalf of other people lay there,
investors and customers. They actually no one really asks them
to pursue. So up to a point, I get that,
(06:42):
but they just share this other thought. Often, when people
in business start saying that they're doing something for a
reason other than the bottom line, the real reason they're
doing it is the bottom line. And when they say
we are getting out of coal because we want to
be this or or whatever virtue signaling might do it,
(07:03):
I can guarantee you at least in the back of
their mind, if not the front of their mind, is
that the political environment for the mining, and the same
thing goes for farming, has been so bad that if
you were a back and you heard there was a
country that just dropped an avalanche of regulation, SNA's fresh
water laws, farm environment plans, and you know, a missions
(07:25):
trading scheme and the helock A Canoa, and so it
goes on, you might start saying, gee, I actually think
it's not just purchase signaling. There's some real risk there.
So yep, I grew with them up to a point.
But I also just say, if I really want banks
to lend to farming and other industries at competitive rates,
we actually need to do is make sure that the
(07:45):
regulatory environment really is positive for those businesses. And that's
what I think. You know, if you look at Andrew
Hogart and Simon Court with the SNAs and the RMA replacement,
if you look at what we're doing on the split
gas approach, mark CAVRA and non climate, then we are
actually doing the hard yards, mate.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Right, this sounds like a real David. It sounds like
an election speech. Finally, the school lunch is You've been
stitched up a bit by some of the media on
this one, and you know, my point of view is,
and I see there's like kids and parents and teachers
whining about not getting this school lunch or whatever. But ultimately,
you know, like, isn't it the parents' responsibility? I know
(08:27):
that they're expecting a school lunch, but are some of
these kids just too picky and fussy? You and I
both went to boarding school, David, so you ate what
landed on your plate.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, and our parents we're paying for it. Look a
few things about that. I mean, first of all, yeah,
make My position has always been parents should pay. But
we're in a coalition government. Chris and Winston said no,
I got to keep it going. I said, okay, then
we're going to make it cheaper. And we've saved one
hundred and seventy million a year. If labor did it
(08:58):
the way that I'm doing it, they could have said
day hundred million in the first five years. Is there
been a couple of delays and some screw ups, yep,
but this is the start, the first week of delivering
two hundred and thirty thousand meals to every school, well
at least third of the schools in the country, So
that's not surprising. But I'm actually impressed. You know. I
always said there's ultimately a deep lizard mar of common
(09:20):
sense amongst kiwis, and people are staying to say, hang
on a minute, you're complaining about free food given to
your kids. There needs to be a little bit of
a reality check here.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Absolutely. David Seymour, their act party leader,
Let's kick off the show with David Seymour, act party leader.
You're a brave man heading to White Tonguey on Thursday.
This could end in tears for you, This could be
the last time we talk.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well, there's always the possibility, Janie, but I actually think
you'll make it through the week and I look forward to.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about you.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I know what you're saying. But look, ultimately, New Zealand
the country where people can talk to each other, We're
not so very different. I've gone up to White Tonguey
every year that i've been an mp COVID committing and
I know that there'll be a lot of people who
will be focused on what the media amplify, which is
(00:45):
actually annoysy minority. But I think it's important that our
country can come together and people can talk to each other.
That's what I intend to do. Yep.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Well, I don't think you're going to be talking to
each other. They're going to be yelling at you. Look
I'm going to yell at you.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
What's the story with your new climate target's emissions? Well,
your climate target of fifty one to fifty five percent
emissions by twenty thirty five, Federated Farmers David A quite
rightly saying the twenty thirty target of fifty percent reduction
in all greenhouse gas emissions is already totally beyond reach.
(01:25):
Why are you setting a goal that we won't be
able to reach.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, first of all, that the government has taken a
position in accordance with its commitment to Paris, which was
signed up to under the previous government. I think New
Zealand first, the Greens and Labor all signed up and
made that commitment. We remain bound by now. As a party,
we're part of this government. We support its positions. There's
(01:52):
a wider question of whether the government of New Zealand
should be committed to the Paris Accord where half the
world appears to be pulling out of it. Anyway, that's
the discussion for another time and perhaps another election. But
I just make the point that I Act alone has
long said that the Zero Carbon Act, which every other
(02:15):
party and the current Parliament voted for, is wrong, and
that the Paris Accord is wrong. Our policy should be
based on our public servants and diplomats going out and
representing New Zealand to these global institutions. They seem to
(02:36):
spend a lot of their time representing the global institution's interests.
To New Zealander is however, at the moment in the government,
we've got these commitments that's every other party is signed
up to, and as a result we have to go
along with.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
On David, we can just do it Trump just pick
at the touch.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Well, that's the question I'm raising. If you want to
talk about the targets within the agreements we have as
part of the government, I support those. If you want
to have the wider conversation about whether or not New
Zealand should be involved in this at all, well exposition
is it's for you, and we're the only party that's
(03:17):
been there on this and consistent throughout.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Right. Well, let's stick with Trump because he's slapped these
new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. Interestingly, what Mexico
and Canada twenty five percent, China are only ten percent.
He's gone away bit soft on them. But this is
going to have far reaching ramifications not only for the
American economy and these other said economies, but also for
(03:41):
global trade. And basically, Trump softened up his own people
by saying Americans may find themselves paying the costs. So
is this a bit of a self defeating prophecy for Trump?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
This well, I hate to do it, but let me
give you the usual disclaimer. The United States is a democracy.
They just had an election. They elected a president and
he's carrying out the policies he campaigned on. And just
as we would never want an American government to interfere
in a New Zealand elected government doing that. I don't
(04:17):
intend to comment on there. What's in our interests as
a country and what our government will be advancing at
every opportunity, and I think that Todd players do a
pretty good job as a trade minister, is that we
need a world of free trade and a world that
is based on rules rather than misas right and New
(04:39):
Zealand be making that case that point at every moment.
That if I was going to make an observation just
about pure economics, when I was in the States at
the start of last year, I asked people, who are
you voting for? Why? They said Trump? Because life's got
too expensive under Biden. If the government of the US
(05:02):
does that are inflationary, I think they will disappoint those voters.
But that's just that's just me eq on one oh one.
It's up for them to make it.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Just a couple of quickly finish on. Good to see
you in Winston for once agreeing on something that Ted Cruise.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Is rather actually achieve something.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Well, Ted Cruise, I reckon he's the slimiest politician in America.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, I mean it's well, you know, I just make
the point that there's many people in New Zealand who
I disagree with and they don't represent my views, and
I'm sure he has the same thing. Rather odd that
anyone would think that John Minto was someone you should
actually listen to in any country, but he seems to
(05:48):
have got John Minto confused with an actual leader. The
position of the New Zealand government that Israeli citizens can
come in under the visa waiver program. They can fill
out an online form and come here for three months,
just like about forty or fifty other country citizens can.
We're a very good friend of Israel in that regard,
(06:10):
and Asraeli tourists absolutely welcome here as our tourists from
it over.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Sorry, I do have two more to quickly take off.
Woke Banks. Do you support Shane Jones on this one.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Well, he's got a point up to a point, which
is that there is for one of the wokery in
the banks. It starts in the universities, comes into the graduates,
and all of a sudden they are in the boardroom
and they're pursuing goals on behalf of other people lay there,
investors and customers. They actually no one really asks them
to pursue. So up to a point, I get that,
(06:42):
but they just share this other thought. Often, when people
in business start saying that they're doing something for a
reason other than the bottom line, the real reason they're
doing it is the bottom line. And when they say
we are getting out of coal because we want to
be this or or whatever virtue signaling might do it,
(07:03):
I can guarantee you at least in the back of
their mind, if not the front of their mind, is
that the political environment for the mining, and the same
thing goes for farming, has been so bad that if
you were a back and you heard there was a
country that just dropped an avalanche of regulation, SNA's fresh
water laws, farm environment plans, and you know, a missions
(07:25):
trading scheme and the helock A Canoa, and so it
goes on, you might start saying, gee, I actually think
it's not just purchase signaling. There's some real risk there.
So yep, I grew with them up to a point.
But I also just say, if I really want banks
to lend to farming and other industries at competitive rates,
we actually need to do is make sure that the
(07:45):
regulatory environment really is positive for those businesses. And that's
what I think. You know, if you look at Andrew
Hogart and Simon Court with the SNAs and the RMA replacement,
if you look at what we're doing on the split
gas approach, mark CAVRA and non climate, then we are
actually doing the hard yards, mate.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Right, this sounds like a real David. It sounds like
an election speech. Finally, the school lunch is You've been
stitched up a bit by some of the media on
this one, and you know, my point of view is,
and I see there's like kids and parents and teachers
whining about not getting this school lunch or whatever. But ultimately,
you know, like, isn't it the parents' responsibility? I know
(08:27):
that they're expecting a school lunch, but are some of
these kids just too picky and fussy? You and I
both went to boarding school, David, so you ate what
landed on your plate.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, and our parents we're paying for it. Look a
few things about that. I mean, first of all, yeah,
make My position has always been parents should pay. But
we're in a coalition government. Chris and Winston said no,
I got to keep it going. I said, okay, then
we're going to make it cheaper. And we've saved one
hundred and seventy million a year. If labor did it
(08:58):
the way that I'm doing it, they could have said
day hundred million in the first five years. Is there
been a couple of delays and some screw ups, yep,
but this is the start, the first week of delivering
two hundred and thirty thousand meals to every school, well
at least third of the schools in the country, So
that's not surprising. But I'm actually impressed. You know. I
always said there's ultimately a deep lizard mar of common
(09:20):
sense amongst kiwis, and people are staying to say, hang
on a minute, you're complaining about free food given to
your kids. There needs to be a little bit of
a reality check here.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Absolutely. David Seymour, their act party leader,
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