May 10, 2026 • 40 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Stacey and Scott Mackereth, Andrew Hoggard, Grant McCallum, Eddie Fitzgerald, Vanessa Winning, and Phil Duncan.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's The Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Aisuzu get Demo deals
on the tough Dmax today.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good afternoon, New Zealand. Welcome to the Country. I'm Jamie McKay.
Thanks for joining me. But a hot chocolate to kick
things off. Need a bit of hot chocolate here in
the Deep South. It's got a wee bit chillier, but
that's what we expect in the lead into winter. Everyone's
a winner, well, there was a few winners. There was
three big winners at the Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua
(00:51):
on Saturday evening. We're going to speak to the winners
of the Sheer Farmer of the Year. A couple are
really good Southland Is they're coming or adopted south Is.
They're coming up next Today's Farmer Politician Panel. They were
at Both of them were at the New Zealandery Industry Awards,
Andrew Hoggart and Grant McCallum, an event that I think
(01:13):
is one of the best rural events in the country.
It's fantastic. The Century Farm and Station Awards will happen
in Lawrence, that wonderfully historic little town in South Otago
on Saturday night. So this is if your farm's been
in if your farm has been in your family's ownership
(01:33):
for one hundred or more years, which is a great
feat in itself, you can get a plark. You can
go along and celebrate with other families. Thirty six families
will be celebrating in Lawrence on Saturday night. We're going
to talk to Vanessa Winning from MPI and if I
can track them down. Phil Duncan, our weather man here
on the country on a Monday, and this week with
(01:55):
Meridian and Farmlands, we're also doing Dairy Week, so it's
pretty aproly that we kick it off with the Sheer
Farmers of the Year.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Dairy Week on the country. Thanks to Meridian and Farmlands
making moving day easier for farmers, it is.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Dairy Week here on the Country and it's rather app
that we kick off the show today with the twenty
twenty six Sheher Farmers of the Year. They were awarded
this honor at the Dairy Industry Awards at rota Ura
on Saturday night. They tell me it was a wonderful night.
Every man and his dog was there. And we're going
to be chatting to some people on the show who
were also there. But let's start with the big winners.
(02:46):
Scott and Stacy Macareth from Southland, Otago were named the
twenty twenty six Sheher Farmers of the Year. The farming
down in Southland at Edendale, the dairy capital of the South.
I'll start with you, Scott. Have you been dairy farmer
all your life? Because you're forty two years of age,
which gives you a bit of skin in the game.
You've been around a bit.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, yeah, And I started off in sheep and beef,
primarily Jamie. But then when Scott, you got into dairy
pretty quick just because of the provision pathways and it
was the only way I could see to end up
coming on an entry level and buying your own farm.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Stacey, you're slightly younger. I shouldn't ask a lady her age,
But have you been in the dairy industry all your
life as well?
Speaker 4 (03:30):
No, I did grow up on dairy farms. My dad
was a dairy farmer. How I've been a counselor full
time until just recently in January, taking a break from
that because our business is getting too busy.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Well, no, wonder your business is getting busy I'm looking
at the numbers. You're milking fourteen hundred cows on four
hundred and sixty four hectares for the Fortuna Group. That's
a big group down in Southland. Twenty four dairy farms
seventeen thousand cows. You've got a big operation.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, and we've also got a bit of equity in
another two and a half thousand cows, three farms with
fortune A Group and partnership with Fortuna Group, and then
also look after a couple of other farms as well.
Up in Riversdale. It's about another two farms seventeen hundred.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
Cows up there.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So yeah, we've been a busy few years since we've
come south, but been a really exciting time for us.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Well, Riversdale is the well, that's utopia. You want to
move up there. The climate's a wee bit better than
Eden Alama but biased though Scott.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah, now it's a great climate up there. But yeah,
we're just worth four young kids or four kids at
school and then the cargil. It's it makes sense to
keep you know, we're we're locators quite central, so that
works well for us.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
You're all around us. You not only took out the
Sheer Farmer of the Year title. You also took home
three marit Awards, Sustainable Pasture Award, Peeper and People and
Culture Award, and Farmers Leadership Award. And it would appear
to me reading your bios Stacey, that you guys are
right into culture.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Yes, so I tried to demonstrate the way that we
look after our staff is based on the part of
type of far wellbeing model, which is something I used
a lot in my work in mental health. So it's
just ensuring that all aspects of their mental health or
well being as looked after, being physical health, family house,
mental health, spiritual health. So I demonstrated that for our presentation.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Giving every staff member half an hour each week to
fill in a reflection journal.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yes, yeah, that was actually in a shadowed by Scott
and it's a way we like to to run out
of our team in a way where they can progress
further if that's what they would like to do. So
it's giving them some space and time to reflect on
how they're feeling with us as employers, with themselves as employees,
and if they feel like they're progressing in the way
they want to. We don't read their reflection journal that's
(05:56):
for them to have for themselves, but just as a
way for to ensure that we're always on track and
they are as well.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Just a bit of downtime. I think you're employing thirteen
staff as well, So no mean feat there, Scott. I
don't want to delve too far into this, but I
was also reading and I was intrigued in your bio
that you had a bit of a not a whoopsia,
but a bit of a tough time business wise with COVID.
I think farming in the States. You had to bounce
back from that. You've certainly done that by the sounds
(06:23):
of things.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Yeah, we sort of ended up back in New Zilla,
not quite on our terms, but always wanted to return
back to New Zealand and bring our kids up here,
but years sort of took a couple of years just
to find our feet completely. But you know, we just
saw amazing opportunity in Southland and moved down here and
got linked up with Fortuna group, which has just been
(06:46):
absolutely amazing for us. Been raally good people to work
with and it's enabled us to just grow and really
excel with what we do. So it's been an amazing partnership.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I love your motto go faster own or go far together.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Yeah that's actually another one of Scott's terms. But I'm
just I think what we're saying historically, Scotty, you recognize
you're going to too fast, but when you actually work
as a team, you can get a lot further together.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
So for your efforts and Rode, we were on Saturday night.
You won twenty eight thousand dollars in prizes, obviously a
big one, plus those three Mirrit awards. What are you
going to do with the team we have.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
We haven't actually discussed it, have we, Scotty, No, not yet.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
So I think for us, just try and get us,
you know, just get It's been a huge six months
for us. We've said lots of different things on the
go and then put a lot of energy into these awards.
So it's been you know, it's great to get a
fantastic to get a great result and good to get
back down of the Southland and get to focus one
hundred percent on farming again.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
I was just going to say, as we have when
we've won previous awards, we also like to put some
back into our staff, you know, even if that's just
a way to celebrate. Take them out for dinner. Make
sure that they wap some of their awards from all
the hard works that we've all put in.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well well done you too adopted Southland as winning the
Sheer Farmer of the Year at the New Zealand Airy
Industry Awards. By the way, the Dairy Manager of the
Year was Lauren mcconachie from Canterbury, North Otago. She took
away fifteen thousand dollars in prize as Dairy Trainee of
the Year, Mark Ready, West Coast Top of the South
Island ten thousand dollars worth of prizes. Stacy and Scott mackareth,
(08:25):
thank you very much for your time. Congratulations, Thank you,
Thanks Jamie. Good on you guys, outstanding couple. She either
got a big operation. Okay. It's Dairy Week with Meridian
and Farmlands this week on the Country we're spotlighting the people,
practices and progress shaping in New Zealand's dairy future, our
(08:47):
biggest industry. And remember if you move, because moving day
is coming up. If you move with Meridian you can
enjoy an account credit of up to three hundred dollars.
Teas and sees apply here on Dairy Week. Oh continue
the dairy thema weave it up. Next, a couple of
farmer politicians. Excuse me, they're both They're both dairy farmers.
(09:11):
They were at the Dairy Industry Awards as well on
Saturday night, Andrew Hoggard and Grant McCallum, Eddie fitzgerald from
the Century Farm and Station Awards at the other end
of the country, Lawrence one of the best little towns
in the country in South Otago and Vanessa winning from
mp I she doesn't miss many events. She was at
(09:33):
the Dairy Industry Awards as well. Phil Duncan talking weather.
If I can track him.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Down, you're the small town.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Everly World. He took them in NUNA. Today's panel features
a couple of farmers politicians, Andrew Hoggard Associate Agriculture Minister
and by a Security Minister and of course Grant mcnational McCullum,
(10:09):
who's just happy to be the MP for North and
let's start with the Dairy Industry Awards and wrote a
ruer over the weekend. I know you were both there, Grant,
Can I start with you? What's this? Don't you know
who I am? Moment that Andrew's been telling me about
Let me.
Speaker 6 (10:25):
Tell you what happened, mate. So look what I've learned
in this game. My job is to promote the North
and I'm very that's my main focus and also an electioneer.
It never never hurts a bit of self promotion.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
So I finished the story.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Yeah that's fine. So yeah, so when to radar list
all the MP's here. He didn't mention me.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
That's an easy mistake to make.
Speaker 6 (10:50):
It was most upsets, most upsets. Look, it's the joys
of politicians, a bit of fun and you know it
was it was. It was certainly certainly have a great evening, mate,
I'll tell you that. And mind you, mind you, Jamie.
At least I was there like the presenter of a
certain award who instead of turning up came something turned
(11:14):
up on the screen in front of us, big picture
Jamie McKay from the country. Sorry, I can't be here.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
I'm double parked. I couldn't see.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
Your peno green and your pinut NOI sitting there, mate,
But so you blessed us with a video rather than
coming to the awards.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Well, it's a long way to go from Dunedin to
Rota Ah and I'm spending the next two months on
a plane, and I was busy trying to get out
of my golf slump, which I think I did over
the weekend, so it was well worth it.
Speaker 7 (11:41):
Andrew imagined that the double parking was actually a golf game.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
But yeah, exactly, okay, Andrew Hoggart. Of course, being a minister,
are you inside or outside cabinet? You're inside it, aren't
you outside?
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Hi?
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Outside? Well that's a lot better than Grant. Anyhow, Radar
wouldn't have forgotten who you were.
Speaker 7 (12:01):
I was taking cab off the rank in terms of
mentioned sir, Yeah, all go there.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Who got first mentioned? Was that Todd McLay. I thought,
of course, yeah, well it's his home patch. And to
be fair, Todd McLay deserves it. I reckon he is
one of the best performing ministers. Maybe him and Erica,
what do you think?
Speaker 6 (12:19):
I completely agree, Janiel, they both done amazing job. Todd
security will actually dis third Free Trade Deal, but the
biggie being India and for what he's done for real
New Zealand. That's a legacy that anyone will be proud of,
and Erica's legacy and education will be let will benefit
generations to come. The work she's doing, were just getting
(12:40):
us back to basics. You're getting kids learning how to read, write,
and do some mess amazing and the parents love it.
Some of the teaching unions don't. But I'm sorry. It's
the kids are the ones that are learning an education system.
The are the ones that need to benefit.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Mind you, Erica, Erica Grant in.
Speaker 7 (12:56):
The Brook just to quickly put my vote in for
Brooke because honestly, that holiday's actor has done my head
in for over twenty eight years. So she's finally fixed it.
And that's worthy of some pretty serious mention. And as
I'm concerned, mind you.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Erica, Andrew Hogar doesn't like your boss David Seymore's immigration policy.
That is Grant and mcnational. Can you defend said policy? Andrew?
Speaker 7 (13:21):
Look, I mean there is a real challenge in urban
New Zealand around immigration at the moment. There are people
not happy with what they're seeing, and that's what our
policy is focused on. We recognize there is a difference
with rural We know that there's a real challenge rually
to find people to work. And that's why you know,
when making sure that there's still that ability that you
(13:44):
know you won't you know there's a job shortage. You know,
this gets reviewed. But if that shortage is still real,
then you'll still be getting that visa for three years
for that employee. And if that shortage is still existing,
then you'll be able to roll it over.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Andrew, I think, hold on, hold on, hold on radio
grant where you go, it's your show, not mine.
Speaker 5 (14:05):
They got exactly, James. They go, They're going to charge
them six dollars a day for being here, right, And
that's a guess you'll pay that the farmers who's struggling to.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Get the people to milk the cows. And we all
know there's a lot of Filipinos, for example, milking cows
in this country and also in the red time of
villages of this country. What about all those workers that
they got, all those employers.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
Go to pay that what that six dollars a day was.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
It's out of the contract. Able to work it out.
But but I mean, it's important that we're actually funding
infrastructure in this country rather than just letting a whole
range of people in without properly funding that infrastructure. It
needs to be funded. And I recognize it's different in
rural and we'll be working on. You know, how we
properly make sure that rule is recognized as being different.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Can I move on?
Speaker 5 (14:55):
Hold on?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Oh, hang on ground I know otherwise I'm going to
spend the whole show on this. I want to move on,
Andrew to your launch today. I think of the voluntary
nature markets and this is carrot instead of the scna's
significant national areas stick. And I think that's good because
SNA's suck.
Speaker 7 (15:15):
Yes, exactly, And that's why I've been quite the work.
And so what we're announcing today is the government's approach
on how we're going to enable this market to develop more.
This is happening around the world. You've got whole range
of schemes all over the show, and you know, fundamentally,
the approach I've taken is what is the minimum the
(15:37):
government needs to do to ensure that a market can
develop and thrive in this country. I don't want heavy
handed regulations or government knee deep and running things. It's
about providing assurance to the market, much in the same
way government doesn't get heavily involved with the mechanics of
the nz.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
X or chess.
Speaker 7 (15:56):
There's just a level of assurance that people know they
can invest and so that's what we're doing announcing today
we'll be recognizing some international endorsements and into a domestic
one that companies cannopt into and just stressing the game.
It's voluntary. So for those that might want to get
all conspiracy theory and think that this is the latest
(16:20):
world New World audit thing to control their lives, it's voluntary.
If you don't want to earn money from doing good things,
you don't have to be part of it.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Let's just finish when you're both not being playing the
political game. Your dairy farmers, although let's be honest, I
think Andrew might do more on the farm than Grant.
But have you yes or no? They okay, have you
both dried off yet? So early a you're going to
milk on well?
Speaker 7 (16:48):
I want of milk, so we go all the way through.
But we asked that in the drive for sprint carvers
say you're.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
A sucker for punishment. Have you just changed this policy
since you got into politics? You said, okay, boys, now
that I'm in Wellington, you can milk all through the winter.
Speaker 7 (17:01):
No, no, I've been doing this for about eight years now. Yeah,
so that's good. Means we can be a bit cruisier
during the summer because there's west coust to milk so
meets their grass curve quite nicely.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
And grant, have you dried off on Northland?
Speaker 6 (17:15):
It was yearing towards that process. Now daily I next
couple of weeks will gradually dry off, but just.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
To finish up.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
On Saturday night they gave Jim van der Pol the
Lifetime Achievement Award, which if anyone in the dairy seat
de zerns that he has is going right back to
early businesses, involvements in the aties, through the big getting
onto the board of New Zealand Dairy Group and then
on to Fronterra and the dairy is the unbelievable and
(17:42):
the work he did around heywalk you can are under
very trying circumstances, and the personal abuse he copped which
was unacceptable. I just think he had really deserves and
contributed so much to our sector.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
All acts off to Jim vander Pole.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Yeah like so, and a good bloke to go with it.
All right, thank you very much for your time, but
you shouldn't get carried away with personal abuse. Grant you
get it every fortnight or so when you turn up
on the show, but it's just part of the game.
See you later, good verdie boys. There we go. Today's
panel farmer panel, a couple of good cowcockies who have
(18:20):
found their way to Parliament in fact. Up next, Up next,
This is a great event. It's the Century Farm and
Station Awards happening in Lawrence on Saturday night, and I
think talking about politicians. One of the politicians there his
family farm. I'm told we'll celebrate one hundred years of ownership.
(18:43):
What a great what a great accolade that is for
your family farm. Up next it's Eddie Fitzgerald, Chair of
the Century Farm and Station Awards.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Sill on.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
You, but abroad of you, nothing left a magma fIF
too small. Look, Lawrence is where it's all going to
be happening on Saturday evening, the New Zealand Century Farm
(19:23):
and Station Awards. I'm lucky enough to be going along
and I have a very personal connection with these awards
because our family farm was recognized awarded in twenty eleven
for one hundred years of ownership under one family. Now
that's what it's all about. If your family has owned
your farm for one hundred years or more, you can
(19:45):
be recognized at this wonderful event. An actual fact, on
Saturday night, we've got thirty six farms being recognized. The
chair of the event, Eddie Fitzgerald, is joining us and Eddie,
amongst those thirty six farms, we have got twelve who
will celebrate one hundred and fifty years. Good afternoon, you'll
be looking forward to you'll be licking your chops ahead
(20:05):
a Saturday night.
Speaker 8 (20:07):
Yes, no, we are, Jamie. It's going to be quite
a special occasion for the families that are going to
be attending, and also the families also attend to meet
and greet on the Friday evening as well, so for
them it'll be quite significant milestone and also to recognize
their forebears for the effort above put him to nurture
(20:27):
the land that they now farm the present generation.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
I think one of the great things about this Century
Farm and Station Awards is that someone in the family,
if they haven't already done it, has to do significant
research and it's a great great way of preserving your
family farm's history. I know in our case, my brother,
my late brother, unfortunately Don was an Astorian, so it
was no trouble to him to put together the information.
(20:53):
But when you read through the booklet and I've got
it in my hot little hand, now there's so many
great stories from the pioneering days.
Speaker 8 (21:01):
Well, I think, Jamie, is that when a family member
decides to research the history for the land that they've
been tenure on for one hundred plus more years, is
that they actually find out a lot of interesting information
about their fore bears when they were farming the land.
And they do, in a lot of cases unearth a
lot of historical information which is quite special to the
(21:24):
previous generations that were farming that land.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
As I said, twelve of the thirty six farms will
celebrate one hundred and fifty years of ownership will be
recognized for that. One of them, the Matthews O'Callaghan family
from Northland, their farm has been in their famili's ownership
for one hundred and eighty seven years, going back to
eighteen thirty nine.
Speaker 8 (21:49):
Well, yes, that is very very significant because the treaties
the Three d Yeena were signed in eighteen forty, but
we already had settlement on the going back to the
early eighteen hundreds, and for those families there now to
be recognized for that tenure of their Land. I think
that's quite special and it's quite significant that New Zealand
(22:11):
as a country has matured since those early eighteen hundreds.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
This, I think is your twentieth anniversary of this wonderful event.
Speaker 9 (22:20):
That is, this is the twentieth twentieth anniversary event wise, yes,
that is we thought it was twenty first, but it
is the twentieth anniversary this next weekend of the event
starting from two five.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Well, and there was a bit of a glitch, wasn't
that as there was with many things around the country
with COVID. I think you missed a year, but was
it the following year? And I think Rowena, my former
offsider here was MC and I think you had to
do two in one year to try and catch up.
And as you say, thirty six this year, this is
the most farms that have been recognized in one single sitting.
(22:57):
Am I right in saying.
Speaker 8 (22:58):
That is actually from memory?
Speaker 9 (23:01):
There was actually thirty eight?
Speaker 8 (23:02):
That there's very significant this thirty six This attendees at
this event is that every family that has applied to
you for their plants this year, every family that have
applied are all going to be present or have a
presence of even one member of the family will be
present at the awards, and I think that that's actually
(23:24):
quite special. On the other aspect is I don't think
they've ever had that happen before. They've always had several
families that have not been able to make it. We've
made a point of especially my ten years chair, to
go and present them personally to the families that couldn't
be there.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Fantastic, it's a great turnout. It is election year. There
will be a great turnout of politicians. Of course, your
local bloke, Mark Patterson, New Zealand first ad guy, he's
a true blue local. He'll be there, Ingrid Larry, the
local MP's there. James Meager, Minister of the South Island
will be presenting the plaques. But of interest is Miles Anderson.
The White TACKI MP farm or his family's farm is
(24:02):
going to be recognized.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
Yes, so I that would be there.
Speaker 8 (24:08):
Very special for their family, especially with the high profile
that they do have. And he made comment about the
times of the mid eighties to the late eighties as
you know, Janie, which which were terrible times, and he
said that left an indelible march memory wise for Miles
(24:30):
of the tenure of the land coming through and the
stories of hardship they you know, in some ways in
those mid to late eighties, like many farming families, as
you will realize and know, it was a difficult.
Speaker 7 (24:43):
Time for them all.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Yeah, well at the nineteen eighties, some of us went
through it. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, Eddie.
Looking forward to catching up with you on Saturday night.
Of course, Lawrence Gabriel's gully gold was discovered way back
in eighteen sixty one. At one stage the population of
Lawrence exceeded Dunedin. A million ounces of gold were transported
(25:06):
by wagon and horse drawn coach, eventually making Duneda New
Zealand's pre eminent colonial city. Some would say it still is.
And if that's not enough, the local school teacher in Lawrence,
John J. Woods, composed music or the composed the music
for the national anthem. Hey are lots of other interesting
trivia about Lawrence. It's a magnificent little town in South Otago, Eddie.
(25:29):
I look forward to your company on Saturday night.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Very good, Thank you James.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
By now, good ony, Eddie. And if you haven't been
to Lawrence in South Otaga, as we said, that's where
they discovered gold eighteen sixty one. Gabriel's Gully. It's just
up the gully, awebit from the township. What I love
about Lawrence is a lot of rural towns in this
country they smashed down or they got rid of all
the lovely old buildings with nice facades and they built
(25:55):
concrete block monstrosities in the fifties, sixties and seven. Is Lawrence,
for some reason largely escaped. That was magnificent homes there
as well. And we were talking about John J. Woods,
the local school teacher, composing the music for the national anthem. Well,
I didn't realize this. The first bicycle made in New
(26:17):
Zealand was built in Lawrence in eighteen ninety three by
local blacksmith Patrick O'Leary. Great town. Looking forward to going
there on Saturday night. Might even grace the Lawrence golf course.
They got to love the golf course there as well. Okay,
up next, Michelle with the latest and rural news. We'll
have sports news for you before the end of the hour.
(26:37):
Vanessa Winning from MPI and Monday's weather man Phil Duncan.
Speaker 10 (26:42):
Remember we were partners.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
So true funny how it's see well, so the show
has somehow converted to spandal ballet.
Speaker 11 (27:10):
Where did that come from?
Speaker 2 (27:11):
New Romantics? That was a music movement in the nineteen eighties,
Big Spandel ballet fan, and I get a lot of
grief for it. I did play a week bit of
Gold for Lawrence where they discovered Gold and Gabriel Scully
in eighteen sixty one. Here's a text coming in from
a grumpy man. Don't be so woke. This is to me.
It's not Moving Day, It's Gypsy Day. Sorry, Texter, we've
(27:34):
moved on from that. It's politically incorrect to say Gypsy Day,
although I still think of it as Gypsy Day. I mean,
we don't call Tyson Fury the Moving Day King, do
we No?
Speaker 11 (27:47):
And it's someone who descended from Gypsy's Jamie.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Oh you did, Yeah, I did? All right? That's trying
to make sense. Why does that not surprise man?
Speaker 11 (27:57):
A lot of people say that.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Well, you were in Lawrence last year. You were seeing
the Century Farm and Station Awards, and I know it
was near and dear to your heart because there was
families you knew. I look, it's amazing this year because
I said to Eddie, I'll do one more than old
gracefully retire. But I know heaps of families and it's
such a good occasion.
Speaker 11 (28:19):
Oh, it's a fabulous event. It's probably one of my
absolute favorites that I've ever been to. And you know,
shout out to the committee down there because they're just
the best people.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Indeed, righty, I wats in rural News. Let's have a
lot for the countries.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Rural news with cub Cadet, New Zealand's leading right on
lawn bower Bread. Visit steel Ford dot Cot dot NZ
for your local stockist.
Speaker 11 (28:38):
Scholarship applications are open for the twenty twenty six Horticulture
New Zealand Leadership Program. There are twelve scholarships up for grabs,
which is run in partnership with Rural leaders. The program
will be delivered in two phases in August in October
this year and applications close on June twenty eighth. While
worth your while if you want to get involved in
that and put your name forward. And I just want
to do a quick shout out to the I meet
(29:00):
on Saturday at the final round of Gravel and Paradise
and Omaru out at or just outside Omoru in between
Western sort of out in the back country. There the
guys at and girls that rode in Ridestrong's category for
grevel and paradise for farm strong. Fantastic group of people
are great fun.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Sports on the country with AFCO invested in your farming.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Success and continuing the sporting theme not cycling, Let's start
with rugby. All Black Stephen Parafetta is set to leave
New Zealand Rugby at the end of the season. The
twenty nine year old started at first five eighths for
the Blues in the last two matches, ahead of Boden Barrett,
but will likely take his talents to Japan. In basketball,
(29:42):
the New York Knicks have swept the Philadelphia seventy six's
four nil to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals in
Basketball's NBA, and Shane Van Gisbergen has turned heads in
NASCAR after his seventh career road race, one this time
(30:03):
on the Watkins Glen Track in Upstate New York. And
I must just have a quick look on my phone,
Michelle to see what happened in the golf, because I
was watching that yesterday. This is the final tournament before
they go to the PGA Championships. Which is one of
the four majors next weekend. Hurry up phone, the Wi
(30:25):
Fi is so slow in this building. We'll come back
and update that one up next for Vanessa winning from MPI,
(30:48):
So welcome back to the country. It has bang on
quarter away from one. Vanessa winning joins us from MPI. Vanessa,
I don't know what your job is. As your job
a bit like wienas at FMG. Are you sort of
a corporate hugger? You just go around to all these
events and make an appearance because you don't miss many
bun fights. If you don't mind me saying, so.
Speaker 12 (31:11):
A corporate hugger, that's a nice way of putting it.
I do like the occasional hug So yeah, that's probably fear.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
You were at the Dairy Industry Awards along with our
winners Stacey and Scott who we've spoken to already, and
Andrew and Grants, the farmer politicians. Huge crowd.
Speaker 12 (31:31):
Oh it was sold out, which is just brilliant, Like
it really is demonstrating how buoyant the dairy industry is
at the moment. It was such a great night.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Okay, Well that's in the rare vision mirror now and
congratulations to all the winners on Saturday night in Road
to RUA. Where do you head next? Where's your next one? Fight? Vanessa?
Speaker 12 (31:49):
Hey, just before we do go on to the next time,
I just wanted to do a shout out. I'm sure
you've already done that, but to Jim vander polland his
special Industry Award that he got onto day night as well.
I think it really well deserved, both Jim and so
up there and all the work that they've done for
the dairy industry. So that was pretty cool and pretty special.
(32:11):
And I don't know if you heard, but there's this
really cool new one where it's a first farm grant
in ASB gives I think it's a million dollars at
one percent interest for three years. It's to get you started,
which is wow, opportunity.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
That's a huge prize in terms of in terms of
dollar value.
Speaker 12 (32:31):
Well and also just it just gets you started. And
I just yeah, so so cool, so cool to see
the dairy industry back up there in lights again. It's
been you know, it's been a little while, and I
just think it's awesome to celebrate it.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Yeah. Grant McCallum actually gave Jim Vanderpole a good pad
on the back and Jim deserves it is a hell
of a nice bloke as well. The next one is
the Out the Gate Conference. This is run by Beef
and Lamb New Zealand.
Speaker 12 (32:57):
Yeah yeah, so Beef and Then have got their bag
and that's a big investment that they've put on here.
So Out the Gates running on the twentieth of May
in christ Church at the new Event Center. Yeah and PI,
pretty big lineup of speakers including of course my boss Racemith.
And again we're seeing a real celebration of the red
(33:18):
meat sector too, so pretty coolder to see some buoyancy
out there.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
It's a bit of a lead into the biggie, the granddaddy,
the grandmother. I've got to be politically correct these days, Vanessa.
Of all rural award events, well, I suppose we've got
we've got the Young Farm We've got the Balance Farm
Environment Awards, We've got all sorts of ones. But the
primary industry awards run by Federated Farmers are probably the
(33:43):
pinnacle in some ways.
Speaker 12 (33:45):
Yeah, I think because they've got them across all different
activities and sectors. So it is pretty cool. You know,
you're getting from not just one industry, you're actually getting
out across all the industries. So it is neat to
get celebration across everyone together. And they really are the
only ones that do it where it's not sector bisector.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah, they run a really good show. Will barely unpack
the bags from field days of Anessa. Then we've got
to jump on it. Well, I have to jump on
a plane again, maybe not you up that end of
the country and head to the Primary Industry Awards. Looking
forward to that one. Hey, just a final comment from you,
and I guess this is in some ways stating the obvious.
(34:24):
But while we're celebrating the dairy industry, Kiwi fruits going
great guns at the moment. They've had a great season.
It looks like the marketing's going really well. Red meats
at an all time high, and that's fantastic. But we've got,
as you point out, the vegetable sector, the arable farmers,
especially the wine sector, and then I think forestry as well,
(34:48):
you could lump in there. So not everyone's doing really
well at the moment.
Speaker 12 (34:53):
Yeah, I think you know, there's a lot of cossbrushes
profitability activity going on, and I guess that's we're on
farm support being able to come in and do some
extension support stuff. So you know, like like what we
talked about last time I was on the radio with
far around, you know, doing some resilience workshops with the
(35:14):
Victoria Cross winner, just making sure I get that right.
And you know, then we've got activity with the wine sector.
Part of the issue is that we are just you know,
we've got such great growing conditions in New Zealand that
we end up with almost like an oversupply of production too,
So you know, it's a little bit of you know,
(35:38):
really doing really well on one side and then struggling
and how do we support them on the other. And
this is where they're integration of farming, I think, Jamie,
which is the future about farming, And we sing it
a lot in the arable sector right where you've got
the red meat and arable sectors working really closely together
to make sure that they're dovetailing into each other and
(36:00):
when ones up ones down, they're building that resilience in
between the two of them. So we're seeing more of
that and people are getting really smart around it. So
profitability in the sectors something that we focused on Foreign
farm support.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Especially Hey Vanessa one and always good to catch up
on the country. We will see you at field days.
You enjoy the out the gate conference, Beef and lamb.
That's the next one. Up to the Batter's Box and
what a couple of weeks is it.
Speaker 12 (36:26):
Yeah, there's a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Good on you. Thanks for time, Vanessa, Thanks Jammy. There
we go Vanessa winning from MPI and they will have,
as they always do, a big presence at field Days.
Looking forward to that one. Still haven't found the golf
results yet. I'll ignore some of those texts that are
coming in because they're just plain rude. They're just plain rude. Anyhow,
(36:51):
Up next Phil Duncan and we'll wrap the weather. It's
changed for the caller quite a bit in the Deep South.
Will tell you how the rest of the countries faring
after the break.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
Weather on the country with Fiji where happiness comes naturally.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
It is six away from one. Let's wrap first show
of the week Monday, back on the tools. Phil Duncan
from weather Watch, one of the countries leading weather men.
I think I've got the two leading weather men on
the show during the week, Chris Brandolino and Phil, I
won't put your head to head, but Phil, I was
looking at the old weather forecast because we've got a
(37:39):
wee bit cold here in Duneda yesterday, nothing unexpected, but
there's a big high coming, especially for the South Island.
So we could be in for maybe a fine and
perhaps frosty week, could we Yeah.
Speaker 10 (37:53):
We do expect some frost around tonight again and tomorrow
night in some inland areas coastal like Dunedin, probably not
so much. Too much cloud bit of wind coming through
tomorrow with the southerly ahead of the big high. But
the temperatures are really down in the South Island this week.
They're more like this time of the year, in fact,
maybe below this time of the year, more wintery sort
(38:16):
of set up. And the North Island is on the
edge of the high pressure and so that means a
southeasterly wind is going to kick in or south to
southeast we went, and that means that if you live
along the east coast of the North Island, so wide
it up the Hawks Bay getsman tied Arftery and then
up towards Corinndal Peninsula, Northland, those areas are likely to
be a bit cloudy this week, with showers coming through
(38:38):
pretty much all week, so it's not going to be
overly flash But the flip side is if you're on
the western side of the hills and ranges in the
North Island, it should be very sunny once we get
to the middle of the week, and so inland areas
and northern areas of the South Island, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury,
all those places should end up with quite a nice
week on the way once that high kind of roll.
(39:00):
And then when the high actually does come in, it'll
bring with it some fog, so we'll get foggy patches
developing later this week and this weekend. So it's pretty
dry weather for most places, but the eastern side of
the North Island, Southland, maybe coastal Otago a little bit
will be cloudier to begin with, and so that those
shewers will linger on in the eastern North Island perhaps
(39:23):
right through till Sunday.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
I fell got about thirty seconds left. Is there anywhere
left in the country that's still a bit dry? Because
I know that some parts of the North Island were
still looking out for rain. I know that Canterbury was
starting to get quite dry for this time of the year.
Speaker 10 (39:37):
You know, the North Island's actually in pretty good shape.
There may be some locations that could do with a
little bit more rain in the west, but not a lot.
You know, it's going to be I think balancing out
this week for a number of places. But I do
think Canterbury. Parts of Canterbury are drying out of webits
and obviously a keen day forecast with dry weather will
only make that dry er. But I think going into
(39:58):
winter we're in a pretty good set up at the
moment for most regions.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
Yeah, it will get wet, I promise you. There we go.
Phil Duncan from Were the Watch wrapping the Country for today.
Actually I'm going to have interviews about the National Dog
Trials coming up on tomorrow's show. Really looking forward to
that and an argument with Damian O'Connor.
Speaker 1 (40:18):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
podcast with Jamie Mackay. Thanks to Aisuzu, get Demo deals
on the tough Dmax Today
Catch all the latest from the land. It's The Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Aisuzu get Demo deals
on the tough Dmax today.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good afternoon, New Zealand. Welcome to the Country. I'm Jamie McKay.
Thanks for joining me. But a hot chocolate to kick
things off. Need a bit of hot chocolate here in
the Deep South. It's got a wee bit chillier, but
that's what we expect in the lead into winter. Everyone's
a winner, well, there was a few winners. There was
three big winners at the Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua
(00:51):
on Saturday evening. We're going to speak to the winners
of the Sheer Farmer of the Year. A couple are
really good Southland Is they're coming or adopted south Is.
They're coming up next Today's Farmer Politician Panel. They were
at Both of them were at the New Zealandery Industry Awards,
Andrew Hoggart and Grant McCallum, an event that I think
(01:13):
is one of the best rural events in the country.
It's fantastic. The Century Farm and Station Awards will happen
in Lawrence, that wonderfully historic little town in South Otago
on Saturday night. So this is if your farm's been
in if your farm has been in your family's ownership
(01:33):
for one hundred or more years, which is a great
feat in itself, you can get a plark. You can
go along and celebrate with other families. Thirty six families
will be celebrating in Lawrence on Saturday night. We're going
to talk to Vanessa Winning from MPI and if I
can track them down. Phil Duncan, our weather man here
on the country on a Monday, and this week with
(01:55):
Meridian and Farmlands, we're also doing Dairy Week, so it's
pretty aproly that we kick it off with the Sheer
Farmers of the Year.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Dairy Week on the country. Thanks to Meridian and Farmlands
making moving day easier for farmers, it is.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Dairy Week here on the Country and it's rather app
that we kick off the show today with the twenty
twenty six Sheher Farmers of the Year. They were awarded
this honor at the Dairy Industry Awards at rota Ura
on Saturday night. They tell me it was a wonderful night.
Every man and his dog was there. And we're going
to be chatting to some people on the show who
were also there. But let's start with the big winners.
(02:46):
Scott and Stacy Macareth from Southland, Otago were named the
twenty twenty six Sheher Farmers of the Year. The farming
down in Southland at Edendale, the dairy capital of the South.
I'll start with you, Scott. Have you been dairy farmer
all your life? Because you're forty two years of age,
which gives you a bit of skin in the game.
You've been around a bit.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, yeah, And I started off in sheep and beef,
primarily Jamie. But then when Scott, you got into dairy
pretty quick just because of the provision pathways and it
was the only way I could see to end up
coming on an entry level and buying your own farm.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Stacey, you're slightly younger. I shouldn't ask a lady her age,
But have you been in the dairy industry all your
life as well?
Speaker 4 (03:30):
No, I did grow up on dairy farms. My dad
was a dairy farmer. How I've been a counselor full
time until just recently in January, taking a break from
that because our business is getting too busy.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Well, no, wonder your business is getting busy I'm looking
at the numbers. You're milking fourteen hundred cows on four
hundred and sixty four hectares for the Fortuna Group. That's
a big group down in Southland. Twenty four dairy farms
seventeen thousand cows. You've got a big operation.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, and we've also got a bit of equity in
another two and a half thousand cows, three farms with
fortune A Group and partnership with Fortuna Group, and then
also look after a couple of other farms as well.
Up in Riversdale. It's about another two farms seventeen hundred.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
Cows up there.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So yeah, we've been a busy few years since we've
come south, but been a really exciting time for us.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Well, Riversdale is the well, that's utopia. You want to
move up there. The climate's a wee bit better than
Eden Alama but biased though Scott.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah, now it's a great climate up there. But yeah,
we're just worth four young kids or four kids at
school and then the cargil. It's it makes sense to
keep you know, we're we're locators quite central, so that
works well for us.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
You're all around us. You not only took out the
Sheer Farmer of the Year title. You also took home
three marit Awards, Sustainable Pasture Award, Peeper and People and
Culture Award, and Farmers Leadership Award. And it would appear
to me reading your bios Stacey, that you guys are
right into culture.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Yes, so I tried to demonstrate the way that we
look after our staff is based on the part of
type of far wellbeing model, which is something I used
a lot in my work in mental health. So it's
just ensuring that all aspects of their mental health or
well being as looked after, being physical health, family house,
mental health, spiritual health. So I demonstrated that for our presentation.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Giving every staff member half an hour each week to
fill in a reflection journal.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yes, yeah, that was actually in a shadowed by Scott
and it's a way we like to to run out
of our team in a way where they can progress
further if that's what they would like to do. So
it's giving them some space and time to reflect on
how they're feeling with us as employers, with themselves as employees,
and if they feel like they're progressing in the way
they want to. We don't read their reflection journal that's
(05:56):
for them to have for themselves, but just as a
way for to ensure that we're always on track and
they are as well.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Just a bit of downtime. I think you're employing thirteen
staff as well, So no mean feat there, Scott. I
don't want to delve too far into this, but I
was also reading and I was intrigued in your bio
that you had a bit of a not a whoopsia,
but a bit of a tough time business wise with COVID.
I think farming in the States. You had to bounce
back from that. You've certainly done that by the sounds
(06:23):
of things.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Yeah, we sort of ended up back in New Zilla,
not quite on our terms, but always wanted to return
back to New Zealand and bring our kids up here,
but years sort of took a couple of years just
to find our feet completely. But you know, we just
saw amazing opportunity in Southland and moved down here and
got linked up with Fortuna group, which has just been
(06:46):
absolutely amazing for us. Been raally good people to work
with and it's enabled us to just grow and really
excel with what we do. So it's been an amazing partnership.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I love your motto go faster own or go far together.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Yeah that's actually another one of Scott's terms. But I'm
just I think what we're saying historically, Scotty, you recognize
you're going to too fast, but when you actually work
as a team, you can get a lot further together.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
So for your efforts and Rode, we were on Saturday night.
You won twenty eight thousand dollars in prizes, obviously a
big one, plus those three Mirrit awards. What are you
going to do with the team we have.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
We haven't actually discussed it, have we, Scotty, No, not yet.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
So I think for us, just try and get us,
you know, just get It's been a huge six months
for us. We've said lots of different things on the
go and then put a lot of energy into these awards.
So it's been you know, it's great to get a
fantastic to get a great result and good to get
back down of the Southland and get to focus one
hundred percent on farming again.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
I was just going to say, as we have when
we've won previous awards, we also like to put some
back into our staff, you know, even if that's just
a way to celebrate. Take them out for dinner. Make
sure that they wap some of their awards from all
the hard works that we've all put in.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well well done you too adopted Southland as winning the
Sheer Farmer of the Year at the New Zealand Airy
Industry Awards. By the way, the Dairy Manager of the
Year was Lauren mcconachie from Canterbury, North Otago. She took
away fifteen thousand dollars in prize as Dairy Trainee of
the Year, Mark Ready, West Coast Top of the South
Island ten thousand dollars worth of prizes. Stacy and Scott mackareth,
(08:25):
thank you very much for your time. Congratulations, Thank you,
Thanks Jamie. Good on you guys, outstanding couple. She either
got a big operation. Okay. It's Dairy Week with Meridian
and Farmlands this week on the Country we're spotlighting the people,
practices and progress shaping in New Zealand's dairy future, our
(08:47):
biggest industry. And remember if you move, because moving day
is coming up. If you move with Meridian you can
enjoy an account credit of up to three hundred dollars.
Teas and sees apply here on Dairy Week. Oh continue
the dairy thema weave it up. Next, a couple of
farmer politicians. Excuse me, they're both They're both dairy farmers.
(09:11):
They were at the Dairy Industry Awards as well on
Saturday night, Andrew Hoggard and Grant McCallum, Eddie fitzgerald from
the Century Farm and Station Awards at the other end
of the country, Lawrence one of the best little towns
in the country in South Otago and Vanessa winning from
mp I she doesn't miss many events. She was at
(09:33):
the Dairy Industry Awards as well. Phil Duncan talking weather.
If I can track him.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Down, you're the small town.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Everly World. He took them in NUNA. Today's panel features
a couple of farmers politicians, Andrew Hoggard Associate Agriculture Minister
and by a Security Minister and of course Grant mcnational McCullum,
(10:09):
who's just happy to be the MP for North and
let's start with the Dairy Industry Awards and wrote a
ruer over the weekend. I know you were both there, Grant,
Can I start with you? What's this? Don't you know
who I am? Moment that Andrew's been telling me about
Let me.
Speaker 6 (10:25):
Tell you what happened, mate. So look what I've learned
in this game. My job is to promote the North
and I'm very that's my main focus and also an electioneer.
It never never hurts a bit of self promotion.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
So I finished the story.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Yeah that's fine. So yeah, so when to radar list
all the MP's here. He didn't mention me.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
That's an easy mistake to make.
Speaker 6 (10:50):
It was most upsets, most upsets. Look, it's the joys
of politicians, a bit of fun and you know it
was it was. It was certainly certainly have a great evening, mate,
I'll tell you that. And mind you, mind you, Jamie.
At least I was there like the presenter of a
certain award who instead of turning up came something turned
(11:14):
up on the screen in front of us, big picture
Jamie McKay from the country. Sorry, I can't be here.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
I'm double parked. I couldn't see.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
Your peno green and your pinut NOI sitting there, mate,
But so you blessed us with a video rather than
coming to the awards.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Well, it's a long way to go from Dunedin to
Rota Ah and I'm spending the next two months on
a plane, and I was busy trying to get out
of my golf slump, which I think I did over
the weekend, so it was well worth it.
Speaker 7 (11:41):
Andrew imagined that the double parking was actually a golf game.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
But yeah, exactly, okay, Andrew Hoggart. Of course, being a minister,
are you inside or outside cabinet? You're inside it, aren't
you outside?
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Hi?
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Outside? Well that's a lot better than Grant. Anyhow, Radar
wouldn't have forgotten who you were.
Speaker 7 (12:01):
I was taking cab off the rank in terms of
mentioned sir, Yeah, all go there.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Who got first mentioned? Was that Todd McLay. I thought,
of course, yeah, well it's his home patch. And to
be fair, Todd McLay deserves it. I reckon he is
one of the best performing ministers. Maybe him and Erica,
what do you think?
Speaker 6 (12:19):
I completely agree, Janiel, they both done amazing job. Todd
security will actually dis third Free Trade Deal, but the
biggie being India and for what he's done for real
New Zealand. That's a legacy that anyone will be proud of,
and Erica's legacy and education will be let will benefit
generations to come. The work she's doing, were just getting
(12:40):
us back to basics. You're getting kids learning how to read, write,
and do some mess amazing and the parents love it.
Some of the teaching unions don't. But I'm sorry. It's
the kids are the ones that are learning an education system.
The are the ones that need to benefit.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Mind you, Erica, Erica Grant in.
Speaker 7 (12:56):
The Brook just to quickly put my vote in for
Brooke because honestly, that holiday's actor has done my head
in for over twenty eight years. So she's finally fixed it.
And that's worthy of some pretty serious mention. And as
I'm concerned, mind you.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Erica, Andrew Hogar doesn't like your boss David Seymore's immigration policy.
That is Grant and mcnational. Can you defend said policy? Andrew?
Speaker 7 (13:21):
Look, I mean there is a real challenge in urban
New Zealand around immigration at the moment. There are people
not happy with what they're seeing, and that's what our
policy is focused on. We recognize there is a difference
with rural We know that there's a real challenge rually
to find people to work. And that's why you know,
when making sure that there's still that ability that you
(13:44):
know you won't you know there's a job shortage. You know,
this gets reviewed. But if that shortage is still real,
then you'll still be getting that visa for three years
for that employee. And if that shortage is still existing,
then you'll be able to roll it over.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Andrew, I think, hold on, hold on, hold on radio
grant where you go, it's your show, not mine.
Speaker 5 (14:05):
They got exactly, James. They go, They're going to charge
them six dollars a day for being here, right, And
that's a guess you'll pay that the farmers who's struggling to.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Get the people to milk the cows. And we all
know there's a lot of Filipinos, for example, milking cows
in this country and also in the red time of
villages of this country. What about all those workers that
they got, all those employers.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
Go to pay that what that six dollars a day was.
Speaker 7 (14:31):
It's out of the contract. Able to work it out.
But but I mean, it's important that we're actually funding
infrastructure in this country rather than just letting a whole
range of people in without properly funding that infrastructure. It
needs to be funded. And I recognize it's different in
rural and we'll be working on. You know, how we
properly make sure that rule is recognized as being different.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Can I move on?
Speaker 5 (14:55):
Hold on?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Oh, hang on ground I know otherwise I'm going to
spend the whole show on this. I want to move on,
Andrew to your launch today. I think of the voluntary
nature markets and this is carrot instead of the scna's
significant national areas stick. And I think that's good because
SNA's suck.
Speaker 7 (15:15):
Yes, exactly, And that's why I've been quite the work.
And so what we're announcing today is the government's approach
on how we're going to enable this market to develop more.
This is happening around the world. You've got whole range
of schemes all over the show, and you know, fundamentally,
the approach I've taken is what is the minimum the
(15:37):
government needs to do to ensure that a market can
develop and thrive in this country. I don't want heavy
handed regulations or government knee deep and running things. It's
about providing assurance to the market, much in the same
way government doesn't get heavily involved with the mechanics of
the nz.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
X or chess.
Speaker 7 (15:56):
There's just a level of assurance that people know they
can invest and so that's what we're doing announcing today
we'll be recognizing some international endorsements and into a domestic
one that companies cannopt into and just stressing the game.
It's voluntary. So for those that might want to get
all conspiracy theory and think that this is the latest
(16:20):
world New World audit thing to control their lives, it's voluntary.
If you don't want to earn money from doing good things,
you don't have to be part of it.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Let's just finish when you're both not being playing the
political game. Your dairy farmers, although let's be honest, I
think Andrew might do more on the farm than Grant.
But have you yes or no? They okay, have you
both dried off yet? So early a you're going to
milk on well?
Speaker 7 (16:48):
I want of milk, so we go all the way through.
But we asked that in the drive for sprint carvers
say you're.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
A sucker for punishment. Have you just changed this policy
since you got into politics? You said, okay, boys, now
that I'm in Wellington, you can milk all through the winter.
Speaker 7 (17:01):
No, no, I've been doing this for about eight years now. Yeah,
so that's good. Means we can be a bit cruisier
during the summer because there's west coust to milk so
meets their grass curve quite nicely.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
And grant, have you dried off on Northland?
Speaker 6 (17:15):
It was yearing towards that process. Now daily I next
couple of weeks will gradually dry off, but just.
Speaker 5 (17:20):
To finish up.
Speaker 6 (17:22):
On Saturday night they gave Jim van der Pol the
Lifetime Achievement Award, which if anyone in the dairy seat
de zerns that he has is going right back to
early businesses, involvements in the aties, through the big getting
onto the board of New Zealand Dairy Group and then
on to Fronterra and the dairy is the unbelievable and
(17:42):
the work he did around heywalk you can are under
very trying circumstances, and the personal abuse he copped which
was unacceptable. I just think he had really deserves and
contributed so much to our sector.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
All acts off to Jim vander Pole.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Yeah like so, and a good bloke to go with it.
All right, thank you very much for your time, but
you shouldn't get carried away with personal abuse. Grant you
get it every fortnight or so when you turn up
on the show, but it's just part of the game.
See you later, good verdie boys. There we go. Today's
panel farmer panel, a couple of good cowcockies who have
(18:20):
found their way to Parliament in fact. Up next, Up next,
This is a great event. It's the Century Farm and
Station Awards happening in Lawrence on Saturday night, and I
think talking about politicians. One of the politicians there his
family farm. I'm told we'll celebrate one hundred years of ownership.
(18:43):
What a great what a great accolade that is for
your family farm. Up next it's Eddie Fitzgerald, Chair of
the Century Farm and Station Awards.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Sill on.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
You, but abroad of you, nothing left a magma fIF
too small. Look, Lawrence is where it's all going to
be happening on Saturday evening, the New Zealand Century Farm
(19:23):
and Station Awards. I'm lucky enough to be going along
and I have a very personal connection with these awards
because our family farm was recognized awarded in twenty eleven
for one hundred years of ownership under one family. Now
that's what it's all about. If your family has owned
your farm for one hundred years or more, you can
(19:45):
be recognized at this wonderful event. An actual fact, on
Saturday night, we've got thirty six farms being recognized. The
chair of the event, Eddie Fitzgerald, is joining us and Eddie,
amongst those thirty six farms, we have got twelve who
will celebrate one hundred and fifty years. Good afternoon, you'll
be looking forward to you'll be licking your chops ahead
(20:05):
a Saturday night.
Speaker 8 (20:07):
Yes, no, we are, Jamie. It's going to be quite
a special occasion for the families that are going to
be attending, and also the families also attend to meet
and greet on the Friday evening as well, so for
them it'll be quite significant milestone and also to recognize
their forebears for the effort above put him to nurture
(20:27):
the land that they now farm the present generation.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
I think one of the great things about this Century
Farm and Station Awards is that someone in the family,
if they haven't already done it, has to do significant
research and it's a great great way of preserving your
family farm's history. I know in our case, my brother,
my late brother, unfortunately Don was an Astorian, so it
was no trouble to him to put together the information.
(20:53):
But when you read through the booklet and I've got
it in my hot little hand, now there's so many
great stories from the pioneering days.
Speaker 8 (21:01):
Well, I think, Jamie, is that when a family member
decides to research the history for the land that they've
been tenure on for one hundred plus more years, is
that they actually find out a lot of interesting information
about their fore bears when they were farming the land.
And they do, in a lot of cases unearth a
lot of historical information which is quite special to the
(21:24):
previous generations that were farming that land.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
As I said, twelve of the thirty six farms will
celebrate one hundred and fifty years of ownership will be
recognized for that. One of them, the Matthews O'Callaghan family
from Northland, their farm has been in their famili's ownership
for one hundred and eighty seven years, going back to
eighteen thirty nine.
Speaker 8 (21:49):
Well, yes, that is very very significant because the treaties
the Three d Yeena were signed in eighteen forty, but
we already had settlement on the going back to the
early eighteen hundreds, and for those families there now to
be recognized for that tenure of their Land. I think
that's quite special and it's quite significant that New Zealand
(22:11):
as a country has matured since those early eighteen hundreds.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
This, I think is your twentieth anniversary of this wonderful event.
Speaker 9 (22:20):
That is, this is the twentieth twentieth anniversary event wise, yes,
that is we thought it was twenty first, but it
is the twentieth anniversary this next weekend of the event
starting from two five.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Well, and there was a bit of a glitch, wasn't
that as there was with many things around the country
with COVID. I think you missed a year, but was
it the following year? And I think Rowena, my former
offsider here was MC and I think you had to
do two in one year to try and catch up.
And as you say, thirty six this year, this is
the most farms that have been recognized in one single sitting.
(22:57):
Am I right in saying.
Speaker 8 (22:58):
That is actually from memory?
Speaker 9 (23:01):
There was actually thirty eight?
Speaker 8 (23:02):
That there's very significant this thirty six This attendees at
this event is that every family that has applied to
you for their plants this year, every family that have
applied are all going to be present or have a
presence of even one member of the family will be
present at the awards, and I think that that's actually
(23:24):
quite special. On the other aspect is I don't think
they've ever had that happen before. They've always had several
families that have not been able to make it. We've
made a point of especially my ten years chair, to
go and present them personally to the families that couldn't
be there.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Fantastic, it's a great turnout. It is election year. There
will be a great turnout of politicians. Of course, your
local bloke, Mark Patterson, New Zealand first ad guy, he's
a true blue local. He'll be there, Ingrid Larry, the
local MP's there. James Meager, Minister of the South Island
will be presenting the plaques. But of interest is Miles Anderson.
The White TACKI MP farm or his family's farm is
(24:02):
going to be recognized.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
Yes, so I that would be there.
Speaker 8 (24:08):
Very special for their family, especially with the high profile
that they do have. And he made comment about the
times of the mid eighties to the late eighties as
you know, Janie, which which were terrible times, and he
said that left an indelible march memory wise for Miles
(24:30):
of the tenure of the land coming through and the
stories of hardship they you know, in some ways in
those mid to late eighties, like many farming families, as
you will realize and know, it was a difficult.
Speaker 7 (24:43):
Time for them all.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Yeah, well at the nineteen eighties, some of us went
through it. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, Eddie.
Looking forward to catching up with you on Saturday night.
Of course, Lawrence Gabriel's gully gold was discovered way back
in eighteen sixty one. At one stage the population of
Lawrence exceeded Dunedin. A million ounces of gold were transported
(25:06):
by wagon and horse drawn coach, eventually making Duneda New
Zealand's pre eminent colonial city. Some would say it still is.
And if that's not enough, the local school teacher in Lawrence,
John J. Woods, composed music or the composed the music
for the national anthem. Hey are lots of other interesting
trivia about Lawrence. It's a magnificent little town in South Otago, Eddie.
(25:29):
I look forward to your company on Saturday night.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
Very good, Thank you James.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
By now, good ony, Eddie. And if you haven't been
to Lawrence in South Otaga, as we said, that's where
they discovered gold eighteen sixty one. Gabriel's Gully. It's just
up the gully, awebit from the township. What I love
about Lawrence is a lot of rural towns in this
country they smashed down or they got rid of all
the lovely old buildings with nice facades and they built
(25:55):
concrete block monstrosities in the fifties, sixties and seven. Is Lawrence,
for some reason largely escaped. That was magnificent homes there
as well. And we were talking about John J. Woods,
the local school teacher, composing the music for the national anthem. Well,
I didn't realize this. The first bicycle made in New
(26:17):
Zealand was built in Lawrence in eighteen ninety three by
local blacksmith Patrick O'Leary. Great town. Looking forward to going
there on Saturday night. Might even grace the Lawrence golf course.
They got to love the golf course there as well. Okay,
up next, Michelle with the latest and rural news. We'll
have sports news for you before the end of the hour.
(26:37):
Vanessa Winning from MPI and Monday's weather man Phil Duncan.
Speaker 10 (26:42):
Remember we were partners.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
So true funny how it's see well, so the show
has somehow converted to spandal ballet.
Speaker 11 (27:10):
Where did that come from?
Speaker 2 (27:11):
New Romantics? That was a music movement in the nineteen eighties,
Big Spandel ballet fan, and I get a lot of
grief for it. I did play a week bit of
Gold for Lawrence where they discovered Gold and Gabriel Scully
in eighteen sixty one. Here's a text coming in from
a grumpy man. Don't be so woke. This is to me.
It's not Moving Day, It's Gypsy Day. Sorry, Texter, we've
(27:34):
moved on from that. It's politically incorrect to say Gypsy Day,
although I still think of it as Gypsy Day. I mean,
we don't call Tyson Fury the Moving Day King, do
we No?
Speaker 11 (27:47):
And it's someone who descended from Gypsy's Jamie.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Oh you did, Yeah, I did? All right? That's trying
to make sense. Why does that not surprise man?
Speaker 11 (27:57):
A lot of people say that.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Well, you were in Lawrence last year. You were seeing
the Century Farm and Station Awards, and I know it
was near and dear to your heart because there was
families you knew. I look, it's amazing this year because
I said to Eddie, I'll do one more than old
gracefully retire. But I know heaps of families and it's
such a good occasion.
Speaker 11 (28:19):
Oh, it's a fabulous event. It's probably one of my
absolute favorites that I've ever been to. And you know,
shout out to the committee down there because they're just
the best people.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Indeed, righty, I wats in rural News. Let's have a
lot for the countries.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Rural news with cub Cadet, New Zealand's leading right on
lawn bower Bread. Visit steel Ford dot Cot dot NZ
for your local stockist.
Speaker 11 (28:38):
Scholarship applications are open for the twenty twenty six Horticulture
New Zealand Leadership Program. There are twelve scholarships up for grabs,
which is run in partnership with Rural leaders. The program
will be delivered in two phases in August in October
this year and applications close on June twenty eighth. While
worth your while if you want to get involved in
that and put your name forward. And I just want
to do a quick shout out to the I meet
(29:00):
on Saturday at the final round of Gravel and Paradise
and Omaru out at or just outside Omoru in between
Western sort of out in the back country. There the
guys at and girls that rode in Ridestrong's category for
grevel and paradise for farm strong. Fantastic group of people
are great fun.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Sports on the country with AFCO invested in your farming.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Success and continuing the sporting theme not cycling, Let's start
with rugby. All Black Stephen Parafetta is set to leave
New Zealand Rugby at the end of the season. The
twenty nine year old started at first five eighths for
the Blues in the last two matches, ahead of Boden Barrett,
but will likely take his talents to Japan. In basketball,
(29:42):
the New York Knicks have swept the Philadelphia seventy six's
four nil to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals in
Basketball's NBA, and Shane Van Gisbergen has turned heads in
NASCAR after his seventh career road race, one this time
(30:03):
on the Watkins Glen Track in Upstate New York. And
I must just have a quick look on my phone,
Michelle to see what happened in the golf, because I
was watching that yesterday. This is the final tournament before
they go to the PGA Championships. Which is one of
the four majors next weekend. Hurry up phone, the Wi
(30:25):
Fi is so slow in this building. We'll come back
and update that one up next for Vanessa winning from MPI,
(30:48):
So welcome back to the country. It has bang on
quarter away from one. Vanessa winning joins us from MPI. Vanessa,
I don't know what your job is. As your job
a bit like wienas at FMG. Are you sort of
a corporate hugger? You just go around to all these
events and make an appearance because you don't miss many
bun fights. If you don't mind me saying, so.
Speaker 12 (31:11):
A corporate hugger, that's a nice way of putting it.
I do like the occasional hug So yeah, that's probably fear.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
You were at the Dairy Industry Awards along with our
winners Stacey and Scott who we've spoken to already, and
Andrew and Grants, the farmer politicians. Huge crowd.
Speaker 12 (31:31):
Oh it was sold out, which is just brilliant, Like
it really is demonstrating how buoyant the dairy industry is
at the moment. It was such a great night.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Okay, Well that's in the rare vision mirror now and
congratulations to all the winners on Saturday night in Road
to RUA. Where do you head next? Where's your next one? Fight? Vanessa?
Speaker 12 (31:49):
Hey, just before we do go on to the next time,
I just wanted to do a shout out. I'm sure
you've already done that, but to Jim vander polland his
special Industry Award that he got onto day night as well.
I think it really well deserved, both Jim and so
up there and all the work that they've done for
the dairy industry. So that was pretty cool and pretty special.
(32:11):
And I don't know if you heard, but there's this
really cool new one where it's a first farm grant
in ASB gives I think it's a million dollars at
one percent interest for three years. It's to get you started,
which is wow, opportunity.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
That's a huge prize in terms of in terms of
dollar value.
Speaker 12 (32:31):
Well and also just it just gets you started. And
I just yeah, so so cool, so cool to see
the dairy industry back up there in lights again. It's
been you know, it's been a little while, and I
just think it's awesome to celebrate it.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Yeah. Grant McCallum actually gave Jim Vanderpole a good pad
on the back and Jim deserves it is a hell
of a nice bloke as well. The next one is
the Out the Gate Conference. This is run by Beef
and Lamb New Zealand.
Speaker 12 (32:57):
Yeah yeah, so Beef and Then have got their bag
and that's a big investment that they've put on here.
So Out the Gates running on the twentieth of May
in christ Church at the new Event Center. Yeah and PI,
pretty big lineup of speakers including of course my boss Racemith.
And again we're seeing a real celebration of the red
(33:18):
meat sector too, so pretty coolder to see some buoyancy
out there.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
It's a bit of a lead into the biggie, the granddaddy,
the grandmother. I've got to be politically correct these days, Vanessa.
Of all rural award events, well, I suppose we've got
we've got the Young Farm We've got the Balance Farm
Environment Awards, We've got all sorts of ones. But the
primary industry awards run by Federated Farmers are probably the
(33:43):
pinnacle in some ways.
Speaker 12 (33:45):
Yeah, I think because they've got them across all different
activities and sectors. So it is pretty cool. You know,
you're getting from not just one industry, you're actually getting
out across all the industries. So it is neat to
get celebration across everyone together. And they really are the
only ones that do it where it's not sector bisector.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah, they run a really good show. Will barely unpack
the bags from field days of Anessa. Then we've got
to jump on it. Well, I have to jump on
a plane again, maybe not you up that end of
the country and head to the Primary Industry Awards. Looking
forward to that one. Hey, just a final comment from you,
and I guess this is in some ways stating the obvious.
(34:24):
But while we're celebrating the dairy industry, Kiwi fruits going
great guns at the moment. They've had a great season.
It looks like the marketing's going really well. Red meats
at an all time high, and that's fantastic. But we've got,
as you point out, the vegetable sector, the arable farmers,
especially the wine sector, and then I think forestry as well,
(34:48):
you could lump in there. So not everyone's doing really
well at the moment.
Speaker 12 (34:53):
Yeah, I think you know, there's a lot of cossbrushes
profitability activity going on, and I guess that's we're on
farm support being able to come in and do some
extension support stuff. So you know, like like what we
talked about last time I was on the radio with
far around, you know, doing some resilience workshops with the
(35:14):
Victoria Cross winner, just making sure I get that right.
And you know, then we've got activity with the wine sector.
Part of the issue is that we are just you know,
we've got such great growing conditions in New Zealand that
we end up with almost like an oversupply of production too,
So you know, it's a little bit of you know,
(35:38):
really doing really well on one side and then struggling
and how do we support them on the other. And
this is where they're integration of farming, I think, Jamie,
which is the future about farming, And we sing it
a lot in the arable sector right where you've got
the red meat and arable sectors working really closely together
to make sure that they're dovetailing into each other and
(36:00):
when ones up ones down, they're building that resilience in
between the two of them. So we're seeing more of
that and people are getting really smart around it. So
profitability in the sectors something that we focused on Foreign
farm support.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Especially Hey Vanessa one and always good to catch up
on the country. We will see you at field days.
You enjoy the out the gate conference, Beef and lamb.
That's the next one. Up to the Batter's Box and
what a couple of weeks is it.
Speaker 12 (36:26):
Yeah, there's a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Good on you. Thanks for time, Vanessa, Thanks Jammy. There
we go Vanessa winning from MPI and they will have,
as they always do, a big presence at field Days.
Looking forward to that one. Still haven't found the golf
results yet. I'll ignore some of those texts that are
coming in because they're just plain rude. They're just plain rude. Anyhow,
(36:51):
Up next Phil Duncan and we'll wrap the weather. It's
changed for the caller quite a bit in the Deep South.
Will tell you how the rest of the countries faring
after the break.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
Weather on the country with Fiji where happiness comes naturally.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
It is six away from one. Let's wrap first show
of the week Monday, back on the tools. Phil Duncan
from weather Watch, one of the countries leading weather men.
I think I've got the two leading weather men on
the show during the week, Chris Brandolino and Phil, I
won't put your head to head, but Phil, I was
looking at the old weather forecast because we've got a
(37:39):
wee bit cold here in Duneda yesterday, nothing unexpected, but
there's a big high coming, especially for the South Island.
So we could be in for maybe a fine and
perhaps frosty week, could we Yeah.
Speaker 10 (37:53):
We do expect some frost around tonight again and tomorrow
night in some inland areas coastal like Dunedin, probably not
so much. Too much cloud bit of wind coming through
tomorrow with the southerly ahead of the big high. But
the temperatures are really down in the South Island this week.
They're more like this time of the year, in fact,
maybe below this time of the year, more wintery sort
(38:16):
of set up. And the North Island is on the
edge of the high pressure and so that means a
southeasterly wind is going to kick in or south to
southeast we went, and that means that if you live
along the east coast of the North Island, so wide
it up the Hawks Bay getsman tied Arftery and then
up towards Corinndal Peninsula, Northland, those areas are likely to
be a bit cloudy this week, with showers coming through
(38:38):
pretty much all week, so it's not going to be
overly flash But the flip side is if you're on
the western side of the hills and ranges in the
North Island, it should be very sunny once we get
to the middle of the week, and so inland areas
and northern areas of the South Island, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury,
all those places should end up with quite a nice
week on the way once that high kind of roll.
(39:00):
And then when the high actually does come in, it'll
bring with it some fog, so we'll get foggy patches
developing later this week and this weekend. So it's pretty
dry weather for most places, but the eastern side of
the North Island, Southland, maybe coastal Otago a little bit
will be cloudier to begin with, and so that those
shewers will linger on in the eastern North Island perhaps
(39:23):
right through till Sunday.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
I fell got about thirty seconds left. Is there anywhere
left in the country that's still a bit dry? Because
I know that some parts of the North Island were
still looking out for rain. I know that Canterbury was
starting to get quite dry for this time of the year.
Speaker 10 (39:37):
You know, the North Island's actually in pretty good shape.
There may be some locations that could do with a
little bit more rain in the west, but not a lot.
You know, it's going to be I think balancing out
this week for a number of places. But I do
think Canterbury. Parts of Canterbury are drying out of webits
and obviously a keen day forecast with dry weather will
only make that dry er. But I think going into
(39:58):
winter we're in a pretty good set up at the
moment for most regions.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
Yeah, it will get wet, I promise you. There we go.
Phil Duncan from Were the Watch wrapping the Country for today.
Actually I'm going to have interviews about the National Dog
Trials coming up on tomorrow's show. Really looking forward to
that and an argument with Damian O'Connor.
Speaker 1 (40:18):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
podcast with Jamie Mackay. Thanks to Aisuzu, get Demo deals
on the tough Dmax Today
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