June 2, 2025 • 37 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to David Seymour, Richard McIntyre, Dame Alison Stewart, Dame Catriona Williams, and Dan Boulton.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch you're the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckaye. Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Get a New Zealand Welcome to the Country. It's brought
to you by Brent and Eric Clapton.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Today.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
My name's Jamie McKay. I shot the sheriff, but I
didn't shoot the deputy. Kicking off the show today, Deputy
Dave Seymour, our new Deputy Prime Minister. We're going to
chat to Richard McIntyre, Federated Farmers Banking Inquiry spokesperson. They've
just released their latest survey results. Some interesting numbers to
crunch there. We're going to speak to a couple of
(00:56):
women who were recognize richly deserved too in the King's
Birthday Honors, Dame Allison Stewart for services to plant science
and the arable sector and Dame Katrina Williams for services
to spinal in this injury research and equestrian sport. And
also if I can track him down in Canada in Toronto,
(01:17):
Dan Bolton, chief executive of Silver Fir and Farms, will
find out what he's up to. But David Seymour joins us,
the newly minted Deputy Prime Minister, David, you're now just
a heart beat away from the top job, but will
you be on your best behavior?
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Well, the best indicator of future performance is past performance,
so you'd have to say absolutely.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Did Winston Pollar cunning one on you by negotiating to
get the deputy prime ministership for the first eighteen months
and very much towing the line too, I might add,
but it kind of leaves them free to campaign as
we head in to the election in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Well, yes and no. I mean, first of all, both
of us are still members of cabinet last week and
this week and all the way through to the election,
so you've still got those obligations. But I guess if
you followed your logic, then the person who's worst off
in this scenario is Chris Luxon because he's going to
be Prime Minister all the way through. I don't think
(02:22):
that being an office prevents you from appealing to people
to re elect you. If it did, every government would
be a one termer.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So what are you going to bring to the job
that perhaps Winston didn't I don't know, because to be
fair to him, and I'm sure I do know you
and him have clashed in the past, but to be fair,
he's been very statesmanlike, not only his deputy Prime Minister
but also as Foreign Affairs Minister. And I think everyone,
even those who don't like him, would begrudgingly agree that
(02:51):
when he gets on a plane and heads off, sure
he's doing good work for us. He's over there in India,
I think at the moment doing good work for us.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Well, he was in Wellington a few hours ago.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Alright, Okay, I might have got I haven't been. I
haven't caught up with the news over the long weekend. Apologies.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I guess when you have a foreign minister overseas representing
New Zealand and you have to hope and believe that
they're doing the best for the country. And so we
certainly do, regardless of who the foreign minister is. Even
when n Nyama Huta was the Foreign Minister, I really
hoped she was doing a good job for us. Not
sure if she was, but she.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Never got on a plane day on New Zealand. She
never went anywhere.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Well that's not quite true, but I kneel pretty much true.
It was difficult for someone to be Minister for Local
Government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the same time.
That was a very strange choice that labor made, But
strange choices seem to be the stock in trade.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
How's the coalition going? What would you give yourselves out
of ten for cohesion?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Well, this is a coalition that has still of it
ongoing reform. We've tackled the cost of living, We've got
inflation down, we're tackling government spending. We have a lot
of the things that we were asked to do done.
And while there's still some very tough times out there,
nonetheless we see the economy, I think, starting to turn
(04:17):
a corner. Then you look at crime again. We've reversed
the idea that if only we're kind to criminals, they'll
be kind back, brought back consequences, brought back three strikes,
building more prisons, more cops, and the crime stats are turning.
And then when it comes to co governance, the third
of the three seas, we've made substantial progress in promoting
New Zealand as a liberal, democratic society where we're all
(04:40):
born equal and not ranked by the arrival time of
our ancestors. If you look at the three seeds that
we campaign. I think we've hung together and made a
big difference.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Well, let's move from the Three Seas to the d defense.
The hell are we going to pay for that? The
increased defense spending?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Well, the budget shows that we can do it. However,
whether or not we increase our defense spending and ACT
campaign no this we have to. We have to be
part of partnerships with the lights of Australia. Otherwise we
are defenseless by ourselves. However, even if we agree with
all that, and I'm pleased for doing it, the truth
(05:18):
is that over the next five years, New Zealand is
going to have to work out how are we going
to make ends meets. At the moment, we have the
Green Party and to some extent, Labor saying well, we're
going to tax you more. You have some people out
there saying we'll just keep borrowing. See what happens. I
don't think that's a smart option. And then you have
(05:40):
ACT saying well, actually, you know, we haven't reduced a
number of bureaucrats the way we should have. We need
to start asking can we afford fifty billion on welfare?
It's our biggest area of expenditure. Do we want to
have eighty two portfolios thirty ministers and arguably are much
tougher time holding the chureaucracy accountable when we'd had with
(06:01):
a much simpler arrangement as X proposed. So a lot
of the next five years is going to be about
do we spend more, do we borrow more, do we
tax more? Or do we really start thinking hard about
saving so we can afford defense and actually a whole
lot of other stuff. And that is going to play
I think an honorable role on that debate that has
to happen.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Now, do you think your feature in Jacinda's new book,
I mean, the arrogant prick line was quite famous.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Import we raised one hundred grand with that. I was
just thinking, I think I raised about seventy grand for
heart Kids by driving the landing up the steps. So
you know, maybe she'll have a tribute to people who
raise money for good causes that she didn't already tax.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Well, I'm not going to call you an arrogant prick, David.
I'm going to call you deputy day from here on
in and I'll see you. Yeah, it works for you.
Good on you. You're always a good sport and we'll
see you next week at Field Days.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Well I wish I would, but I got to go
on debate in Oxford. So at last Field Days, the
first field Days I've missed in a very long time.
But you know the likes of Mark Cameron Andrew Hoggart,
Cameron likes the next team will be there. And please
if you're there and you want to talk to a
stop by and tell them what's on your mind.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Oh well, good luck in that Oxford debate. Have you
got any killing one liners? Like I can smell the
uranium on your breath.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
You know, I tak it out that this jokes just happen.
We'll see that if they did have any powder, I'd
be keeping it dry.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Good on you, David Seymour, safe travels, Good luck at Oxford.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Awesome both.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Here we go, Hipid. Dave Seymour than new Prime Minister
as of the weekend fourteen, after twelve year with the country.
We're going to be chatting to a couple of dames shortly,
Dame Allison Stuart Dame Katrina Williams. But up next it's
Federated Farmers and their banking Inquiry spokesperson Richard McIntyre I've
got some new survey results. Are the banks getting the
(07:52):
message and which banks are performing best and worst? Richard
McIntyre from FEDS on that one.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Next he said, we got too much.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Welcome back to the country. Eighteen after twelve, Richard McIntyre
joins us from Federated Farmers the dairy chair, but not
for much longer. He's stepping aside from that one. But
he's the banking spokesperson. And Richard, I'm just wondering before
we talk about the latest survey results about the banks,
have you been prostituting yourself off for commercial gain like
(08:42):
the president of Federated Farmers Wayne Yolo Langford fronting for Toyota. No, no,
I'll hang on. Let's sak aw. Let's have a look
at the list. Toyota, Yamaha, I think one New Zealand
as well. He's everywhere.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Look he is, he is. I suppose if you can
do it, you might as well. But no, I was
listening to the radio watching the rugged the other day
and he turned up on a you ahead. Oh no,
not another one.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Well he's a great self promoter, but to be fair,
he's done a good job, a very good job promoting
Federated Farmers. And I'm not saying Andrew Hoggard was a
grumpy face, but he could have a grumpy face on occasions.
Wayne Yolo Langford is the friendly face of Federated Farmers.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
That's right. He's smiling ass and Jamie.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Indeed he is. We will look forward to catching up
with him next week at Field Days. Look, I want
to talk to you about the banking inquiry. You did
a survey last November. You've just finished another one at
Faed's in May. Are the banks getting the message?
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Yeah, Look, it's amazing what a difference a bit of
pressure makes. You know. We've had a lot of pressure
on the banks over the last year. They've had to
impair in front of the Banking Inquiry twice and get grilled.
You know. The last time was in February where they
had had to talk for an hour and a half.
So yeah, look at and we're starting to see that
in terms of the wave farmer is are being treated
by the banks, which is awesome.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Some interesting findings from your latest survey farm debt levels.
Eighty four percent of farmers survey have a mortgage No
surprise there. Interestingly, only seventy six percent. When I say
only considering eighty four percent of them have a mortgage.
Only seventy six percent of farms now have an overdraft facility,
(10:25):
which is down from eighty eight percent a decade ago.
And if you were a farmer, Richard McIntyre, you wouldn't
want an over draft facility because in my mind, the
banks still charge you far too much for the privilege.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Yeah, that's right. Look, if you can survive with air
an overdraft and just turned out and said, you know,
for most businesses, that suddenly works really well. You know,
it's one of those things we've constantly been harassing the
banks about and that they seem to prefer to put
farmers onto high overdrafts rather than giving them term debt,
which you know, we think is just really inefficient for
a lot of farmers.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Nineteen percent of farmers feel their bank isn't allowing them
to structure debt as efficiently as possible, exactly what you're
talking about, instead of using overdraft finance, putting it on
term debt getting a better rate. This is down, which
is good news, from twenty three percent in November. Rabobank
and am Z performed the best in this department. Westpac
(11:22):
performed the worst.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
Yeah that's right, that's right. So, you know, well done
to RABO and A and Z. You know, I've spent
quite a the time talking to their heads of agri
and they have been been putting the efford in to
communicate with their bank managers effectively that they have to
put you know, put farmers first and allow them to
structure their debt as interest efficiently as possible. And for
(11:46):
Westpac obviously get a bit of work to do that.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Yeah, overdraft interest rates rates have dropped obviously as the
OCRs come down. The average is now nine percent, which
is still too high. It's down from ten percent. Bank
on average offers the lowest seven point three percent, while
b n Z remains the highest at nine point seven percent.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
Yeah, that's that's right. You know. Obviously this is a
great chance for everyone listening to actually hear what banks
are doing what and you know, effectively, you know, chase
their bank up a bit or to change if they're
not providing a good rate.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Well, there's no reason why one bank could offer a
seven point three percent and another nine point seven. Surely
the nine point seven bank is profiteering.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Well, you know, you'd think so right, so this is
anyone who is one of their customers, you know, get
the bank manager and actually ask some one on earth
is going on here? You know, how can they justify
that sort of an interest rate? It's just yeah, it's ridiculous.
So they need to be able to justify it. If
RABO can be doing such a low overdraft rate, then yeah,
(12:56):
why can't the others?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, good on your rabobank. Okay, where too from here?
For the banking inquiry and not the banking inquiry, the
banking survey which has led of course to the banking.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
Inquiry, right, so there will be another banking survey being
done in six months time, which just we do these
every six months regardless of how everything's going. But it
allows us to track progress in that respect. For like,
as you're alluding to, Jamie, you know, the really big
thing for us now is we have got this banking
inquiry that has has occurred, and now the report has
been drafted as we speak, and now we need some
(13:28):
meaningful change to occur in order to basically improve the
lives of farmers, you know, through their banking. It's yeah,
it's it's taken a lot to get to this point,
but now we need some meaningful change.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
You're stepping aside from the position of dairy chair at
Federated Farmers. So have you done your effectively done your
term there?
Speaker 5 (13:47):
Yeah, so I've finished my well just about to finish
my three years as dairy chair. I've absolutely loved every
minute of it. But yeah, it's time to give the
give the role on to the next person and go
on from there.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Well, Richard Macinti, you keep up the good work keeping
the banks honest. The way you've been talking today, I
half by expect to see you at halftime and the
rugby doing an ad for Rabobank.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
No, not at all. I have no desire for shameless
self promotion.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Is that what you're calling it? Shameless self promotion? Yes, indeed,
I'll take it as a yes. Good on you mate,
Thanks for some of your time Federated Farmers. Yep, going
into bat for you guys out there. Just repeat that number.
Where is it here? It is here? Average overdraft rate
(14:36):
is nine percent. It's down from ten percent, and that's
only due to the drop in the OCR. Rabobank offers
the lowest seven point three percent, while BNZ remains the
highest at nine point seven percent. Something's not right there,
I smell a rat up. Next, it's the good news
part of the day. We've got a couple of Dames
(14:58):
to speak to. First up, Dame Allison Stuart the services
to plant science and the arable sector, flying the flag
for agriculture and the King's Birthday Honors. You're gonna love her.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Shout you.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
King's Birthday Honors over the long weekend, and it was
so good to see agriculture recognized at the highest echelons
in those King's Birthday Honors. Let's welcome on to the
show the newly minted Dame Allison Stuart for services well
basically to kind of plant breeding. It might not be
the sexiest industry alive, Allison, but it was so good
(15:49):
to see you and what you've done over forty years recognized.
Well done. I'm so proud of you.
Speaker 7 (15:55):
Yeah, I mean I have to see. It's like anything
like when you're in you know, business or industry or
science for forty years, you don't achieve things in isolation.
So I'm actually really pleased to accept this honor. You know,
(16:15):
on behalf of all the plant scientists in the country
and all of the agricultural industry and particularly the arable sector.
Who obviously I'm you know, I've been the CEO of
FAR for the last seven years. So I'm hoping that
people will all feel really proud of the fact that
(16:36):
one of us has got honored, because normally it's politicians
and judges and sports people and media people and you
very rarely see, you know, an applied scientist and an
agricultural scientist up there. So I'll take one to the team.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Allison, don'd be too tough on the poor old media
people getting a gong, Monjue, this isn't your first gone
and you've got one back in Queen's Birthday honis in
two thousand and nine.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
I did, yes, I know that one probably came as
a real surprise. I mean I was absolutely shocked and
I was convinced that it was just a scam, whereas
this one, I mean, it's not that it wasn't a surprise,
but I think when you're at the end of your
career and you've done forty years and you've worked with
so many good people, I think you're more accepting of it,
(17:29):
and I guess, you know, just really excited. I just
sort of think it's great and if it just if
it just increases the profile you know, of the general
public around you know, crop production, agricultural science, the arable sector,
then that's great.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
You've been here for forty years, You've still got a
strong Glaswegian accent there.
Speaker 7 (17:53):
Well you might say it's strong, but when I go
back to Scotland they say, oh, you've lost your Scottish accent.
You sound like Kiwi.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
So how did a young Allison Stewart these days dime
Allison Stewart end up in New Zealand from Scotland.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
But when I finished my pH d, it was a
time in the UK when they were a sort of
they were disinvesting in, you know, instead of agricultural science.
And I really wanted to work for a death which
was the advisory service in the UK, you know, agricultural advisory.
(18:31):
And I just couldn't, you know, there wasn't job opportunities
and I thought maybe I need to go overseas and
get some work experience and then just come back at
some stage and hopefully the opportunities you know, would be
would be there. And I don't know how I managed
to do it, but I managed to get at a
lecturing job at Auckland University and teaching, you know, plant,
(18:56):
plant pathology, crop protection, and I guess that. I mean,
I loved New Zealand and you know, I got married,
have children, and i just decided that New Zealand was
a really good place to see. And I've just built
my career up. And you know, I've worked in academia,
(19:16):
I've worked in industry. I've worked in a commercial company,
I've worked in the CRS, and I've worked across all
of the different primary sectors. So you know, I've I've
been around the block.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Dame Allison Stewart with US awarded her Gong for services
to Plant science and the arable sector, and as you mentioned,
you are the chief executive of the Foundation for Arable Research.
Just to finish on what is the state of play
for the arable industry in New Zealand at the moment,
because I've got some mates who are cropping farmers, they
say it's a bit tough out there.
Speaker 5 (19:51):
It is.
Speaker 7 (19:52):
It is, I mean, and that's not to say it's
not tough for all of the other sectors as well.
But you know, the adible sector is a domestically focused sector,
you know, so they don't have you know, large export
and crops and so when things are tight worldwide and
(20:14):
then it's very hard for the arable sector to be
able to compete with cheap imports. So it's not easy,
you know, and we've had some extreme weather events that
have affected yields. But the really, really good thing about
the arable sector is how resilient it is. And I
think the important thing is just to recognize the role
(20:36):
that it plays in New Zealand. Underpins, you know, the
livestock sector in New Zealand producing all of the grass seed,
and I just hope that the New Zealand public recognize
it and go out there and buy, you know, products
that have been made from New Zealand grain.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Good on your dime, Allison Stewart flying the flag for
the agriculture sector and the King's Birthday honors. Well deserved,
proud of and love that accent.
Speaker 8 (21:06):
Go well, okay, thanks Jamie, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Dame Allison twenty seven away from one year with the country.
Brought to you by brandt Up. Next Rural News, Sports
News before the end of the hour, Our second of
two Dames today, Dame Katrina Williams out of the Wira
Rapper and Dan Bolton if we can find him from
silver Fern Farms in Toronto. Oh my god, my headphone's allowed. Apologies.
(21:39):
Gave himself a fright there. I couldn't quite hear Michael Jackson.
What was almost a blessing in disguise. I wasn't responsible
for the music today, this person was hes Michelle Watt
were the latest and rural news to.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
The country's world news with Cod Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower brand. Visit Steelford dot co dot nzim.
Speaker 7 (21:59):
For your locals dot.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
Thanks for chucking me under the bus with that one,
Jamie and.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Well, Michael Jackson.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Principa goes with the royal theme.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
What royal theme it was?
Speaker 6 (22:09):
Oh, you've missed the total. I was obviously too intellectual.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Fort here you were anyhow, what do you got on
rural anyhow?
Speaker 6 (22:14):
Ryal news.
Speaker 9 (22:14):
Figures released by stat Scenes in Today show that export
prices rose seven point one percent in the March twenty
twenty five quarter. Prices for diary, which is New Zealand's
top export commodity, rose by ten percent, and this was
led by thirteen percent increase in milk powder prices compared
with December twenty twenty four quarter. Meat products watches, New
Zealand's second largest export commodity by value, rose by seven
(22:36):
point two percent in the March twenty twenty five quarter
compared with the December twenty twenty four quarter. And that's
rural news. Jamie's got some sports news.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Sports with a FCO. Visit them online at FCO dot
co dot nz Man.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
This is a good rural sport. Congratulations. We were talking
last week about the New Zealand Dog Trial Champs. Congratulations
to the twenty twenty five train Tasman test team that's
been announced now two test series will be held in
conjunction with the Ashburton Amp Show on the thirtieth of
October and the first of November this year. So in
(23:13):
the team, Mark Copeland and Guy and Mark as the captain,
Guy's the dog, Ben Miller and King Leo is that Jacentho? Apologies?
Have I got that one wrong? And Jake and this
guy's an absolute legend. And Doald Trilling been around as
long as I can remember. Lloyd Smith and Code and
the Reserve is another great Southern man. Brian Dickison, well
(23:35):
known in forty circles Brian Dickison and Dan so looking
forward to that test against the Aussies. I think it's
the whaler Go Cup which is happening in at the
Ashburton amp Show. And he's an interesting one for Michelle.
Can't figure this one out. New Zealand sides have only
supplied six player to six players to Super Rugby's honorary
(23:55):
Team of the Year, despite contributing four of the sixth
playoff contenders. Does that mean that we've got nine Aussies
in the top fifteen. That can't be right. We'll do
we'll do some homework on that one. But up next
the second of two Dames. It's Dame Katrina Williams. So
(24:19):
we're having a look at some of the high profile
rural people in this country who were recognized in the
King's Birthday honors. Here's one and this is absolutely richly deserved.
Katrina Williams, the founder and driving force behind the Catwalk
Spinal Cord Injury Trust since its establishment in two thousand
and five. And Katrina, like Dame Allison, I better call
(24:42):
you Dame Katrina. Now you've sort of upsized your gone
because you've got a Queen's Birthday honor in twenty fourteen.
A good afternoon. Congratulations, very proud of you, Thanks so.
Speaker 10 (24:52):
Much, Jamie, and you're really proud of our team at
Catwalk Home. I'm still yet to work out ho proply forward.
I've asked a few, but I'm not hitting the right
person at the moment. But feel very lucky that someone
feels that we're worthy.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Yeah, I wouldn't trust that Shane mcmanaway too far. He's
probably got his pause on this somewhere. I don't know.
I'm just having a guess on that one. And he
was honored a couple of years ago, and gee, his
was richly deserved. I want to go back to the
year two thousand and seven and our old mate, Sir
Brian Lahore. I called him to come down and be
(25:28):
the guest speaker at the Rugby Centenary in my hometown
of Riversdale, and I said, well, we're going to pay you,
and you know what he's like. He said, no, you're
not paying me. I said, well, we're going to pay somebody,
so you better come up with a good cause that
we can make a donation to. And he looked me
straight in the eye and he said, right done. The
Catwalk Trust and I know you and him go back
a long way.
Speaker 10 (25:49):
Well we go in the fame with BJ and they
he has this beautiful manner about him and both guys
they can and I have I remember distinctly him coming
into hospital when I first broke my neck and I
hadn't had many people in the room because you know,
we were still dealing with the shock of not being
(26:10):
able to move our body. And he came in and
when he left, I had all these nurses around just
just about fainting. They couldn't believe that the Sir Brian
had walked into the room. But too wire for people
who was always DJ and he just had this beautiful
way of making everyone feladies around him. Yet he's just
(26:31):
could pull a speech together like no other. And he'd
only had three words on his page and yes we
must come dearly. And he was a great patron.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Let's go back to two thousand and two and the
accident that puts you in a chair, because you were
a champion equestrian. And I know you. I mean people
who meet you now or even in recent years. Your bouncy,
you're bubbly, you're vivacious. It's like you haven't got a
worry in the world. But that must have been brutal.
It must have been so tough.
Speaker 10 (26:59):
At time, and damny, it was tough, and I'm not
I'm not going to deny that it was a big
looming curve decently, I uh, you know, as you said,
went from writing show jumpers and in venters and competing
bak here and over in England and Europe, and just
suddenly heavy, every part of your day managed by somebody else,
(27:21):
even going below, having a shower, coming into the pool,
all of these things. We're not at your call anymore.
It was at somebody's else's possion. And it was tough,
and it sells tough.
Speaker 7 (27:34):
You know.
Speaker 10 (27:34):
We've had a really a fatuous fun half twenty two years.
But there is a great life and a chair. But
I'll be really honest, if I could to meet the
top and not ride the horse that day and know
that I'd twenty two years on my feet. And I
always say I don't want to be famous, I just
(27:57):
want to be infant and on my faith, and I
truly mean that. I also say along the lines, if
it meant that I had to slot up from Sam,
that I would do that as well. Because I reckon.
I could wolln back again if I was on my feet.
But it's seem tough, and I think anyone that goes
through a spinal cord injury knows how tough it is.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Let's talk about the reason why you've had your going
upgraded and why you're now Dame Katrina Williams. It's because
of the fundraising that you have done for the Spinal
Cord Injury Trust. You're looking at something like ten million
dollars and you're well on your way? Am I right
in saying that?
Speaker 5 (28:37):
Right?
Speaker 10 (28:37):
And I had to stop you because you keep saying
you and it's not me. Anyone that can see me.
I've got leaf that don't work in hands that It's
pretty funny. We have the most incredible volunteers supporters team
at Catworks that drive these fundraising initiatives that make them happen.
So we have all these people that actually do them
(28:58):
and put their names on the board and we've had
so much fun. So in your marathon, we've started with together,
so we've had these beautiful black types and parties. Was
there all sorts of crazy initiatives that I mean, I
even tried to do it half trace on once in Taraniki,
I actually failed and ended up and I see you
with hypothemia. But you know what, we've got to have
(29:21):
to go out these things. And you know that's probably
the biggest challenge with catwalk is that currently as a
wheeling when you break through, need to go into hospital.
They bolt you that together and they push.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
You out the door.
Speaker 10 (29:36):
My challenge is to these people with the brains, with
the mouse, with the ability, is we want more. It's
we want more than just wheeling around the world. Yes
we can do that, and yes there is a wonderful
laste we had, but the ability to took up a
child from the on the floor and give them a
higability to run across the sand and sort of water,
(29:58):
there's still something that.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
I would to be able to do.
Speaker 10 (30:01):
And that's what us for to raise money to some
of the best research that we can get people back
on the seat, in my case dancing with my husband
well on.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Knowing you it's something you will probably achieve. You are
so determined. You're wonderful. Dame Katrina Williams, congratulations, richly deserved,
well done, Thank you.
Speaker 10 (30:22):
Very much, jan good luck.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
He is the chief executive of silver Fern Farms, our
biggest meat processing company. His name is Dan Bolton. He's
not spending much time at home these days. Dan, you've
been in China. Today, we find you in Toronto. You're
doing the North American swing if you want. I'm assuming
that the prospects for red meat and North America are
(30:47):
really good at the moment. But go back to China
to Asia. How does it compare?
Speaker 8 (30:54):
Yeah, well, I mean both markets are very buoyant at
this point in time, So you're right. Last week we're
in China with the sil Fom Farms Board. We're both
in Shanghai as well as the old ancient city of Xi'an. Yeah,
and it was great connecting with our customers. You know,
clearly there's an improvement and confidence in the China market
and we're seeing that reflecting and pricing across beef, Lamb
(31:16):
and Venison. So not leading the global pricing, but they're
definitely competitive and that's what we want to see coming
out of one of our big markets.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
We literally can't supply enough to the North American market
when it comes to beef, am I right in saying that,
Or am I over egging it?
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Dan?
Speaker 6 (31:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (31:32):
No, definitely. We've got an issue around supply and that's
across all of our our markets right around the world. Know,
our customers are wanting more of what we have right now.
You know that's off the back of reduced beef numbers
in the US. But right now in New Zealand, you know,
our kell numbers are down as we move into winter,
so that creates some really healthy price engin in the
markets as well, which we enjoy.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Talk to me about Trump's tariffs, this ten percent tariff,
What if any effect is it having at the moment.
Speaker 8 (32:01):
Well, we've managed to pass most of the tariffs on
to to into market, so that's a good outcome. There's clearly,
I guess a lack of confidence that's in the market
in North America at the moment, and I guess uncertainly
he is quite high. But again, you know, demand for
red meat, particularly our grassed red meat, is really strong.
So even in the context of tariff's playing out, you know,
(32:24):
really good demand, really good pricing. And you know what
we are seeing though, Jamie and the market is and
that their consumer confidence is waning, but it's actually coming
out of areas such as the mid to low level
casual dining areas. We're fine dining is still absolutely pumping
along in retail at the moment. You know, people are
trading down and eating at home, but our retail business
(32:46):
up in North America is going extremely well.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
Talk to me about the Lamb Company. Now, this is
a joint in market venture between or owned by Silver
Firm Farms, Ansco Alliance plus an Australian partner, and Dan Bolton,
chief executive of Silver fir and Farms. Why are you
guys working in unison offshore and cutting each other's throats
back home.
Speaker 8 (33:10):
Yeah, well, it's been around for over fifty years now
and obviously there's some a really good vision there around
working together in the market and leveraging our scale. So
that's going well. I think you know, this year alone,
the Lamb Company is turning over one billion dollars in
revenue across the North American market, So that shows a success,
you know, really good growth and retail, food service and
(33:31):
e commerce. And you know, on the back of that growth,
and they've been able to invest in three states of
the art processing facilities. We've got one in Toronto, we've
got one in New Jersey, and one in Los Angeles
and they're distributing to almost every state in the US
and Canada twice a week, so really impressive business. We've
got a team of fifty people representing our lamb out
(33:51):
in the market up here and about another four hundred
and fifty people working across those processing facilities, so really
really good collaboration and it's just gone from strength the strength.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Dan, Are you going to buy the Alliance Group? This
isn't on the script, but I was at a farmer funeral,
a a big, big farm a funeral down in South
and on Friday, and one of the pictures we put
up was with my old mate Rowan Horror in the
Paddock in two thousand and nine with John Key, the
then Prime Minister, and John Key was singing the praises
of a potential merger between the Alliance Group and Silver
(34:22):
Firm Farms. Do you think it's a shame it didn't happen?
Speaker 8 (34:27):
The question you're posed to me, I mean, Allians are
running through their own process, so I'll leave them to
answer that question. But you've heard me say before. You
know there is a need in New Zealand to rebalance
capacity back to where live stock numbers are right now
and doing that in and I guess in a collaborative
way sort of makes sense. But yeah, time will tell
how that all plays out.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Do you do you actively have talks with their likes
of the Alliance Group AFCO, all the big players ANSKO
on things like capacity in terms.
Speaker 8 (34:58):
Of understanding what we need for a resilient processing sector
for our farmers for the next generation is really important.
But clearly we've got to be careful around what we
can talk about and what we can't and that's important.
But right now you could say we're the available capacity
matched against livestock numbers. There's an imbalance and some sort
of change is needed, and I think the last man's
(35:20):
standing approach is not sustainable for our sector or for
our farmers.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Well spoken, couldn't agree with you more. Let's just finish
really quickly on Silver Fir and Farm's Plate to Pasture
Conference which is coming up fifteenth to seventeenth of July.
That wonderful events center in Hamilton, Crawdland's including the Plate
to Pasture awards basically for the top farmer.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Dan.
Speaker 8 (35:43):
Yeah, no, it's great to be back after a year
off and good to be back in the North Island
as well. So our silf and Farm's Conference is happening
in July and it's free to attend for all our
shareholders and farmers, and we encourage everyone on their farms
to come along, and we've got a particular focus on
that next generation to come and understand and connect with
(36:04):
other farmers and get some fresh insight around what's happening
in the sector. So you know, you talk to you
know people that have been to our conferences previously and
it's a really really positive few days. So really encourage
those that are thinking about it to register. Registrations are
open right now so you can either click on the
Lengths and emails or on our website. So spots will
(36:25):
fill up fast. But there's a lot of great content
that we're going to be.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Sharing absolutely and that's free. Good work. Hey, from Toronto
to Hamilton next week for field Days. Dan Bolton, thanks
for your time. We'll see you at the tron fantastic.
Speaker 8 (36:38):
Thanks Jamy.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
Thanks Dan.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
That wraps the country for today. We'll catch you back tomorrow.
Christopher Luxon and I think a GDT auction see you then.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Do you come catch all the latest from the land.
It's the country podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent,
the starkest of the leading agriculture brands,
Catch you're the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckaye. Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Get a New Zealand Welcome to the Country. It's brought
to you by Brent and Eric Clapton.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Today.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
My name's Jamie McKay. I shot the sheriff, but I
didn't shoot the deputy. Kicking off the show today, Deputy
Dave Seymour, our new Deputy Prime Minister. We're going to
chat to Richard McIntyre, Federated Farmers Banking Inquiry spokesperson. They've
just released their latest survey results. Some interesting numbers to
crunch there. We're going to speak to a couple of
(00:56):
women who were recognize richly deserved too in the King's
Birthday Honors, Dame Allison Stewart for services to plant science
and the arable sector and Dame Katrina Williams for services
to spinal in this injury research and equestrian sport. And
also if I can track him down in Canada in Toronto,
(01:17):
Dan Bolton, chief executive of Silver Fir and Farms, will
find out what he's up to. But David Seymour joins us,
the newly minted Deputy Prime Minister, David, you're now just
a heart beat away from the top job, but will
you be on your best behavior?
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Well, the best indicator of future performance is past performance,
so you'd have to say absolutely.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Did Winston Pollar cunning one on you by negotiating to
get the deputy prime ministership for the first eighteen months
and very much towing the line too, I might add,
but it kind of leaves them free to campaign as
we head in to the election in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Well, yes and no. I mean, first of all, both
of us are still members of cabinet last week and
this week and all the way through to the election,
so you've still got those obligations. But I guess if
you followed your logic, then the person who's worst off
in this scenario is Chris Luxon because he's going to
be Prime Minister all the way through. I don't think
(02:22):
that being an office prevents you from appealing to people
to re elect you. If it did, every government would
be a one termer.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So what are you going to bring to the job
that perhaps Winston didn't I don't know, because to be
fair to him, and I'm sure I do know you
and him have clashed in the past, but to be fair,
he's been very statesmanlike, not only his deputy Prime Minister
but also as Foreign Affairs Minister. And I think everyone,
even those who don't like him, would begrudgingly agree that
(02:51):
when he gets on a plane and heads off, sure
he's doing good work for us. He's over there in India,
I think at the moment doing good work for us.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Well, he was in Wellington a few hours ago.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Alright, Okay, I might have got I haven't been. I
haven't caught up with the news over the long weekend. Apologies.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I guess when you have a foreign minister overseas representing
New Zealand and you have to hope and believe that
they're doing the best for the country. And so we
certainly do, regardless of who the foreign minister is. Even
when n Nyama Huta was the Foreign Minister, I really
hoped she was doing a good job for us. Not
sure if she was, but she.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Never got on a plane day on New Zealand. She
never went anywhere.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Well that's not quite true, but I kneel pretty much true.
It was difficult for someone to be Minister for Local
Government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the same time.
That was a very strange choice that labor made, But
strange choices seem to be the stock in trade.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
How's the coalition going? What would you give yourselves out
of ten for cohesion?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Well, this is a coalition that has still of it
ongoing reform. We've tackled the cost of living, We've got
inflation down, we're tackling government spending. We have a lot
of the things that we were asked to do done.
And while there's still some very tough times out there,
nonetheless we see the economy, I think, starting to turn
(04:17):
a corner. Then you look at crime again. We've reversed
the idea that if only we're kind to criminals, they'll
be kind back, brought back consequences, brought back three strikes,
building more prisons, more cops, and the crime stats are turning.
And then when it comes to co governance, the third
of the three seas, we've made substantial progress in promoting
New Zealand as a liberal, democratic society where we're all
(04:40):
born equal and not ranked by the arrival time of
our ancestors. If you look at the three seeds that
we campaign. I think we've hung together and made a
big difference.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Well, let's move from the Three Seas to the d defense.
The hell are we going to pay for that? The
increased defense spending?
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Well, the budget shows that we can do it. However,
whether or not we increase our defense spending and ACT
campaign no this we have to. We have to be
part of partnerships with the lights of Australia. Otherwise we
are defenseless by ourselves. However, even if we agree with
all that, and I'm pleased for doing it, the truth
(05:18):
is that over the next five years, New Zealand is
going to have to work out how are we going
to make ends meets. At the moment, we have the
Green Party and to some extent, Labor saying well, we're
going to tax you more. You have some people out
there saying we'll just keep borrowing. See what happens. I
don't think that's a smart option. And then you have
(05:40):
ACT saying well, actually, you know, we haven't reduced a
number of bureaucrats the way we should have. We need
to start asking can we afford fifty billion on welfare?
It's our biggest area of expenditure. Do we want to
have eighty two portfolios thirty ministers and arguably are much
tougher time holding the chureaucracy accountable when we'd had with
(06:01):
a much simpler arrangement as X proposed. So a lot
of the next five years is going to be about
do we spend more, do we borrow more, do we
tax more? Or do we really start thinking hard about
saving so we can afford defense and actually a whole
lot of other stuff. And that is going to play
I think an honorable role on that debate that has
to happen.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Now, do you think your feature in Jacinda's new book,
I mean, the arrogant prick line was quite famous.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Import we raised one hundred grand with that. I was
just thinking, I think I raised about seventy grand for
heart Kids by driving the landing up the steps. So
you know, maybe she'll have a tribute to people who
raise money for good causes that she didn't already tax.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Well, I'm not going to call you an arrogant prick, David.
I'm going to call you deputy day from here on
in and I'll see you. Yeah, it works for you.
Good on you. You're always a good sport and we'll
see you next week at Field Days.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Well I wish I would, but I got to go
on debate in Oxford. So at last Field Days, the
first field Days I've missed in a very long time.
But you know the likes of Mark Cameron Andrew Hoggart,
Cameron likes the next team will be there. And please
if you're there and you want to talk to a
stop by and tell them what's on your mind.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Oh well, good luck in that Oxford debate. Have you
got any killing one liners? Like I can smell the
uranium on your breath.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
You know, I tak it out that this jokes just happen.
We'll see that if they did have any powder, I'd
be keeping it dry.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Good on you, David Seymour, safe travels, Good luck at Oxford.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Awesome both.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Here we go, Hipid. Dave Seymour than new Prime Minister
as of the weekend fourteen, after twelve year with the country.
We're going to be chatting to a couple of dames shortly,
Dame Allison Stuart Dame Katrina Williams. But up next it's
Federated Farmers and their banking Inquiry spokesperson Richard McIntyre I've
got some new survey results. Are the banks getting the
(07:52):
message and which banks are performing best and worst? Richard
McIntyre from FEDS on that one.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Next he said, we got too much.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Welcome back to the country. Eighteen after twelve, Richard McIntyre
joins us from Federated Farmers the dairy chair, but not
for much longer. He's stepping aside from that one. But
he's the banking spokesperson. And Richard, I'm just wondering before
we talk about the latest survey results about the banks,
have you been prostituting yourself off for commercial gain like
(08:42):
the president of Federated Farmers Wayne Yolo Langford fronting for Toyota. No, no,
I'll hang on. Let's sak aw. Let's have a look
at the list. Toyota, Yamaha, I think one New Zealand
as well. He's everywhere.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Look he is, he is. I suppose if you can
do it, you might as well. But no, I was
listening to the radio watching the rugged the other day
and he turned up on a you ahead. Oh no,
not another one.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Well he's a great self promoter, but to be fair,
he's done a good job, a very good job promoting
Federated Farmers. And I'm not saying Andrew Hoggard was a
grumpy face, but he could have a grumpy face on occasions.
Wayne Yolo Langford is the friendly face of Federated Farmers.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
That's right. He's smiling ass and Jamie.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Indeed he is. We will look forward to catching up
with him next week at Field Days. Look, I want
to talk to you about the banking inquiry. You did
a survey last November. You've just finished another one at
Faed's in May. Are the banks getting the message?
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Yeah, Look, it's amazing what a difference a bit of
pressure makes. You know. We've had a lot of pressure
on the banks over the last year. They've had to
impair in front of the Banking Inquiry twice and get grilled.
You know. The last time was in February where they
had had to talk for an hour and a half.
So yeah, look at and we're starting to see that
in terms of the wave farmer is are being treated
by the banks, which is awesome.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Some interesting findings from your latest survey farm debt levels.
Eighty four percent of farmers survey have a mortgage No
surprise there. Interestingly, only seventy six percent. When I say
only considering eighty four percent of them have a mortgage.
Only seventy six percent of farms now have an overdraft facility,
(10:25):
which is down from eighty eight percent a decade ago.
And if you were a farmer, Richard McIntyre, you wouldn't
want an over draft facility because in my mind, the
banks still charge you far too much for the privilege.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Yeah, that's right. Look, if you can survive with air
an overdraft and just turned out and said, you know,
for most businesses, that suddenly works really well. You know,
it's one of those things we've constantly been harassing the
banks about and that they seem to prefer to put
farmers onto high overdrafts rather than giving them term debt,
which you know, we think is just really inefficient for
a lot of farmers.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Nineteen percent of farmers feel their bank isn't allowing them
to structure debt as efficiently as possible, exactly what you're
talking about, instead of using overdraft finance, putting it on
term debt getting a better rate. This is down, which
is good news, from twenty three percent in November. Rabobank
and am Z performed the best in this department. Westpac
(11:22):
performed the worst.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
Yeah that's right, that's right. So, you know, well done
to RABO and A and Z. You know, I've spent
quite a the time talking to their heads of agri
and they have been been putting the efford in to
communicate with their bank managers effectively that they have to
put you know, put farmers first and allow them to
structure their debt as interest efficiently as possible. And for
(11:46):
Westpac obviously get a bit of work to do that.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Yeah, overdraft interest rates rates have dropped obviously as the
OCRs come down. The average is now nine percent, which
is still too high. It's down from ten percent. Bank
on average offers the lowest seven point three percent, while
b n Z remains the highest at nine point seven percent.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
Yeah, that's that's right. You know. Obviously this is a
great chance for everyone listening to actually hear what banks
are doing what and you know, effectively, you know, chase
their bank up a bit or to change if they're
not providing a good rate.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Well, there's no reason why one bank could offer a
seven point three percent and another nine point seven. Surely
the nine point seven bank is profiteering.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Well, you know, you'd think so right, so this is
anyone who is one of their customers, you know, get
the bank manager and actually ask some one on earth
is going on here? You know, how can they justify
that sort of an interest rate? It's just yeah, it's ridiculous.
So they need to be able to justify it. If
RABO can be doing such a low overdraft rate, then yeah,
(12:56):
why can't the others?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, good on your rabobank. Okay, where too from here?
For the banking inquiry and not the banking inquiry, the
banking survey which has led of course to the banking.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
Inquiry, right, so there will be another banking survey being
done in six months time, which just we do these
every six months regardless of how everything's going. But it
allows us to track progress in that respect. For like,
as you're alluding to, Jamie, you know, the really big
thing for us now is we have got this banking
inquiry that has has occurred, and now the report has
been drafted as we speak, and now we need some
(13:28):
meaningful change to occur in order to basically improve the
lives of farmers, you know, through their banking. It's yeah,
it's it's taken a lot to get to this point,
but now we need some meaningful change.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
You're stepping aside from the position of dairy chair at
Federated Farmers. So have you done your effectively done your
term there?
Speaker 5 (13:47):
Yeah, so I've finished my well just about to finish
my three years as dairy chair. I've absolutely loved every
minute of it. But yeah, it's time to give the
give the role on to the next person and go
on from there.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Well, Richard Macinti, you keep up the good work keeping
the banks honest. The way you've been talking today, I
half by expect to see you at halftime and the
rugby doing an ad for Rabobank.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
No, not at all. I have no desire for shameless
self promotion.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Is that what you're calling it? Shameless self promotion? Yes, indeed,
I'll take it as a yes. Good on you mate,
Thanks for some of your time Federated Farmers. Yep, going
into bat for you guys out there. Just repeat that number.
Where is it here? It is here? Average overdraft rate
(14:36):
is nine percent. It's down from ten percent, and that's
only due to the drop in the OCR. Rabobank offers
the lowest seven point three percent, while BNZ remains the
highest at nine point seven percent. Something's not right there,
I smell a rat up. Next, it's the good news
part of the day. We've got a couple of Dames
(14:58):
to speak to. First up, Dame Allison Stuart the services
to plant science and the arable sector, flying the flag
for agriculture and the King's Birthday Honors. You're gonna love her.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Shout you.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
King's Birthday Honors over the long weekend, and it was
so good to see agriculture recognized at the highest echelons
in those King's Birthday Honors. Let's welcome on to the
show the newly minted Dame Allison Stuart for services well
basically to kind of plant breeding. It might not be
the sexiest industry alive, Allison, but it was so good
(15:49):
to see you and what you've done over forty years recognized.
Well done. I'm so proud of you.
Speaker 7 (15:55):
Yeah, I mean I have to see. It's like anything
like when you're in you know, business or industry or
science for forty years, you don't achieve things in isolation.
So I'm actually really pleased to accept this honor. You know,
(16:15):
on behalf of all the plant scientists in the country
and all of the agricultural industry and particularly the arable sector.
Who obviously I'm you know, I've been the CEO of
FAR for the last seven years. So I'm hoping that
people will all feel really proud of the fact that
(16:36):
one of us has got honored, because normally it's politicians
and judges and sports people and media people and you
very rarely see, you know, an applied scientist and an
agricultural scientist up there. So I'll take one to the team.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Allison, don'd be too tough on the poor old media
people getting a gong, Monjue, this isn't your first gone
and you've got one back in Queen's Birthday honis in
two thousand and nine.
Speaker 7 (17:04):
I did, yes, I know that one probably came as
a real surprise. I mean I was absolutely shocked and
I was convinced that it was just a scam, whereas
this one, I mean, it's not that it wasn't a surprise,
but I think when you're at the end of your
career and you've done forty years and you've worked with
so many good people, I think you're more accepting of it,
(17:29):
and I guess, you know, just really excited. I just
sort of think it's great and if it just if
it just increases the profile you know, of the general
public around you know, crop production, agricultural science, the arable sector,
then that's great.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
You've been here for forty years, You've still got a
strong Glaswegian accent there.
Speaker 7 (17:53):
Well you might say it's strong, but when I go
back to Scotland they say, oh, you've lost your Scottish accent.
You sound like Kiwi.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
So how did a young Allison Stewart these days dime
Allison Stewart end up in New Zealand from Scotland.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
But when I finished my pH d, it was a
time in the UK when they were a sort of
they were disinvesting in, you know, instead of agricultural science.
And I really wanted to work for a death which
was the advisory service in the UK, you know, agricultural advisory.
(18:31):
And I just couldn't, you know, there wasn't job opportunities
and I thought maybe I need to go overseas and
get some work experience and then just come back at
some stage and hopefully the opportunities you know, would be
would be there. And I don't know how I managed
to do it, but I managed to get at a
lecturing job at Auckland University and teaching, you know, plant,
(18:56):
plant pathology, crop protection, and I guess that. I mean,
I loved New Zealand and you know, I got married,
have children, and i just decided that New Zealand was
a really good place to see. And I've just built
my career up. And you know, I've worked in academia,
(19:16):
I've worked in industry. I've worked in a commercial company,
I've worked in the CRS, and I've worked across all
of the different primary sectors. So you know, I've I've
been around the block.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Dame Allison Stewart with US awarded her Gong for services
to Plant science and the arable sector, and as you mentioned,
you are the chief executive of the Foundation for Arable Research.
Just to finish on what is the state of play
for the arable industry in New Zealand at the moment,
because I've got some mates who are cropping farmers, they
say it's a bit tough out there.
Speaker 5 (19:51):
It is.
Speaker 7 (19:52):
It is, I mean, and that's not to say it's
not tough for all of the other sectors as well.
But you know, the adible sector is a domestically focused sector,
you know, so they don't have you know, large export
and crops and so when things are tight worldwide and
(20:14):
then it's very hard for the arable sector to be
able to compete with cheap imports. So it's not easy,
you know, and we've had some extreme weather events that
have affected yields. But the really, really good thing about
the arable sector is how resilient it is. And I
think the important thing is just to recognize the role
(20:36):
that it plays in New Zealand. Underpins, you know, the
livestock sector in New Zealand producing all of the grass seed,
and I just hope that the New Zealand public recognize
it and go out there and buy, you know, products
that have been made from New Zealand grain.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Good on your dime, Allison Stewart flying the flag for
the agriculture sector and the King's Birthday honors. Well deserved,
proud of and love that accent.
Speaker 8 (21:06):
Go well, okay, thanks Jamie, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Dame Allison twenty seven away from one year with the country.
Brought to you by brandt Up. Next Rural News, Sports
News before the end of the hour, Our second of
two Dames today, Dame Katrina Williams out of the Wira
Rapper and Dan Bolton if we can find him from
silver Fern Farms in Toronto. Oh my god, my headphone's allowed. Apologies.
(21:39):
Gave himself a fright there. I couldn't quite hear Michael Jackson.
What was almost a blessing in disguise. I wasn't responsible
for the music today, this person was hes Michelle Watt
were the latest and rural news to.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
The country's world news with Cod Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower brand. Visit Steelford dot co dot nzim.
Speaker 7 (21:59):
For your locals dot.
Speaker 6 (22:00):
Thanks for chucking me under the bus with that one,
Jamie and.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Well, Michael Jackson.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Principa goes with the royal theme.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
What royal theme it was?
Speaker 6 (22:09):
Oh, you've missed the total. I was obviously too intellectual.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Fort here you were anyhow, what do you got on
rural anyhow?
Speaker 6 (22:14):
Ryal news.
Speaker 9 (22:14):
Figures released by stat Scenes in Today show that export
prices rose seven point one percent in the March twenty
twenty five quarter. Prices for diary, which is New Zealand's
top export commodity, rose by ten percent, and this was
led by thirteen percent increase in milk powder prices compared
with December twenty twenty four quarter. Meat products watches, New
Zealand's second largest export commodity by value, rose by seven
(22:36):
point two percent in the March twenty twenty five quarter
compared with the December twenty twenty four quarter. And that's
rural news. Jamie's got some sports news.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Sports with a FCO. Visit them online at FCO dot
co dot nz Man.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
This is a good rural sport. Congratulations. We were talking
last week about the New Zealand Dog Trial Champs. Congratulations
to the twenty twenty five train Tasman test team that's
been announced now two test series will be held in
conjunction with the Ashburton Amp Show on the thirtieth of
October and the first of November this year. So in
(23:13):
the team, Mark Copeland and Guy and Mark as the captain,
Guy's the dog, Ben Miller and King Leo is that Jacentho? Apologies?
Have I got that one wrong? And Jake and this
guy's an absolute legend. And Doald Trilling been around as
long as I can remember. Lloyd Smith and Code and
the Reserve is another great Southern man. Brian Dickison, well
(23:35):
known in forty circles Brian Dickison and Dan so looking
forward to that test against the Aussies. I think it's
the whaler Go Cup which is happening in at the
Ashburton amp Show. And he's an interesting one for Michelle.
Can't figure this one out. New Zealand sides have only
supplied six player to six players to Super Rugby's honorary
(23:55):
Team of the Year, despite contributing four of the sixth
playoff contenders. Does that mean that we've got nine Aussies
in the top fifteen. That can't be right. We'll do
we'll do some homework on that one. But up next
the second of two Dames. It's Dame Katrina Williams. So
(24:19):
we're having a look at some of the high profile
rural people in this country who were recognized in the
King's Birthday honors. Here's one and this is absolutely richly deserved.
Katrina Williams, the founder and driving force behind the Catwalk
Spinal Cord Injury Trust since its establishment in two thousand
and five. And Katrina, like Dame Allison, I better call
(24:42):
you Dame Katrina. Now you've sort of upsized your gone
because you've got a Queen's Birthday honor in twenty fourteen.
A good afternoon. Congratulations, very proud of you, Thanks so.
Speaker 10 (24:52):
Much, Jamie, and you're really proud of our team at
Catwalk Home. I'm still yet to work out ho proply forward.
I've asked a few, but I'm not hitting the right
person at the moment. But feel very lucky that someone
feels that we're worthy.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Yeah, I wouldn't trust that Shane mcmanaway too far. He's
probably got his pause on this somewhere. I don't know.
I'm just having a guess on that one. And he
was honored a couple of years ago, and gee, his
was richly deserved. I want to go back to the
year two thousand and seven and our old mate, Sir
Brian Lahore. I called him to come down and be
(25:28):
the guest speaker at the Rugby Centenary in my hometown
of Riversdale, and I said, well, we're going to pay you,
and you know what he's like. He said, no, you're
not paying me. I said, well, we're going to pay somebody,
so you better come up with a good cause that
we can make a donation to. And he looked me
straight in the eye and he said, right done. The
Catwalk Trust and I know you and him go back
a long way.
Speaker 10 (25:49):
Well we go in the fame with BJ and they
he has this beautiful manner about him and both guys
they can and I have I remember distinctly him coming
into hospital when I first broke my neck and I
hadn't had many people in the room because you know,
we were still dealing with the shock of not being
(26:10):
able to move our body. And he came in and
when he left, I had all these nurses around just
just about fainting. They couldn't believe that the Sir Brian
had walked into the room. But too wire for people
who was always DJ and he just had this beautiful
way of making everyone feladies around him. Yet he's just
(26:31):
could pull a speech together like no other. And he'd
only had three words on his page and yes we
must come dearly. And he was a great patron.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Let's go back to two thousand and two and the
accident that puts you in a chair, because you were
a champion equestrian. And I know you. I mean people
who meet you now or even in recent years. Your bouncy,
you're bubbly, you're vivacious. It's like you haven't got a
worry in the world. But that must have been brutal.
It must have been so tough.
Speaker 10 (26:59):
At time, and damny, it was tough, and I'm not
I'm not going to deny that it was a big
looming curve decently, I uh, you know, as you said,
went from writing show jumpers and in venters and competing
bak here and over in England and Europe, and just
suddenly heavy, every part of your day managed by somebody else,
(27:21):
even going below, having a shower, coming into the pool,
all of these things. We're not at your call anymore.
It was at somebody's else's possion. And it was tough,
and it sells tough.
Speaker 7 (27:34):
You know.
Speaker 10 (27:34):
We've had a really a fatuous fun half twenty two years.
But there is a great life and a chair. But
I'll be really honest, if I could to meet the
top and not ride the horse that day and know
that I'd twenty two years on my feet. And I
always say I don't want to be famous, I just
(27:57):
want to be infant and on my faith, and I
truly mean that. I also say along the lines, if
it meant that I had to slot up from Sam,
that I would do that as well. Because I reckon.
I could wolln back again if I was on my feet.
But it's seem tough, and I think anyone that goes
through a spinal cord injury knows how tough it is.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Let's talk about the reason why you've had your going
upgraded and why you're now Dame Katrina Williams. It's because
of the fundraising that you have done for the Spinal
Cord Injury Trust. You're looking at something like ten million
dollars and you're well on your way? Am I right
in saying that?
Speaker 5 (28:37):
Right?
Speaker 10 (28:37):
And I had to stop you because you keep saying
you and it's not me. Anyone that can see me.
I've got leaf that don't work in hands that It's
pretty funny. We have the most incredible volunteers supporters team
at Catworks that drive these fundraising initiatives that make them happen.
So we have all these people that actually do them
(28:58):
and put their names on the board and we've had
so much fun. So in your marathon, we've started with together,
so we've had these beautiful black types and parties. Was
there all sorts of crazy initiatives that I mean, I
even tried to do it half trace on once in Taraniki,
I actually failed and ended up and I see you
with hypothemia. But you know what, we've got to have
(29:21):
to go out these things. And you know that's probably
the biggest challenge with catwalk is that currently as a
wheeling when you break through, need to go into hospital.
They bolt you that together and they push.
Speaker 5 (29:35):
You out the door.
Speaker 10 (29:36):
My challenge is to these people with the brains, with
the mouse, with the ability, is we want more. It's
we want more than just wheeling around the world. Yes
we can do that, and yes there is a wonderful
laste we had, but the ability to took up a
child from the on the floor and give them a
higability to run across the sand and sort of water,
(29:58):
there's still something that.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
I would to be able to do.
Speaker 10 (30:01):
And that's what us for to raise money to some
of the best research that we can get people back
on the seat, in my case dancing with my husband
well on.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Knowing you it's something you will probably achieve. You are
so determined. You're wonderful. Dame Katrina Williams, congratulations, richly deserved,
well done, Thank you.
Speaker 10 (30:22):
Very much, jan good luck.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
He is the chief executive of silver Fern Farms, our
biggest meat processing company. His name is Dan Bolton. He's
not spending much time at home these days. Dan, you've
been in China. Today, we find you in Toronto. You're
doing the North American swing if you want. I'm assuming
that the prospects for red meat and North America are
(30:47):
really good at the moment. But go back to China
to Asia. How does it compare?
Speaker 8 (30:54):
Yeah, well, I mean both markets are very buoyant at
this point in time, So you're right. Last week we're
in China with the sil Fom Farms Board. We're both
in Shanghai as well as the old ancient city of Xi'an. Yeah,
and it was great connecting with our customers. You know,
clearly there's an improvement and confidence in the China market
and we're seeing that reflecting and pricing across beef, Lamb
(31:16):
and Venison. So not leading the global pricing, but they're
definitely competitive and that's what we want to see coming
out of one of our big markets.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
We literally can't supply enough to the North American market
when it comes to beef, am I right in saying that,
Or am I over egging it?
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Dan?
Speaker 6 (31:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (31:32):
No, definitely. We've got an issue around supply and that's
across all of our our markets right around the world. Know,
our customers are wanting more of what we have right now.
You know that's off the back of reduced beef numbers
in the US. But right now in New Zealand, you know,
our kell numbers are down as we move into winter,
so that creates some really healthy price engin in the
markets as well, which we enjoy.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Talk to me about Trump's tariffs, this ten percent tariff,
What if any effect is it having at the moment.
Speaker 8 (32:01):
Well, we've managed to pass most of the tariffs on
to to into market, so that's a good outcome. There's clearly,
I guess a lack of confidence that's in the market
in North America at the moment, and I guess uncertainly
he is quite high. But again, you know, demand for
red meat, particularly our grassed red meat, is really strong.
So even in the context of tariff's playing out, you know,
(32:24):
really good demand, really good pricing. And you know what
we are seeing though, Jamie and the market is and
that their consumer confidence is waning, but it's actually coming
out of areas such as the mid to low level
casual dining areas. We're fine dining is still absolutely pumping
along in retail at the moment. You know, people are
trading down and eating at home, but our retail business
(32:46):
up in North America is going extremely well.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
Talk to me about the Lamb Company. Now, this is
a joint in market venture between or owned by Silver
Firm Farms, Ansco Alliance plus an Australian partner, and Dan Bolton,
chief executive of Silver fir and Farms. Why are you
guys working in unison offshore and cutting each other's throats
back home.
Speaker 8 (33:10):
Yeah, well, it's been around for over fifty years now
and obviously there's some a really good vision there around
working together in the market and leveraging our scale. So
that's going well. I think you know, this year alone,
the Lamb Company is turning over one billion dollars in
revenue across the North American market, So that shows a success,
you know, really good growth and retail, food service and
(33:31):
e commerce. And you know, on the back of that growth,
and they've been able to invest in three states of
the art processing facilities. We've got one in Toronto, we've
got one in New Jersey, and one in Los Angeles
and they're distributing to almost every state in the US
and Canada twice a week, so really impressive business. We've
got a team of fifty people representing our lamb out
(33:51):
in the market up here and about another four hundred
and fifty people working across those processing facilities, so really
really good collaboration and it's just gone from strength the strength.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Dan, Are you going to buy the Alliance Group? This
isn't on the script, but I was at a farmer funeral,
a a big, big farm a funeral down in South
and on Friday, and one of the pictures we put
up was with my old mate Rowan Horror in the
Paddock in two thousand and nine with John Key, the
then Prime Minister, and John Key was singing the praises
of a potential merger between the Alliance Group and Silver
(34:22):
Firm Farms. Do you think it's a shame it didn't happen?
Speaker 8 (34:27):
The question you're posed to me, I mean, Allians are
running through their own process, so I'll leave them to
answer that question. But you've heard me say before. You
know there is a need in New Zealand to rebalance
capacity back to where live stock numbers are right now
and doing that in and I guess in a collaborative
way sort of makes sense. But yeah, time will tell
how that all plays out.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Do you do you actively have talks with their likes
of the Alliance Group AFCO, all the big players ANSKO
on things like capacity in terms.
Speaker 8 (34:58):
Of understanding what we need for a resilient processing sector
for our farmers for the next generation is really important.
But clearly we've got to be careful around what we
can talk about and what we can't and that's important.
But right now you could say we're the available capacity
matched against livestock numbers. There's an imbalance and some sort
of change is needed, and I think the last man's
(35:20):
standing approach is not sustainable for our sector or for
our farmers.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Well spoken, couldn't agree with you more. Let's just finish
really quickly on Silver Fir and Farm's Plate to Pasture
Conference which is coming up fifteenth to seventeenth of July.
That wonderful events center in Hamilton, Crawdland's including the Plate
to Pasture awards basically for the top farmer.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Dan.
Speaker 8 (35:43):
Yeah, no, it's great to be back after a year
off and good to be back in the North Island
as well. So our silf and Farm's Conference is happening
in July and it's free to attend for all our
shareholders and farmers, and we encourage everyone on their farms
to come along, and we've got a particular focus on
that next generation to come and understand and connect with
(36:04):
other farmers and get some fresh insight around what's happening
in the sector. So you know, you talk to you
know people that have been to our conferences previously and
it's a really really positive few days. So really encourage
those that are thinking about it to register. Registrations are
open right now so you can either click on the
Lengths and emails or on our website. So spots will
(36:25):
fill up fast. But there's a lot of great content
that we're going to be.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Sharing absolutely and that's free. Good work. Hey, from Toronto
to Hamilton next week for field Days. Dan Bolton, thanks
for your time. We'll see you at the tron fantastic.
Speaker 8 (36:38):
Thanks Jamy.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
Thanks Dan.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
That wraps the country for today. We'll catch you back tomorrow.
Christopher Luxon and I think a GDT auction see you then.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Do you come catch all the latest from the land.
It's the country podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent,
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