November 25, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Wayne Langford, Tracy Brown, and Hunter McGregor.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckue Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Do you believe in love?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Fel something said?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Really Darly? Do you believe? Good afternoon? A good day
in New Zealand. It's a good day where I am Dunedin.
It is an absolute stunner. This is the Country. It's
brought to you by Brent Jamie McKay. Sheer musical theme today.
(00:43):
Apparently she's going to do a tell all Netflix series
thirteen pounds Good money if you can get it. The
Prime Minister kicking off the show. He's had a long day,
as you're about to find out in a minute. Wayne Langford,
Press and the Federated Farmers. He's going on tour apparently
(01:04):
with the Prime Minister later this week and next week.
Hunter MacGregor is our guy in Shanghai. We're going to
have a yarn to him about temperatures, beef, driving and
parking in a city of thirty million people and making
a Chinese man's day. That's all on his hit list
(01:24):
for me, and talking about a city of thirty million Shanghai.
Hot off the Press is the most populous cities in
the world.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
They've changed that.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
You might have heard Mike Hoskin talking about this one
this morning, But I'm fascinated by big cities and tall
buildings and dams. Jakarta and Indonesia forty two million people, Dhaka,
Bangladesh thirty seven million, and Tokyo. Until recently we thought
was the most populous city in the world. It's languishing
in the third place at thirty million people. New Delhi
(01:59):
in India, Shanghai coming in at thirty million.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
That's a hell of a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
And Derry En zed Tracy Brown. She's from Madamta near Hobbiton.
Don't know how big Mata matter is now when they're
thirty million. I do know that we've got all that
to a chat about on the show today. Michelle will
have the latest and rural news for you, all updates
sport and we've got a great day down south today.
(02:25):
We're going to have a great one tomorrow for the
Southern storm Shout with Emerson's Bates and Silver Fern Farms
will tell you how you can get a couple of
hours off the farm and let us shout you. It's
called Southern storm shout one month on Christoph Luxen up next.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Same weird.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Wednesday's on the Country. The Prime Minister kicks off the
show and he's already done a day and a half's
work before he goes to air with US three point thirty.
This morning, Christopher Luxen, you were on a conference call
about Ukraine. I hope you didn't let Trump sell them
down the river.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Well, viously, Jamie, good morning, good well, good afternoon.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Good to be with you.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
I don't know what time of the day it is,
but you know, I'm part of a coalition of the
willing leaders group that gets together to talk about what
we can do to continue to get towards a peaceful situation.
A justin lasting piece actually is what rafter in Ukraine.
What's really encouraging though, is that the parties are talking,
they're engaged, and obviously the European partners have a role
(03:31):
to play. The Americans have been instrumental and Cack starting
something off, and obviously his ongoing conversation about the content
of that plan, which we'll need to continue to evolve
in subsequent talks.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Well from talks with a great leader on the world stage.
Depending on which opinion. You hold of Donald Trump to
spending time with a great leader domestically here in New Zealand,
Wayne lanth And, President of Federated Farmers. You and him
are on the road next week.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Yeah, we are just catching up with farmers in particular.
I've actually Queenstown today and I'm with farmers and horticulturists
tomorrow actually, which will be good fun and it's just
a good chances, you know, I love getting out talking
to those town halls, are actually getting a sense of
what the issues are for farmers. I think we've made
tremendous progress. We've done a lot of things that the
Federated Farmers had in their election manifesto. That's trying to
(04:18):
get rid of the red tape for farmers, getting the
economy moving again for them in particular, leading us out
of the mess that we've been in. And now yes,
there's a good chance catch up.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yeah, well you're going to get rid of a lot
of red tape when you get rid of regional councils.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Well, look, I mean, as I said before before Christmas,
we've actually got Rima reform, and of course we're mentioning
a world where we want forty six percent less consense
out there in the system so that we can actually
get things built in this country. It's the biggest amount
of red tape bureaucracy just jammed this country up. Obviously
as part of that as a role, you know what
(04:53):
happens with regional councils going forward, and you heard us
and now yesterdate it. We think we don't need regional
councils for the elected officials won't be needed. And we're
actually going to get the district mayors in those regions
to come together and work out what they do with
the resources in the regional councils. But obviously, yeah, that
will be very important.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Are the district councils any smarter than the regional councils?
I know this too much overlap and we've got too
many local body authorities, But have you got this one
the right way around?
Speaker 6 (05:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:23):
We have because I think you know, you need local
government to be local and that means district level. And
there might be you know, there's already you to be
aware of it. There are some district councils that are saying, hey, listen,
it makes more sense for us to coordinate in a
better way around three waters. It makes better sense for
us to consent to coordinate around building code authorities, all
of those kinds of things. If they wish to amalgamate
(05:46):
and move themselves into that place, that's up to them
to do. And those local communities, but they are having
to work together as we deal with a number of
issues that impact a number of districts that are adjacent
to each other. But look, we just have had district councils,
had regional councils, We've got central government, you got three
layers of government, and it's just too much. And we
have to radically simplify the system so that people can
(06:08):
get on get things done on their own property and
you don't need to be dealing with a whole bunch
of different rules.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Oh c this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I know you can't comment on it per se, but
we're going to get like a twenty five point or
twenty five basis point drop. It will be welcomed. Do
you get the feeling that this is the end of
the ocr cuts in this cycle and you're happy if
it lands at two point twenty five percent?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Well, again, I actually don't know what the number will be. Obviously,
the four castes are predicting another twenty five basis points.
I think this is the last meeting before the end
of the year where the committee comes together to look
at interest rates before they look at it again in
the early new year. But again, their statement will be
very interesting today to see how they are reading their
economy and what they're focused on, Jamie a lot is
(06:55):
what's called mid level mid term inflation. So they last
report that sort of expect inflation to still be helping
around that two percent mark, and as a result, that
gives them confidence about you know that that's key input
into the interest rates as well.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Raising key we saver contributions. That's good. But when are
you going to be brave enough or mature enough as
a nation I'm talking about to raise the age of
eligibility or do you have to wait till Winston Pops's
clogs metaphorically of course.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Well, I think on the increasing key we save the contributions,
I'm really proud of that. That's something we've wanted to do.
We keech started it off this year, moving it from
six to eight percent. We're doing it gradually. Some employers
and employees have time to adjust. But if you think
about one of the major challenges when over the last
thirty years compared to countries that are wealthier than us,
like Ireland and Australia and others, it's the increased level
(07:48):
of savings and investment and that obviously means it's going
to build out much bigger nest eggs for Kiwi's You know,
we were looking at some examples of twenty one year
olds that you could have another four hundred thousand dollars
in their account time they retire, which is fantastic because
they get the compounding effect of interest and they're in
a saving scheme. It's really good. It gets people follow
for a first house or and also better retirement and
(08:10):
come gives the country actually pools of capital to invest
in infrastructure because we've now got money saved in the
country that needs to get a return therefore needs to
get spend on things like infrastructure projects in public private partnerships.
The other thing that you raise about the retirement data,
we'll look at that as we go to the election again.
But I mean, as I've said before, we've gone three
times the election, say hey, listen to New Zealand. You know,
(08:32):
we want to have national superannuation. We're not changing that.
We're not means testing it or giving a heavy asset
testing as the Australians do. We think that's an entitlement.
We think everyone deserves to know. That's a certainty. But
we are going to need to augment it with more
key we savings as well. But on just sixty five
to sixty seven, I mean in two thousand and one
it moved to sixty five, having moved from sixty gradually
(08:54):
over a ten year period. Since two thousand and one,
New Zealand men are living another four years longer, and
already you've got Australia, Canada, in UK and sixty seven.
All we're asking for is to move it other two years.
I don't think that's unreasonable, but we'll develop our specific policies.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
We go to the campaign, well, good luck getting that
one past the goalie ie Winston Peters does. You could
always do a chippy, of course and just broaden and
inverted commas are the tax space. But it seems to
me that a capital gains tax does have some political
appeal out there.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
I disagree completely everything I've seen as people do not
like us, They really do not like it, and I
was talking to a guy who is a landlord of
a sign writer on the weekend and he was just saying, like,
the signwriter wants to grow his business. It's been actually
going quite well, and he actually wanted to move into
commercial premises by his own get twice the size. But
(09:47):
of course he's going to get hit with a twenty
eight percent tax. So if you're a commercial work operating
the commercial premises, if you have a key, we say
that investments they have commercial premises, that's where you get hit.
But equally, just think about the trade that's say up
and got a fort a batch, or someone that kids
that share a property from granddad. Think about the mum
and dad around rental investment.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
I know all this, Prime Minister, you're talking to the
converted here, but the Poles are telling us that at
least hard are you disagree? See the other question is
two thirds of New Zealanders would accept, according to the Poles,
the capital gains tax if it applied only to inflation
adjusted gains. Well, if we do that, we're not going
to get any capital gains income.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Well there you go, right, Hopkins have said he's not
going to make it inflation adjusted. The second thing is
what's the valuation? So all of a sudden, now you've
got to do a calculation of a twenty eight percent
tax on a commercial building for your small business, and
you're trying to work out all what was the starting valuation?
So what's going to do? Send valuers all around the
country to revalue properties and assets and commercial buildings in
(10:50):
this country?
Speaker 7 (10:51):
How did it all work?
Speaker 4 (10:52):
I mean? And he doesn't know, right, he says, we'll
sort of sort it out in government. We'll tell you
what's going to happen. When they get to government. They'll
be in partnership with Chloe Swarbrick, who will be the
Finance Minister, and she won't have a scare tactically and she.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Will the scare tactics prod you frightened me mentioning Chloe
is Finance minister. Barbara Edmonds will be the Finance Minister.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
James Jamie, if you want to believe that, my friend,
that's great. I just would say to you, look at
the focus of where the Greens are going to go.
They're going to tax the absolute for Jesus out of
the country. And I'm telling you, happen to open the
door the CGT and what's the track record last time?
Spend more, borrow more, tax more. That's what you're getting
to haven't learned up?
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Thinks a right, Christopher Lux and thanks for your time.
Keep up the hard work on behalf of the nation.
That's been a long day for you.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Good luck with the rest of us, Dave you Jamie
had a great week.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Nineteen after twelve. Believe from share Do you believe the
Prime Minister when he says Chloe's going to be the
minister of I mean this is all hypothetical, of course,
I can't believe Chippy would allow that. Barbara Edmans, incidentally,
who I mentioned, is one of the smarter people in labor.
It's probably can't say that of all of them, but
(12:05):
she's semi impressive. I'm trying to be a political here.
I talked about the largest cities in the world Jakarta one,
Dhaka two, Tokyo three, or the top ten cities. Sorry
to bore you with this, but I think it's interesting.
Are all in Asia, with the exception of Cairo twenty
(12:25):
six million coming in at number seven on the African continent.
No europe European cities. I thought a standball might have
been close. No American cities. Of course, a stand ball
spans Europe and Asia, so maybe it's split down the middle.
Interesting And if you know when you talk about the
(12:48):
future for New Zealand agriculture, well it's on our back door.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It is Asia, it is Asia.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Up next, the man who is going on tour with
the Prime Minister, I think this week and next week
the president of Federated Farmers Wayane Yolo Langford before the
end of the hour off the Shanghai and it's thirty
million people, and Tracy Brown, chair of Dairy and z
and Mata Matta, I think.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Feel something sad?
Speaker 8 (13:23):
Sad dog, think you strong?
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Welcome back to the country. Twenty four after twelve sheer
musical theme for today thirteen million pounds for a Netflix
tell all series, Wayne Langford, you're a bit of a celebrity,
as I mentioned to the Prime Minister here in New Zealand.
Has anyone approach you to do a Netflix series?
Speaker 5 (14:07):
No, no, not yet Jamie Hey, thanks thanks for having
me on, but no, not yet. No they haven't. They
would pay off the farm probably pretty well.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
You're obviously rating your payout pretty highly. Talking about payouts,
what are you, what are you making nine to fifty?
You can still make a buck quite comfortably at nine fifty.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Well, we can still make it. Back on that. I
appreciate them going early and giving us the head up
because there's nothing worse than having to try klawback in
the second half of the year. So tough times a well,
you know, just tougher times. Sorry and I haven't said
it's really tough, but but yeah, it's good luck. So
good to get there early warning on it.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
As we discussed with the Prime Minister. I know you
didn't hear the interview. I think tomorrow are you meeting
them tomorrow and Terrace?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Is that right? And then next week you're on the
road with them.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Yes, I'm down in Tariff with the Royal Nets tomorrow
and catching up with them there. That'd be great to
see some farmers down there. And then next week we're
heading up to both Hastings and Street Creek to again
catch up with him again there. I think next week.
Next week is a bit more of a fireside chat
we're calling it, which is good because it means people
can fire me in a few questions and I can
(15:11):
make sure we get the questions answered. Rather than listening
to two big, long speeches, which is always a lot better.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
We're all for that. What are you going to talk
about at Terrace? Not much farming going to be happening
there shortly, it's all well Shane Jones gitz his way,
it's all going to be gold mining in airports.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
Well, I did actually ask that question before I signed
my name down to the trip. I said, we're not
going down there to announce the airport, so no, but
obviously grazing and crowland will be a big discussion taking
care of wilding pines and the pests. I've actually I'm
in Wellington today. We just met with MPLO around what
we're doing around pests, and it's good to see some
re election from them there. So yeah, we're moving things along.
(15:48):
We're getting a few ones, which is good.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
I spoke to.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Jim Ward yesterday, an old schoolmate of mine and the
former manager who abruptly had to leave his job at Molesworth,
and he came up with some fascinatingatingly scary facts around
wilding pines and the amount of water take that they
take and how that affects our hydro electric dams. I'd
never thought of that.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Yeah, no, they really haven't effect on them, but of
everything on the side. Note, have you ever shaken hands
with Jim Ward?
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah, yeah, yes I did.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
I got an iron grip. Yeah, it's a strong handtack.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Well, I'll tell you the other one. And he's one
of those. I shouldn't say it because he's an old schoolmate,
but they literally want to crush your hands.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Yeah. So I mean, I'm all for a good, good
handshake and look them in the eye all that, but Jim,
Jim takes it to the next levels a good arm Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Jim haw is another one who does that. Andrew's father.
They're crushes, they're punishes anyhow. Okay, so you've got three
of these, as we said, Terrace Tomorrow, Hastings and then
Mystery Creek. Why should farmers come along for your cozy
little fireside chat. Is this where you roll over on
your back and the luxe and scratches your tummy at
(16:56):
Federated Farmer's Wain No.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
No, definitely not what it's all about. As we do
see some of the work that's going on here, and
it's often hard to get it out through some of
the media. To trry back to our farmers to see
what's happening. So we've got let's get the Prime Minister
out into the provinces talking directly with farmers, giving them
plenty of opportunity to ask questions and to see exactly
what they are working on and how it all works.
(17:19):
Of course, it is a tricky one to explain how
Wellington and the bureaucracy of Wellington works sometimes and so
when you can hear it straight from the Prime Minister's mouth,
hopefully they'll go home with a bit of a better
understanding of what they're working on and what they're trying
to achieve.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
And from the Federated Farmer's pr Division, Aaron does a
great job there. Your membership is up by around four
hundred members are compared to twenty twenty four. You're hoping
by year's end you can get up to five hundred.
And I think Federated Farmers has had a bit of
a renaissance, and I'm sure you've played your role in
that one as well. But do you know what I reckon, Wayne,
(17:54):
You should give life memberships to Bryce McKenzie and Lourie
Patterson at Groundswell. I've done you a huge favor.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Have they have they from what respect?
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Well, that made that've made in your heart, that made
you hard and not believe it.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
That's right. So now it's they certainly you know, put
up I guess in a way from competition for us
right to show hey, hey, this is this is some
of the sentiment of farmers out here, and we had
to have a good look at ourselves around what we're
doing and and like you say, straighten up our back
and really represent the farmers that were that are our members.
So those are some some great numbers coming out in
(18:31):
terms of the membership numbers. Anyone that follows along would
probably well it comes to feed's a games, would know
that the membership is in a in the steady start
of decline with the land sales and amalgamations and all
the sort of thing. People will retire, and so to
see such a dramatic I guess increase is really positive.
I think I told you at the start of the
(18:52):
year this is the year of membership. Now I was
hoping for a few more than five hundred, but but
it's a it's a heck of a good start computer
we've been in the past, So that's great.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Now I've also been told to ask you from the
PR department at at Fonterra.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Let me try.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
I had the PR Department on Fontira on yesterday PR
Department at Federated Farmers to ask you how your petition
for the consenting crisis is tracking. Because yesterday's news that
the government is eventually going to get rid of regional councils.
I'm sure what have been greeted with glee at Federated
Farmers definitely was.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
It's a hegeois step in the right direction. We're calling
for a ten year roll over on consents. We're wanting
farmers to get them behind it, and hopefully those in
the affected areas are seeing that sign the sign the
petition and help us, help us to achieve that. You know,
farmers just need some certainty around their businesses going forward,
and with all this upheaval around our regional councils around
(19:49):
the RMA, we need a clear, clear direction of travel.
I don't have to appreciate the converter, but you know,
we work on a seasonal basis. That takes time for
us to make change, take time for us to do things,
and we need some certainty. So ten years will sound
like a lot to some people, but it's really not.
It's just a short term really for farmers and what
they're trying to achieve.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Wayne Langford, thanks for your time today. Enjoy your day
in Terrace tomorrow. Beautiful part of the country.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Awesome er.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
Thanks There, we.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Go to the President of Federated Farmers. That's Bang on
twelve thirty. Michelle's in here, she's wandered and we're going
to have a look at Rural News Sports News before
the end of the hour. Hunter McGregor and Shanghai and
Tracy Brown, the chair of Derry and Zed. Welcome back
(20:48):
to the country. The show is brought to you by
brand I'm Jamie McKay. Shortly Michelle Watt was the latest
and Rural News will update sports news for you as well.
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Speaker 3 (22:15):
Okay, Michelle, what do you got for us?
Speaker 8 (22:17):
Okay? So In Rural News, beef Mints's long standing position
as a budget conscious staples under threat, with retail prices
increasing rapidly over the last twelve months. Beef MINS is
currently averaging twenty three dollars seventeen per kilo, which makes
it more expensive than lamb chops which are at twenty
two dollars per twenty seven per kg. And beef mins
is also priced higher than other proteins including chicken and pork,
(22:40):
so it could be interesting to see if that influences
people's changes in that retail space. Interestingly, New Zealand exports
eighty percent of its beef roughly, but beef doing really
well obviously supply demand economics, that's how it works, right, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Yeah, And we're going to talk to Hunter McGregor about beef.
He's got some interesting stats about our beef and what
China is up to. So that is sports news. Before
you disappear again tomorrow, we're heading to your home patch,
or near your home patch of Belcluther, halfway between Bellcluther
and Milton. It's the Southern Storm Shout being hosted at
(23:17):
nije Or and land Woodheads Farm at Levels Flat three
to seven pm. Hopefully we can get you out the
door by seven pm. And if you're flat out doing
siloce because it's great silage weather out there, just even
try and sneak in at the latter half of the afternoon.
We've got the Emerson's tiny pub there, got the Mackaya's
are there. I have got that confirmed. We've got the
(23:37):
cider from Emerson's as well. Spots will be there with
the traditional triple star or three star plus the what
are those young blokes drengths, some a ultras.
Speaker 8 (23:47):
Some ultra and we've also got ice cream and coffees
as well. Like I call them for an ice cream
off the silage wagon and then head off back to
where it to call you south down because it is
going to be hot tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Carently silverfer and Farms. Thank you very much. You're providing
the meat for the barbecue which will be manned and
womaned by the Milton Lions. And if you're in the
Milton Bacluther Lawrence area i e. South Otago, the Lions
are running a van and they're going to give you
a ride home.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
He's Sport Sports on the country with AFCO one d
percent ke. We owned and trusted it.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
That's rare.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Former Wallaby's coach John Connolly says the all Black steps
gives them an advantage over the spring Box. Two years
out from the World Cup. I call bs on that one, John,
sorry about that one. And the countdown to next year's
Winter Olympic Games will gather pace tonight with the store
when the historic Fame flame is lit in Greece for
(24:40):
the start of the Torch relay. The flame will embark
on a seventy two day journey to the Milan Courtina Games,
with a nine day spell in Grease followed by a
nine week trek in Italy. The Olympic or the Winter
Olympic Games, always very good viewing. Up next on the
country it is Tracy Brown from Dairy and Zed.
Speaker 8 (25:03):
I was gone in the wagon.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
I would traveling Shaw. My mama used to dance on
the money. Tracy Brown is the chair of Dairy and Zed.
She's a Wykado farmer farming at Madamatta just near Hobbiton. Tracy,
I was having a winch to you in the commercial
break about having to do a fire warden drill evacuation
this morning and that's a towny, first world problem, but
(25:25):
at this time of the year, very very serious issue
on farms. You were talking about the need to have
your fire extinguishers and all that up to speed because
you've got the bloody birds nesting under your tractor hoods.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Good afternoon, Good afternoon, Jamie.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
And that is right, and farmers should be lifting their
bonnets and making sure that the safety equipment is up
to speak as it should be.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Well, let's lift the bonnet on the return on investment
in the dairy industry. Apparently Dairy and Zed has a
port out next week. Don't blind me with numbers here, Tracy,
but is stairy farming still a good gig at nine
dollars fifty?
Speaker 6 (26:08):
Dairy farming as a good gig, Jamie. You will have
seen on our website the break even milt prices is
eight sixty eight. So even though you know the melt
Ontario and milk price has just been revised down this week,
you know farmers are stole making money. It was a
record high last year. I think it was ten dollars sixteen.
(26:31):
So nine dollars fifty is you know, still a good
price just in terms of the return on investment piece
that was specifically around, Darien said, And because we've got
a levy vote coming up next year leading into that,
we always get an independent analysis just to have a
lock at whether darians has been making wise use of
the levy investment or not. And this return on investment
(26:54):
report will come out next week for farmers to just
sort of have a look at some of the projects
that we've been investing in and sort of what those
returns are. But just very high level and I know
you don't like too many numbers, Jamie, but very high
level of the three hundred and forty one million Levy
invested between twenty and twenty five in about ninety two
(27:17):
projects that return two point nine to eight billion of
value for farmers, which is around about twenty sixteenths per
kilogram of monks solids or one hundred and eighty seven
dollars per heat dear, So we believe that that's a
wise use.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Hey, you talked about the break even price from Dairy
and Z at eight dollars sixty eight. I was talking
to Mike McIntyre from Jardin yesterday because he's the guy
who gives me the future's numbers, and not surprisingly, the
futures market is sitting bang on nine dollars fifty for
a milk price for this current season, which is where
Fonterra and most of the industry commentators are. But and
(27:54):
I know there's a lot of water to go under
the bridge or through the cow shed wash till next season.
But twenty six twenty seven, the futures market is currently
sitting at eight dollars sixty eight, which would be your
break even price. So under that scenario, farmers theoretically wouldn't
make any money. But I'm putting I'm suggesting to you
(28:14):
with falling interest rates the biggest on farm cost. Surely
the cost of running a dairy farm has to go down.
Speaker 6 (28:22):
You would expect that decrease and interest rates to flow
through to farmers, Jamie. Some may not have received that
benefit yet, but we'll flow through. And as you say,
there's a huge part that of those expenses on farm.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Next week you've got a big dairy conference, a precision
Dairy conference in christ Church. Give me thirty seconds on this.
Why should people go as or is it too late
to register?
Speaker 6 (28:47):
It's not too late to register it. There's a special
website called Precision Dairy Farming Conference dot nz all one
word and so farmers can go on near rural professionals
as well and register its from the theater of the December.
So it's an international conference and darien Z has having
a tune It hosting it this year, so there's people
coming from twenty two countries and it's a really unique
(29:11):
opporternity Jamie, to see what leading researchers and technology manufacturers
are doing in terms of sort of practical solutions in
the innovation space across animals, feed nutrients, environment, people and
it's about how we can improve our decision making and accuracy.
(29:32):
So I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to
be a great couple of days.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
How's the season going on, like Kett, I, well, we.
Speaker 6 (29:38):
Had I think last time I talked to you, we'd
had some quite cold late weather in late September early October,
so grass growth is a little bit behind where it
would normally be. I'm actually in Southland yesterday and today, Jamie,
and I think last time we spoke that just had
the big storm down here and I've just come down
for a couple of events and discussion growth today in
(30:00):
a homegrown feet of e East today. So good to
see how farmers are going down He obviously still a
lot of work to go, but you know, grass is growing,
the sun's been shining, so I'm pleased, you know, in.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
That regards as you'd expect in God's own farming province.
Tracy Brown, enjoy the rest of your day in Southland.
How could you not? And safe travels home to Madamatta.
Speaker 7 (30:23):
Thanks very much, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Thanks Tracy, And we did talk about those falling interest rates.
I'd put the house on it twenty five basis points
this afternoon. Jeff disagrees on the text line. He said,
I think we're going to get a surprise cut of
zero point five. No, Jeff, No, up next, Hunter McGregor
in a city of thirty million people, he's our guy
(30:52):
in Shanghai, Roxburgh born and bred Kiwi Hunter McGregor selling venison,
selling red meat.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
To the Chinese hunter.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
You'll be interested to know we're headed for a high
of twenty eight degrees here in Dunedin today, which is
summer like for the end of spring, no doubt. In Shanghai,
you're starting to chill down.
Speaker 7 (31:12):
Yeah, No, good afternoon, Jamie. No, it is we're starting
to cool down. Actually, Shanghai this year had one of
the hotest summers on record. It was very hot and
we all get down to twenty eight overnight during the
height of summer. So you know, twenty eight degrees is
quite comfortable. At the moment. We're actually having quite a warm,
sort of early start to winter, and we're around about
(31:34):
twenty degrees most days for the clear blue skies and
get down to about eight overnight, just below ten, so
it's quite good. But coming into when we hit real winter,
it gets wet and damp, and now we sit around
about between zara and ten degrees and it's not much fun,
but we're enjoying it at the moment.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, i'd imagine some of it because you're right on
the coast there at Shanghai, some of those inland Chinese cities,
Beijing would be an example. Further so that'd get a
lot more chilly.
Speaker 7 (32:03):
Oh yeah. Further north, you know, you get the grass
actually turns brown, so it's not green. It's quite depressing
to be on us. The winters in the north of
China and Beijing, for example, it gets down to minus
thirty over the winter and plus forty in the summer,
so you know, big big swings and changes, you know,
and that north part of China there's a hell of
(32:23):
a lot of animals and a lot of sheep that
have grown up there. But you know, winter's pretty hard
on them when it's minus thirty minus forty and your
heavy snow and stuff. So you know, it's tough on
the animals up there, but yeah, they seem to survive
and get through and then they thrive in the summer month.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Let's talk about beef. China produces seven point seven million
metric tons of beef. Here in New Zealand, we do
seven hundred and twenty thousand metric tons or tons of beef.
So basically China's producing ten times the amount we are.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
I thought it might have been more.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Yeah, well it's probably actually growing to be on us,
because beef is you know, it is growing. But the
problem is, you know, they're running out of land. So
you know, if beef production increases, you know, they'll probably
dropped down some pork production or chicken or other sort
of you know, other other animal production because that comes
to the limits of the land. But you know, Chinese
(33:19):
beef in general, in the past, it's been you know,
and then the consumers just focused on one thing has
been cheap and high volume. But they're moving, you know,
and a lot of the consumers now starting to move
to other things. The one thing that I've seen you
know quite a lot, especially in restaurants in Shanghai, is
(33:41):
they're now focusing on fresh beef. You know, when I
talk about fresh beef, I'm meaning you know, from when
they walk into the saughter of plants are actually coming
out the other end. It's sort of six to eight hours.
It's on a truck directly into the into the restaurant,
so you know, she's pretty fresh, and they managed to
get a bit of a free me in for it,
so you know, it's an interesting way that they're consuming
(34:03):
beef up here.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Hunter McGregor. With this, Hunter, you've got a bit of
a story about driving in China. I'd be no good
in China. I'm no good in Dunedin. I struggle on
the main street of Riversdale. How do you get on
driving amongst thirty million people?
Speaker 7 (34:19):
Well, you know, I've been doing it for about four
or five years now, and a lot of people that
I know up here think I'm a bit mad driving
around the streets. But I got my own car and
drive around and actually got my first ticket the other day,
which is a bit of a bit of a shock
to the system. Now, when I drive around the streets
to Shanghai, I kind of know what the speed limit is,
but I usually just drive a bit slower than everybody
(34:41):
else and when we're fine, and luckily we there's lots
of flashes with speed cameras and stuff, but they don't
seem to issue tickets, which is which is quite good.
But I got done for a U turn on a
road the other day and what happened is that I
did the U turn in two days later, we've got
a text message to saying that I got a demerit point.
(35:03):
So you log into their app and you had to
pay two hundred room and bee fine, which is about
fifty dollars in New Zealand these days, and you got
the option of getting rid of the demerit point by
watching a video and an educational video and passing a
test or going and doing some community service. I think
the whole they're all positive thing about. The whole thing
(35:24):
is that the demerat point is linked to the car,
and the car owner being my wife. You know, she
got the demerat point and she managed to sit the
test and pass it, so you know it was a
low level offense obviously, and you know they have twelve
demerit points every two years here, Yeah, look like they
do in New Zealand, so it wasn't a big problem.
But you do see a lot of traffic cops around
(35:47):
issuing tickets and stuff like that quite regularly. So yeah,
that was interesting and I won't be doing you turn
on a on a double yellow line in the future.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
Your miserable side you made your poor wife watched the
video and sit the test when it was actually your fault. Okay,
driving in Shanghai would not be for the fainthearted. What
about parking in Shanghai? For instance? Where do you park
your car? And I'm talking about overnight and if you're
driving around, can you ever find a park on a
street or do you always have to park in parking buildings?
Speaker 7 (36:22):
For me, I parked my car in my office building,
so it's underground, so it's quite good. But you know,
cruising around there's a lot of parks during the day.
You know, nighttime it's a bit hard. But if you
park on the streets these days, there used to be
traffic wardens that will come along and issure take out
you have to pay as you left. Now it's all automatic.
(36:44):
You just park your car. You get a text message
to say that your car's being registered at this location,
and then when you go to leave, you just scan
a QR code which is on the ground and you
just pay. So it's pretty pretty convenient, you know. And
and then also you know, with parking buildings and stuff,
they don't have the little tickets or anything like that.
(37:04):
You just drive on, you scan the QR code and
pay on the way out. The other thing is that
with a lot of the what you call off the
apartment buildings apartment complexes, during the day they let other
cars and park there, so there's plenty of parking, just
certain times she's a bit challenging and five o'clock on
a Friday night is a bit hard to get a
(37:25):
park and the streets are fall so I sort of
avoid traffic.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Of that stage.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
See you mate, thanks for your time as always here
on the Country.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
Yeers.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
Thanks Jamie Hunter McGregor and Shanghai. We're going to wrap
the show after the break with your feedback. Wrapping the Country.
It's a glorious day in Duned and it's going to
be a glorious day in South Otago tomorrow at Nigel
and Leanne Woodheads Farm Levels Flat. Thanks to silver Fern farms,
(37:53):
Emerson's spots for making the Southern storm shout possible. Join
us there three to seven hoy, just a text coming in.
They need to be more accurate telling the temperatures. It's
thirty four degrees here in hawks By today, not twenty
eight as predicted. Drought is on the way quickly. You
have our sympathies, or catch it back tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckaye. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment.
Catch all the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckue Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Do you believe in love?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Fel something said?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Really Darly? Do you believe? Good afternoon? A good day
in New Zealand. It's a good day where I am Dunedin.
It is an absolute stunner. This is the Country. It's
brought to you by Brent Jamie McKay. Sheer musical theme today.
(00:43):
Apparently she's going to do a tell all Netflix series
thirteen pounds Good money if you can get it. The
Prime Minister kicking off the show. He's had a long day,
as you're about to find out in a minute. Wayne Langford,
Press and the Federated Farmers. He's going on tour apparently
(01:04):
with the Prime Minister later this week and next week.
Hunter MacGregor is our guy in Shanghai. We're going to
have a yarn to him about temperatures, beef, driving and
parking in a city of thirty million people and making
a Chinese man's day. That's all on his hit list
(01:24):
for me, and talking about a city of thirty million Shanghai.
Hot off the Press is the most populous cities in
the world.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
They've changed that.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
You might have heard Mike Hoskin talking about this one
this morning, But I'm fascinated by big cities and tall
buildings and dams. Jakarta and Indonesia forty two million people, Dhaka,
Bangladesh thirty seven million, and Tokyo. Until recently we thought
was the most populous city in the world. It's languishing
in the third place at thirty million people. New Delhi
(01:59):
in India, Shanghai coming in at thirty million.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
That's a hell of a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
And Derry En zed Tracy Brown. She's from Madamta near Hobbiton.
Don't know how big Mata matter is now when they're
thirty million. I do know that we've got all that
to a chat about on the show today. Michelle will
have the latest and rural news for you, all updates
sport and we've got a great day down south today.
(02:25):
We're going to have a great one tomorrow for the
Southern storm Shout with Emerson's Bates and Silver Fern Farms
will tell you how you can get a couple of
hours off the farm and let us shout you. It's
called Southern storm shout one month on Christoph Luxen up next.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Same weird.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Wednesday's on the Country. The Prime Minister kicks off the
show and he's already done a day and a half's
work before he goes to air with US three point thirty.
This morning, Christopher Luxen, you were on a conference call
about Ukraine. I hope you didn't let Trump sell them
down the river.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Well, viously, Jamie, good morning, good well, good afternoon.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Good to be with you.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
I don't know what time of the day it is,
but you know, I'm part of a coalition of the
willing leaders group that gets together to talk about what
we can do to continue to get towards a peaceful situation.
A justin lasting piece actually is what rafter in Ukraine.
What's really encouraging though, is that the parties are talking,
they're engaged, and obviously the European partners have a role
(03:31):
to play. The Americans have been instrumental and Cack starting
something off, and obviously his ongoing conversation about the content
of that plan, which we'll need to continue to evolve
in subsequent talks.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Well from talks with a great leader on the world stage.
Depending on which opinion. You hold of Donald Trump to
spending time with a great leader domestically here in New Zealand,
Wayne lanth And, President of Federated Farmers. You and him
are on the road next week.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Yeah, we are just catching up with farmers in particular.
I've actually Queenstown today and I'm with farmers and horticulturists
tomorrow actually, which will be good fun and it's just
a good chances, you know, I love getting out talking
to those town halls, are actually getting a sense of
what the issues are for farmers. I think we've made
tremendous progress. We've done a lot of things that the
Federated Farmers had in their election manifesto. That's trying to
(04:18):
get rid of the red tape for farmers, getting the
economy moving again for them in particular, leading us out
of the mess that we've been in. And now yes,
there's a good chance catch up.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Yeah, well you're going to get rid of a lot
of red tape when you get rid of regional councils.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Well, look, I mean, as I said before before Christmas,
we've actually got Rima reform, and of course we're mentioning
a world where we want forty six percent less consense
out there in the system so that we can actually
get things built in this country. It's the biggest amount
of red tape bureaucracy just jammed this country up. Obviously
as part of that as a role, you know what
(04:53):
happens with regional councils going forward, and you heard us
and now yesterdate it. We think we don't need regional
councils for the elected officials won't be needed. And we're
actually going to get the district mayors in those regions
to come together and work out what they do with
the resources in the regional councils. But obviously, yeah, that
will be very important.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Are the district councils any smarter than the regional councils?
I know this too much overlap and we've got too
many local body authorities, But have you got this one
the right way around?
Speaker 6 (05:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:23):
We have because I think you know, you need local
government to be local and that means district level. And
there might be you know, there's already you to be
aware of it. There are some district councils that are saying, hey, listen,
it makes more sense for us to coordinate in a
better way around three waters. It makes better sense for
us to consent to coordinate around building code authorities, all
of those kinds of things. If they wish to amalgamate
(05:46):
and move themselves into that place, that's up to them
to do. And those local communities, but they are having
to work together as we deal with a number of
issues that impact a number of districts that are adjacent
to each other. But look, we just have had district councils,
had regional councils, We've got central government, you got three
layers of government, and it's just too much. And we
have to radically simplify the system so that people can
(06:08):
get on get things done on their own property and
you don't need to be dealing with a whole bunch
of different rules.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Oh c this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I know you can't comment on it per se, but
we're going to get like a twenty five point or
twenty five basis point drop. It will be welcomed. Do
you get the feeling that this is the end of
the ocr cuts in this cycle and you're happy if
it lands at two point twenty five percent?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Well, again, I actually don't know what the number will be. Obviously,
the four castes are predicting another twenty five basis points.
I think this is the last meeting before the end
of the year where the committee comes together to look
at interest rates before they look at it again in
the early new year. But again, their statement will be
very interesting today to see how they are reading their
economy and what they're focused on, Jamie a lot is
(06:55):
what's called mid level mid term inflation. So they last
report that sort of expect inflation to still be helping
around that two percent mark, and as a result, that
gives them confidence about you know that that's key input
into the interest rates as well.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Raising key we saver contributions. That's good. But when are
you going to be brave enough or mature enough as
a nation I'm talking about to raise the age of
eligibility or do you have to wait till Winston Pops's
clogs metaphorically of course.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Well, I think on the increasing key we save the contributions,
I'm really proud of that. That's something we've wanted to do.
We keech started it off this year, moving it from
six to eight percent. We're doing it gradually. Some employers
and employees have time to adjust. But if you think
about one of the major challenges when over the last
thirty years compared to countries that are wealthier than us,
like Ireland and Australia and others, it's the increased level
(07:48):
of savings and investment and that obviously means it's going
to build out much bigger nest eggs for Kiwi's You know,
we were looking at some examples of twenty one year
olds that you could have another four hundred thousand dollars
in their account time they retire, which is fantastic because
they get the compounding effect of interest and they're in
a saving scheme. It's really good. It gets people follow
for a first house or and also better retirement and
(08:10):
come gives the country actually pools of capital to invest
in infrastructure because we've now got money saved in the
country that needs to get a return therefore needs to
get spend on things like infrastructure projects in public private partnerships.
The other thing that you raise about the retirement data,
we'll look at that as we go to the election again.
But I mean, as I've said before, we've gone three
times the election, say hey, listen to New Zealand. You know,
(08:32):
we want to have national superannuation. We're not changing that.
We're not means testing it or giving a heavy asset
testing as the Australians do. We think that's an entitlement.
We think everyone deserves to know. That's a certainty. But
we are going to need to augment it with more
key we savings as well. But on just sixty five
to sixty seven, I mean in two thousand and one
it moved to sixty five, having moved from sixty gradually
(08:54):
over a ten year period. Since two thousand and one,
New Zealand men are living another four years longer, and
already you've got Australia, Canada, in UK and sixty seven.
All we're asking for is to move it other two years.
I don't think that's unreasonable, but we'll develop our specific policies.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
We go to the campaign, well, good luck getting that
one past the goalie ie Winston Peters does. You could
always do a chippy, of course and just broaden and
inverted commas are the tax space. But it seems to
me that a capital gains tax does have some political
appeal out there.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
I disagree completely everything I've seen as people do not
like us, They really do not like it, and I
was talking to a guy who is a landlord of
a sign writer on the weekend and he was just saying, like,
the signwriter wants to grow his business. It's been actually
going quite well, and he actually wanted to move into
commercial premises by his own get twice the size. But
(09:47):
of course he's going to get hit with a twenty
eight percent tax. So if you're a commercial work operating
the commercial premises, if you have a key, we say
that investments they have commercial premises, that's where you get hit.
But equally, just think about the trade that's say up
and got a fort a batch, or someone that kids
that share a property from granddad. Think about the mum
and dad around rental investment.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
I know all this, Prime Minister, you're talking to the
converted here, but the Poles are telling us that at
least hard are you disagree? See the other question is
two thirds of New Zealanders would accept, according to the Poles,
the capital gains tax if it applied only to inflation
adjusted gains. Well, if we do that, we're not going
to get any capital gains income.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Well there you go, right, Hopkins have said he's not
going to make it inflation adjusted. The second thing is
what's the valuation? So all of a sudden, now you've
got to do a calculation of a twenty eight percent
tax on a commercial building for your small business, and
you're trying to work out all what was the starting valuation?
So what's going to do? Send valuers all around the
country to revalue properties and assets and commercial buildings in
(10:50):
this country?
Speaker 7 (10:51):
How did it all work?
Speaker 4 (10:52):
I mean? And he doesn't know, right, he says, we'll
sort of sort it out in government. We'll tell you
what's going to happen. When they get to government. They'll
be in partnership with Chloe Swarbrick, who will be the
Finance Minister, and she won't have a scare tactically and she.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Will the scare tactics prod you frightened me mentioning Chloe
is Finance minister. Barbara Edmonds will be the Finance Minister.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
James Jamie, if you want to believe that, my friend,
that's great. I just would say to you, look at
the focus of where the Greens are going to go.
They're going to tax the absolute for Jesus out of
the country. And I'm telling you, happen to open the
door the CGT and what's the track record last time?
Spend more, borrow more, tax more. That's what you're getting
to haven't learned up?
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Thinks a right, Christopher Lux and thanks for your time.
Keep up the hard work on behalf of the nation.
That's been a long day for you.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Good luck with the rest of us, Dave you Jamie
had a great week.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Nineteen after twelve. Believe from share Do you believe the
Prime Minister when he says Chloe's going to be the
minister of I mean this is all hypothetical, of course,
I can't believe Chippy would allow that. Barbara Edmans, incidentally,
who I mentioned, is one of the smarter people in labor.
It's probably can't say that of all of them, but
(12:05):
she's semi impressive. I'm trying to be a political here.
I talked about the largest cities in the world Jakarta one,
Dhaka two, Tokyo three, or the top ten cities. Sorry
to bore you with this, but I think it's interesting.
Are all in Asia, with the exception of Cairo twenty
(12:25):
six million coming in at number seven on the African continent.
No europe European cities. I thought a standball might have
been close. No American cities. Of course, a stand ball
spans Europe and Asia, so maybe it's split down the middle.
Interesting And if you know when you talk about the
(12:48):
future for New Zealand agriculture, well it's on our back door.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
It is Asia, it is Asia.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Up next, the man who is going on tour with
the Prime Minister, I think this week and next week
the president of Federated Farmers Wayane Yolo Langford before the
end of the hour off the Shanghai and it's thirty
million people, and Tracy Brown, chair of Dairy and z
and Mata Matta, I think.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Feel something sad?
Speaker 8 (13:23):
Sad dog, think you strong?
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Welcome back to the country. Twenty four after twelve sheer
musical theme for today thirteen million pounds for a Netflix
tell all series, Wayne Langford, you're a bit of a celebrity,
as I mentioned to the Prime Minister here in New Zealand.
Has anyone approach you to do a Netflix series?
Speaker 5 (14:07):
No, no, not yet Jamie Hey, thanks thanks for having
me on, but no, not yet. No they haven't. They
would pay off the farm probably pretty well.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
You're obviously rating your payout pretty highly. Talking about payouts,
what are you, what are you making nine to fifty?
You can still make a buck quite comfortably at nine fifty.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
Well, we can still make it. Back on that. I
appreciate them going early and giving us the head up
because there's nothing worse than having to try klawback in
the second half of the year. So tough times a well,
you know, just tougher times. Sorry and I haven't said
it's really tough, but but yeah, it's good luck. So
good to get there early warning on it.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
As we discussed with the Prime Minister. I know you
didn't hear the interview. I think tomorrow are you meeting
them tomorrow and Terrace?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Is that right? And then next week you're on the
road with them.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Yes, I'm down in Tariff with the Royal Nets tomorrow
and catching up with them there. That'd be great to
see some farmers down there. And then next week we're
heading up to both Hastings and Street Creek to again
catch up with him again there. I think next week.
Next week is a bit more of a fireside chat
we're calling it, which is good because it means people
can fire me in a few questions and I can
(15:11):
make sure we get the questions answered. Rather than listening
to two big, long speeches, which is always a lot better.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
We're all for that. What are you going to talk
about at Terrace? Not much farming going to be happening
there shortly, it's all well Shane Jones gitz his way,
it's all going to be gold mining in airports.
Speaker 5 (15:26):
Well, I did actually ask that question before I signed
my name down to the trip. I said, we're not
going down there to announce the airport, so no, but
obviously grazing and crowland will be a big discussion taking
care of wilding pines and the pests. I've actually I'm
in Wellington today. We just met with MPLO around what
we're doing around pests, and it's good to see some
re election from them there. So yeah, we're moving things along.
(15:48):
We're getting a few ones, which is good.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
I spoke to.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Jim Ward yesterday, an old schoolmate of mine and the
former manager who abruptly had to leave his job at Molesworth,
and he came up with some fascinatingatingly scary facts around
wilding pines and the amount of water take that they
take and how that affects our hydro electric dams. I'd
never thought of that.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Yeah, no, they really haven't effect on them, but of
everything on the side. Note, have you ever shaken hands
with Jim Ward?
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah, yeah, yes I did.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
I got an iron grip. Yeah, it's a strong handtack.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Well, I'll tell you the other one. And he's one
of those. I shouldn't say it because he's an old schoolmate,
but they literally want to crush your hands.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Yeah. So I mean, I'm all for a good, good
handshake and look them in the eye all that, but Jim,
Jim takes it to the next levels a good arm Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Jim haw is another one who does that. Andrew's father.
They're crushes, they're punishes anyhow. Okay, so you've got three
of these, as we said, Terrace Tomorrow, Hastings and then
Mystery Creek. Why should farmers come along for your cozy
little fireside chat. Is this where you roll over on
your back and the luxe and scratches your tummy at
(16:56):
Federated Farmer's Wain No.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
No, definitely not what it's all about. As we do
see some of the work that's going on here, and
it's often hard to get it out through some of
the media. To trry back to our farmers to see
what's happening. So we've got let's get the Prime Minister
out into the provinces talking directly with farmers, giving them
plenty of opportunity to ask questions and to see exactly
what they are working on and how it all works.
(17:19):
Of course, it is a tricky one to explain how
Wellington and the bureaucracy of Wellington works sometimes and so
when you can hear it straight from the Prime Minister's mouth,
hopefully they'll go home with a bit of a better
understanding of what they're working on and what they're trying
to achieve.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
And from the Federated Farmer's pr Division, Aaron does a
great job there. Your membership is up by around four
hundred members are compared to twenty twenty four. You're hoping
by year's end you can get up to five hundred.
And I think Federated Farmers has had a bit of
a renaissance, and I'm sure you've played your role in
that one as well. But do you know what I reckon, Wayne,
(17:54):
You should give life memberships to Bryce McKenzie and Lourie
Patterson at Groundswell. I've done you a huge favor.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Have they have they from what respect?
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Well, that made that've made in your heart, that made
you hard and not believe it.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
That's right. So now it's they certainly you know, put
up I guess in a way from competition for us
right to show hey, hey, this is this is some
of the sentiment of farmers out here, and we had
to have a good look at ourselves around what we're
doing and and like you say, straighten up our back
and really represent the farmers that were that are our members.
So those are some some great numbers coming out in
(18:31):
terms of the membership numbers. Anyone that follows along would
probably well it comes to feed's a games, would know
that the membership is in a in the steady start
of decline with the land sales and amalgamations and all
the sort of thing. People will retire, and so to
see such a dramatic I guess increase is really positive.
I think I told you at the start of the
(18:52):
year this is the year of membership. Now I was
hoping for a few more than five hundred, but but
it's a it's a heck of a good start computer
we've been in the past, So that's great.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Now I've also been told to ask you from the
PR department at at Fonterra.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Let me try.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
I had the PR Department on Fontira on yesterday PR
Department at Federated Farmers to ask you how your petition
for the consenting crisis is tracking. Because yesterday's news that
the government is eventually going to get rid of regional councils.
I'm sure what have been greeted with glee at Federated
Farmers definitely was.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
It's a hegeois step in the right direction. We're calling
for a ten year roll over on consents. We're wanting
farmers to get them behind it, and hopefully those in
the affected areas are seeing that sign the sign the
petition and help us, help us to achieve that. You know,
farmers just need some certainty around their businesses going forward,
and with all this upheaval around our regional councils around
(19:49):
the RMA, we need a clear, clear direction of travel.
I don't have to appreciate the converter, but you know,
we work on a seasonal basis. That takes time for
us to make change, take time for us to do things,
and we need some certainty. So ten years will sound
like a lot to some people, but it's really not.
It's just a short term really for farmers and what
they're trying to achieve.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Wayne Langford, thanks for your time today. Enjoy your day
in Terrace tomorrow. Beautiful part of the country.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Awesome er.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
Thanks There, we.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Go to the President of Federated Farmers. That's Bang on
twelve thirty. Michelle's in here, she's wandered and we're going
to have a look at Rural News Sports News before
the end of the hour. Hunter McGregor and Shanghai and
Tracy Brown, the chair of Derry and Zed. Welcome back
(20:48):
to the country. The show is brought to you by
brand I'm Jamie McKay. Shortly Michelle Watt was the latest
and Rural News will update sports news for you as well.
But where the work needs to be done, you need
a ute that pulls its weight and then some. That's
why Kiwi Farmers choose Isuzu Utes, built tough and reliable
with truck DNA.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Forget Black Friday.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
For a limited time, your local Isuzu Utes dealership is
offering the real deal with mates rates. The dmax ute
is a tough workhourse that handles the heavy loads with
its three liter turbo diesel engine and three point five
ton towing capacity, Or is the m UX seven seat
suv plenty of space for the work crew or the family,
(21:31):
with the same tough build and engine power as the Dmax.
Both come with extended six year warranties for real peace
of mind, and there's a bonus just for country listeners.
That's you buy that new Isuzu, mention the country to
your local dealership and they'll give you one of those
fantastic Stonycreek jackets worth over four hundred bucks. Isuzu matees
(21:51):
rates on now until the thirtieth of November. Real deals,
reel Utes, Real Kiwi, Real Tough. Visit Isuzu UTS dot
Co dot n Z or see your local Isuzu Utes dealership.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
To the country's world us with Cold Cadet, New Zealand's
leading right on lawn bower brand. Visit steel Ford dot
Co dot NZB for your local stockist.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Okay, Michelle, what do you got for us?
Speaker 8 (22:17):
Okay? So In Rural News, beef Mints's long standing position
as a budget conscious staples under threat, with retail prices
increasing rapidly over the last twelve months. Beef MINS is
currently averaging twenty three dollars seventeen per kilo, which makes
it more expensive than lamb chops which are at twenty
two dollars per twenty seven per kg. And beef mins
is also priced higher than other proteins including chicken and pork,
(22:40):
so it could be interesting to see if that influences
people's changes in that retail space. Interestingly, New Zealand exports
eighty percent of its beef roughly, but beef doing really
well obviously supply demand economics, that's how it works, right, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Yeah, And we're going to talk to Hunter McGregor about beef.
He's got some interesting stats about our beef and what
China is up to. So that is sports news. Before
you disappear again tomorrow, we're heading to your home patch,
or near your home patch of Belcluther, halfway between Bellcluther
and Milton. It's the Southern Storm Shout being hosted at
(23:17):
nije Or and land Woodheads Farm at Levels Flat three
to seven pm. Hopefully we can get you out the
door by seven pm. And if you're flat out doing
siloce because it's great silage weather out there, just even
try and sneak in at the latter half of the afternoon.
We've got the Emerson's tiny pub there, got the Mackaya's
are there. I have got that confirmed. We've got the
(23:37):
cider from Emerson's as well. Spots will be there with
the traditional triple star or three star plus the what
are those young blokes drengths, some a ultras.
Speaker 8 (23:47):
Some ultra and we've also got ice cream and coffees
as well. Like I call them for an ice cream
off the silage wagon and then head off back to
where it to call you south down because it is
going to be hot tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Carently silverfer and Farms. Thank you very much. You're providing
the meat for the barbecue which will be manned and
womaned by the Milton Lions. And if you're in the
Milton Bacluther Lawrence area i e. South Otago, the Lions
are running a van and they're going to give you
a ride home.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
He's Sport Sports on the country with AFCO one d
percent ke. We owned and trusted it.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
That's rare.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Former Wallaby's coach John Connolly says the all Black steps
gives them an advantage over the spring Box. Two years
out from the World Cup. I call bs on that one, John,
sorry about that one. And the countdown to next year's
Winter Olympic Games will gather pace tonight with the store
when the historic Fame flame is lit in Greece for
(24:40):
the start of the Torch relay. The flame will embark
on a seventy two day journey to the Milan Courtina Games,
with a nine day spell in Grease followed by a
nine week trek in Italy. The Olympic or the Winter
Olympic Games, always very good viewing. Up next on the
country it is Tracy Brown from Dairy and Zed.
Speaker 8 (25:03):
I was gone in the wagon.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
I would traveling Shaw. My mama used to dance on
the money. Tracy Brown is the chair of Dairy and Zed.
She's a Wykado farmer farming at Madamatta just near Hobbiton. Tracy,
I was having a winch to you in the commercial
break about having to do a fire warden drill evacuation
this morning and that's a towny, first world problem, but
(25:25):
at this time of the year, very very serious issue
on farms. You were talking about the need to have
your fire extinguishers and all that up to speed because
you've got the bloody birds nesting under your tractor hoods.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Good afternoon, Good afternoon, Jamie.
Speaker 6 (25:42):
And that is right, and farmers should be lifting their
bonnets and making sure that the safety equipment is up
to speak as it should be.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Well, let's lift the bonnet on the return on investment
in the dairy industry. Apparently Dairy and Zed has a
port out next week. Don't blind me with numbers here, Tracy,
but is stairy farming still a good gig at nine
dollars fifty?
Speaker 6 (26:08):
Dairy farming as a good gig, Jamie. You will have
seen on our website the break even milt prices is
eight sixty eight. So even though you know the melt
Ontario and milk price has just been revised down this week,
you know farmers are stole making money. It was a
record high last year. I think it was ten dollars sixteen.
(26:31):
So nine dollars fifty is you know, still a good
price just in terms of the return on investment piece
that was specifically around, Darien said, And because we've got
a levy vote coming up next year leading into that,
we always get an independent analysis just to have a
lock at whether darians has been making wise use of
the levy investment or not. And this return on investment
(26:54):
report will come out next week for farmers to just
sort of have a look at some of the projects
that we've been investing in and sort of what those
returns are. But just very high level and I know
you don't like too many numbers, Jamie, but very high
level of the three hundred and forty one million Levy
invested between twenty and twenty five in about ninety two
(27:17):
projects that return two point nine to eight billion of
value for farmers, which is around about twenty sixteenths per
kilogram of monks solids or one hundred and eighty seven
dollars per heat dear, So we believe that that's a
wise use.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Hey, you talked about the break even price from Dairy
and Z at eight dollars sixty eight. I was talking
to Mike McIntyre from Jardin yesterday because he's the guy
who gives me the future's numbers, and not surprisingly, the
futures market is sitting bang on nine dollars fifty for
a milk price for this current season, which is where
Fonterra and most of the industry commentators are. But and
(27:54):
I know there's a lot of water to go under
the bridge or through the cow shed wash till next season.
But twenty six twenty seven, the futures market is currently
sitting at eight dollars sixty eight, which would be your
break even price. So under that scenario, farmers theoretically wouldn't
make any money. But I'm putting I'm suggesting to you
(28:14):
with falling interest rates the biggest on farm cost. Surely
the cost of running a dairy farm has to go down.
Speaker 6 (28:22):
You would expect that decrease and interest rates to flow
through to farmers, Jamie. Some may not have received that
benefit yet, but we'll flow through. And as you say,
there's a huge part that of those expenses on farm.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Next week you've got a big dairy conference, a precision
Dairy conference in christ Church. Give me thirty seconds on this.
Why should people go as or is it too late
to register?
Speaker 6 (28:47):
It's not too late to register it. There's a special
website called Precision Dairy Farming Conference dot nz all one
word and so farmers can go on near rural professionals
as well and register its from the theater of the December.
So it's an international conference and darien Z has having
a tune It hosting it this year, so there's people
coming from twenty two countries and it's a really unique
(29:11):
opporternity Jamie, to see what leading researchers and technology manufacturers
are doing in terms of sort of practical solutions in
the innovation space across animals, feed nutrients, environment, people and
it's about how we can improve our decision making and accuracy.
(29:32):
So I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to
be a great couple of days.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
How's the season going on, like Kett, I, well, we.
Speaker 6 (29:38):
Had I think last time I talked to you, we'd
had some quite cold late weather in late September early October,
so grass growth is a little bit behind where it
would normally be. I'm actually in Southland yesterday and today, Jamie,
and I think last time we spoke that just had
the big storm down here and I've just come down
for a couple of events and discussion growth today in
(30:00):
a homegrown feet of e East today. So good to
see how farmers are going down He obviously still a
lot of work to go, but you know, grass is growing,
the sun's been shining, so I'm pleased, you know, in.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
That regards as you'd expect in God's own farming province.
Tracy Brown, enjoy the rest of your day in Southland.
How could you not? And safe travels home to Madamatta.
Speaker 7 (30:23):
Thanks very much, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Thanks Tracy, And we did talk about those falling interest rates.
I'd put the house on it twenty five basis points
this afternoon. Jeff disagrees on the text line. He said,
I think we're going to get a surprise cut of
zero point five. No, Jeff, No, up next, Hunter McGregor
in a city of thirty million people, he's our guy
(30:52):
in Shanghai, Roxburgh born and bred Kiwi Hunter McGregor selling venison,
selling red meat.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
To the Chinese hunter.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
You'll be interested to know we're headed for a high
of twenty eight degrees here in Dunedin today, which is
summer like for the end of spring, no doubt. In Shanghai,
you're starting to chill down.
Speaker 7 (31:12):
Yeah, No, good afternoon, Jamie. No, it is we're starting
to cool down. Actually, Shanghai this year had one of
the hotest summers on record. It was very hot and
we all get down to twenty eight overnight during the
height of summer. So you know, twenty eight degrees is
quite comfortable. At the moment. We're actually having quite a warm,
sort of early start to winter, and we're around about
(31:34):
twenty degrees most days for the clear blue skies and
get down to about eight overnight, just below ten, so
it's quite good. But coming into when we hit real winter,
it gets wet and damp, and now we sit around
about between zara and ten degrees and it's not much fun,
but we're enjoying it at the moment.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, i'd imagine some of it because you're right on
the coast there at Shanghai, some of those inland Chinese cities,
Beijing would be an example. Further so that'd get a
lot more chilly.
Speaker 7 (32:03):
Oh yeah. Further north, you know, you get the grass
actually turns brown, so it's not green. It's quite depressing
to be on us. The winters in the north of
China and Beijing, for example, it gets down to minus
thirty over the winter and plus forty in the summer,
so you know, big big swings and changes, you know,
and that north part of China there's a hell of
(32:23):
a lot of animals and a lot of sheep that
have grown up there. But you know, winter's pretty hard
on them when it's minus thirty minus forty and your
heavy snow and stuff. So you know, it's tough on
the animals up there, but yeah, they seem to survive
and get through and then they thrive in the summer month.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Let's talk about beef. China produces seven point seven million
metric tons of beef. Here in New Zealand, we do
seven hundred and twenty thousand metric tons or tons of beef.
So basically China's producing ten times the amount we are.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
I thought it might have been more.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Yeah, well it's probably actually growing to be on us,
because beef is you know, it is growing. But the
problem is, you know, they're running out of land. So
you know, if beef production increases, you know, they'll probably
dropped down some pork production or chicken or other sort
of you know, other other animal production because that comes
to the limits of the land. But you know, Chinese
(33:19):
beef in general, in the past, it's been you know,
and then the consumers just focused on one thing has
been cheap and high volume. But they're moving, you know,
and a lot of the consumers now starting to move
to other things. The one thing that I've seen you
know quite a lot, especially in restaurants in Shanghai, is
(33:41):
they're now focusing on fresh beef. You know, when I
talk about fresh beef, I'm meaning you know, from when
they walk into the saughter of plants are actually coming
out the other end. It's sort of six to eight hours.
It's on a truck directly into the into the restaurant,
so you know, she's pretty fresh, and they managed to
get a bit of a free me in for it,
so you know, it's an interesting way that they're consuming
(34:03):
beef up here.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Hunter McGregor. With this, Hunter, you've got a bit of
a story about driving in China. I'd be no good
in China. I'm no good in Dunedin. I struggle on
the main street of Riversdale. How do you get on
driving amongst thirty million people?
Speaker 7 (34:19):
Well, you know, I've been doing it for about four
or five years now, and a lot of people that
I know up here think I'm a bit mad driving
around the streets. But I got my own car and
drive around and actually got my first ticket the other day,
which is a bit of a bit of a shock
to the system. Now, when I drive around the streets
to Shanghai, I kind of know what the speed limit is,
but I usually just drive a bit slower than everybody
(34:41):
else and when we're fine, and luckily we there's lots
of flashes with speed cameras and stuff, but they don't
seem to issue tickets, which is which is quite good.
But I got done for a U turn on a
road the other day and what happened is that I
did the U turn in two days later, we've got
a text message to saying that I got a demerit point.
(35:03):
So you log into their app and you had to
pay two hundred room and bee fine, which is about
fifty dollars in New Zealand these days, and you got
the option of getting rid of the demerit point by
watching a video and an educational video and passing a
test or going and doing some community service. I think
the whole they're all positive thing about. The whole thing
(35:24):
is that the demerat point is linked to the car,
and the car owner being my wife. You know, she
got the demerat point and she managed to sit the
test and pass it, so you know it was a
low level offense obviously, and you know they have twelve
demerit points every two years here, Yeah, look like they
do in New Zealand, so it wasn't a big problem.
But you do see a lot of traffic cops around
(35:47):
issuing tickets and stuff like that quite regularly. So yeah,
that was interesting and I won't be doing you turn
on a on a double yellow line in the future.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
Your miserable side you made your poor wife watched the
video and sit the test when it was actually your fault. Okay,
driving in Shanghai would not be for the fainthearted. What
about parking in Shanghai? For instance? Where do you park
your car? And I'm talking about overnight and if you're
driving around, can you ever find a park on a
street or do you always have to park in parking buildings?
Speaker 7 (36:22):
For me, I parked my car in my office building,
so it's underground, so it's quite good. But you know,
cruising around there's a lot of parks during the day.
You know, nighttime it's a bit hard. But if you
park on the streets these days, there used to be
traffic wardens that will come along and issure take out
you have to pay as you left. Now it's all automatic.
(36:44):
You just park your car. You get a text message
to say that your car's being registered at this location,
and then when you go to leave, you just scan
a QR code which is on the ground and you
just pay. So it's pretty pretty convenient, you know. And
and then also you know, with parking buildings and stuff,
they don't have the little tickets or anything like that.
(37:04):
You just drive on, you scan the QR code and
pay on the way out. The other thing is that
with a lot of the what you call off the
apartment buildings apartment complexes, during the day they let other
cars and park there, so there's plenty of parking, just
certain times she's a bit challenging and five o'clock on
a Friday night is a bit hard to get a
(37:25):
park and the streets are fall so I sort of
avoid traffic.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Of that stage.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
See you mate, thanks for your time as always here
on the Country.
Speaker 7 (37:31):
Yeers.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
Thanks Jamie Hunter McGregor and Shanghai. We're going to wrap
the show after the break with your feedback. Wrapping the Country.
It's a glorious day in Duned and it's going to
be a glorious day in South Otago tomorrow at Nigel
and Leanne Woodheads Farm Levels Flat. Thanks to silver Fern farms,
(37:53):
Emerson's spots for making the Southern storm shout possible. Join
us there three to seven hoy, just a text coming in.
They need to be more accurate telling the temperatures. It's
thirty four degrees here in hawks By today, not twenty
eight as predicted. Drought is on the way quickly. You
have our sympathies, or catch it back tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (38:17):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie mckaye. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment.
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