The Country Full Show: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Jamie Mackay talks to Shane Jones, Shane McManaway, Brad Siebert and Hunter McGregor.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Country with Jamie Mackay and Isuzu Utes. Get a
double cap D-Max from $ 55, 990. Newstalk ZB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
And I must follow on the road that lies ahead.
And I won't let my heart control my head.

Speaker 3 (00:25):
But you are my only hope. Good afternoon, New Zealand.
Welcome to the country. Celine Dion is back. Wow. Blame
Michelle Watt for the music. I'm going to kick off
the show with Shane Jones, a prince of the provinces, Matua.

(00:45):
Shane caught up with him earlier this morning. He's starting
a new fitness campaign. He was walking to Parliament ahead
of the horseback Hikoi protest. I'll have to update what
happened there. We're going to talk to Shane McManaway, Wairarapa farmer,
primary industry leader and mentor. The weather, El Nino, I

(01:07):
know people are sick of it. It hasn't even arrived
yet for many people. But it's on the minds of
many farmers. We're going to have a look at what's
happening in the Wairarapa. He's also the guy behind Growing
Future Farmers, the Xander McDonald Awards. And I know like
the rest of us, he was pretty wrapped with the
country calendar program on Sunday. about Fielding Agricultural High. What

(01:29):
a great example of what we can do in our
secondary schools. That was well done, Fielding. Brad Seabird is
the Chief Executive of Avocado NZ, or NZ Avocado. Tomorrow
is National Guacamole Day. I'm not really an avocado person myself,
but lots of people, especially millennials, love it smashed on toast.

(01:53):
It's an industry that really has its ups and downs,
not only financially, but also in terms of getting a crop.
And having caught up with him for ages, because I've
been off the scene a wee bit recently, Hunter McGregor,
a Shanghai-based correspondent. End of summer over there, shoulders of
the season are beautiful in Shanghai. Is solar power taking

(02:13):
over coal-fired electricity in China? And he's got some interesting stats,
believe it or not, on Shanghai's subway compared... to Auckland.
It's all on the country. Michelle will have rural news
for you. Got a GDT auction tonight. That's going to
be really interesting. And we'll have a look at sports

(02:34):
news for you. I'll give you spoiler alert here. The
New Zealand Rugby Union, they still call themselves NZ Rugby,
they call themselves these days, reportedly made more than $ 8
million from the all-black spring box test at Baltimore after
68,000 people attended, including 23 Springboks, unfortunately. Shane Jones next

(02:58):
on the country.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
And what else we may do We don't say.

Speaker 3 (03:11):
Goodbye It is 8.30 in the morning as we record
this interview. Matua Shane Jones, the Prince of the Provinces,
a man who's got a spring in his step because
he's walking to Parliament. Shane, are you walking to Parliament

(03:33):
to get there in time to greet the horseback Hikoi?

Speaker 4 (03:37):
Yes, there is a certain problem of the Matua sporting
a winter belly that has to be worn off. But look,
I reckon if I'd have come to Parliament today, I'd
have driven a Mustang rather than ride a couple of
nags down from.

Speaker 5 (03:51):
The Hawke's Bay.

Speaker 3 (03:52):
What sort of reception are they going to get from you?
Because by the time this goes to air, we'll probably know.
Let's see how good you are at predicting the future.

Speaker 4 (04:01):
Well, I don't think they're allowed to bring the horses
onto the parliamentary lawn. It'll be riddled with horse too
tight and there's probably enough crap in and around Parliament
on a bad day anyhow. Oh, well, I'm going to
go down there and engage with them and say that,
The bill that we're passing to excise and remove excessive

(04:22):
references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi from
various statutes where it serves no purpose. It'll be at
a select committee and people can exercise their democratic rights
and pop along to the select committee. And that bill
will still have life after November the 7th when we're
all back.

Speaker 3 (04:39):
I see woke old Chris Finlayson's having a crack at
you guys.

Speaker 4 (04:44):
Yes, well, we don't take too much notice of Chris,
the political eunuch, formerly a member of the National Tribe,
largely reviled by them now. It's all quite sad, really.

Speaker 3 (04:54):
Well, he's finished the career of a potential New Zealand
First MP, Stu Nash.

Speaker 4 (04:59):
Well, I don't think he finished it.

Speaker 3 (05:03):
Stu may have done it himself.

Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yeah, Stu was a bit like a weka, put his
head in that noose. And look, Chris has got his views, he's...
very anti the government. He's got a sharp level of language,
but he also needs to bear in mind that great
line from Shakespeare, you talk a great deal of nothing.

Speaker 3 (05:28):
Hey, just before I forget, you were mentioning your winter
belly and how to get rid of it. I've got
a very good cure for you, Shane, because it's done
wonders for me. It's called influenza A. There's a way
to knock a bit of condition off you.

Speaker 4 (05:40):
Yeah, no, no. Unfortunately, I haven't had the flu, a
genuine doubt of the flu, since the late 90s.

Speaker 3 (05:46):
Well, you keep it that way. Influenza A is a
bit brutal. Hey, have you caught up on the... As
you stroll towards Parliament at 8.30 in the morning, have
you caught up on the post... I don't know why
the freshwater bits are there, but the latest poll, some
people take no notice of it all. But Labour's down
seven points to 28. National's down two points to 27.

Speaker 6 (06:07):
Chloe.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
And the Greens are up four points to 14. But
the good news for you is New Zealand First is
up one point to 13%. You'd take that, wouldn't you?

Speaker 4 (06:18):
Yeah, well, we're growing slowly, steadily. We're not like a
coat of shiny paint that after one bout of kind
of inclement weather, it just fades. And I suspect that
when we get closer to the election, mate, Winston will
lead us to a much higher position and the Greens,
as they always do, they will fade because their linguistic

(06:42):
sorcery doesn't work on the younger voters who, by and large,
don't turn out to vote.

Speaker 3 (06:46):
Something that is working on the younger voters, those that
can be bothered voting, is the Opportunity Party or Opportunities Party,
whatever they call themselves. You can't even call them top anymore,
I don't think. Look, in this poll, for what it's worth,
they're at 6%. They get past the threshold. That brings
a change of government right into play.

Speaker 4 (07:08):
Well, they're hoping to purr their way into power. I mean,
they are the cat party. And the reality is once
150,000 Kiwis are required to go beyond the veil curtain
and vote for them, I don't think they will. I
think the media is continually coronating them. Look, I know
that a lot of people have got, as you say

(07:29):
in Kaitai, hoha, or sort of tired. of the political
palaver that's defined our political trajectory over the last six months.
But hey, in the next six weeks, you'll see who's
got the recipe for the future. And if you are
a property owner or you aspire to be a property owner,
then top's going to knock you out because they're going

(07:49):
to tax you to oblivion.

Speaker 3 (07:51):
Well, they're certainly going to knock the farmers out with
a land tax. Look, a centre-left coalition government, in my
humble opinion, and I've been an observer for a number
of years, Shane, would be disastrous for farming, despite, to
be fair to Chippy, his protestations of being more farmer-friendly,
and at least they've shown a farmer-friendly face with their
chow and or not pricing agricultural emissions. But farming is

(08:14):
not a big enough constituency to swing this electorate, election,
should I say. What will swing it will be disgruntled
voters in Auckland and Wellington.

Speaker 4 (08:25):
Well, Auckland, sorry, Wellington is already spoken for. It's basically
a bureaucratic town full of consultants and lanyard-wearing lefties. We
already know that. There's a small percentage who know that
it's the private sector that expands the pie. It's the
Crown that carves the pie up. Now, in relation to Auckland...

(08:45):
I think things are improving in Auckland. When we see
the numbers, I'm confident there'll be positive numbers from Treasury
when we get to the fiscal update. And after that,
we'll distill the entirety of our economic manifesto. But farmers,
stop believing that just supporting national is going to guarantee

(09:06):
your future. Buy some insurance. You've got two options. And
my option, I say to you, is a far more
reliable outcome, New Zealand first.

Speaker 3 (09:15):
So are you suggesting party vote New Zealand first and
maybe vote for your local national candidate?

Speaker 4 (09:22):
Now, Winston's always said that our party exists on the
strength of the party vote. Now, we've got candidates in
every single electorate where it's relevant to our mission. And obviously,
they're going to put up their signs and they're going
to promote them. the retention of the government. And we
all know it's the party vote at the end of
the day that will make the difference. You and I

(09:43):
just spoke about the six or seven percent, whatever it
was you said, for the top party. They are a startup.
They are a branch of the Labour green tree. And
they mean to tax the bejesus out of the productive
sector because they seem to be by paying the nefs
to sit on the couch and do jack that we're
all going to grow rich. It's farcical.

Speaker 3 (10:05):
Hey, just a final comment from me. A lot of farmers,
they're all out there at the moment, lambing, calving, getting
crops into the ground, working 24-7 or certainly seven days
a week at this time of the year. Why should
rural New Zealand, provincial New Zealand, subsidise Aucklanders to joyride
on the CRL under Labour, not much better under your

(10:29):
lot either, for 20 bucks a week.

Speaker 4 (10:32):
Well, let's not overlook the fact it was John Key,
your pin-up boy, who actually signed the crown up to
that deal with Mayor Len Brown.

Speaker 3 (10:41):
Yeah, but I haven't got an issue with the CRL.
I think it's fine. But why are we capping weekly
fares to $ 20? This is what Labour's going to do.
It's totally too subsidised.

Speaker 4 (10:52):
In reality, it's not our policy. It's something that they're
trying to use as a lolly. I come from Kaitaia.
It's totally useless. It's as relevant as tits on the
proverbial in relation to delivering transport outcomes in Kerikeri, Kaikohe
or Kaitaia. So I thoroughly agree with you. But we
are dealing... with a spend-a-thon party. They've conveniently overlooked the

(11:15):
mess that they left you and I in, and now
they hope to tax the bejesus out of the productive
sector rather than grow the sector in order to pay
our way out of the fiscal bloody rut that they've
got us into. And Kiwi should never, ever allow them
to get away with that scot-free by keeping them, hopefully,
in opposition for the foreseeable future.

Speaker 3 (11:34):
Final question for you, Shane Jones. When you do become
New Zealand first leader, when Winston passes over the baton.
Will you see common sense around the age of eligibility
for National Super?

Speaker 4 (11:47):
Oh no, it's a treacherous ground to stand upon to
talk about the longevity of our party leader. He is
going to last like a great kauri tree from the
farm wall.

Speaker 3 (11:59):
That wasn't the question. What are you going to do
about the age of eligibility for National Super? We can't
afford it. As long as Winston's drawing breath, it stays
where it is. I get that. What are you going
to do about it?

Speaker 4 (12:10):
Well, I'm focused at the moment, mate, on winning the campaign,
getting back into power, and we are not campaigning in
any manner or form to change the age of eligibility
or any major criteria pertaining to the pension.

Speaker 3 (12:23):
That's because most of your voters are on the pension.

Speaker 4 (12:26):
Well, no, no, don't be ageist. You just told me
you survived near a scrape with death. Don't take your
mortality for granted, good man.

Speaker 3 (12:34):
Hey, well, I'm on the government payroll as well. See
you later. Good luck with your weight loss campaign.

Speaker 2 (12:40):
Bye.

Speaker 3 (12:42):
Shane Jones, 8.30 this morning. Don't take your mortality for granted.
This is Celine Dion with the Bee Gees. And immortality. Right,
I need, Michelle, if you're listening, if you've got your
ears on out there, can you find out if the
horseback equi, she's waving at me, has it made it

(13:05):
into Wellington yet? We need to update that for you. Look,
You might love or loathe his politics or his party,
but as a wordsmith, he's second to none, isn't he?
Even his description of Wellington, a bureaucratic town full of

(13:27):
consultants and lanyard-wearing lefties. He is bang on. Up next,
we're going up the road, we're going over the Rimutaka Hills,
and we're going to catch up with Shane... McManaway in
the wider wrapper before the end of the hour. Plenty. Taronga.
Brad Siebert, Chief Executive of Avocado NZ, or NZ Avocado,

(13:51):
Head of National Guacamole Day tomorrow. And Hunter McGregor's our
guy in China. It's there within the chain.

Speaker 2 (14:00):
22 after 12, you're with the country, brought to you

(14:20):
by Isuzu and Farmlands.

Speaker 3 (14:22):
Remember, Farmlands have got 50 grand up for your footy club.
Go and Google it, or I'll tell you actually how
to enter it. But before I do, let's head to
the Wairarapa area. Shane McManaway. And Shane, you're heading to
Parliament this afternoon and Michelle has just told me that
the horseback hekoi hasn't arrived yet. Matua Shane put me

(14:42):
wrong this morning when he said it was going to
arrive sometime this morning. So you might get tangled and
up in that on your way over the Rimutakas.

Speaker 7 (14:52):
Yeah, good afternoon, Jamie. I certainly hope I don't get
caught up in that. And I imagine parking around Parliament
this afternoon will be a bit of a challenge. But yeah,
heading over there this afternoon to catch up with... Ministers
Hoggard and Ministers Patterson to talk through an Ag Pathways programme, Jamie,
for getting young people into agriculture. And we've already had

(15:15):
a couple of meetings with them. And today is just
a continuation to see if we can't try and get
some more of a collaborative approach with the many organisations
that are sort of working in this space, including ourselves
with Growing Future Farmers and the Xander MacDonald Award.

Speaker 3 (15:29):
I'll tell you what, Andrew Hoggard, number three now on
the ACT Party list, and Mark Patterson, New Zealand First
Ag guy, the latter a very understated sort of character.
They are really good farmer MPs.

Speaker 5 (15:44):
Absolutely, yeah.

Speaker 7 (15:45):
When you go and meet with them in the office,
you almost sort of feel like they shouldn't be there
because they sort of look like they might, even though
they're doing a magnificent job there, they genuinely are farmers
and it's very evident when you go and meet with them.
But that's so, so refreshing, and I guess it gives
us great confidence that they understand what's happening at grassroots.

Speaker 3 (16:04):
Now, I know you're very passionate and have been your
entire farming career, effectively, and corporate career, about encouraging our
youngest and brightest into agriculture. Didn't it give you faith?
Didn't it fill your heart with joy watching Country Calendar
and seeing what Fielding Agricultural High is doing?

Speaker 7 (16:25):
I thought it was one of the best I'd seen
for a long, long time, Jamie. They're doing some magnificent
work and many of those young people are coming through there,
coming out the other side with so many, many skills.
And I think just good human beings, they're taught to
be a good human being there. And I think that's so,
so important. But what really sort of... heartens me is

(16:47):
that they're highlighting that there is a great career to
be had in the agri sector and we've underestimated that
a bit I think and we need to be out
there as cheerleaders every farmer needs to be out there
as a cheerleader making sure that they wherever they can
they can help or they encourage or they mentor young
people in because it's not if you get an opportunity

(17:07):
to get into ag and it goes okay for you
it can go really really well.

Speaker 3 (17:12):
Well, it's a far cry, isn't it, from the 1980s? Look,
when I left university, people said, you're a really dumb
bugger to go farming. I didn't really have a choice
in the end, but I went farming. But we were
actively discouraging bright young people to go farming, yet it's
driving our whole economy.

Speaker 5 (17:32):
Yeah, absolutely, Jamie.

Speaker 7 (17:34):
And we've got to get out there now and start
to get this crop of people happening so that they
understand that there is a bright, bright future in the
agricultural sector. It's not only about pulling your gumboots or
your overalls on or milking cows. And there's so much
happening now around this tech space, around the agronomy space.

(17:55):
It's just like it's an incredibly neat and vibrant industry
to be in. So, yeah, I was told at about
15 I probably didn't make much of myself. So I
sort of thought I'd see if I could try and
demonstrate to the careers advisory I might have made the
wrong call. So he's unfortunately not with us now. But
I'm hoping that before he did leave, he could see

(18:16):
I made a bit of a difference.

Speaker 3 (18:17):
Well, you made a hell of a difference. You've made
a lot of money, if you don't mind me saying so,
and you've earned every cent of it. Weren't you told
to go and be a truck driver?

Speaker 7 (18:23):
Yeah, absolutely, yeah. Well, I know you just suggested that
probably that would be something that I might be okay at,
because I seem to obviously be a bit more interested
in machinery than I was mucking around learning algebra. And
I've really, you know, I'm just about 70, and I've
never come across anybody that's got a great deal of...
benefit out of learning algebra, but he seemed to think

(18:45):
we should learn it back then. But however, beside the point,
I'm not saying you should leave school at 15. I
think a good education is critically important, but so is
having our teachers in our colleges highlighting and demonstrating that
there is a great career path around agriculture.

Speaker 3 (19:00):
How are things in the Wairarapa? Because I was looking
at Phil Duncan's soil anomaly, soil moisture, whatever it is,
map yesterday, and the parts of the country that meant
to be dry, it's kind of wet.

Speaker 7 (19:15):
Yeah, well, we're in a pretty good spot here in
the Wairarapa. I mean, today would be, it's just unbelievable.
22 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, not a
breath of wind. You can almost see the grass growing.
And I feel very sorry for our friends down in
the deep south listening to your show yesterday. We were
quite wet earlier on, but it's a pretty typical spring.
If the El Nino turns up, we're geared up for it.

(19:38):
One of our places, Ongaha, has got its big five
pivot irrigators ready to just flick the switch on and
start pouring water on if we need it. But this
is not too dissimilar to a normal spring for us
if you take it over many years.

Speaker 3 (19:51):
Are you concerned about the prospect of the El Nino?
And I know I almost dread raising this because I
get texts, people going, you're scaremongering, blah, blah, blah. But
I see the numbers from the likes of Earth Sciences,
NZ and Phil Duncan and all that, and it is coming.
It's going to bite somebody in the backside. Are people
in the Wairarapa, traditionally a summer dry area, making contingencies

(20:15):
for it?

Speaker 4 (20:17):
Yeah, I believe they are, Jamie.

Speaker 7 (20:18):
I think most people have got a watching eye on
it to make sure that they don't get themselves in
a predicament. And it's always easy to find you do
that in the spring when you've got lots of grass
around you. But I've grown up in this region and
I've seen many a time here at Christmas where there
isn't anything green apart from the wrapping paper on the
Christmas presents.

Speaker 4 (20:37):
It's absolutely dry as dry grass. And so I'm not
sure that it'll be the first time we've been super dry.
But yeah, I think everybody's certainly mindful of it and
getting ready to pull the right levers if they have to.

Speaker 3 (20:48):
Yeah, and any rain from here on in is absolute
gold on the east coast of either islands.

Speaker 4 (20:54):
Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 7 (20:55):
We're a little lucky on the place on our Gold
Creek farm. We sit in under the Taurua Ranges, as
you know, and we get a bit of rain if
it's in the north-westerly direction. We get a bit off there,
but further out to the east towards our property at Martin,
just at West of Martinborough, you know, it can go
pretty dry there, so we're very mindful of it.

Speaker 3 (21:11):
We need to send some of the rain from the
Southland rice paddies up the country a bit, eh?

Speaker 4 (21:17):
Yeah, absolutely, yeah.

Speaker 7 (21:18):
Well, my thoughts go out to all of those people
down there because I tell you what, it's not much
fun farming in mud up to your lemon knees.

Speaker 5 (21:25):
It's bloody awful.

Speaker 7 (21:26):
So let's hope that starts to improve for them down there.

Speaker 3 (21:29):
Yeah, especially lambing and calving in it. Shane McManaway out
of the Wairarapa. Thank you very much for your time.
Keep up the great work with... Growing Future Farmers and
the Xander MacDonald Awards.

Speaker 7 (21:41):
Yeah, thanks, Jamie. We had an intake this year of
the Growing Future Farmers of just north of 80, and
the application's open for the Xander MacDonald Award 1st of October.
If you're between 21 and 35 and you think you've
got something to offer, go and put your application, and
we'd love to see you or hear from you.

Speaker 3 (21:56):
Great to chat. See you later.

Speaker 7 (21:58):
Cheers, Jamie.

Speaker 3 (22:00):
He's a champion bloke. Shane McMahon away there. Yeah, the
Xander MacDonald Awards, it's such a great fraternity that, such
a great network. Even if you don't win, even if
you don't become a finalist, enter, you've got nothing to
lose because the networking opportunities are absolutely amazing. We will
take a break. Some of your feedback, and I might

(22:25):
read a couple now and then I'll do a couple
after the break. Maybe the woke lefty Wellingtonians have said
no to the horses going on their bright and shiny...
Cycle trail. Here's another one. Obviously not a fan of
Matua Shane, the Prince of the Provinces. Shane isn't a
great cowrie. He's a combustible gorse bush. That once burnt

(22:47):
will allow something much more productive to grow. Jamie, I
just want to let you know there are more uses
for avocado besides guacamole smashed on toast. I've never had either.
Neither have I. I'm not really an avocado sort of person.
They're great in salads and as a cold vegetable with

(23:10):
a meal. Thank you for your text feedback. Really appreciate
it on 5009. Michelle will have rural news. We'll have
a look at sport for you. The All Blacks made
a bucket load in Baltimore. Brad Siebert from NZ Avocado
and Hunter McGregor in Shanghai. It is 26 away from 1.

(23:39):
Here's Michelle Watt with the latest in rural news.

Speaker 1 (23:43):
The country's rural news with Cub Cadet, New Zealand's leading
ride-on lawnmower brand. Visit steelfort.co.nz for your local stockist.

Speaker 6 (23:52):
And global dairy production is slowing down. New research from
Rabobank reveals global milk production growth has slowed to an
estimated 1.4% year-on-year, the weakest growth since early last year.
The past two global dairy trade auctions have also seen
skim milk pounders prices jump more than 10%. Fonterra Cooperative
Council Chair John Stevenson says production has been higher than

(24:13):
normal in recent years. He says higher prices have encouraged
more milk production internationally, but environmental conditions are constraining feed supply.
And that's rural news.

Speaker 3 (24:22):
Thank you, Michelle. And just as a footnote to that,
Mike McIntyre from Jardins. It says futures are calling for
a flat with a GDT auction tonight. I thought it
was going to be up, actually, with the slight downtick
in butter. We will see. The good news is the
Milk Futures prices for this season and next are nudging $ 10.
The price isn't the problem. The cost is the problem.

(24:44):
Here's Sport. As I said, the All Blacks made a
fortune in Baltimore, $ 8 million. The Crusaders will host the
Reds on February 12th for the first match of next
year's Super Rugby Pacific. The Hurricanes start their title defence

(25:06):
against the Blues in Auckland the following night. Elsewhere, the
Chiefs meet the Waratahs and the Highlanders are away to
the Drua. Never an easy game, especially at that time
of the year. Defending champion Paul Cole, Superman, is through
to the quarterfinals of the at the PSA Squash Tours
Platinum event in Qatar, a fresh off a title triumph

(25:28):
in London. He's beaten Swiss world number 22, can't pronounce
his name, in straight games across 44 minutes. That's your
sports news. Up next, we talk avocado. So tomorrow, September 16,

(25:59):
is National Guacamole Day. If you're into your avocados, I'm
more of a kiwi fruit bloke myself. But to tell
us more, and this has been a wonderful marketing exercise
for the avocado industry, is the chief executive of Avocado NZ,
based out of Tauranga, Brad Seaburt. And well done on
a pretty good promotion. It's all on tomorrow, is it, Brad?

Speaker 8 (26:19):
It is.

Speaker 5 (26:20):
Thank you for having me, Jamie. Yeah, we're turning Guacamole
Day into Guacamole Week and trying to get the message
out there. And the study just really highlights how Kiwis
are starting to eat avocados and more of them.

Speaker 3 (26:32):
It's a bit of a fraught industry to be involved
in because you certainly seem to have your ups and downs.
And as I understand it, with avocado, some years you
don't even get a crop.

Speaker 5 (26:43):
Yeah, I mean, it's You can have pretty good years.
If Mother Nature plays a part, like it has done
for this season, you can have a pretty good crop.
And so the opportunity is always there offshore. Our export
volumes are pretty consistent. Making sure we compete well offshore
to get value is the ticket. And we often supply

(27:05):
almost 50% to the local market.

Speaker 3 (27:07):
The interesting thing about avocado, unlike almost any other crop,
is you can almost pick it all year round. Am
I right in saying that?

Speaker 5 (27:15):
Yep, it'll stay green on the tree until you harvest it.
So we don't import avocados. So we grow as whole
deer fruit, meet windows of value or an opportunity offshore
and in the local market. And yeah, we harvest essentially
12 months of the year.

Speaker 3 (27:30):
So we know that kiwifruit in particular, out of leading
the horticulture stables, having a really good season. What are
the prospects like for prices for your avocado with your
record crop? Will you find a home for it all?

Speaker 8 (27:45):
We will.

Speaker 5 (27:46):
We've got a lot, over 50%, over 2.8 million trays
will go back into the Australian market, which holds a
lot of value for us on the eastern seaboard. And
so we will, growers will be reasonably happy with the
returns they get out of Australia this season. And last
season just showed when Australia opportunity wasn't there, we sent 78%
of the crop to Asia and Canada. So the opportunity

(28:08):
for demand is there.

Speaker 3 (28:10):
You're trying to convince us to eat a bit more
avocado or guacamole. Apparently, New Zealandese eat around three kilograms
of avocado per person annually. The Aussies are up near five.

Speaker 5 (28:23):
They are. They are.

Speaker 4 (28:25):
And 4.7.

Speaker 5 (28:26):
And Mexico is 12. So it just shows how nations
can increase their consumption. China is 0.03. So you can
just see in the Asian markets where the opportunity lies
as well to increase that. But correct, locally, it's about
three kgs per person.

Speaker 3 (28:43):
Put the industry into some sort of perspective for me
compared to, say, I don't know, kiwi fruit or apples.
How many growers have we got? How many hectares have
we got in avocado? Because I know there was quite
a big expansion in recent times in Northland.

Speaker 8 (28:59):
Yeah, there has been.

Speaker 5 (29:01):
We grow just over 4,000 hectares. And we've got a
large grower base, about 1,500 growers. And so some large
scale right through to some lifestyle orchardists who can make
a viable go at it if they're growing in the
right place and doing the right approach to it.

Speaker 3 (29:18):
So the cost of living crisis, because we always joke
about the millennials having smashed avocado on toast in their
favourite cafe. Has that affected the industry, the fact that
people have less discretionary income for their smashed avocado on toast?

Speaker 5 (29:34):
Well, that's what we've seen through the study.

Speaker 8 (29:35):
Yep, toast is still what?

Speaker 5 (29:37):
Near 70% of how 1,000 consumers... that we surveyed still
like to eat it. And it just shows that at-home
cafe shift where... 61% of those are choosing to eat
it and prepare it at home rather than purchasing it
at a cafe. It's only, you know, can be a
positive thing because we sell more avocados to more people.

Speaker 3 (29:56):
So finally, for National Guacamole Day tomorrow, what's happening? What's
happening retail-wise? Have you got specials happening in cafes and supermarkets?

Speaker 5 (30:05):
Yeah, the retailers will have a good go at it.
We're partnering with the main retailers to make sure the
promotions are on point and they may have their own...
awareness around the day as well. So we're pushing as
much as we can and just getting the word out.
And the study has been really positive to just show
how those eating habits are changing.

Speaker 3 (30:26):
Well, Brad Siebert, Chief Executive of Avocado NZ, good luck
tomorrow for National Guacamole Day.

Speaker 5 (30:31):
Appreciate it.

Speaker 8 (30:33):
Thanks, Jamie.

Speaker 3 (30:35):
Thanks for your time, Brad. Appreciate it as well. 17
away from one year with the country. Great day, they
tell me, down in Southland. Thanks for the text, Geoff.
20 degrees, warm, windy, just what you want. But unfortunately,
when you get a nor'wester like that, there's always something
behind it. And the latest from the weather forecasters is

(30:58):
weather whiplash. South Island faces 10 degree plunge as snow returns.
Please don't shoot the messenger. It's for Wednesday and Thursday.
The good news is Sandy's texted me. She's having avocado
and tomato on Vogel's bread as we speak. I'm almost

(31:18):
MBS apart from the avocado bit. And here's a good text.
Read the sports news, Jamie. Surely the richest man flying
out of Baltimore would have been the TMO. Not bad
at all. Up next, our guy in Shanghai, Hunter McGregor.

Speaker 2 (31:33):
Never wonder where I am I can read your mind.

Speaker 3 (31:41):
He's our guy based in Shanghai, Hunter McGregor, Roxburgh born
and bred these days, selling red meat and venison to
the Chinese. He's also got an interesting new business, bringing
stuff to New Zealand. We'll talk about that a wee
bit later. Hey Hunter, we haven't chatted for ages because
I've been off the scene for a while. Great to
catch up. Now I take it that summer is done

(32:03):
in China.

Speaker 5 (32:04):
Is it?

Speaker 8 (32:05):
Yeah, good afternoon Jamie. Yeah, no, summer has just switched off.
They have the A very hot July and August here.
And last week we've just gone below sort of 30
degrees during the daytime. So, yeah, from July. If you
ever come to China, avoid July and August because we're

(32:25):
sort of 35 to 40 degree high humidity. So that's
why I was down in New Zealand over that time.
And we've just sort of switched into autumn and it's
a lovely time to be here. It's clear blue sky.
We'll probably get up to about 28, 29 today. So,
you know, things are looking good for the next wee while.
And then we head into winter and then we'll get

(32:46):
cold and rainy. So, yeah, now we have a good
little autumn period and things are looking good at the moment.

Speaker 3 (32:52):
Yes, I've been lucky enough to have been to China twice.
Once in your autumn, once in your spring, shoulders of
the season. It was absolutely beautiful temperature-wise. How's the Chinese
economy going? And I'll start with fuel prices. they're really
starting to bite around the world. I take it that's
the case in China as well?

Speaker 8 (33:14):
Well, you know, I sort of fill my car at once,
twice a week, and I have noticed that the fuel
prices are slowly creeping up each week. It's going up
a little bit. I don't think it's going up too
much and too high, but it is going to be
a bit of a problem if things continue the way
they're going at the moment. I've got 92, which is

(33:37):
like 91, and that's $ 2. 13 in New Zealand. That was
well below $ 2 a couple of weeks ago. So things
are slowly creeping up like the rest of the world.
China's not immune to what happens in the Middle East
as well.

Speaker 3 (33:52):
Is it dragging down the Chinese economy? Cost of living?

Speaker 5 (33:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (33:57):
Yeah, cost of living is slowly going up. We haven't
had a massive inflation over the last few years, so
things are OK. But, you know, things are slowly creeping up.
The economy is sort of struggling here. They're still trying
to stimulate the consumer to spend a bit more. We'll
see how that plays out in the next wee while

(34:18):
because from now until Christmas is usually a big time
for food and beverage companies up here, especially restaurants. They
have a lot of events. It's good weather leading into Christmas,
end of year things and stuff. So traditionally there's been
a big spike in consumption. So let's see how that
plays out this year. I assume it will, but I'm

(34:38):
not too sure how much of an increase the consumption
will be this year. But let's see.

Speaker 3 (34:45):
Is China doing its bit to save the planet? Is
solar power taking over from coal-fired electricity?

Speaker 8 (34:53):
Yeah, no, solar power here, well, China's definitely doing its
bit with wind and solar and nuclear and everything else.
But just the national, China's National Energy Administration just came
out with some statistics, which are really interesting, is that
the installed capacity of solar power went past coal for

(35:16):
the first time. Now, that doesn't mean that there's a
difference between installed capacity and actually what's produced from the
solar system up here. So what's happened is that coal,
for the first time, has dropped below 50% of total
power production. Solar's still at 13%, is growing to 13%. But, yeah,

(35:41):
things are changing. But, yeah, the installed capacity... just went
above coal. So, you know, it's interesting. There's a lot
happening up in this space. And I would say watch
this space because they're still installing and producing a hell
of a lot more solar panels here. And, you know,
they're exporting them around the world as well. So, yeah, no,

(36:03):
they're definitely doing their bit and it's only going to increase.

Speaker 3 (36:05):
We here in New Zealand, or Auckland as anyhow, are
getting very excited about our equivalent of a subway or
the tube. Uh, it is the CRL, the city rail link.
But once again, we pale in comparison to Shanghai subway.

Speaker 2 (36:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (36:23):
Well, your Shanghai subway is looking to raise the prices
for the first time in about 20 years. Um, but
you know, at the moment there's nearly not just over
900 kilometers of subway line and track around the city
of Shanghai to put it into comparison. Yeah. Auckland is
now at 182 kilometers. So, uh, It's got a fair

(36:45):
way to go. But Shanghai is the biggest city. Shanghai
does about 10 million trips per day on that system.
And it's still growing. They're still building. You go to
different parts of the city and there's still subway lines
being built and stuff. So they don't sort of stop
with infrastructure up here. And they'll keep going. And it's

(37:05):
been noticeable the improvements of how to get around the
city and things like that are always getting easier. So
hopefully it happens in Auckland as well.

Speaker 3 (37:14):
Well, there's only three and a half kilometres in Auckland underground.
There'll be a hell of a lot more than that
in Shanghai underground. I'm assuming it's mostly underground until you
get out to the suburbs. Is that right?

Speaker 8 (37:25):
Yeah, that's correct. Yeah, yeah. And then once you get
out of the suburbs, it's elevated on an elevated rail link. So, yeah, no,
it's pretty convenient. You can get around pretty quick. And
the best thing about a subway is you actually know
what time you're going to arrive. You know, there's no
rush hour traffic issues.

Speaker 3 (37:44):
Is it stinking hot at the height of summer?

Speaker 8 (37:45):
Actually, it's nice and cool, to be honest. It's really
good because the air flows all the way down the
subway carriage because it's all open. There's no doors between
the carriages. So it is nice and cool, a bit
of a break from the heat during summer, which is great.

Speaker 3 (38:01):
You listened to Peter Alexander. Thank you for increasing our
podcast listenership numbers there. Hunter, you listened to Peter Alexander
on yesterday's show talking about how costs are rising. uh,
to meet farm incomes and you've got a solution.

Speaker 8 (38:18):
Well, yeah, no, doing my bit to try to keep
those costs, uh, going down actually, um, you know, sourcing products, uh,
for farmers out of, out of China directly to the yard. So, uh,
working on a few projects, always looking for a bit
more and hopefully get a few savings for farmers out there.
It will be interesting to see. Hopefully we can stop

(38:42):
that cost rising as well.

Speaker 3 (38:44):
Well, I know the example of a digger. You're sending
over from China to a Southland farmer at half price.
So there you go. People can get a hold of
you via me if they want to find out more
about your business, which is called what? Shameless Plug Time?

Speaker 8 (39:01):
Rata Trade.

Speaker 3 (39:03):
Rata Trade. Well, you enjoy a wonderful, I was going
to say spring. It's actually autumn, isn't it, in the
Northern Hemisphere in Shanghai. Great to catch up again, Hunter McGregor. Cheers.

Speaker 8 (39:14):
Thanks, Jamie.

Speaker 3 (39:16):
Thanks, Hunter. Six away from one. Up next, we wrap
the country with some of your feedback. OK, wrapping the country.
On tomorrow's show, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Cameron Bagri, Anna
Pallare from Fonterra, Global Dairy Trade Auction tonight. We'll watch

(39:39):
that one with a lot of interest. Here's a text. Sorry, Shane,
but farmers see your anti-foreign trade and anti- immigrants attitudes
and you won't get our votes mate we need new
foreign markets and workers because the modern kiwi won't work
and loves too many holidays sick leave and acc claims

(40:00):
and do their best to stay in bed all day
that might be slightly harsh but to be fair uh
who would book the cows if it weren't for the
migrants we'll see you tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (40:14):
The Country with Jamie Mackay and Isuzu Utes. Get a
double cab D-Max from 55,990.

Speaker 3 (40:19):
Newstalk ZV.