May 12, 2026 • 39 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Kate Acland, Mark de Lautour, Hunter McGregor, and Craig Wiggins.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch are the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay thanks to Aisuzu, Get Demo deals
on the tough Dmax today.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Strange, isn't it? What can win the Eurovision Song Contest.
I'm Jamie McKay, This is the Country. Michelle's very excited
about the Eurovision Song Contest. I'm less so I'm looking
forward to kicking off the show as we do every
Wednesday with the Prime Minister. Also Kate Ackland share of
beef and lamb New Zealand. Just back from the United
(00:51):
States where we've been celebrating commemorating one hundred years of
red meat export. One of the big stories and ask
the PM about this one is the prospect of more
lamb tariffs and the protein boom in the US. Really
keen to get Kate's take on that one. Mark de
Latour talking about protein booms, he's cashing in on one
(01:13):
or his company is Open Country Dairy. We'll have a
look at their milk forecast price and just see how
the end of season volumes are shaking up for the
dairy industry. Hunter McGregor is our guy in Shanghai. Trump
is about to leave the White House and fly to
Beijing to meet with President she We will talk to
(01:36):
Hunter about that and other stuff. Plus Craig Wiggie working
scrape Bloke, the founder of Lean on a Gate talk
to a mate. We'll see what he's up to in
the old mental health space. The top Paddock in rural
New Zealand. It's all on the Country, including rural news
and sports news. We've got a busy show. Let's get
into it. Wednesdays on the Country. The Prime Minister kicks
(02:15):
off the show. We're going to be speaking hopefully to
Kate Acklin from Beef and Lamb New Zealand shortly about
these further LAMB tariffs or the prospect of further Lamb
tariffs in the US. Just briefly, Prime Minister, what's your
take on it?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Look good to be with you, Jamie. The first thing
I'd say is that the Americans, as I am saying to,
haven't formally announced anything. We've been anticipating they could, given
the lobbying that they've got from their own sheep farmers
within the US. But again we feel very very strongly
that there's nothing in our actions that's damaging or hurting
the US sheep grower sheep farmer. I mean, essentially, our
(02:50):
products are complementary. We would defend that case really strongly.
We've got a good relationship with the US entrade, and
we would make that case strongly. Interesting. I'd also noted
that a NASCA I read that you Trump was also
considering actually relaxing beef tariffs going into the US, And
of course we've got you know, we're in quite a
good position there. We've got very good lean beef, high
quality cuts, and a really good product into the US
(03:12):
as well. So let's just see what happens before we
jump get too.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Exercised about it.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
But rest assured, we don't know. We don't think we're
causing any injury to the US sheep farmer. In fact,
we think it's complementary, and we'll make that case very strongly.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yes, we know policy can change. On or worm over there,
Shark Horror leading the two network news programs are last night,
we're letting climate polluters such as Fonterra off the hook.
Why are we giving this Mike Smith, bloke the bloker
chop chopped down. I think it's the same guy the
tree on one tree. Hell, why are we giving him oxygen.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Well, we know what we're doing is he took a
legal case to the courts taking on these companies and
blaming them for climate change issues, and he had this
particular case he was arguing, we're very simply coming in
with legislation we announced this week to say, look, you know,
we want to give certainty and clarity to the business
(04:05):
environment about issues like this in a case like this,
because it actually has quite a chilling effect on businesses
if they come to New Zealand think that they can
be under threaten this way, that just doesn't encourage them
to invest in this country. So that's why you know,
my government's coming in over the top and we say, look,
we want certainty and clarity for businesses and as a result,
you know, we're passing legislation about that.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Let's just have a look at the most recent polls
and I know you're probably going to be like Bulger
and say, look, bug of the poles, but they're going
better for you. The poll of polls would show the
return of the center right coalition, Taxpayers Union poll as
you now as preferred PM. Do you think this new
hard ass kicker Sluso Rambo sort of image you're trying
(04:47):
to take on as working.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Oh you're unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
No.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Look, I don't commun on poles, as you know.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But you know I've tried to be very clear at
the beginning of the year to say, look, we're having
an election November seven. If you really want center right government,
you've got a two ticks blow. I'll make that case
all year long as we go into election. I've already
said who I will and won't work with. I can't
work with Labor. They created us on godly mess. They
don't deliver anything, they don't get things done, and I
just want to tax more and borrow more. Pretty much
(05:15):
the same with the Green So they are out and
to Party Mari and whatever other independent parties that we've
seen form in the last week. I'm not working with
them either.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, but I don't see a path Sorry, I don't
see a pathway for Chippy to the Treasury benches without
to Party Mara. He may be cutting off his nose
to Spider's face by winning the MARI seats, and I
think he probably will win them.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Mate, You're the political commentator, not me. I'm just very
much focused on navigating a fuel crisis and making sure
we get this country through this current set of challenges
really well.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
So and we get to the other side.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
And make sure we maximize the opportunities that we've got.
So I'll leave those for comments for others to make.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Do you enjoy Judith Collins's fellaedictory. I've always found it
to be quite witty and cutting.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Yeah, Look, I mean Judas had twenty four years in Parliament.
She's done some incredible jobs. She's done some hard stuff
and some tough stuff, but she's actually a good friend
of mine, and she's also really wonderful. You know, she's
been a really good support person, she's wonderful with staff,
she's super well respected and so you know, it was
really good to see her go off in great style
with her valedictory, and then we had a very nice
after match at Premier House for her last night as well,
(06:19):
which was wonderful. So no, she's been loved by our
party and she's and I think the New Zealand she
left the legacy in New Zealand we shall be very
proud of, you know. And she's going on to be
Present of the Law Commission, which is another contribution to
public service as well, so, no, it's great to see
a golf and great staff.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I heard Shane Jones talking to the Husk I think
yesterday morning saying there isn't a fuel crisis, it's just
a price crisis. There's not a supply issue. Do you
concur with that?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yeah, Well, what I've having been to Singapore and actually
met with the refiners and the fuel importers and the
fuel executives, what's happened. Essentially, Jamie's is at three quarters
of the crude oil that's been produced in the Middle East,
half of its actually coming through pipelines and other access
points out of the Middle East, and about a quarter
of it actually has been replaced by volumes from the US,
(07:07):
from West Africa and other parts of the world. And
there's about a quarter of what's been produced that actually
you know, is short and so yes, the prices have
gone up, but you know, when we look out to
and now we've got confirmed orders through to the end
of July, we've got planned orders into August. We've done
sensible things like this Singapore. You know, relationship, that guarantee
(07:28):
of no export controls is excellent. We've got the extra
ninety million leases of diesel. They will be in place
in the new tanks that we've built by the end
of June. You know, we've got constant contact with the
fuel importers industry, and all we're saying is, look in
the highly highly unlikely event, you know, very you have
to have a severe disruption for six months or something.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
You know, here's how we might approach this.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
But what we're not doing is COVID clup win to
and in any state. What we're not doing is you know,
telling people what that can can't do and be a
parent child relationship. We want an adult adult between government
and industry and that's what we've done. We've met with
all the different folk from day one and made sure
we've got sensible things going on, and we just have
a high trust model if we ever got to that situation.
(08:12):
So I really want these leanders not worrying about that.
I know the pricing as a challenge, but even then,
diesels down fifty cents or so from three or four
weeks ago had its highest, and we've thought we're really
assured about our supply, which is the most important thing.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Prime Minister Christoph Luxe and thanks as always for your
time on the country. Take care, Thank you our Prime Minister.
At is a quarter after twelve, you are with the country.
Nineteen eighty one, UK banned Bucks Fizz win the Eurovision
Song contest. Michelle's wandered in here illegally, I might add. No,
(08:47):
I'm joking there. I said to you, get some Eurovision
Songs winners, and it's hard to find winners that were
kind of mainstream pop. That's right.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
It is a lot of them, I stay, and they
were huge in their own country, but not here in
New Zealand on the other side of the world. And
any excuse for me to go down a rabbit hole
of Eurovision, Jamie, I was very excited. Best part of
the week.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Lulu will play a wee bit of Lulu later for
you and even go back in time to Sandy Shore.
See that'll test the memory of some people. He has
a text and who enjoyed my reference to the Prime
Minister as Luxo Rambo. No I say that, I say
that somewhat in Jess. But he has taken a harder line.
(09:32):
He's taken a harder line with the media. He yesterday
when interviewed on the tiles. You know, after they come
out of the House. Someone was asking and one of
the reporters was asking him about to party Marie and
the Greens and he said, look, I'm not going into
government or coalition with them. I don't care. And that
(09:54):
was and that just shut it down. And then we
had the bizarre situation of Jenna Lynch Mob showing a
picture of a toaster to Chippy to see whether it
was the same toaster that's used in the luxury on
the luxury Marmite sandwich. Is it luxury marmite sandwich?
Speaker 6 (10:11):
Luxury marmite sandwich.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, it's quite. It's quite. Some of the stuff they
there there is over the top, but it is quite entertaining.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
Can we call it trolling, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Well, it was trolling, but I mean there's going to
be a lot more of that in the election year.
But Jenna sternly looking at Chippy who was squirmishing away.
He was up to his neck in it. But anyhow,
I'm running out of bucks, fizz. So up next we
are going to chat to Kate Ackland. We're going to
track her down. Kate Ackland is the chair of Beef
(10:49):
and Lamb New Zealand and she's just been nominated for
Rural Woman of the Year at the Primary Industry New
Zealand Awards. More about that later, Kate. But you're just
back are from the US. You were over there, recognized, recognizing,
should I say, one hundred years of red meat export?
What's the wize? What are you hearing? What is the
(11:10):
chat about Trump and as trade people imposing more tariffs
upon our lamb because we don't want that.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Oh, good afternoon, Ja mc noll. We absolutely don't. We
were just over Nathan guy and celebrating one hundred years
of the relationship between New Zealand and the US as
far as red meat goes, and it speaks to how
I think that relationship is to buy the US consumers
and New Zealand producers. What we are hearing It's been
(11:40):
going on for a while. There is a push to
have a or launch a global safeguard investigation into lamb imports.
So some of their producers over there think that imports
are actually harming their farm systems.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
But we are arguing, I don't know whether we're right
or wrong. We're arguing that our lamb exports to the
US along with the Australians because we're both sending increased
volumes in there are actually increasing the price that American
farmers are getting for their lamb.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Well, that's absolutely the case in the data back set up.
So Down's been a pretty consistent supplier. We've remained for
the last decade about a quarter of US lamb imports,
so it's been relatively stable through that period. The price
has steadily increased, and you know, we would argue that
we're actually helping keep the lamb on the on the
(12:33):
plates of American consumers because there's just not enough to
domestic production to do that.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Okay, it's about what six hundred million dollars of sheep
meat we're sending there or were sent there in twenty
twenty five, and a total red meat exports are what
you tell me, are they twelve billion or something like that?
So it's not huge, but it's far from insignificant.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Look, it is significant because America's a really high value market.
So it's where we pretominantly see in the rack from
the middle, so it's a five market for any deal land.
It would have an impact if you know, if tariffs
were to come on, but you know, we're a long
way off that. So what's what we're hearing is that
it's going to be an investigation into lands, an independent
(13:16):
legal process, so you know, tariffs far from a dundale. Obviously,
we've been preparing for this for quite some time, so
we're no partners in the US and just making sure
we've got all that data and we've got everything ready
to go should this investigation get launched.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Well, you may have just come back from the US.
You sound like you're in Mars. Stand on a chair.
We'll do our best because we'll battle away. We haven't
got brilliant reception while you were over there. What did
you make of the protein boom? We will talk to
Mark Delatour, hopefully shortly on the show about this. He's
from Open Country Dairy. There's a real boom there for
the dairy industry. Is it dido for red meat?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Well, look, it's absolutely phenomenal. I was lucky enough to
go to a couple of packing plants over there, and
you know all of the meat packaging has the grants
protein right up and big type.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
On the front.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
These these weight loss drugs, the glt ones are really
driving this bloom for red meat. And what we're getting
told is that you know, we're then turning their superramid
upside down. Americans are actually getting told to prioritize red
meat and their diets. The demand is absolutely phenomenal over there.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
We've got RFK Junior to thank for that.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yeah, well I don't know, but look it's it's unlike
anything I've seen before. And you know, all the signals
are is that that will remain for some time.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Let's just finish on you being nominated for the Rural
Woman of the Year, Kate Ackland, and your capacity is
the chair of Beef and Lamb New Zealand. You're up
against Sarah Donaldson from the East Coast Rural Support Trust.
I don't personally know Sarah, but obviously if she's on
that neck of the woods, she will have had a
lot of work on a plate to do with the
Rural Support Trust. And another person from that era area
(15:02):
does a great job, as Sandra Faulkner from Federated Farmers.
What are your chances?
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Oh, look at some pretty stiff conversation, but I'm I'm
absolutely chussed to have been nominated because there are so
many fantastic women up and down the up and down
the country and rural communities who are doing really great
things so very very flattered. But I think you're also
up for an award at these it depends conference.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Well, I missed out on a nomination for Rural Man
or Rural Bloke of the Year. I noticed there isn't
one of those categories, Kate, should I complain?
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Good luck?
Speaker 5 (15:39):
I think the Rural Woman Award has come about because
of the International Year of the Female Farmer. I understand.
So look, I think it's a cool award because actually,
as I said, you know, there's a women who are
absolutely the glue of our rural community.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
So you know acknowledging that is a great thing.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Plus you can multitask and blokes can't. We'd be stuffed
with you. There you go, Kate Ackland, thank you very
much for your time, good luck and I'll look forward
to your company at the Primary Industry Awards and Summit conference.
Thanks Jammy, good on your Kate it is and good
luck to good luck to all the contestants. The finalists
will announced. Yes that I think Michelle's going to update
(16:19):
those in Rural News before It's dairy week here on
the country. It is dairy week here on the country,
he said, reaching for his information sheet. So if you
move as with Moving Day coming up with Meridian, you
can enjoy an account credit of up to three hundred
dollars and it's dairy week courtesy of Meridian and Farmland.
(16:41):
So what you do is you move with Meridian and
then pay your bill on your Farmland's card. That is
the way to go. Some of your feedback mam My mom,
I should always pre read this because you can start
reading them and then you realize you shouldn't have started. Well,
here's one from Jones and stop being such a kill joy, Jamie.
(17:02):
Since when has the Country show I've been a music show.
It's not a music show, but we just have these
wee musical joiners and we like a week theme. It
just breaks it up a wee bit and hopefully brightens
your day. Not yours, Joan, but thanks for listening. We
do appreciate it, and Jamie. Laura Bradley will win Rural
(17:27):
Woman of the Year. Here's Laura Bradley. I need to
do my homework on Laura Bradley. She's not a finalist.
We already told you who the finalists were. Kate Acklin,
Sarah Donaldson and Sandra Sandra Faulkner. Radio Up next Mark
de Latour from Open Country Dairy.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Dairy Week on the country thanks to Meridian and Farmland's
making moving to easier for farmers.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
It is dairy Week here on the country. We're focusing
on our biggest export industry. Second biggest player and growing
in the market is Open Country Dairy Chief executive Mark
de Latour joins us and Mark, I see and I've
looked at your supplier newsletter, your forecast payouts for the May,
(18:27):
September and November periods. They're all pretty solid, like ninety
nine fifty to nine eighty nine ninety. Is that where
you see the dairy market at the moment, mid to
high nines.
Speaker 7 (18:38):
Yeah, good afternoon, Jamie. Yeah, I do actually, and we've
we just completed our latest round of farmer supplier meetings
as well, and we we were suggesting to the farmers
the next season is going to be looking around that
nine sixty number starts a really strong start, and I
think you know this season that we're just washing up
now is probably going to finish a bit above.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
How much is the protein boom, especially in the United States,
off the back of these weight loss drugs. How much
of a boom is that for the New Zealand dairy industry.
Speaker 7 (19:13):
I think it's first of all, they probably do need something.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Yes they do, they do, indeed. But the irony of
it is they're taking our lean grinding beef to make hamburgers,
which make them fat, and then they need some of
our dairy protein to lose a bit of weight. I
mean only in America eight.
Speaker 7 (19:29):
Yeah, that's right, that's right. What we do know is
UK Europe follow those tunes about three to four years later,
so you know, I think it can only be good
for us, you know, with our free trade agreements with
UK and Europe kicking them about that time. I think
there'll be a continued demand for the protein. So we're
doing a lot of work on that of open country Jamie,
(19:51):
and and for us it's about making sure our fat
protein options are there so we can capture the capture
the value going forward.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
So I think it's great.
Speaker 7 (19:59):
I think lots of interest, I guess in the Western markets,
so we call it that the Western markets about losing weight.
But likewise, if you go to Southeast Asia or China,
everything's got twenty percent added protein and so things like
weigh proteins and even cheese consumptions up through the world.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Are you diverting product now from the fats to the
powders because open country you kind of your open country
cheese to start with.
Speaker 8 (20:30):
Yeah, that's right, not not not really.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
I guess what we're doing is we're taking we're certainly
doing more more skin, you know, which is which is
taking that fat off, which has still got high value.
We've got fantastic channels for our butter, so that's that's creating. Really,
even with the the auction prices dropping down, the option
on fats is not actually that accurate, so there's there's
(20:52):
lots of options to get better pricing out there and
then selling fats on an option. So so we don't
do that. But but I think, you know, certainly way proteins,
they just seem unstoppable at the moment. So we're doing
a lot of work on that, looking at expanding you know,
the cheese capacity. We've talked about that for a while,
(21:13):
so a lot of talk, a lot of planning going
on for that, and you know, suddenly it's not just
the caseine aspect, not just the cheese that's valuable, it's
it's the way. So we're pretty excited about that.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Well, I heard good commentary from Mike McIntyre, I know,
you know, I'm from Jardan, just back from the US,
and he was talking semi tongue in cheek to a
couple of cheese companies over there that said they're now
actually protein players and cheese as a by product.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
Yeah, that's right, and you've seen, you know, certainly seeing
American cheese prices come down. Accordingly, there's a little bit
coming into this part of the world. But that's not
real cheese joining this American cheese, not not grass fed,
pure chain.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
It's a bit like some of that important American butter
and sipard sort of stuff. Are you ready to draw
a line under the twenty five twenty sixth season in
terms of making a call on volume for the season.
Speaker 7 (22:06):
Yeah, yeah, we are. I mean it's all over bar
the shouting, really, isn't it. I mean, volumes have held up,
you know, the tail end of the season has been
very strong, but we are now seeing the volumes drop
off in the North Island in particular. So you know,
it's been a fantastic season. I think we're closing in
probably around near the six percent up year on year.
(22:27):
You know, im like like farms, that's without any farm
number increases, that's just people that were supplying us the
year prior to this year would be right on, right
on six percent up.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Finally, and you can choose to answer this or not
answer it. It may be commercially sensitive. How many Fonterra
shareholders have come over to Open Country or change teams
once they got their two dollars capital repayment.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
This is the second time you've had to go at
me on this, jam And geez, you're trying to catch
me out, an't you. But I see Riley Kennedy had
an article in Businesses a couple of days ago saying
that Open Country we're pretty competitive on the milk front.
But again, we're always always looking for more milk. And
(23:15):
you know, we've got the same value proposition we're always
put in front of farmers. Our goal, Jamie is you know,
we don't necessarily say we compete with anyone. Our role
in the industry is to provide choice to farmers and
you know, if we can, if we can put a
good value proposition to them, we're open to talk to anyone.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
You should be a politician, Mark Delatour and Dairy Week
here on the Country. Thanks for your time from Open Country.
Thanks thank you, Mark, and Dairy Week is brought to
you by Meridian and Farmlands. He mentioned Riley Kennedy, great
Agg journal Young Agg journo too. I might add in
(23:51):
our Stable business desk he's one of the finalists, Michelle
or run through quickly some of the finalists. That's in
the Agricultural Journalism Awards sum Yre feedback. Laura Bradley Wlwooden
were a Rural Woman of the Year and I had
to ask who Laura was. We've since found out and
I knew I knew Laura's name from somewhere. She's a
very very good sharer. But she is not nominated, or
(24:13):
she may have been, but the three finalists have been announced. Hi, Jamie,
enjoyed your interview with Kate Ackland. This huge interest in
our beef in the US. Is that prime or Hamburger
cuts or both? Are scotty look Scotty. As far as
I'm aware, it's almost totally grinding beef for the Hamburgers
make him a bit more lean. And here's another one
(24:36):
that's an extremely sexist comment. Jamie McKay, I wonder what
comment that was Was it my comment about not being
a Rural Man of the Year segment in the Pins
Awards h or was it my comment that women are
better multitaskers and we'd be stuffed without them. Well, I
(24:56):
think the latter speaks for itself. We'll get Michelle's take
on next with Rural News, Welcome back to the Country,
(25:18):
twenty two away from one. This is when Michelle I
first became aware of the Eurovision Song Contest. Was way
back in the seventies, when I was wearing short pants
at Saint Peter's College and we were listening to ABBA
winners in nineteen seventy four. Sorry, Joan of Gone off
agg and onto music momentarily give himself a good slapping.
(25:40):
Here is Michelle with Rural News, the.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Country's rurald News with Cob Cadet, New Zealand's leading right
on lawn Bower brand. Visit steel Ford dot co dot
z for your local stockist.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
And who can be sad with abber right? I mean
that just brightens your whole day. Don't text in and
say you hate ABRA. I'm not asking for an invitation.
I'm just saying it brightens everyone's day and just on
that sexist comment. I'm presuming it's about the multitask thing, Jamie,
having one that's a compact exactly. Having studied neuroscience, though
there is no such thing as multitasking, and switching tasks
(26:13):
actually makes you less productive. You're able to not do
things as well.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Blokes open a fridge, Michelle and they can't find anything.
Women immediately, can.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
I think that's because your eyes don't work? Well?
Speaker 2 (26:24):
No, No, it's all to do with the caveman theory.
Haven't got time to go through it today anyway. What
do you got in rural news real news?
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Of course, the finalists have been announced for the Primary
Industry Summit Awards, which are being held in June. The
three finalists and nine categories and just going over quickly
some of them are of course, this is going to
be anounced on the twenty third of June. Will be there,
won't we.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Jamie, Well, I hope. So I mean saying it with
Heather duple c Ellen, you better be what I love
to be on the game. I won't get a word,
and I'm scared of Heather anyhow.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
Carry on, So just pointing out the Agricultural Communicator of
the Year you've made it into this category along with
Dom George from Royal Exchange.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
And Dom George is teeth on the Farming Show. We
can't have the apprentice feeding the master. I'm watching hamersh
Mark carefully though he's just stepped aside as a special
agg trade envoy.
Speaker 6 (27:10):
And fun fact, I went to journalism school with Dom.
There you go, all right, so fun fact for you.
The Champion Award, Mike Casey's name is, and there Neil
bit Up Emerging leader of course, Ben Peruer, who you
will recognize from being on the show from the Hufenawa
winner I think a couple of years ago.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
And James Robertson from Fonterra former Young Farmer of the Year,
very capable young man. We've mentioned Riley Kennedy. Of course
the other ones in the I'll be really interested in
this one because this is a strong field, the agricultural
journalism one. Alexa Cook from our end Z. We pinch
a lot of her work. She does good work. And
(27:45):
Richard Rennie and Neil Wallace both do great work in
Farmers Weekly, so that is going to be a good one.
Speaker 6 (27:51):
And of course Riley Kennedy, as you mentioned earlier, I
think is one.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Yes, one of the finest young agg journos in the
land is that rural news. Let's have a look at
sport on.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
The country with AFCO one percent key we owned.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
That's rare claim that Luke Metcalf's management have circum circumvented
the NRL league contracting rules and getting the Warriors to
allow a request for him to speak to other clubs.
An exit appears likely. Despite the half back signing a
contract until the end of twenty twenty eight. Players or
managers can't negotiout elsewhere until the November before their existing
(28:29):
deal expires. Interesting and Jason Collins, NBA's or NBA Basketball's
first openly gay player, has died aged forty seven, from
brain cancer. Rest in peace, Justin Collins. Up next, we
are off to China, and so is Donald Trump. Our
guy in Shanghai is I was going to say, Riley Kennedy,
(28:51):
why don't I go? Why don't I go with Hunter McGregor? Ah,
there we go, Hope Jones not a judge in the
Agricultural Communicator of the U contest. I'll be toast. He
is our guy in Shanghai, a kiwi selling a red
meat and venison to the Chinese. His name is Hunter McGregor. Hunter.
(29:14):
You have Donald Trump arriving in China, as he would
put it, later today your time. Are you excited? Is
the nation excited?
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (29:24):
Good afternoon, Jamie. I look, with any presidential visit from
the US, it's a big deal and it'll be interesting
to see how things play out. He's here for a
full day tomorrow was the fourteenth, and then he will
be leaving on the fifteenth in the afternoon or evening,
so short visit, but you know, it's important to have
(29:46):
a dialogue and it's good to see that both countries
are talking to each other.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
It'll be interesting to see what the optics are around
his meeting with President She because I put it to you,
President She is perhaps positioning himself to become the leader
of the world, not the free world, but the world.
He's just sitting back at the moment while Trump gets
bogged down in the Middle East.
Speaker 9 (30:11):
Yeah, no, you did right about that. And the one
thing about China is being quite consistent and playing the
long game. So let's see how things play out. Because
Trump usually makes decisions on a dime and changes his
mind and things like that. So who knows what's going
(30:31):
to happen in the next couple of days. Your guess
is as good as mine.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Every time we chat Hunter McGregor, I ask you how
the Chinese economy is going. The government is making moves
to improve consumer demand. Are they working well?
Speaker 9 (30:44):
You know, it's interesting that the thing about here in
China is that the economy is going, is sticking along going. Okay,
it could be a lot better, but there's always some challenges.
And consumer demand is you know, people just don't spend money,
they don't pick up things on credit cards like that.
(31:06):
So one of the things that the government's doing is
trying to put some subsidies in and try to create
demand and houseware and whiteware and things like that. So,
you know, I haven't really thought too much about it
in the past, but the other day my hot water
jug decided to pack sad after about ten years of service.
So we jumped online to jin Dong dot com, which
(31:30):
is a massive platform up here, and brought a new jug,
and you know, it was pretty impressive. It should was
listened for about fifty dollars in New Zealand at a
dis camp, about twenty nine dollars in New Zealand. The
whole interesting thing is that we ordered it and within
an hour it was delivered, so with no delivery fees
(31:52):
and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
So you know, I.
Speaker 9 (31:53):
Don't know if it was the subsidies or just competition
in the market, but it was pretty cheap and you know,
it was quite easy to replace a.
Speaker 8 (32:02):
Jag up here.
Speaker 9 (32:03):
So hope it does another good ten years of service.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Is jing Doong? I hope I got that right. Dot
Com the equivalent Chinese equivalent of Amazon.
Speaker 9 (32:12):
Oh yes, yeah, yeah, so it has got their own
distribution network. Yeah, they're massive, and you know that last
year they turned over nearly three hundred to three hundred
and fifteen billion New Zealand dollars. So yeah, no, it
is like Amazon. They got their own drivers everywhere, their
own distribution So yeah, it's a big platform. It's one
(32:34):
of the many up here and deliver things pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Yeah, about the same size as the New Zealand economy.
Let's just finish on the soccer World Cup. I noticed
that China hasn't got a team in there. The viewing
times with it being in the USA, Canada and Mexico
aren't very good either. For the Chinese and as it
stands at the moment, the Chinese have ignored Fiefa's offer
of about a quarter of a billion dollars for TV. Right,
(33:02):
so will the Chinese, you included, be able to watch
the world's biggest sporting event behind the Olympics.
Speaker 9 (33:09):
Well, as you said, the viewing times are. You know,
most games kick off about two am in the morning
to about ten am, so it's going to I'm not
really a big soccer fan now, more of a Highland
is a long suffering Highlands and supporter. But at the moment,
there is no deal for free to ed or for
any TV deal for the rights yet negotiating negotiating one
(33:32):
at the moment. So but yeah, FIFA just want too
much for the rights. The timing's not doesn't work that well.
But there is a lot of soccer fans in China,
so there'll be a lot of demand for people to
watch it. But you know, usually what happens is they
watch it online and social media and clips and things
like that. So just see what happens in the next
few days. Because it's June eleventh, things kick off, so
(33:55):
it's not too far away. So yeah, watch this space.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
I suppose Hey, how to McGregor out of Shanghai. Thanks
for your time and enjoyed Trump's visit.
Speaker 9 (34:04):
Cheers, Thanks, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Timmer michael On would be a good start. Welcome back
to the country. It is seven away from one. The
twenty twenty one Agricultural Communicator of the Year is about
to join us. Craig Wiggy Wiggins lean on a gate,
talk to a mate, Hey, Wiggy, They're going to tour
this play later in the year. Last night I went
along to Sir Roger Hall's play called End of Summer
(34:41):
Time with Peter Hayden starring as Dicky Hart. It's a
one person play. It's brilliant. It's about an old farmer
or a retired farmer moving into town and all the good,
the bad and the ugly that went with it. So
I'll tell you more about that one when they start
touring this one nationally. I think you can still get tickets.
(35:02):
I think it's sold out tonight and Dneda you might
get a ticket for tomorrow night, the last feature of
End of Summertime by Sir Roger Hall. Okay, Wiggy lean
on the gates, talk to him, mate, what have you
been up to?
Speaker 8 (35:15):
We've been all over the place tomy. To be fair,
we've got the training program now where we've bought the
mats and Construction Mental Health and Support Training program over
to Royal New Zealand put some red bendings on it.
MPI have recognized us with some funding and we've started
that program. We've had a lot of people are show
interest in it. We've had the first four community awareness
(35:36):
trainings maybe actually six in total are doing them as
I speak now, and here we've got over thirty percent
of them have put their hand up for further training
to become those safe talk volunteers that can reach out
to people and facilitate help them and know where to go.
So you know, with the EMPI funding, were the chance
with match funding to turn us into a one and
(35:58):
a half million dollar training program for our Royal service industries,
our farmers and our run Facebook wiki.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Don't take this the wrong way, but are there too
many people being suppliers of rural mental health services? I
look at you, I look at the Rural Support Trust
who do a lot of other stuff as well. Farmstrong's
doing great work in that field as well. John Kirwin's
in there. Who do you go to.
Speaker 8 (36:22):
You know, we've got our own lame Jamie. To be fair,
our trust is targeting those foot soldiers that we call
stock agents, agronomous pets and royal service professionals to actually
get inside the farm gate and deal with some of
the things and challenges and changes that they may be
noticing on farm. And they are up there every sometimes
they're the only ones going out on farm and are
(36:43):
the ones that are making those changes. And then from
there we can facilitate helps through to the Rural Support
Trust or any of the financial advisors or counseling services
that are available as well. So what we're trying to
do is empower the communities to take more notice of
each other and look after each other, and then get
them to some of those other ones that you've mentioned.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Hey, you been talking to darien zed cadets.
Speaker 8 (37:06):
Yeah, I just got back from up the top end
of Tempore to require a river area and three or
four cadets there from Dairy and Z today and that
was great. You know, we talked a lot about mental
health and wellbeing challenges they may be facing themselves, and
also the fact that you know, if they're noticing their
bosses under some pressure how to have those conversations and
(37:28):
not only that, you know, we know that teenage and
rural suicide for young people is pretty high, so what
to look out for in their mates and places like
that too.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
And I've got like about forty seconds left. Firearm Licensing
Authority videos. Are you starring in them?
Speaker 8 (37:44):
I've won't sell I'm a star mate, but I lives
in Wellington. Yet they live forming with the licensing Authority
fiarms lives as of thing authority to try and to
spell some of the myster around reaching out from mental
health and losing your firearms license. So they'll be coming
out shortly as well, and you'll be able to keep
an eye on our Facebook and Insight for those information videos.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
How's the season treating you in mid Canterbury where you based?
Speaker 8 (38:06):
Oh it told to'll be fair Jamie again, frost still
got a tibit of green under the underfoot, but you
wouldn't believe it. I think some of the farmers were
actually looking for a bit of rain here in eshpuradon
the other day and you're definitely called off.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Yeah, be careful what you wish for on the eva winter.
There you go, Craig Wiggy Wigan's doing a great job
in that rural mental health space. His website is Lean
on a Gate Talk to her mate. Thanks for your
time today, really appreciate it. We'll catch you back tomorrow.
We've got Winnie on the show, looking forward to that one.
Jane Smith as well as Chris Russell as well as Yolo.
(38:38):
I think Wayne Langford's back from his holiday in Italy.
It's all on the show tomorrow. See you.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Then catch all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to a Suzu Get demo,
deals on the tough Dmax Today
Catch are the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay thanks to Aisuzu, Get Demo deals
on the tough Dmax today.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Strange, isn't it? What can win the Eurovision Song Contest.
I'm Jamie McKay, This is the Country. Michelle's very excited
about the Eurovision Song Contest. I'm less so I'm looking
forward to kicking off the show as we do every
Wednesday with the Prime Minister. Also Kate Ackland share of
beef and lamb New Zealand. Just back from the United
(00:51):
States where we've been celebrating commemorating one hundred years of
red meat export. One of the big stories and ask
the PM about this one is the prospect of more
lamb tariffs and the protein boom in the US. Really
keen to get Kate's take on that one. Mark de
Latour talking about protein booms, he's cashing in on one
(01:13):
or his company is Open Country Dairy. We'll have a
look at their milk forecast price and just see how
the end of season volumes are shaking up for the
dairy industry. Hunter McGregor is our guy in Shanghai. Trump
is about to leave the White House and fly to
Beijing to meet with President she We will talk to
(01:36):
Hunter about that and other stuff. Plus Craig Wiggie working
scrape Bloke, the founder of Lean on a Gate talk
to a mate. We'll see what he's up to in
the old mental health space. The top Paddock in rural
New Zealand. It's all on the Country, including rural news
and sports news. We've got a busy show. Let's get
into it. Wednesdays on the Country. The Prime Minister kicks
(02:15):
off the show. We're going to be speaking hopefully to
Kate Acklin from Beef and Lamb New Zealand shortly about
these further LAMB tariffs or the prospect of further Lamb
tariffs in the US. Just briefly, Prime Minister, what's your
take on it?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Look good to be with you, Jamie. The first thing
I'd say is that the Americans, as I am saying to,
haven't formally announced anything. We've been anticipating they could, given
the lobbying that they've got from their own sheep farmers
within the US. But again we feel very very strongly
that there's nothing in our actions that's damaging or hurting
the US sheep grower sheep farmer. I mean, essentially, our
(02:50):
products are complementary. We would defend that case really strongly.
We've got a good relationship with the US entrade, and
we would make that case strongly. Interesting. I'd also noted
that a NASCA I read that you Trump was also
considering actually relaxing beef tariffs going into the US, And
of course we've got you know, we're in quite a
good position there. We've got very good lean beef, high
quality cuts, and a really good product into the US
(03:12):
as well. So let's just see what happens before we
jump get too.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Exercised about it.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
But rest assured, we don't know. We don't think we're
causing any injury to the US sheep farmer. In fact,
we think it's complementary, and we'll make that case very strongly.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yes, we know policy can change. On or worm over there,
Shark Horror leading the two network news programs are last night,
we're letting climate polluters such as Fonterra off the hook.
Why are we giving this Mike Smith, bloke the bloker
chop chopped down. I think it's the same guy the
tree on one tree. Hell, why are we giving him oxygen.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Well, we know what we're doing is he took a
legal case to the courts taking on these companies and
blaming them for climate change issues, and he had this
particular case he was arguing, we're very simply coming in
with legislation we announced this week to say, look, you know,
we want to give certainty and clarity to the business
(04:05):
environment about issues like this in a case like this,
because it actually has quite a chilling effect on businesses
if they come to New Zealand think that they can
be under threaten this way, that just doesn't encourage them
to invest in this country. So that's why you know,
my government's coming in over the top and we say, look,
we want certainty and clarity for businesses and as a result,
you know, we're passing legislation about that.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Let's just have a look at the most recent polls
and I know you're probably going to be like Bulger
and say, look, bug of the poles, but they're going
better for you. The poll of polls would show the
return of the center right coalition, Taxpayers Union poll as
you now as preferred PM. Do you think this new
hard ass kicker Sluso Rambo sort of image you're trying
(04:47):
to take on as working.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Oh you're unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
No.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Look, I don't commun on poles, as you know.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
But you know I've tried to be very clear at
the beginning of the year to say, look, we're having
an election November seven. If you really want center right government,
you've got a two ticks blow. I'll make that case
all year long as we go into election. I've already
said who I will and won't work with. I can't
work with Labor. They created us on godly mess. They
don't deliver anything, they don't get things done, and I
just want to tax more and borrow more. Pretty much
(05:15):
the same with the Green So they are out and
to Party Mari and whatever other independent parties that we've
seen form in the last week. I'm not working with
them either.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, but I don't see a path Sorry, I don't
see a pathway for Chippy to the Treasury benches without
to Party Mara. He may be cutting off his nose
to Spider's face by winning the MARI seats, and I
think he probably will win them.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Mate, You're the political commentator, not me. I'm just very
much focused on navigating a fuel crisis and making sure
we get this country through this current set of challenges
really well.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
So and we get to the other side.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
And make sure we maximize the opportunities that we've got.
So I'll leave those for comments for others to make.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Do you enjoy Judith Collins's fellaedictory. I've always found it
to be quite witty and cutting.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Yeah, Look, I mean Judas had twenty four years in Parliament.
She's done some incredible jobs. She's done some hard stuff
and some tough stuff, but she's actually a good friend
of mine, and she's also really wonderful. You know, she's
been a really good support person, she's wonderful with staff,
she's super well respected and so you know, it was
really good to see her go off in great style
with her valedictory, and then we had a very nice
after match at Premier House for her last night as well,
(06:19):
which was wonderful. So no, she's been loved by our
party and she's and I think the New Zealand she
left the legacy in New Zealand we shall be very
proud of, you know. And she's going on to be
Present of the Law Commission, which is another contribution to
public service as well, so, no, it's great to see
a golf and great staff.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I heard Shane Jones talking to the Husk I think
yesterday morning saying there isn't a fuel crisis, it's just
a price crisis. There's not a supply issue. Do you
concur with that?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Yeah, Well, what I've having been to Singapore and actually
met with the refiners and the fuel importers and the
fuel executives, what's happened. Essentially, Jamie's is at three quarters
of the crude oil that's been produced in the Middle East,
half of its actually coming through pipelines and other access
points out of the Middle East, and about a quarter
of it actually has been replaced by volumes from the US,
(07:07):
from West Africa and other parts of the world. And
there's about a quarter of what's been produced that actually
you know, is short and so yes, the prices have
gone up, but you know, when we look out to
and now we've got confirmed orders through to the end
of July, we've got planned orders into August. We've done
sensible things like this Singapore. You know, relationship, that guarantee
(07:28):
of no export controls is excellent. We've got the extra
ninety million leases of diesel. They will be in place
in the new tanks that we've built by the end
of June. You know, we've got constant contact with the
fuel importers industry, and all we're saying is, look in
the highly highly unlikely event, you know, very you have
to have a severe disruption for six months or something.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
You know, here's how we might approach this.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
But what we're not doing is COVID clup win to
and in any state. What we're not doing is you know,
telling people what that can can't do and be a
parent child relationship. We want an adult adult between government
and industry and that's what we've done. We've met with
all the different folk from day one and made sure
we've got sensible things going on, and we just have
a high trust model if we ever got to that situation.
(08:12):
So I really want these leanders not worrying about that.
I know the pricing as a challenge, but even then,
diesels down fifty cents or so from three or four
weeks ago had its highest, and we've thought we're really
assured about our supply, which is the most important thing.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Prime Minister Christoph Luxe and thanks as always for your
time on the country. Take care, Thank you our Prime Minister.
At is a quarter after twelve, you are with the country.
Nineteen eighty one, UK banned Bucks Fizz win the Eurovision
Song contest. Michelle's wandered in here illegally, I might add. No,
(08:47):
I'm joking there. I said to you, get some Eurovision
Songs winners, and it's hard to find winners that were
kind of mainstream pop. That's right.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
It is a lot of them, I stay, and they
were huge in their own country, but not here in
New Zealand on the other side of the world. And
any excuse for me to go down a rabbit hole
of Eurovision, Jamie, I was very excited. Best part of
the week.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Lulu will play a wee bit of Lulu later for
you and even go back in time to Sandy Shore.
See that'll test the memory of some people. He has
a text and who enjoyed my reference to the Prime
Minister as Luxo Rambo. No I say that, I say
that somewhat in Jess. But he has taken a harder line.
(09:32):
He's taken a harder line with the media. He yesterday
when interviewed on the tiles. You know, after they come
out of the House. Someone was asking and one of
the reporters was asking him about to party Marie and
the Greens and he said, look, I'm not going into
government or coalition with them. I don't care. And that
(09:54):
was and that just shut it down. And then we
had the bizarre situation of Jenna Lynch Mob showing a
picture of a toaster to Chippy to see whether it
was the same toaster that's used in the luxury on
the luxury Marmite sandwich. Is it luxury marmite sandwich?
Speaker 6 (10:11):
Luxury marmite sandwich.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, it's quite. It's quite. Some of the stuff they
there there is over the top, but it is quite entertaining.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
Can we call it trolling, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Well, it was trolling, but I mean there's going to
be a lot more of that in the election year.
But Jenna sternly looking at Chippy who was squirmishing away.
He was up to his neck in it. But anyhow,
I'm running out of bucks, fizz. So up next we
are going to chat to Kate Ackland. We're going to
track her down. Kate Ackland is the chair of Beef
(10:49):
and Lamb New Zealand and she's just been nominated for
Rural Woman of the Year at the Primary Industry New
Zealand Awards. More about that later, Kate. But you're just
back are from the US. You were over there, recognized, recognizing,
should I say, one hundred years of red meat export?
What's the wize? What are you hearing? What is the
(11:10):
chat about Trump and as trade people imposing more tariffs
upon our lamb because we don't want that.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Oh, good afternoon, Ja mc noll. We absolutely don't. We
were just over Nathan guy and celebrating one hundred years
of the relationship between New Zealand and the US as
far as red meat goes, and it speaks to how
I think that relationship is to buy the US consumers
and New Zealand producers. What we are hearing It's been
(11:40):
going on for a while. There is a push to
have a or launch a global safeguard investigation into lamb imports.
So some of their producers over there think that imports
are actually harming their farm systems.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
But we are arguing, I don't know whether we're right
or wrong. We're arguing that our lamb exports to the
US along with the Australians because we're both sending increased
volumes in there are actually increasing the price that American
farmers are getting for their lamb.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Well, that's absolutely the case in the data back set up.
So Down's been a pretty consistent supplier. We've remained for
the last decade about a quarter of US lamb imports,
so it's been relatively stable through that period. The price
has steadily increased, and you know, we would argue that
we're actually helping keep the lamb on the on the
(12:33):
plates of American consumers because there's just not enough to
domestic production to do that.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Okay, it's about what six hundred million dollars of sheep
meat we're sending there or were sent there in twenty
twenty five, and a total red meat exports are what
you tell me, are they twelve billion or something like that?
So it's not huge, but it's far from insignificant.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Look, it is significant because America's a really high value market.
So it's where we pretominantly see in the rack from
the middle, so it's a five market for any deal land.
It would have an impact if you know, if tariffs
were to come on, but you know, we're a long
way off that. So what's what we're hearing is that
it's going to be an investigation into lands, an independent
(13:16):
legal process, so you know, tariffs far from a dundale. Obviously,
we've been preparing for this for quite some time, so
we're no partners in the US and just making sure
we've got all that data and we've got everything ready
to go should this investigation get launched.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Well, you may have just come back from the US.
You sound like you're in Mars. Stand on a chair.
We'll do our best because we'll battle away. We haven't
got brilliant reception while you were over there. What did
you make of the protein boom? We will talk to
Mark Delatour, hopefully shortly on the show about this. He's
from Open Country Dairy. There's a real boom there for
the dairy industry. Is it dido for red meat?
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Well, look, it's absolutely phenomenal. I was lucky enough to
go to a couple of packing plants over there, and
you know all of the meat packaging has the grants
protein right up and big type.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
On the front.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
These these weight loss drugs, the glt ones are really
driving this bloom for red meat. And what we're getting
told is that you know, we're then turning their superramid
upside down. Americans are actually getting told to prioritize red
meat and their diets. The demand is absolutely phenomenal over there.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
We've got RFK Junior to thank for that.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yeah, well I don't know, but look it's it's unlike
anything I've seen before. And you know, all the signals
are is that that will remain for some time.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Let's just finish on you being nominated for the Rural
Woman of the Year, Kate Ackland, and your capacity is
the chair of Beef and Lamb New Zealand. You're up
against Sarah Donaldson from the East Coast Rural Support Trust.
I don't personally know Sarah, but obviously if she's on
that neck of the woods, she will have had a
lot of work on a plate to do with the
Rural Support Trust. And another person from that era area
(15:02):
does a great job, as Sandra Faulkner from Federated Farmers.
What are your chances?
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Oh, look at some pretty stiff conversation, but I'm I'm
absolutely chussed to have been nominated because there are so
many fantastic women up and down the up and down
the country and rural communities who are doing really great
things so very very flattered. But I think you're also
up for an award at these it depends conference.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Well, I missed out on a nomination for Rural Man
or Rural Bloke of the Year. I noticed there isn't
one of those categories, Kate, should I complain?
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Good luck?
Speaker 5 (15:39):
I think the Rural Woman Award has come about because
of the International Year of the Female Farmer. I understand.
So look, I think it's a cool award because actually,
as I said, you know, there's a women who are
absolutely the glue of our rural community.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
So you know acknowledging that is a great thing.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Plus you can multitask and blokes can't. We'd be stuffed
with you. There you go, Kate Ackland, thank you very
much for your time, good luck and I'll look forward
to your company at the Primary Industry Awards and Summit conference.
Thanks Jammy, good on your Kate it is and good
luck to good luck to all the contestants. The finalists
will announced. Yes that I think Michelle's going to update
(16:19):
those in Rural News before It's dairy week here on
the country. It is dairy week here on the country,
he said, reaching for his information sheet. So if you
move as with Moving Day coming up with Meridian, you
can enjoy an account credit of up to three hundred
dollars and it's dairy week courtesy of Meridian and Farmland.
(16:41):
So what you do is you move with Meridian and
then pay your bill on your Farmland's card. That is
the way to go. Some of your feedback mam My mom,
I should always pre read this because you can start
reading them and then you realize you shouldn't have started. Well,
here's one from Jones and stop being such a kill joy, Jamie.
(17:02):
Since when has the Country show I've been a music show.
It's not a music show, but we just have these
wee musical joiners and we like a week theme. It
just breaks it up a wee bit and hopefully brightens
your day. Not yours, Joan, but thanks for listening. We
do appreciate it, and Jamie. Laura Bradley will win Rural
(17:27):
Woman of the Year. Here's Laura Bradley. I need to
do my homework on Laura Bradley. She's not a finalist.
We already told you who the finalists were. Kate Acklin,
Sarah Donaldson and Sandra Sandra Faulkner. Radio Up next Mark
de Latour from Open Country Dairy.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Dairy Week on the country thanks to Meridian and Farmland's
making moving to easier for farmers.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
It is dairy Week here on the country. We're focusing
on our biggest export industry. Second biggest player and growing
in the market is Open Country Dairy Chief executive Mark
de Latour joins us and Mark, I see and I've
looked at your supplier newsletter, your forecast payouts for the May,
(18:27):
September and November periods. They're all pretty solid, like ninety
nine fifty to nine eighty nine ninety. Is that where
you see the dairy market at the moment, mid to
high nines.
Speaker 7 (18:38):
Yeah, good afternoon, Jamie. Yeah, I do actually, and we've
we just completed our latest round of farmer supplier meetings
as well, and we we were suggesting to the farmers
the next season is going to be looking around that
nine sixty number starts a really strong start, and I
think you know this season that we're just washing up
now is probably going to finish a bit above.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
How much is the protein boom, especially in the United States,
off the back of these weight loss drugs. How much
of a boom is that for the New Zealand dairy industry.
Speaker 7 (19:13):
I think it's first of all, they probably do need something.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Yes they do, they do, indeed. But the irony of
it is they're taking our lean grinding beef to make hamburgers,
which make them fat, and then they need some of
our dairy protein to lose a bit of weight. I
mean only in America eight.
Speaker 7 (19:29):
Yeah, that's right, that's right. What we do know is
UK Europe follow those tunes about three to four years later,
so you know, I think it can only be good
for us, you know, with our free trade agreements with
UK and Europe kicking them about that time. I think
there'll be a continued demand for the protein. So we're
doing a lot of work on that of open country Jamie,
(19:51):
and and for us it's about making sure our fat
protein options are there so we can capture the capture
the value going forward.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
So I think it's great.
Speaker 7 (19:59):
I think lots of interest, I guess in the Western markets,
so we call it that the Western markets about losing weight.
But likewise, if you go to Southeast Asia or China,
everything's got twenty percent added protein and so things like
weigh proteins and even cheese consumptions up through the world.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Are you diverting product now from the fats to the
powders because open country you kind of your open country
cheese to start with.
Speaker 8 (20:30):
Yeah, that's right, not not not really.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
I guess what we're doing is we're taking we're certainly
doing more more skin, you know, which is which is
taking that fat off, which has still got high value.
We've got fantastic channels for our butter, so that's that's creating. Really,
even with the the auction prices dropping down, the option
on fats is not actually that accurate, so there's there's
(20:52):
lots of options to get better pricing out there and
then selling fats on an option. So so we don't
do that. But but I think, you know, certainly way proteins,
they just seem unstoppable at the moment. So we're doing
a lot of work on that, looking at expanding you know,
the cheese capacity. We've talked about that for a while,
(21:13):
so a lot of talk, a lot of planning going
on for that, and you know, suddenly it's not just
the caseine aspect, not just the cheese that's valuable, it's
it's the way. So we're pretty excited about that.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Well, I heard good commentary from Mike McIntyre, I know,
you know, I'm from Jardan, just back from the US,
and he was talking semi tongue in cheek to a
couple of cheese companies over there that said they're now
actually protein players and cheese as a by product.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
Yeah, that's right, and you've seen, you know, certainly seeing
American cheese prices come down. Accordingly, there's a little bit
coming into this part of the world. But that's not
real cheese joining this American cheese, not not grass fed,
pure chain.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
It's a bit like some of that important American butter
and sipard sort of stuff. Are you ready to draw
a line under the twenty five twenty sixth season in
terms of making a call on volume for the season.
Speaker 7 (22:06):
Yeah, yeah, we are. I mean it's all over bar
the shouting, really, isn't it. I mean, volumes have held up,
you know, the tail end of the season has been
very strong, but we are now seeing the volumes drop
off in the North Island in particular. So you know,
it's been a fantastic season. I think we're closing in
probably around near the six percent up year on year.
(22:27):
You know, im like like farms, that's without any farm
number increases, that's just people that were supplying us the
year prior to this year would be right on, right
on six percent up.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Finally, and you can choose to answer this or not
answer it. It may be commercially sensitive. How many Fonterra
shareholders have come over to Open Country or change teams
once they got their two dollars capital repayment.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
This is the second time you've had to go at
me on this, jam And geez, you're trying to catch
me out, an't you. But I see Riley Kennedy had
an article in Businesses a couple of days ago saying
that Open Country we're pretty competitive on the milk front.
But again, we're always always looking for more milk. And
(23:15):
you know, we've got the same value proposition we're always
put in front of farmers. Our goal, Jamie is you know,
we don't necessarily say we compete with anyone. Our role
in the industry is to provide choice to farmers and
you know, if we can, if we can put a
good value proposition to them, we're open to talk to anyone.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
You should be a politician, Mark Delatour and Dairy Week
here on the Country. Thanks for your time from Open Country.
Thanks thank you, Mark, and Dairy Week is brought to
you by Meridian and Farmlands. He mentioned Riley Kennedy, great
Agg journal Young Agg journo too. I might add in
(23:51):
our Stable business desk he's one of the finalists, Michelle
or run through quickly some of the finalists. That's in
the Agricultural Journalism Awards sum Yre feedback. Laura Bradley Wlwooden
were a Rural Woman of the Year and I had
to ask who Laura was. We've since found out and
I knew I knew Laura's name from somewhere. She's a
very very good sharer. But she is not nominated, or
(24:13):
she may have been, but the three finalists have been announced. Hi, Jamie,
enjoyed your interview with Kate Ackland. This huge interest in
our beef in the US. Is that prime or Hamburger
cuts or both? Are scotty look Scotty. As far as
I'm aware, it's almost totally grinding beef for the Hamburgers
make him a bit more lean. And here's another one
(24:36):
that's an extremely sexist comment. Jamie McKay, I wonder what
comment that was Was it my comment about not being
a Rural Man of the Year segment in the Pins
Awards h or was it my comment that women are
better multitaskers and we'd be stuffed without them. Well, I
(24:56):
think the latter speaks for itself. We'll get Michelle's take
on next with Rural News, Welcome back to the Country,
(25:18):
twenty two away from one. This is when Michelle I
first became aware of the Eurovision Song Contest. Was way
back in the seventies, when I was wearing short pants
at Saint Peter's College and we were listening to ABBA
winners in nineteen seventy four. Sorry, Joan of Gone off
agg and onto music momentarily give himself a good slapping.
(25:40):
Here is Michelle with Rural News, the.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Country's rurald News with Cob Cadet, New Zealand's leading right
on lawn Bower brand. Visit steel Ford dot co dot
z for your local stockist.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
And who can be sad with abber right? I mean
that just brightens your whole day. Don't text in and
say you hate ABRA. I'm not asking for an invitation.
I'm just saying it brightens everyone's day and just on
that sexist comment. I'm presuming it's about the multitask thing, Jamie,
having one that's a compact exactly. Having studied neuroscience, though
there is no such thing as multitasking, and switching tasks
(26:13):
actually makes you less productive. You're able to not do
things as well.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Blokes open a fridge, Michelle and they can't find anything.
Women immediately, can.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
I think that's because your eyes don't work? Well?
Speaker 2 (26:24):
No, No, it's all to do with the caveman theory.
Haven't got time to go through it today anyway. What
do you got in rural news real news?
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Of course, the finalists have been announced for the Primary
Industry Summit Awards, which are being held in June. The
three finalists and nine categories and just going over quickly
some of them are of course, this is going to
be anounced on the twenty third of June. Will be there,
won't we.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Jamie, Well, I hope. So I mean saying it with
Heather duple c Ellen, you better be what I love
to be on the game. I won't get a word,
and I'm scared of Heather anyhow.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
Carry on, So just pointing out the Agricultural Communicator of
the Year you've made it into this category along with
Dom George from Royal Exchange.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
And Dom George is teeth on the Farming Show. We
can't have the apprentice feeding the master. I'm watching hamersh
Mark carefully though he's just stepped aside as a special
agg trade envoy.
Speaker 6 (27:10):
And fun fact, I went to journalism school with Dom.
There you go, all right, so fun fact for you.
The Champion Award, Mike Casey's name is, and there Neil
bit Up Emerging leader of course, Ben Peruer, who you
will recognize from being on the show from the Hufenawa
winner I think a couple of years ago.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
And James Robertson from Fonterra former Young Farmer of the Year,
very capable young man. We've mentioned Riley Kennedy. Of course
the other ones in the I'll be really interested in
this one because this is a strong field, the agricultural
journalism one. Alexa Cook from our end Z. We pinch
a lot of her work. She does good work. And
(27:45):
Richard Rennie and Neil Wallace both do great work in
Farmers Weekly, so that is going to be a good one.
Speaker 6 (27:51):
And of course Riley Kennedy, as you mentioned earlier, I
think is one.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Yes, one of the finest young agg journos in the
land is that rural news. Let's have a look at
sport on.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
The country with AFCO one percent key we owned.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
That's rare claim that Luke Metcalf's management have circum circumvented
the NRL league contracting rules and getting the Warriors to
allow a request for him to speak to other clubs.
An exit appears likely. Despite the half back signing a
contract until the end of twenty twenty eight. Players or
managers can't negotiout elsewhere until the November before their existing
(28:29):
deal expires. Interesting and Jason Collins, NBA's or NBA Basketball's
first openly gay player, has died aged forty seven, from
brain cancer. Rest in peace, Justin Collins. Up next, we
are off to China, and so is Donald Trump. Our
guy in Shanghai is I was going to say, Riley Kennedy,
(28:51):
why don't I go? Why don't I go with Hunter McGregor? Ah,
there we go, Hope Jones not a judge in the
Agricultural Communicator of the U contest. I'll be toast. He
is our guy in Shanghai, a kiwi selling a red
meat and venison to the Chinese. His name is Hunter McGregor. Hunter.
(29:14):
You have Donald Trump arriving in China, as he would
put it, later today your time. Are you excited? Is
the nation excited?
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (29:24):
Good afternoon, Jamie. I look, with any presidential visit from
the US, it's a big deal and it'll be interesting
to see how things play out. He's here for a
full day tomorrow was the fourteenth, and then he will
be leaving on the fifteenth in the afternoon or evening,
so short visit, but you know, it's important to have
(29:46):
a dialogue and it's good to see that both countries
are talking to each other.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
It'll be interesting to see what the optics are around
his meeting with President She because I put it to you,
President She is perhaps positioning himself to become the leader
of the world, not the free world, but the world.
He's just sitting back at the moment while Trump gets
bogged down in the Middle East.
Speaker 9 (30:11):
Yeah, no, you did right about that. And the one
thing about China is being quite consistent and playing the
long game. So let's see how things play out. Because
Trump usually makes decisions on a dime and changes his
mind and things like that. So who knows what's going
(30:31):
to happen in the next couple of days. Your guess
is as good as mine.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Every time we chat Hunter McGregor, I ask you how
the Chinese economy is going. The government is making moves
to improve consumer demand. Are they working well?
Speaker 9 (30:44):
You know, it's interesting that the thing about here in
China is that the economy is going, is sticking along going. Okay,
it could be a lot better, but there's always some challenges.
And consumer demand is you know, people just don't spend money,
they don't pick up things on credit cards like that.
(31:06):
So one of the things that the government's doing is
trying to put some subsidies in and try to create
demand and houseware and whiteware and things like that. So,
you know, I haven't really thought too much about it
in the past, but the other day my hot water
jug decided to pack sad after about ten years of service.
So we jumped online to jin Dong dot com, which
(31:30):
is a massive platform up here, and brought a new jug,
and you know, it was pretty impressive. It should was
listened for about fifty dollars in New Zealand at a
dis camp, about twenty nine dollars in New Zealand. The
whole interesting thing is that we ordered it and within
an hour it was delivered, so with no delivery fees
(31:52):
and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
So you know, I.
Speaker 9 (31:53):
Don't know if it was the subsidies or just competition
in the market, but it was pretty cheap and you know,
it was quite easy to replace a.
Speaker 8 (32:02):
Jag up here.
Speaker 9 (32:03):
So hope it does another good ten years of service.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Is jing Doong? I hope I got that right. Dot
Com the equivalent Chinese equivalent of Amazon.
Speaker 9 (32:12):
Oh yes, yeah, yeah, so it has got their own
distribution network. Yeah, they're massive, and you know that last
year they turned over nearly three hundred to three hundred
and fifteen billion New Zealand dollars. So yeah, no, it
is like Amazon. They got their own drivers everywhere, their
own distribution So yeah, it's a big platform. It's one
(32:34):
of the many up here and deliver things pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Yeah, about the same size as the New Zealand economy.
Let's just finish on the soccer World Cup. I noticed
that China hasn't got a team in there. The viewing
times with it being in the USA, Canada and Mexico
aren't very good either. For the Chinese and as it
stands at the moment, the Chinese have ignored Fiefa's offer
of about a quarter of a billion dollars for TV. Right,
(33:02):
so will the Chinese, you included, be able to watch
the world's biggest sporting event behind the Olympics.
Speaker 9 (33:09):
Well, as you said, the viewing times are. You know,
most games kick off about two am in the morning
to about ten am, so it's going to I'm not
really a big soccer fan now, more of a Highland
is a long suffering Highlands and supporter. But at the moment,
there is no deal for free to ed or for
any TV deal for the rights yet negotiating negotiating one
(33:32):
at the moment. So but yeah, FIFA just want too
much for the rights. The timing's not doesn't work that well.
But there is a lot of soccer fans in China,
so there'll be a lot of demand for people to
watch it. But you know, usually what happens is they
watch it online and social media and clips and things
like that. So just see what happens in the next
few days. Because it's June eleventh, things kick off, so
(33:55):
it's not too far away. So yeah, watch this space.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
I suppose Hey, how to McGregor out of Shanghai. Thanks
for your time and enjoyed Trump's visit.
Speaker 9 (34:04):
Cheers, Thanks, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Timmer michael On would be a good start. Welcome back
to the country. It is seven away from one. The
twenty twenty one Agricultural Communicator of the Year is about
to join us. Craig Wiggy Wiggins lean on a gate,
talk to a mate, Hey, Wiggy, They're going to tour
this play later in the year. Last night I went
along to Sir Roger Hall's play called End of Summer
(34:41):
Time with Peter Hayden starring as Dicky Hart. It's a
one person play. It's brilliant. It's about an old farmer
or a retired farmer moving into town and all the good,
the bad and the ugly that went with it. So
I'll tell you more about that one when they start
touring this one nationally. I think you can still get tickets.
(35:02):
I think it's sold out tonight and Dneda you might
get a ticket for tomorrow night, the last feature of
End of Summertime by Sir Roger Hall. Okay, Wiggy lean
on the gates, talk to him, mate, what have you
been up to?
Speaker 8 (35:15):
We've been all over the place tomy. To be fair,
we've got the training program now where we've bought the
mats and Construction Mental Health and Support Training program over
to Royal New Zealand put some red bendings on it.
MPI have recognized us with some funding and we've started
that program. We've had a lot of people are show
interest in it. We've had the first four community awareness
(35:36):
trainings maybe actually six in total are doing them as
I speak now, and here we've got over thirty percent
of them have put their hand up for further training
to become those safe talk volunteers that can reach out
to people and facilitate help them and know where to go.
So you know, with the EMPI funding, were the chance
with match funding to turn us into a one and
(35:58):
a half million dollar training program for our Royal service industries,
our farmers and our run Facebook wiki.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Don't take this the wrong way, but are there too
many people being suppliers of rural mental health services? I
look at you, I look at the Rural Support Trust
who do a lot of other stuff as well. Farmstrong's
doing great work in that field as well. John Kirwin's
in there. Who do you go to.
Speaker 8 (36:22):
You know, we've got our own lame Jamie. To be fair,
our trust is targeting those foot soldiers that we call
stock agents, agronomous pets and royal service professionals to actually
get inside the farm gate and deal with some of
the things and challenges and changes that they may be
noticing on farm. And they are up there every sometimes
they're the only ones going out on farm and are
(36:43):
the ones that are making those changes. And then from
there we can facilitate helps through to the Rural Support
Trust or any of the financial advisors or counseling services
that are available as well. So what we're trying to
do is empower the communities to take more notice of
each other and look after each other, and then get
them to some of those other ones that you've mentioned.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Hey, you been talking to darien zed cadets.
Speaker 8 (37:06):
Yeah, I just got back from up the top end
of Tempore to require a river area and three or
four cadets there from Dairy and Z today and that
was great. You know, we talked a lot about mental
health and wellbeing challenges they may be facing themselves, and
also the fact that you know, if they're noticing their
bosses under some pressure how to have those conversations and
(37:28):
not only that, you know, we know that teenage and
rural suicide for young people is pretty high, so what
to look out for in their mates and places like
that too.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
And I've got like about forty seconds left. Firearm Licensing
Authority videos. Are you starring in them?
Speaker 8 (37:44):
I've won't sell I'm a star mate, but I lives
in Wellington. Yet they live forming with the licensing Authority
fiarms lives as of thing authority to try and to
spell some of the myster around reaching out from mental
health and losing your firearms license. So they'll be coming
out shortly as well, and you'll be able to keep
an eye on our Facebook and Insight for those information videos.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
How's the season treating you in mid Canterbury where you based?
Speaker 8 (38:06):
Oh it told to'll be fair Jamie again, frost still
got a tibit of green under the underfoot, but you
wouldn't believe it. I think some of the farmers were
actually looking for a bit of rain here in eshpuradon
the other day and you're definitely called off.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Yeah, be careful what you wish for on the eva winter.
There you go, Craig Wiggy Wigan's doing a great job
in that rural mental health space. His website is Lean
on a Gate Talk to her mate. Thanks for your
time today, really appreciate it. We'll catch you back tomorrow.
We've got Winnie on the show, looking forward to that one.
Jane Smith as well as Chris Russell as well as Yolo.
(38:38):
I think Wayne Langford's back from his holiday in Italy.
It's all on the show tomorrow. See you.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Then catch all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to a Suzu Get demo,
deals on the tough Dmax Today
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