The Country Full Show: Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Jamie Mackay talks to Damien O'Connor, Wayne McNee, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Hunter McGregor, and Joe Higgins.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckue. Thanks to Brent You're specialist in
John Dre Machinery.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Good day and good afternoon, New Zealand. This is the Country.
I'm Jamie mackay. The show is brought to you by
Brent Michelle's Chuck the Pogues in. There is a bit
of a musical theme for today. They're coming to the
New Zealand. Were coming to New Zealand for the first
time in thirty five years April of next year. Minus
a lead singer, of course, another Irishman argumented of irishman

(01:09):
as Damien O'Connor. He's going to kick off the show today.
We're going to talk to Wayne McNee, chief executive of
Agri Zero n Z. He's going to enlighten us on
the mystery behind Nichola Willis's urine spreader, not Nicholas's own
urine spreader, the one she was launching last week in
North Canterbury. Doctor jaquilln Rowe it his armist to stay.

(01:30):
We might go back in time and reflect on that
with one of our leading primary sector academics. She's an
academic full stop. I'm sure she's got a good sense
of history. Hunter McGregor our guy in China. He's based
out of Shanghai. What did he make of the Taste
Pure Nature rebrand and relaunch last week in Shanghai? And
more importantly did he get invited? Joe Higgins will join

(01:54):
us out of PGG rights and for our monthly look
at the state of the stock market. I can tell
you what it is hot. It is very very hot
at the moment. All that on the country, plus Michelle,
I'll have rural news and we'll have sports news for
you as well. Damien O'Connor to kick things off, Damian

(02:21):
O'Connor is Labour's trade spokesperson. This FTA with India, Todd
mcclay's talking it up, saying we're getting close. Is there
any chance at all in your mind that we can
sneak Deiry into the deal?

Speaker 3 (02:33):
Look, it's hard to know. I know there's been a
lot of work going on and if you go back
to what we were doing in government, we were building
partnerships and relationships with India and we saw that as
the best way forward. And I know that Prime Minister
promised at FDA which really pushed it rather quickly and
rather ambitiously, and good luck to the government it was.

(02:54):
You know, there was a lot of pushback from India
and if they've made substentive progress, been good on them.
You know, we'll just wait and see as to what
we get from it. And obviously it's a big market,
but so we just have to be realistic about, you know,
what we will get from India. The government's talk to
big talk, so now it has to deliver.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
India adds more to its GDP every year than the
size of the entire New Zealand economy. They've got two
hundred and eighty times as many people as us. It's
a huge opportunity. But even if we don't get dairy
across the line, because I mean the Sacred Cowes sort
of thing going on there, what about for the like
salam and that it would be invaluable.

Speaker 3 (03:37):
Oh, absolutely, Look any opportunity into a market like that
we're building. You know, this horticulture Zespria doing work and
you know, we're getting a lot of good people from
India who are coming into our economy and participating and
contributing in huge ways. So building a relationship with India
as critical over time. But you know, we have to

(03:58):
be realistic. We can feed forty to fifty million people,
so our contribution and total to India in terms of
food and protein production is very, very small. So we've
got to pick our niches around the world. We've got
to have a balance. You know, we don't fill the
market opportunities that we have at the moment, and exporters
you choose to decide where they go or you know,

(04:18):
the importers, it's up to them. So there are plenty
of opportunities. Now, you know, we don't need an FTA
with India, but it would add potential opportunities into the future.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
Unlimited opportunities, I would have thought. Anyhow, since we last chatted,
the Pike the Pike River movie has premiered. A Have
you seen it? B Why weren't you? Inn't you were
the local MP.

Speaker 3 (04:42):
Well, you know it's about you know, about families related
to the Pike. It's not that politicians, although I think
John Key's mentioned in there. Look, yes, I have seen it.
I was at the premiere in Graymouth local community and
you know it runs deep into that community in many
many ways, and I think they did a brilliant job
of portraying a personal insight into Senior and Sonya and

(05:08):
his kind of life and the people around them. And
I think that's what it was aimed at doing. It
wasn't aimed at, you know, looking into the whys and
house of the actual disaster itself or you know. What
it did mention the fact that, you know, there's still
potential litigation, still accountability be to be had because there
has been very, very little. So I thought it was

(05:30):
a brilliant movie and a lot of people will understand
a bit more about Pike when they see it.

Speaker 2 (05:35):
It was a bit of a political hatchet job on
John Key, let's be honest about it. And was it
over the top to Cinda with her cameo role being herself.

Speaker 3 (05:44):
Look, you know, I didn't direct the film. I wasn't
part of it, but it just it just laid out
the facts as they were delivered to the families through
that period. It was a difficult time. I don't think
anyone will you you're a West Coast, a family member
or you know, a politician. There's nothing good come from
this and there's been no accountability, and I think that's

(06:06):
it's you know, it's something that has to be resolved
over time.

Speaker 2 (06:11):
Chippy, he's too busy to appear on this show this month.
I'm just stuck. I'm just left with you and Joe Luxton.

Speaker 3 (06:18):
Did you offend him more?

Speaker 1 (06:19):
No?

Speaker 2 (06:19):
No, I honestly, I honestly don't know. And Chloe hasn't
answered my calls either, and I wouldn't waste my breath
trying to talk to two Party Mary. You must be
it must be such a nightmare for Chippy. I see
he's making some noises about them not being fit for government.
Of course they're not fit for government, Damien.

Speaker 3 (06:38):
If you open both your eyes and both your ears
as much as you open your mouth, then you know,
I don't probably see it as a balance show, but
you know they'd probably think that it's not balance, So
you know, why bother? I mean, I'll have a word
with Chippy and say, look, it's good to go on
there and try and keep him honest, but it's a
hard job.

Speaker 2 (06:56):
Do you think he's making the right noises about At
least he's fair. Romy has come out and said they're
not fit for government at the moment.

Speaker 3 (07:05):
Who's that I mean? And motion to party mar I, Look,
there are a whole lot of issues that they have
to work through. And you know, while we should comment
on the policies from parties, you know, getting into the
directions of different parties, it happens to everyone from time
to time. Probably happened to National Party soon. So you know,
you've got to be careful. What goes around comes around

(07:25):
in politics. And you know, democracy is should be a
healthy place for robust ideas, robust policies. And there'll be
a whole lot of people, more more diverse range of
people in Parliament now than there was in the past,
will be in the future, and we just those parties
have to work through, you know, how they cooperate among

(07:47):
themselves as well as with other parties.

Speaker 2 (07:49):
Diversity. But at what cost I give you, Benjamin Doyle, Well, I.

Speaker 3 (07:54):
Mean, so what about that? You know, there'll be people
make mistakes in life, people make mistakes and politics. I
don't think we have to victimize people. You know, we
just have to move on and try and have some
understanding as to why people do make mistakes and try
and help them to minimize them.

Speaker 2 (08:12):
See that was the beauty of the old first past
the post Daman, and you've worked under that system. I
think you have haven't you first election it was no, no,
at least well you first past the post. You had
to convince your electorate how many tens of thousands of
people that you were a worthy candidate and it was
at least a vetting process, because let's be honest, list
MPs back bench less list MPs are as useful as

(08:36):
Australia on one of your trail bikes.

Speaker 3 (08:38):
Oh, come on that, look, you know, listing piece is
part of the system. You know, I've always believed in
constituency work and accountability, but we have MMP, we have
list MPs on one of them at the moment. You know,
people have to get out and work and connect and
communicate in the best way they know how. And I
guess I've had the benefit of being a constituency MP

(09:02):
and understanding the importance of that. Not everyone does, but
you know it, m MP will evolve as well in parliament.

Speaker 2 (09:10):
Does a list MP like being semi retired.

Speaker 3 (09:14):
No, it certainly isn't. And you know, I guess I
go to a whole lot more places around the country.
I've always traveled a lot, but you know, following portfolio
work and looking after as a labor m P West
coast Tasman and up around Marlborough and cal Colra and
you know down around Otaga as well. So you know
we're all traveling, probably more than we'd like, but we

(09:36):
do have to keep in touch with people and bring
that representation along with leadership into Parliament.

Speaker 2 (09:43):
Damian Ikonnor, thanks for your time. We're going to see
what at the christ Show later this week.

Speaker 3 (09:48):
Look, unfortunately I can't be there. I am currently in
Ireland talking with farmers, talking with people about trade and
where things are moving. And everyone's seeing bit of a
softing in the dairy price at the moment internationally, and
that's that's a worry for I guess for anyone in
the dairy industry and for our country.

Speaker 2 (10:06):
I didn't realize you're an island as we make this call.

Speaker 3 (10:10):
Well, well, you can be anywhere in the world on
a phone called.

Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yes, I realized that, Dailien. But is it are we getting?
Is it a waste of time sending a back bench
list MP to Ireland?

Speaker 3 (10:21):
Well I'm not. I don't think so. I think that
what I can bring back to my party, what I
can bring back into Parliament, and a whole lot of
people I talk to on a weekly basis will be valuable.
I have to say, been very privileged to and always
do get to talk to a whole lot of useful

(10:42):
and people who people who like New Zealand. There's a
lot of crossover, not just with Ireland actually with the
whole of Europe, and our free trade agreement, which I
was very happy to two is offering us a huge
number of opportunities.

Speaker 2 (10:58):
All right, I think the toll call is about to
run out to Ireland. Damien O'Connor, you surprised me daily, Okay,
thank you very much for your time.

Speaker 3 (11:08):
Good thanks, Dammy.

Speaker 2 (11:11):
Yes, who knew that? Eh, I actually caught up with
the mid morning, but I didn't let you know because
I got a fright or I was just as surprised
as you were that. Damien towards the end of the
conversation said he was in Ireland. And as I said
to him in all honesty, Damien is now a backbench
labor MP. Yes, he's got a good background in trade

(11:32):
and he has been a Minister of Agriculture. But this governments,
if this government's serious about I mean, they're certainly tough
on civil servants. If they're serious about saving some money,
I don't know what you guys think. Tell me on
five double a night, why are we sending backbench MPs
to Ireland. Damien would have been sitting up the front

(11:53):
end of the plane. What value does it have? They
can't even come out with an egg policy. Raresley Too
many politicians in Parliament and they spend far too much
time traveling at our expense. That's just my opinion on
that one. You feel free to disagree if you want to.

(12:14):
Now Thursday we're launching the Mackaysa twenty twenty four, twenty
twenty five, should I say Mackayser it's a hop oil
infused pilsner this year? Whatever that is, I'll find out
on Thursday when we get a taste of it. That
the tiny pubs already made its way to Christchurch. We
are going to be broadcasting from there on Thursday. If

(12:35):
you would like to win five hundred dollars cash cash,
head to the Country Facebook page. Comment on the Emersons
Mackayser post who would you like to share a cold
one with? There's no correct answer. Maybe Damien I could
share a cold one with. Damien now lives in Dunedin.
The Bekaisa is a bold as I said, hop oil
infused New Zealand Pilsner brood with the taste of crisp

(12:59):
lemons and lines with a refreshing finish. Looking forward to
trying that one on Thursday. Up next, Wayne McNee and
Nichola's urine Spreader.

Speaker 4 (13:16):
My love.

Speaker 2 (13:19):
Dwayne McNee is the chief executive of Agri Zero NZ.
He has been given the task of trying to reduce
our greenhouse gas emissions through the use of new technologies.
One of them, Wayne, we talked to Nichola Willis about
last week with the launch in a North Canterbury cow
paddock of the urine spreader that plugs into the back

(13:39):
of the cow. As I said to Nicola, the mind boggles,
how does this work?

Speaker 5 (13:43):
Thanks Jamie, thanks for having me on the show. So
an exciting new technology being developed in Canterbury at Canterbury Startup.
It's a wearable device which will we place at the
back of the cow to spread the urine. And you
know it's still in prototype stage, but they've been trialing
it on farms in Canterbury and they're continueing to develop
the prototype and different ways of attaching it. But yeah,

(14:04):
look at the potential for it to spread the urine,
reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer, reduce nitrate leaching, and
reduce nitrogen emissions.

Speaker 3 (14:12):
Is great.

Speaker 2 (14:13):
Can I ask a dirty question, no bad pun intended,
Like just straight above where the wheeze comes out, the
poe comes out right, So what happens when the shit
hits the fan?

Speaker 5 (14:24):
So the device, as we've seen it, and we've seen
prototype selection, is activated when the cow urinates, so otherwise
it stays flat and it sort of comes up when
the cow urinates and spreads the urine, so otherwise it
doesn't come up, but also is deactivated when a cow
goes in a dairy shed. So it is early. We've
committed one point two million to accelerate the development, but

(14:46):
there's not much available for nitros oxide emissions and the
potential of this is huge. But we just love the
fact it's a farmer leading it with a bunch of
local engineers, mechatronics, mechanical engineers, computer engineers out of Canory. Yeah,
so really great potential way to go yet.

Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, I'm intrigued to have a look at that one
in action. The other one is a company, an Aussie
company that you've invested in called embryo, and this is
accelerating genetic gain because obviously if you can accelerate genetic gain,
you can accelerate breeding from animals with reduced greenhouse gas submissions.

Speaker 5 (15:23):
That's right, Jamie and embryo. Look, it's a different technology
completely and it is designed to accelerate genetic gain, so
it's embryo transfer. Embryo transfer is used widely in the
breeding industry, so companies like LC and C how they
use it widely, beef breaders, sheet breaders. The goal of
this is to try and make that technology available to
all farmers, and the key is to be able to

(15:46):
transfer the embryo just like you did inseminate a cow,
and they've been doing that in Australia. They're going to
do a fifteen hundred car trial in Australia this year.
From our perspective, the focus is on accelerating genetic gain
to reduce emissions, but it'll have a lot wide a
better face in that as well.

Speaker 2 (16:01):
How are you going to convince skeptical farmers the likes
of Jane Smith, who's been a real critic of you
and Agri zero in Z to use this technology even
if it is available and even if.

Speaker 3 (16:10):
It works well.

Speaker 5 (16:12):
Look, ultimately it's up to farmers to decide what they
do on their farm, and what we're looking to do
is make the tools available so farmers will have choices.
And with these two examples like the massive other benefits,
so the reduction and application of nitrogen, the reduction and
nitrate leaching and in the case an armour and an
embryo accelerating unique gain. So look, at the end of

(16:32):
the day, farmers choose not to use it, that'll be
up to them. But there's two technologies at least have
widespread benefit beyond their emissions reduction tools. And for the
others it'll be about you know, what are the incentives.
Why would a farmer use these, Who's going to be
paying for it? How does it work in the farming system.
Our goal is to make sure farmers have choices of
tools to use and looking to have the first one

(16:53):
available next year reven and biotex bowluss another two or
three the year after that, and another two or three
the year after that, and dep up to the farmer.

Speaker 2 (17:02):
Who is going to pay for a wine McNee.

Speaker 5 (17:05):
So look, there are certainly discussion at the moment worth
the processes, So the dairy and meat processes about providing
incentives to farmers to take up new technologies, and that's
coming through from customers internationally in the meat sector and
in the dairy sector who want to reduce their Scope
three emissions and are prepared to pay. So we've certainly
seen early examples of that, but a lot going on

(17:26):
in the background talking about providing further incentives. And yeah,
so we'll see, won't we when these things are available.
Clearly in New Zealand, there is not going to be
a tax, so it's all going to be about what's
in it for the farmer. And so for the two
things I talked about earlier, armor and embryo for biolumix,
pasture productivity gain is a big part of that story.
And for some of the probotics they're coming the same.

(17:47):
So then the farmer will have an incentive because they'll
get more meat or more milk for the same amount
of input.

Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, well, I reckon, if you want to change farmer behavior,
put a market premium out.

Speaker 5 (17:57):
There exactly exactly, and that's what they will need to
be in some form or other. And yeah, we'll see
as these things come to market. There's no point in
putting a premium up when there's nothing to use.

Speaker 2 (18:07):
Wayne McNee, chief executive of Agra Zero in Zed, Thanks
for your time and thanks for explaining to me how
the urine spreader works. I can sleep more easily at
night now.

Speaker 5 (18:17):
Thanks Jamie, and yeah, looking forward to coming down to
Canterbury ext Me on Friday for the trots So Showdow
races are one of my favorite things to do, so
I might see a few farmers there too.

Speaker 2 (18:27):
Yes you will, indeed, Wayne, no doubt some of them
need a but if I break off the farm. It's
been a challenging spring radio. Some of your feedback. It's
November the eleventh, not April the first. This Agri zero
concept is nuts. Agri zero needs to go the same
way as he waka echinoa from Dean. You're in to Damien.

(18:50):
You're not very kind to them. Let me see what
I can read out. Hmm no, nothing, nothing, Stop laughing, Michelle. Come,
We're going to sensor some of your feedback on Damien.
And I'm sticking by my point and no one's disagreed
with me thus far. It's a waste of money. Sending
back bench list MPs because they're lower down the food

(19:12):
chain than the electorate MPs. In my mind, a backbench
list MP to the other side of the world to
do what they're not in government. Let's send government ministers
over there. It's crusmissive. She is one of our leading
primary sector academics. Her name is doctor Jacqueline Roweth. Jacqueline,

(19:37):
I wonder whether one of your areas of expertise is history,
namely the history around World War One, because today New
Zealand time anyhow, it's about eleven o'clock tonight, real time
is Armistice Day, of course, the cessation of hostilities and
the First World War on the eleventh hour of the
eleventh day of the eleventh month. You must have studied

(20:00):
that at school.

Speaker 6 (20:00):
Being British, I was there, not in I would hastily
add at the end of World War War One, but
Armistice Day, remembering that I grew up in a naval family,
that he was British Royal Navy and it's almost served
in the Second World War in terms of age. He'd
signed up and was trained and he went to see

(20:21):
but didn't see active service in that we went. We
were there at the eleventh hour of the eleventh Day.
It was very moving. It's sort of like the twenty
fifth and that day here where you remember not just
the end of that war, but also all the people
who have served to keep your country safe.

Speaker 3 (20:41):
It's very moving.

Speaker 2 (20:42):
We've spoken to Wine McNee, chief executive of Agri zero
in Z on the show. We were talking about this
new development with the urine spreader. Do you know anything
about that?

Speaker 6 (20:53):
Yeap Berkelin investigated a similar device back twenty years ago.
This is the thing with scientists. They have long memories
and there are a lot of things to overcome, including
the animal welfare and how any device is managed in
the yards, for instance, when you're when they're coming into milking.
So I think there are quite a lot of technological

(21:15):
aspects to be investigated before this becomes a great idea.

Speaker 2 (21:20):
You are lamenting the fact that, yes, it's nice to
have all this funding for the likes of Agri zero
n Z, but you think we need to go back
to the basics. Where's the funding for the enabler of
our productive economy past. You know you've written a column
on this, Jacqueline, and I did say to you this
reminded me of plant science. At Lincoln College in nineteen

(21:41):
eighty two, and my eyes did sort of glaze over,
to be honest, when I was reading your column.

Speaker 6 (21:47):
Oh, Jamie, that's because I wasn't the lecturer. So have
we been in class together in whatever way, it would
have all been far more exciting.

Speaker 2 (21:57):
New women Jacqueline new Problem Glaze would have hated me.
I was one of those horrible kidsy through flaming darts
on one occasion. Anyhow, I've grown up a lot since then.

Speaker 6 (22:07):
Good yes, and I have never hated a student. I
have looked at them with steely eyes and raised one
or maybe two eyebrows. But I have never had bad
behavior in the class because it was also fascinating. So
let's go back to the pasture and think about the
research that's been done by Agresearch and involving various other

(22:29):
groups to say that our primary production, our ability to
capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, is not happening as
rapidly as we thought from our trees and pastures. And
so what's going on? Fundamentally carbon dioxide, when you have
it in a glasshouse, for instance, it enriches, it grows

(22:52):
plants faster. But that is under perfect conditions of moisture,
nutrients and temperature. In the real life, something else is
going on and we need to be investigating that. Otherwise,
all the technology funded by various groups in New Zealand
and around the world won't actually make any major difference.
And I suspect that all the predictions about how great

(23:13):
the technologies will be were modeled on an incorrect assumption
of how much faster plants will be growing.

Speaker 2 (23:20):
They're not got to go, Jaqueline always good to.

Speaker 6 (23:23):
Chat lovely thanks a like Domien.

Speaker 2 (23:26):
Yes, and you can read all about it the importance
of investing in pasture on our website to Thecountry dot
co dot NZ twenty five away from one Joan. Here's Joan.
She's summing up what you think out there and text land.
What a junke at O'Connor being in Ireland. I'm really
angry at the waste of taxpayer's money, especially as he's

(23:48):
inn opposition. Yeah you did, right, Joan. If you're in government,
you can go over there and do something as an opposition.
It's like these speakers tours. They run all over the world,
sendrongos who aren'hing better to do with their time than
go on them seriously if you were running I'm getting
angry now, Michelle, if you were running parliament as your
own business, would you spend that money and send these

(24:11):
listing back or not not list MPs just back bench
opposition MPs overseas. Waste of time, absolute waste of time.
Right before I get two carried away, We'll take a break.
Michelle's going to have rural news for us. We'll have
sports news for us as well. A text also coming
in saying waste of time going to Ireland. They're going

(24:34):
to get all the New Zealand meat they want, very
very shortly, very clever up. Next rural news, Welcome back
to the country. There's some great texts coming in. Here's

(24:55):
one as Damien bringing the pogues back with him because
they are coming to New Zealand next year. It would
be as great as achievement by a country mile regard Stephen,
love you work, Stephen. Here's Michelle with breaking breaking rural news.

Speaker 1 (25:10):
What the country's world news with Cod Cadets, New Zealand's
leading right on lawnlower brand. Visit steel Ford dot co
dot nzim for your local stockist.

Speaker 2 (25:19):
Now, Michelle, Michelle Watt I did say to you during
the commercial break before we spoke to Jaqueline. I reckon
I had the same argument with Damien a bit earlier
in the year when he was off on some junket
and I got stuck into him, and I said to you,
go back to our website, find the narration and see
if indeed Damien has been somewhere at the taxpayer's expense

(25:41):
as a back bench or as a as a back
bench MP. And what is the answer.

Speaker 7 (25:46):
And the answer is freakishly that it was this time
last year, on the twelfth of the eleventh, twenty twenty four.
You had pretty much exactly the same argument with him
when he went to Europe.

Speaker 2 (25:56):
So the twelfth of November twenty twenty four, it's probably
the same junket he's on this time.

Speaker 7 (26:01):
Well, I'm not sure, because I I've been through the
whole transcript. I can't find exactly where he was. But
you and I thought it was Germany or something like that.
But your little description here is a very grumpy labor
trade spokesperson vivaciously defends his latest European trade trip, so
pretty much exactly.

Speaker 2 (26:16):
I can't copy. I can't defend the indefendable Damien, I
had no idea, honestly, like Iman, to be fair, he's
probably landed himself in it and be hating me for
going on about it. But he volunteered the information. Just
at the end of the interview and I said, he's
going to be at the Canterbury Show. Oh sorry, I
can't be there on an island. I'm thinking, what the
WTF actually talking about that? The old program director is

(26:39):
sitting at home listening and agreeing with Damien. I need
to open my eyes and my ears and shut my mouth.
Whose side are you on his sport sports on.

Speaker 1 (26:50):
The country with AFCO invested in your farming success?

Speaker 2 (26:54):
Ah? But lord, he goes along. I haven't even prepared
the sports news, Jacqueline Quill, Let me try, Michelle. I've
got no idea what's on it. I'm looking at the
All Blacks are playing England this weekend.

Speaker 7 (27:07):
We've got TA twenty here in Duneda and US Thursday wch.
I'm very excited about Westernday. Hopefully the weather holds out.

Speaker 2 (27:13):
Yeah, well, I'll be in christ Church for that one.
Jarnick Sinners beaten another bloke whose name I can't pronounce
in straight sets to open their ATP Tennis Finals campaign
in Turin, and that is of course in Italy and
Carter dal Getty's daring to dream of becoming the youngest
driver to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup. The twenty
two year old will be in the sulky behind Republican Party.

(27:36):
That's an interesting name for a horse who came third
last year. Dorghetty says they're in a better position to
take the spoilers this time. No time to waste off.
Next from Ireland, we're off to China.

Speaker 1 (27:51):
Was a rey out for Christmas Day.

Speaker 2 (27:58):
His name is Hunter McGregor. He is This is our
Shanghai based correspondent. Yes, a key. We are selling venison
and red meat to the Chinese. We procure his services
at great cost. I think it cost us a box
of makaiser last year. Hunter. It's a shame you're not
going to be in christ Church on Thursday for the

(28:18):
launch of the twenty twenty five Makaisa at the christ
Church Show.

Speaker 4 (28:22):
Yeah, good afternoon, Jamie. You're very jealous of I want
about to get there for some fresh machaiser, which, if
I do recall correctly, the makaisier gave me was nearly expired,
so it was still good. Though it was still good.

Speaker 2 (28:35):
Well, it didn't turn up till about August. It's brood
in November, so that's your fault, not mine. Talk to
me about the eleventh of November. It's Armistice Day, very
meaningful day. It's also eleven eleven, which is in Chinese terms,
a big online sale day. And I think this was
invented by Ali Barber.

Speaker 4 (28:56):
Yes, eleven eleven. You know, traditionally since two thousand and nine,
Ali Baba's been pushing a big online sale. It's a
bit like Black Monday and stuff in the US and
the rest of the world. And it's been massive. You know,
it was really big a few years ago. It's tied down,
but yeah, everyone sort of and on. But it's not
as hyped up as it once was. And I'll give

(29:18):
you an example. You know, a few years ago, you know,
when it came to shipping and logistics, around eleven to eleven,
everything would be full the whole, you know, will take
two or three days to get things across China. Usually
it's overnight. But at the moment, you know, shipping is
normal and logistics as normal because it's not as hyped
or as big as it once was, and for someone

(29:39):
like myself that's actually selling products, I don't need to
do a big discount or anything like that this year,
which is great. So you know, it's sort of dying down,
but it's still big enough. There'll still be some pretty
impressive numbers that will be on sale, but it's usually
about selling things cheaply, and I'm trying to avoid that
at the moment.

Speaker 2 (29:57):
So Hunter McGregor, as one of Shanghai's most or in
your case, infamous purveyors of fine meats, I'm sure you
would have been invited to the Taste Pure Nature activation
and rebranding or relaunched that we talked to Sirmacarapeaver about
on yesterday's show.

Speaker 4 (30:17):
Yeah, no, Jamie. Unfortunately they it wasn't invited or they
must have got my invite must have got lost in
the mail. But look, it's good that they've actually started
doing some activations and doing some things because last year's
CIE they relaunched the Taste Pure Nature, and then they
relaunched it again when the Prime Minister was up earlier
this year, so it's good to see they've actually started

(30:38):
doing something and look, you know, it's great. It's wonderful
that Ben Bailey, a Kiwi chef, is up here doing
a pop up for the month. He's doing it in
the w Hotel and I know how much you like
the skyline of Shanghai, and it's probably one of the
best hotels to see the skyline. It's got an outdoor balcony.
I was there for an event on Saturday nights. It

(31:00):
was really good. But coming back to Taste Pure Nature.
You know, it's been running for five years and I
haven't really seen it move the dial at all. It
hasn't really done anything. They don't really seem to have
a plan or be very focused. You know, there's been
a lot of changes in the market that's when they started,
and the biggest change is that local products are actually

(31:24):
now preferred by Chinese consumers.

Speaker 3 (31:26):
You know.

Speaker 4 (31:27):
For example, you know there is some the Chinese have
about one hundred and ninety million lamb or sheep in production,
and yes, some of it is very very good and
it's now sitting on Mission Star restaurants. So you know,
that is a real local competition and that's going to
be a real challenge for not just New Zealand, lamb,

(31:48):
but all lamb around the world.

Speaker 2 (31:50):
Hey, just to finish on eighty sin Love Farmers visited
China last week and on your email you sent me
this morning, I was seeing insulted by this hunter, you said,
surprisingly most of them listen to your show.

Speaker 4 (32:07):
Yeah, and that was good to catch up with some farmers.
It's really good to see to to see farmers up
here enjoying China and experience and understanding and stuff. But
I just want to come back also just to Ben
Bailey and as pop up. One interesting thing is that
on his menu that he's selling this month he's selling
and Co Beef, which is Ocean's Beef, which is grain

(32:28):
fed beef, which is a fantastic pop product that's available
in many places around Shanghai. It's not grass fed and
it doesn't put the taste pure nature profile. So you know,
if a key we shed is not using grass fed
beef and as pop up up there, you know there's
going to have a bit of a challenge to actually
get some cut through.

Speaker 2 (32:46):
So yeah, fair comment. Let's see what let's just finish
on the on the Sunlight Farmers then yeah, no, it
would be good.

Speaker 4 (32:54):
It's always good to see farmers coming through and if
anyone else is coming through them warning world for sagoday.
Happy to catch up for a.

Speaker 2 (33:01):
Beer, Hey, Haunter McGregor, We didn't have a great line today.
Thanks for your patience.

Speaker 4 (33:05):
Yes, thanks Jamie, my love.

Speaker 2 (33:12):
Monthly here on the Country we catch up with the
team from PGG Wrights and take a look at the
state of the live stock market today. Up to the
batter's box. It is Joe Higgins. He's mid South Canterbury
livestock manager. Where you're based in Timaro. You dodged a
bit of a bullet, didn't you, Joe. The South got hammered.
North Canterbury got hammered. You got off really in the

(33:33):
middle there with the wind I'm talking about.

Speaker 5 (33:36):
Yeah, yeah, I think most of our quest as you
could say, much began to church on a regular basis
here because we missed most of that, Jamie. We certainly
got win that week along with most of the South Island.

Speaker 3 (33:48):
Tuesday was probably the biggest start of the week.

Speaker 5 (33:50):
For us, just from memory. But on the Thursday, which
was a big day that both North Canterbury and also
South Otaga and taking south and got hammered pretty bad.
We actually had quite a strong wind, but nowhere near
as bad as what they did and didn't do anyone
near the damage.

Speaker 2 (34:04):
Heeds quite short, but prices are quite hot at.

Speaker 5 (34:07):
The moment, unbelievable, you could say. I have been doing
this job for a fair while, and I think the
last twelve months is probably the best I can recall
anyre for stock prices and farming, et cetera. We're just
sitting a bit of a tougher patches at the moment
with the weather, but certainly the prices are as good
as they've ever been, if not better, and a lot

(34:28):
of clients to rip in the water that which is
quite nice.

Speaker 2 (34:31):
But the good news is it looks like beef prices
are going to be pretty stable at these elevated levels.

Speaker 5 (34:36):
Yeah, it looked just in the near future the next
few months out in a lot too farther ahead, but
both lamb and be for that matter, look quite positive
for the next three or four months, probably even as
far as six months. You know, from overseas demand, et cetera. Year,
And we've just had a big run of spring sales
here for cattle sales, and last month or so, and

(34:57):
we've had a lot of demand and big numbers the sales.
I think a lot of farmers have taken the opportunity
to sell them on the prices they are and sort
of reap the rewards and get their margin. And so
we've had good numbers of good prices and demand from
all over the South Old and even we now have
got bid hour by the way at Tamuka and that

(35:17):
certainly strengthen now buying arm as well, with a number
of lines and churches to go to the North Island,
which is quite pleasing as well.

Speaker 2 (35:24):
So the wind carved sails, when are they on?

Speaker 5 (35:29):
Funny enough, I've just been writing up ads for them
as we speak. They start next week nineteenth and twentieth.
We're having two day sales. Just through the year. Numbers
have been read this year. So nineteenth, which is a Wednesday,
we're having sort of freezing balls and crossfed bulls, and
then on the Thursday, the next day we're having all

(35:50):
the beef calves, and then two weeks later we're having
another go actually with the ic calves. And so the
first two sales we've got proximately four thousand booked them
year over the two days, and already for the two
weeks later for the IHD cars Doudent fourth of desumber
We have got a three thousand roughly on each sale
at the moment as well, so certainly big numbers coming out.

(36:12):
There's been a lot of them read this year.

Speaker 2 (36:14):
Well Joe Higgins from PGG Rights and you guys, you
and your team do a great job for the IHC
with those calf sales. And I know Tamuka is a
major selling center. Good luck for that big calf sale
on what is it December the fourth?

Speaker 5 (36:27):
Did you say third? And end fourth? You have a
freezings will be on the third and the cross on
the beefy should I sail beyond the four?

Speaker 2 (36:35):
So if you're a farmer going along but up, it's
for a great cause. And if you're a farmer and
you haven't donated a car for a lamb or anything
to the IHC calf scheme, get off your backside and
do so. It's a magnificent cause. Joe Higgins, thanks for
your time.

Speaker 3 (36:49):
Good thank you, Jamie, Thank you, Joe. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (36:51):
The website is ic dot org dot nz Ford slash
calf to donate seriously, great course, see you tomorrow.

Speaker 5 (37:01):
On the catch all.

Speaker 1 (37:03):
The latest from the land it's the Country Podcast with
Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, you're specialist in John Deere
construction equipment