October 21, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Miles Hurrell, Christopher Luxon, Jane Smith, and Emma Higgins.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The closer they get it, Get it on, When to
be kill.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Good afternoon, New Zealand. Welcome to the Country. My name
is Jamie McKay. Show is brought to you by Brent.
This is the Spice Girls. They're going to have a
reunion next year apparently minus Ginger Spice thirty years on.
We've got a couple of Spice Girls to wrap the show,
Jane Smith surely Scary Spice and Emma Higgins. But we're
(00:52):
going to kick it off with Miles Hurrell to become one. Misses.
By the way, Spice Girls song which would have been
apped for yesterday's big announcement, and that was the merger
amalgamation combining of Dawn Meats and the Alliance Group two
become one. Miles Hurrell waiting patiently on hold. We're going
(01:15):
to have a talk about a very confusing global dairy
trade auction overnight, and they've got a big farmer vote
coming up as well on the sale of the consumer brands.
The Prime Minister on the show, why has Winston got
such as such a b and his bonnet over the
alliance and Fonterra votes. Plus we're going to have a
(01:36):
look at annual inflation three percent not so good? How
could that affect should I say, future ocr drops? Because
we need another couple of those, don't we And of
course we haven't got enough trouble in the economy and
all that sort of stuff. Now we've got the Mega
strikes tomorrow and the weather, so we've got a lot
on our plate at the moment. No time to waste.
(01:58):
Going to kick off the show with the Chief Executive
of Fonterra, Miles Hurral. Wednesdays, every second, one twice a month,
(02:25):
we have a GDT auction. You wake up a bit
earlier in the morning to see what happens. Now, this man,
chief executive of Fonterra, Miles Hurral, would have woken up
to a huge rise this morning, but it was a
bit of a false dawn. The initial numbers up twenty
one point nine percent or something like that.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Miles.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
What happened to your server?
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Yeah, Jamie, Yeah, there was a bit of a glipse
in the system. So the auction went through sort of fine,
but the data that was published was incorrect, so it's
been redacted and of course they're going to publish that
later today. But what we sense is that it was
in line pretty much with the sort of huture markets
down maybe a couple of percentiles thereabout. So it's not ideal,
(03:05):
I guess from a New Zealand perspective, but been saying
that in line with where we see the market at
the moment, ten dollars under thread, Well not at this point.
We'll go away and do the numbers once we get
clarity on what that looks like. But you know, we
signal right from the outset that you know, we're the
international markets at the geopolitics and play. We just need
to be mindful this will still while we have the
(03:27):
spread in there of nine to eleven dollars.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
But I think what you've.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Seen is some of that plan out, you know, in
particular North America, you know, to have an export of
any so we being into China as they would have done,
you know, this by this time of year, so there's
a lot more feed floating around the US market, which
leads to a bit more milk. Of course, Europe's had
a pretty good weather position and milk price, which means
a bit more and of course they come off the
back of so that that blue tongue issue, so you've
(03:53):
seen carving a bit later. So all of that has
pointed to a little bit more milk in the Northern
Hemisphere at a time when you see them sort of peel.
And of course, you know, we've had a pretty good
start here ourselves. I think we're probably at peak peak
production in the season this week or thereabouts, and we're
up you.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
Know, three or four percent on this time last year.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
So all of those things would suggest a bit more
milk and buyers, you know, they smell a bit of
blood and they want to sit and sit on the sideline.
So at this point I'm not I'm not suggesting ten
dollars under threat, but we certainly need to keep an
eye up.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, very good September numbers for us, but the likes
of the bottom half of the South Island, especially South
and Big dairying area. Now it's been a bit miserable
again down there.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
It has weatherwise.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
That said, I think there's a bit more supplementary feed
given given sort of where we fork our prices to be,
So there's a bit more important feed that's sort of
going out into the farms and so as a result
of that, we are seeing production up right through the
South Island. In fact of South Island's up more than
the North at this point too. So all in all
are pretty good start from a farmer perspective.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
You would have been an interested spectator yesterday with the
result of their line Irons vote. They wrong home in
the end, I suggest next Thursday we'll be talking along
the same lines about the Fonterra vote regarding the sale
of the consumer brands business. How many farmers have voted
so far, Miles Hurrel, Well, we don't we know.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
The data yet that it will it will come clear
next week, although sentiment from our teams that there's been
early voting has come through quite quite strong from our
from our farmer's yielders. So you know, at the end
of the day there is a big decision for our
farmers and we've provided them the information, you know, very
early so they can make an informed decision. But you know,
from from where we sit, it's all about investing in
our ingredients in our food service business, which you know
(05:39):
we we've we're back for a long time and will
continue to back into the future. But you know it
is a big decision and we'll lean into that next
Thursday when we see the data.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
And I know you don't want to talk about this,
but you've got to. You'll be happy that Winston Peters
and Shane Jones aren't Fonterra farmer shareholders because they'd be
voting no.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Well, of course, so what I you know, we know
we know the view from from from once and he
makes that there's no apologies from that perspective. But you
know it doesn't surprise that he's entitled to his views,
of course. But you know, as I think you've put
it out on many occasions, this is owned by our
farmers and they'll make the ultimate decision.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Absolutely Radio. Now I'm going to have another crack at
you here. Why does big brother Fonterra tell farmers how
to vote on the Board of Director elections.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Yeah, I mean, I think you're referring to the independent
assessment panel. So you know, the board puts out sort
of a skills matrix and the gaps they need to
fill into the future that gets put to an independent panel.
They put through people that they put their hand up
and out pops those those that will go through the
process that's overseen by the Shielders Council or the Corporate
Counselors is called now. So you know, I think there's
(06:43):
a pretty robust process around that. At the same time,
it does mean that if you don't get through that process,
you can come through on your own right and there's
a few rules around that, but you can come through
on your own so and we've seen that done in
the past that quite successfully. So yeah, I think the
team are quite happy with the process. It's you know,
it's got a nice robus process around it with the
(07:04):
likes the independent panel and overseen by the council.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
That's a drafting gate against democracy.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Oh, I wouldn't call it that.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
You know, any board needs to ensure you have the
right skills and you know, as we look at the
sort of the new direction of the cooperative, you know,
it's really important we think about that into the future.
You've got you know, a couple of board members come
off next year. They have certain skills and I think
the board looking to make sure that they fill those
gaps and so yeah, that's what it's about and we'll
see what comes through in that process.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
I think late November. I think might be early December.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Now let's finish on a good news story a new
butter plant for Clandy Boy in South Canterbury.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Yeah, look, we're excited about this.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
I mean, this is very much aligned with the sort
of strategic direction of the cooperative. You know, fifty ton
of new capacity we're going to put into into clanny boards,
so that's you know, not quite twenty percent increase on
what we currently have and very much aligned to our
international food service and an ingredients business.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
A couple of different formats, a couple of types of butter.
So are you exciting and very much points to the
direction of where the cops heading.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Add to that, one hundred and fifty million dollars recent
announcement at Dale, another seventy five million at Studham, one
hundred and fifty million and Foddy are all aligned to
the new strategy and these are the things that we're
trying to sort of send a message to our farmers
that we have a heck of a future in those
areas that we have skills at, such as food service ingredients.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Maybe you need to send the block to Winston to
butter him up.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Well, you know, I'm heading to Jim's funeral tomorrow, former
Prime Minister's funeral tomorrow, and no doubt'll run into a
few of the politicians there, but I'll pay my respects
to the former Prime Minister and you. He's done a
pretty good job for news End over the years and
sad to see him go.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Yeah, the last of the great farmer politicians and of
course the Sun. Matt Bolger part of the Fonterra executive
two miles.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Yes he is and we were away in Europe last
week as a team and he had to come back
at short notice.
Speaker 5 (08:59):
Given even Jim took a turn for the worse at
the end.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
But great to see Matt and all his siblings and
the grandchildren in Wellington for his passing. As sad as
it is, it's really nice to see that the family
you're all there.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Miles Harrell, thanks has always for your time on the country.
Appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
Good only thanks Ammy.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Sixteen after twelve. It's going to be a big day tomorrow,
isn't it. Omerga strikes the weather. The funeral of Jim Bolger,
a man who turned down a knighthood because he was
a Republican. Rest in peace, The last great Farmer politician
Don Carson sent me that quote. It's a good one too. Okay,
(09:44):
up next, Christopher Luxon, have a look at the Alliance
and Fonterra Farmer votes Mega strikes the weather. He will
be no doubt at the Bulger funeral tomorrow. It's going
to be a huge day Spice Girls today is the theme?
They're having a reunion tour? Or is this talk of one?
I think next year, thirty years on. I don't think
(10:07):
Ginger is going to turn up. She might have a
bit on a plate with mister Horner, has she I
don't know anyhow. The text machine my brand new text machine,
and no one's texted me yet. I'm a bit disappointed.
So who is your favorite Spice Girl? Let's do a
pole here on the Country, just because we can. I'm
going to ask Jane Smith and Ema Higgins a wee
(10:28):
bit later in the hour about their favorite spy skirls,
because without giving their age away, knowing the two of
them as I do, I suspect they're of an age
where they were Spice Girl fans. Wednesdays on the Country,
(11:04):
we to the bloke running the country, Prime Minister Christopher
Luxe and the Alliance vote went as expected. I'm sure
Fonterra will go the same way should politicians and you
and I discussed this briefly in Gisbon last Friday. Be
meddling into farmer owned cooperatives. You and David Seymour are
consistent on that. Winston and Shane the complete opposite.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
Look, I just think farmers have had enough, as I
said to the other day, of politicians telling them what
they should or shouldn't do. It's their livelihood, that's their decision.
The smart business people, we're very grateful for what they're
doing hauling us out of recession, and that's really a
decision for them. They're quite capable of making that decision
without politicians are injecting their reckons into the mix.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
So when you've got a coalition government, obviously coalition parties
can have their own opinions separate from the government. What
happened to towing the party line?
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Well, look, I think in a coalition government in a
mature MMP environment, yep. I mean three parties are very
united around the core of what we're doing, which is
job number one, grow the economy, restore or in order
to better public services and health and education, but you know,
that's what we're really focused on. But of course each
party has its own sort of take on a different
set of the shoes and talking to its own constituents.
But you know, we've all got our personal view. I'm
(12:17):
a big fan of, actually the disposal of the consumer
brands business. I just don't think the margins are as
good as what you get in a food service or
a food ingredients business. And I've seen the success of
Fonterra shift and strategy over the last you know, a
few years, and I think that they are on the
right pathment doing exceptionally well. But doesn't really matter what
I think. It's actually not my decision. You know, I
can keep my reckons, but the point is it's not
(12:39):
helpful me, and really it's the farmers that are actually
making that call.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
I reckon. You've had quite a good week thus far,
Prime Minister. Is it about to get worse with the
strikes tomorrow and the weather.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Well like on the strikes, I just say, you know,
I think that has having huge impact on kids who've
already missed way too much school. We've got kids about
to go into NCAA exams and two weeks we're getting
parents and are mucked around with changes to schedules. We've
got six thousand patients that have been waiting too long
for surgery, and just remember labor, you know, blew the
wait list up for surgery up thirty times. It's all
(13:11):
politically motivated, frankly by the unions. And you know, we
value all the public sector employees, but it's the unions
that are actually decided they want to go to strike
and they don't want to come and get around the
bargaining table and compromise. And yet we've had a good
example recently, have the Primary Principals Union who actually did
come into the negotiation with very constructive, got a good
deal for themselves and did really well. But you know, frankly,
(13:34):
we've had got a week this week where there's a
lot of teacher only days. We've got Labor Day on Monday,
and there's a strike going down just after we've had
school holidays, and just before we're about to have exams.
We had the Secondary Teachers' Union wanting to talk to
the minister about Palestine. You know, we've had you know,
we're not asking unreasonably to say teacher only days and
professional development could be taken in one of the twelve
weeks of the school holidays, you know, for teachers, rather
(13:55):
than taking class time out for kids. We've offered binding
arbitration to the scene and your doctors saying, looks, let
someone else make the decision. You've been talking about this
for a year. Health New Zealand union, let it go.
Let the binding arbitray to make the decision. So we've
made constant new offers. Often I've even not been taken
out to union members, and I just think unions are
not serving their members well. But most importantly, if you're
(14:17):
a kid, pairent or a patient across this country, it's
pretty frustrating.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I still struggle to see why Palestine's on the agenda.
Look good news, bad news week. In terms of one
of your henchmen, I shouldn't call him that. He's probably
doing quite a good job, Chris Bishop. Building new roads
of national significance. Bring them on, especially the four lane highways.
But annual inflation that's three percent as expected, not so good.
We know it's going to track lower. But could this
(14:42):
be a spanner in the works for another one or
two OCR jobs.
Speaker 6 (14:47):
Well, I don't think so, Jamie. I mean, we've got
a Reserve Bank of New Zealand target range for inflation,
which is between one and three percent, and that's where
you ideally want it sitting. The Reserve Bank lookout and say, look,
we're interested in me and term inflation as to how
they set their interest rates around, and they're seeing inflation
sort of sitting around the two percent next year, which is.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Why they continue into our interest rates.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
So I just remind everybody it wasn't that long ago
under labor that we were at seven point three percent
under labor and people getting we're in our band at
three percent, So it'll bounce around around the three percent.
But the bottom line is the trend is really good
that we're in the two percent type range. And most importantly,
(15:29):
for God's sake, I'm inflation at three percent, so I'll
have of a lot better being at seven point three.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Now tomorrow the Mega strikes. As we mentioned, mother Nature
doesn't look like she's going to pay play ball. That
would be ironic, wouldn't they if they had to cancel
the Mega strike because of the weather. But I guess
on a more serious vein Prime Minister, we farewell the
great Helmsman, the last of the great farmer politicians, Jim Bolger.
Speaker 6 (15:52):
Yeah, I think that's going to be a very special farewell. Actually,
I think it's an amazing family, the Bulger family, and
his contribution to New Zealander is pretty special. I mean,
you know, he sorted out us in ecotough economic times.
He pivoted US towards Asia, which was important for all
our export growth that you still see today. You know,
he he dealt with the Treaty Settlements, which I think
(16:15):
has been a very good move. And ultimately, you know,
he also introduced MP in a constitutional sense, so you
know there's some pretty big legacies coming out of him
in his government and the senior ministers at that time.
But yeah, really really great guy that said lunch once before.
You know, like I was with him in a bar
and why can I once and you know, he just
loved people and he just loved politics. So yeah, so
(16:35):
it'll be quite a special day tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
The rest in peace, Jim Bolger. Prime Minister Christopher Luxen,
thanks for your time is always on the country.
Speaker 6 (16:41):
Great to be with Jamie.
Speaker 5 (16:42):
Have a great week.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Thank you, Prime Minister twenty seven after twelve Yes, I
said you are with the country. Your favorite spice girl.
Baby Spices is doing very well in our poll at
the moment. Here's Robbie. I think Robbie is Robbie from
Hawk's Bay. I was sharing in the UK when the
Spice Girls came out and they were everywhere. It was mad.
Baby Spice was the pick, but not much to pick from. Geez, Robbie,
(17:10):
tell us what you really think good looking bunch of women. Gee, Robbie,
I want to see a picture of you. If you
don't think the Spice Girls were much to pick from.
I wonder if you're an oil painting yourself. Flick us
through a picture of yourself. Robbie, you've got our text number.
Our text numbers five double nine. You can tell us
(17:30):
who your favorite spice girl was. And we're just getting news,
breaking news that and we'll update this Michelle will update
it with rural news. The Mega Striker is going ahead tomorrow,
but outdoor rallies and major centers are canceled. They're going
to have to How do you have a placard waving
rally indoors? Maybe maybe that's karma, you strikers. Anyhow, up
(17:54):
next rural news and sports news. Before the end of
the hour Our two Spice Girl, Jane Smith and Emma Higgins.
(18:16):
Welcome back to the country. I'm Jamie McKay. The show's
brought to you by Brandt. Very shortly Michelle Watt with
the latest and rural news. I'll have sports news for you,
and I'm going to tell you why you should consider entering,
providing you qualify, of course, your farm in the Century
Farm and Station Awards. But success in farming and growing
isn't about big, flashy moments. As we all know, the
(18:37):
winds come from constant decision making and persistent effort, but
they all add up to a successful season. Farmlands is
here to help you score some wins this summer. Stopping
nasties like pests and disease from eating away your crop gains.
That's the one. Preventing a parasite outbreak with the right
treatments at the right time. That's the one. Getting a
(18:58):
head start on maintenance like fencing repairs so stock stay
where they're supposed to. That's the one. Stay in cool,
dry and protect it all summer with clothing that works
as hard as you do. Another one, the team at
Farmland's are ready to help you set up for some
wins with some expert advice and reliable products. So if
you want to score some wines this summer head and store,
(19:19):
order through Farmland's pro or talk to your rep about
Farmland's summer offers.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
The Country's world news with Cob Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower Brands, a steel for dot Co
dot z for your local stockist.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Apologies for the extended Spice Girls musical interlude there. I
was just reading something online and I can't do two
things at once. Michelle Watt, You've got the rural news
coming up? If I played the sting, yes, I have, Look,
I can't multitask, So before we talk about the Century
Farm and Station Awards and Lawrence, one of my favorite
(20:08):
rural functions or events of the whole year, celebrating, of course,
one hundred years of ownership for your farm. Who was
your spy? I bet you you were Sporty Spice.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
I was Sporty Spice. Not of similarities. Because we were
discussing she is the most talented one in the group.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Are you comparing yourself to that? I am, well, she
was the best singer I think, wasn't She was a
good singer, very successful par Old Posh Spice looked good
but she couldn't sing.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
She's also had a very successful career post Spice girls.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Well, yes, she has to be fair well, so's Jerry
Horner Scary Spice. I think she's gone broke. I don't
know what Baby Spice has done. And mal Spice, Male Spice,
Malca sporty Spice is I think she's done alright as well.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
Yeah, no, they've done all right out of it.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
I think, okay, what's in well, I know what's in
Rural News. It's Century Farm and Station or that's right.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
One of my favorite events as well. And I was
actually MC at this event this year, which was an
absolutely amazing opportunity. Shout out to Edie Fitzgerald and the
team down there in Lawrence. So the deadline is looming
for the twentieth annual Heritage Farming Awards. So the calls
going out to farming families with a long history of
farming on their land. You have until the thirtieth of
November to submit your application in time for this year's
(21:22):
intake for the awards. Our families who have farmed the
landsnse nineteen twenty five are asked or earlier are encouraged
to apply for special acknowledgment. You get a pluck in
a certificate and it's a fabulous dinner and event at Lawrence,
Absolutely fantastic event, and it's such a huge achievement. I think,
you know, saying your family's been on the land this
long now, especially with succession and all that, it takes
a lot of planning.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Yeah, and I'm not sure this function will exist in
one hundred years. I'm not sure farms will stay in
the same family for one hundred years. Our family, by
the way, was honored in twenty eleven. We bought our
farm or our four bested in nineteen ten.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Sport with a f go Kiwi to the bone nineteen
oh four.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Now the Spye Girls might have been all the rage
in nineteen ninety six, but hybrid players of the Rage
and Rugby now Crusaders are believed to have signed one
of New Zealand's most exciting and versatile talents. It's understood
the defending Super Rugby champions have learned Oli mathis south
from Waikato, where the New Zealand seven's rep has been
adept at flanker and on the wing. The first year
(22:23):
of his deal is supposedly on a wider training group contract,
meaning Mathis can only play to cover an injury, and
there's been plenty of those, Yes, hybrid players. Georgia Miller
now Oli mathis up next. The Spice Girl themes continues.
It's Jane Smith. She is a North Otago farmer who's
(22:46):
taken time out from her busy day. She's been tailing
in the wind, and there's been plenty of wind around
the country at the moment. Her name is Jane Smith.
Now Jane. Today's musical theme is the Spy Skirls. Without
wanting to give your age away, I reckon you would
be of an age where you were a bit of
a spicy fan when you were a youngster. Now I'm
(23:08):
going to ask you who your favorite spice girl is.
But when it comes to comparing you to one of
the Spice girls, it's not Baby Spice with the blonde hair.
It's scary Spice.
Speaker 8 (23:18):
Well, I think it's probably on point. Jamie.
Speaker 9 (23:21):
Actually, after this morning's tailing out in the Norwista, and
I was just thinking this morning the Norweista is about
as useful as a unionist on strike.
Speaker 8 (23:30):
Jamie in terms of absolutely use it all in it.
Speaker 9 (23:33):
So I think we're week five or week six of
the Noryista today, So scary spicy, I'll take that. But yeah,
spy skills, I certainly though are around in my era,
but I absolutely.
Speaker 8 (23:43):
Couldn't stand them, Jamie.
Speaker 9 (23:45):
Nothing worse than a girl band, So no, I don't
like you choice music at all today, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Oh, well there you go. I'm a big boy band fan,
so we differ on that one. Look in my absence, Jane,
the methane targets emission targets have been halved, so that
will negate any use for your bunch of merry men
and women the Methane Science Accord.
Speaker 9 (24:06):
Oh, if I agreed with you, Jamie, we would both
be wrong on that one. In terms of the methane targets, yes,
they're slightly more palatable, but remembering that even the IPCC
have said that the methane the warming effect of methane
has been ovastated by four hundred percent, so.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
We're not even halfway there.
Speaker 9 (24:22):
So I mean, the Methane Review Panel knew that as well,
and they also knew that that no reduction is required
at all.
Speaker 8 (24:30):
But I guess politically.
Speaker 9 (24:32):
Again, it would wouldn't have been very palatable because not
so much around the Paris are called expectations, but the
amount of money that still is being squandered of taxpayer
money on methane reduction pills and potions and balduses and
that we simply do not need nor want, and so
that would be quite embarrassing for the sector and for
New Zealand.
Speaker 8 (24:52):
So it's it's a step in the right direction.
Speaker 9 (24:55):
But actually we just need to be coming out and saying, actually,
if the focus is on warming, there's actually nothing to
see here.
Speaker 8 (25:01):
We start already meeting that met zero get a chain
hang on.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
That depends on who you believe when it comes to
the scientific arguments.
Speaker 9 (25:11):
Absolutely not though, Jamien, because even actually our anemic academics
last week, while slipping on their prune juice, did come
out and say, actually, we should make targets higher to
make it as the world is doing less and it
would be heroic leadership to actually offset any global increase
in methane i e. You know, they were talking about
(25:32):
calling So even those academics could actually say that this
was never about never about emissions or actually warming, it
was actually about political grandstanding.
Speaker 8 (25:43):
Jamie.
Speaker 9 (25:43):
So, again, if we focus on warming, we are.
Speaker 8 (25:45):
Not adding to warming at all.
Speaker 9 (25:47):
And that's even before we add in the nine million
hectares of native biodiversity, et cetera, of which two point
six millionaredat are on chef and beef farms like our
own ones. So actually we need to have that conversation.
And so in terms of heading forward, I certainly me
and my team will still be dedicated to removing me
sane from the Paris Accord. We have to do there
(26:08):
in terms of trying to stop food inflation and also
around that food security, because people need to remember every
time they complain about carbon forestry, the price of butter,
the price of meat, the price of fresh vegetables, energy fuel,
ear flights, banking compliance, all of these are symptoms of
the greater problem, which is again the Paras Accord. And
(26:31):
in New Zealand we have this really strange Stockholm syndrome
where we have started agreeing, where we continue to agree
with our captives. The very thing that holds us captive
is the Paras Accord and it actually is very, very
damaging to pretty much everything that's leading to inflation in
this country. Jamiely, So, again we need to put the
grand standing out and actually I want to be able
(26:51):
to focus again on genuine environmental initiatives. I've said this
time and time again, biodiversity, water, sustainable food production, and
this unhinged a decision with admissions needs to stop.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
All right, Who am I to argue with, scary Spye?
So are you an alliance? Two part question here, double barrel?
Are you an Alliance supplier? And if so, how did
you vote?
Speaker 9 (27:11):
So we know, yeah, we're not alliance supply, Jamie, But
I was pleased to see the voter turnout was really
impressive and it was a mandate for change. And I
mean again, you can have nostalgia around the ownership, but
that doesn't pay the bills.
Speaker 8 (27:25):
And actually it will.
Speaker 9 (27:26):
Be good to inject some global governance and some other
sort of oversight around not just Alliance but also the
whole entire meat sector. So we really need more transparency
around that. So hopefully that does bring that, Jamie. So
well done to everyone for voting, regardless of which way
they voting.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
An alliance was a totally impure in my mind anyhow.
Speaker 9 (27:47):
Cooperative, right, And so that's the thing I've seen many
meat companies in the sector that tend to be a
lot more transparent than some of those that call themselves
a cooperative. So hopefully, Jamie, that it's really woke up
shareholders and they're looking for that transparency. And I have
no doubt that the entire sector that will hopefully flow
(28:08):
through to the entire sector.
Speaker 8 (28:09):
Jamie.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Okay, you started off by talking about strikes. The northwester
was as much use as a unionist on strike, I
think was your quote. I'm really annoyed about these strikes
and I'm totally behind doctors and nurses, married to a teacher,
my oldest sister is a teacher. But really, why should
Palestine be on the top or on the agenda at all?
(28:31):
What are they striking against?
Speaker 8 (28:33):
Exactly, Jamie.
Speaker 9 (28:34):
And once again it's unionist, you know, pushing their own
agenda forward. And I think, is there a one hundred
thousand people striking tomorrow? So just top of my head
while I was thinking and the tailing pen this morning,
that's probably twenty to fifty million dollars of our economy
at cost of the economy, let alone the cost to
children's learning and witless times, et cetera. And again, I
(28:56):
know many teachers and some of those in the sector
that don't necessarily agree with the way that this has
been executed. But there certainly are some issues, particularly in
the health sector. So again you know these type of things, Jamie,
where is the money going to come from? But also
these unionists need to be less focused on their incomes
and more focus on their outcomes and pull the head
(29:18):
And if they want to be in politics, Jamie, they
should be an MP.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Can we just finish with a quick word on the
late Jim Boulger. I know you've got a nice sweet
story to tell. We've already heard from Miles Hurrell and
Chris Lux and what's your story.
Speaker 8 (29:31):
I once made him a cup of tea, Jamie. Actually
that's my only claim to fame.
Speaker 9 (29:35):
And I really enjoyed a lot of the quotes of
Jim Bulger, particularly what was one Politicians, no matter who
they are, shouldn't be able to manipulate public on a
single issue. And you know that is absolutely relevant today
in terms of what's happening in parliament, particularly party Mary.
But it was a cly damn opening.
Speaker 8 (29:53):
So I was.
Speaker 9 (29:54):
Thirteen and my friend Lisa, her mum, was catering at
this and I.
Speaker 8 (29:59):
Remember there was.
Speaker 9 (30:00):
I absolutely remember there was protests outside in quite high
security for those days in nineteen ninety four, and Jim
and Joan were there and I made them a cup
of team and talk to them about farming. And Jim said,
at that point, make sure that you're sticking at farming
and be involved with that sector. Now, remembering ninety four,
(30:20):
things went great in the sector, so I'd always remember that.
And he just seemed like a really a real statesman
like you, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
So you were thirteen and nineteen ninety I'm doing the
maths that makes you fifteen and nineteen ninety six when
the Spice Girls exploded onto the world stage, Jane Smith,
I can't believe you weren't as spicy.
Speaker 8 (30:41):
I'm definitely scary, Jamie, but not a Spice Girl.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
See you later, Thanks, thank you, Jane. Robbie Robbie, I
was going to say, muzz muzzes on the Hawks Bay
Robbie's come back to me, hang on, hang on, he says,
I'm no oil painting, Jamie. But the Spice Girls were
mid at best, Robbie. Robbie, that's a show, Sooker. Beauty
is in the eye of the beholder. Up next, to
Emma Higgins really really well. She is a senior ag
(31:15):
analyst with Rabobank and continuing as Spy Girls musical theme
today on the Country. Emma Higgins, like Jane Smith, you're
of an age where you were probably a Spy Skirl
fan growing up or am I misreading you?
Speaker 10 (31:29):
Now? You have nailed me completely with what may likes
were when it comes to the nineties pop band and
I did have the platform shoes Jamie I did.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Jane hated the Spy Girls. She looked a bit like
Baby Spice with the blonde hair, but in real life,
Jane Smith's scary Spice. If we were to compare you
to one of the Spy s girls, who would it be? Wow?
Speaker 10 (31:54):
When I have a chu because I have quite dark here.
So I was always referred to as Posh Space.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
So you actually you actually had a nickname called Posh Spice.
Speaker 10 (32:04):
Well, no, but when we were doing our band performances,
obviously in front of all the school, Posh Space was
my character that I was trusted into. And you know what,
after watching her on Netflix, I'll still take Posh Space.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Let's get on to stuff that we need to talk about.
Emma Higgins and of course we've already chatted to Miles
Hurrel about the GDT auction event. It was a bit
of a dog's breakfast overnight getting the results. But the
tone of it is it's down a couple of percent,
pretty much as expected with the futures market now, I
asked him, so I've got to ask you not only
(32:39):
about the spice girls, but his ten dollars under threat.
Speaker 10 (32:43):
I think we need to be pruved in here, Jamie
and start thinking about what Emmitt price looks like.
Speaker 8 (32:47):
That's a little lower than that.
Speaker 10 (32:49):
I think tim Bucks is still achievable this season, but
our salespeople are going to have to work pretty hard
for that. And so in the absence of, you know,
putting a lot of trust and hope into our sales team,
it could be quite prudent for you farmers out there
to think about what nine fifty might look like or
something a little bit less than ten, just given that
(33:11):
the milk right the market right now has too much milk,
and that's what's reflected in the GDT outcomes that we've
seen of the last three whiles. And when you think
about it, we've just had our latest results come through
for September. When it comes to milk production, we've just
seen a record volume of milk being produced for the
month of September, and that's a trend that we've actually
(33:34):
been playing out since about May this year. So there's
a plenty of milk coming from this part of the world.
That's the same out of the United States as well,
similar to with Europe, and buyers are feeling pretty comfortable
that they've got plenty of choice.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Yeah, Miles Cyrel said, they're smelling a bit of blood
in the water and thereafter a good deal. Interestingly, talking
to farmer Tom Martin, my UK correspondent yesterday, British milk
exports have lifted by twenty percent. So let's move on
from dairy. I want you to put on your red
meat hat. What commentary have you got around that Alliance vote?
Speaker 10 (34:10):
Well, it was a very strong outcome, wasn't it, Jamie.
And look, I know that you've traversed a lot of
this over the last few days and certainly in the
week's leading up to it, but certainly our farmers right
now are deciding the fate of cooperatives in one sense
or another. Whether it was the Alliance vote that we
just saw come through yesterday, or whether it's the Fonterra
(34:32):
vote and the outcome of which will be announced at
the end of this month. There are quite different circumstances
obviously between the two, but you know, it is a
watershed moment. Alliance was the last one hundred percent farm
owned red meat co operatives and they clearly have voted
against this model in favor of waters effectively foreign ownership,
(34:52):
where Dawn Meats owning sixty five percent steak in Alliance group,
assuming it all goes through all the eyes of dotted
T crossed and the High Court is also an agreement
as well. So look at is really a momentous time,
I think for a red meat space. And we've talked
about it before, Jamie. You know, cooperatives do have a
(35:13):
few challenges when it comes to accessing capital to really
maximize on market opportunities. We've seen it before historically, and
Alliance is no different right to other clocks have faced
their challenges. What we've seen in terms of this vote
is a vote for a fast capital injection, so external
(35:35):
capital coming in that will theoretically provide opportunity for the
group to progress and achieve whatever growth strategies that they have.
The risk is Jamie, let we see a dilution or
a loss of farm control. And also just around you know,
what what does profit look like and what does I
(35:57):
guess the tension maybe or what does the opportunit unity
for the different groups look like going forward? So you know,
it's a really interesting space right now.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
Let's wrap this on a very positive note. You've verged
a bit of caution around the dairy price, but you'd
have to say beef and lamb looking very promising for
this season.
Speaker 8 (36:16):
It is.
Speaker 10 (36:17):
Look, I think there's something to be really excited about
when it comes to the red meat space for farm
gate prices. Look, I joke about this all the time.
We're having to adjust their axes when we're trying to
show where prices are right now compared to the five
year average range and compared to the last couple of years.
So it's great news out there. We've seen very very
strong demand, particularly from the Northern Hemisphere and the beef
(36:40):
space that UIs market absolutely is yanking up that farm
gate price. And when it comes to the lamb space
as well, our friends over in the UK and EU
are certainly helping underpend solid returns at the farm gate level,
so a lot to be really happy about, lot to
be really confident about. I think, as we're passing through
(37:04):
Lemming and looking down the barrel of summer, let's just
hope the weather stays favorable in terms of maximizing on
as we move through the coming months.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
Well, Emma Bunton, Oops, that's a fraudy and slip. Let
me try Emma Higgins. Did you like what I did there?
Emma Higgins from Rabobank, Thanks for your time and thanks
for sharing your stories about being a posh spice in
a past life. Anytime, Jamie, anytime, Emma, well done, good
sport Hey, Jamie, silver fer and Farms just took forty
(37:35):
of my cattle at nine to sixty a kilo, says Steve.
What great money that is. We're going to wrap the
show with some of your Spice Girl feedback. Ye turn
you mic on wrapping the show with some of your
Spice Girl feedback. Thanks for it all, a lot of it.
I can't read being excellent to college.
Speaker 9 (37:56):
Jamie.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
You should know that none of the Spice Girls can sing.
I don't know if I agree with that one. I
think sporty and baby Spice could sing. We'll catch you
back tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to friend, you're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent. You're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The closer they get it, Get it on, When to
be kill.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Good afternoon, New Zealand. Welcome to the Country. My name
is Jamie McKay. Show is brought to you by Brent.
This is the Spice Girls. They're going to have a
reunion next year apparently minus Ginger Spice thirty years on.
We've got a couple of Spice Girls to wrap the show,
Jane Smith surely Scary Spice and Emma Higgins. But we're
(00:52):
going to kick it off with Miles Hurrell to become one. Misses.
By the way, Spice Girls song which would have been
apped for yesterday's big announcement, and that was the merger
amalgamation combining of Dawn Meats and the Alliance Group two
become one. Miles Hurrell waiting patiently on hold. We're going
(01:15):
to have a talk about a very confusing global dairy
trade auction overnight, and they've got a big farmer vote
coming up as well on the sale of the consumer brands.
The Prime Minister on the show, why has Winston got
such as such a b and his bonnet over the
alliance and Fonterra votes. Plus we're going to have a
(01:36):
look at annual inflation three percent not so good? How
could that affect should I say, future ocr drops? Because
we need another couple of those, don't we And of
course we haven't got enough trouble in the economy and
all that sort of stuff. Now we've got the Mega
strikes tomorrow and the weather, so we've got a lot
on our plate at the moment. No time to waste.
(01:58):
Going to kick off the show with the Chief Executive
of Fonterra, Miles Hurral. Wednesdays, every second, one twice a month,
(02:25):
we have a GDT auction. You wake up a bit
earlier in the morning to see what happens. Now, this man,
chief executive of Fonterra, Miles Hurral, would have woken up
to a huge rise this morning, but it was a
bit of a false dawn. The initial numbers up twenty
one point nine percent or something like that.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Miles.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
What happened to your server?
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Yeah, Jamie, Yeah, there was a bit of a glipse
in the system. So the auction went through sort of fine,
but the data that was published was incorrect, so it's
been redacted and of course they're going to publish that
later today. But what we sense is that it was
in line pretty much with the sort of huture markets
down maybe a couple of percentiles thereabout. So it's not ideal,
(03:05):
I guess from a New Zealand perspective, but been saying
that in line with where we see the market at
the moment, ten dollars under thread, Well not at this point.
We'll go away and do the numbers once we get
clarity on what that looks like. But you know, we
signal right from the outset that you know, we're the
international markets at the geopolitics and play. We just need
to be mindful this will still while we have the
(03:27):
spread in there of nine to eleven dollars.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
But I think what you've.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Seen is some of that plan out, you know, in
particular North America, you know, to have an export of
any so we being into China as they would have done,
you know, this by this time of year, so there's
a lot more feed floating around the US market, which
leads to a bit more milk. Of course, Europe's had
a pretty good weather position and milk price, which means
a bit more and of course they come off the
back of so that that blue tongue issue, so you've
(03:53):
seen carving a bit later. So all of that has
pointed to a little bit more milk in the Northern
Hemisphere at a time when you see them sort of peel.
And of course, you know, we've had a pretty good
start here ourselves. I think we're probably at peak peak
production in the season this week or thereabouts, and we're
up you.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
Know, three or four percent on this time last year.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
So all of those things would suggest a bit more
milk and buyers, you know, they smell a bit of
blood and they want to sit and sit on the sideline.
So at this point I'm not I'm not suggesting ten
dollars under threat, but we certainly need to keep an
eye up.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, very good September numbers for us, but the likes
of the bottom half of the South Island, especially South
and Big dairying area. Now it's been a bit miserable
again down there.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
It has weatherwise.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
That said, I think there's a bit more supplementary feed
given given sort of where we fork our prices to be,
So there's a bit more important feed that's sort of
going out into the farms and so as a result
of that, we are seeing production up right through the
South Island. In fact of South Island's up more than
the North at this point too. So all in all
are pretty good start from a farmer perspective.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
You would have been an interested spectator yesterday with the
result of their line Irons vote. They wrong home in
the end, I suggest next Thursday we'll be talking along
the same lines about the Fonterra vote regarding the sale
of the consumer brands business. How many farmers have voted
so far, Miles Hurrel, Well, we don't we know.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
The data yet that it will it will come clear
next week, although sentiment from our teams that there's been
early voting has come through quite quite strong from our
from our farmer's yielders. So you know, at the end
of the day there is a big decision for our
farmers and we've provided them the information, you know, very
early so they can make an informed decision. But you know,
from from where we sit, it's all about investing in
our ingredients in our food service business, which you know
(05:39):
we we've we're back for a long time and will
continue to back into the future. But you know it
is a big decision and we'll lean into that next
Thursday when we see the data.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
And I know you don't want to talk about this,
but you've got to. You'll be happy that Winston Peters
and Shane Jones aren't Fonterra farmer shareholders because they'd be
voting no.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Well, of course, so what I you know, we know
we know the view from from from once and he
makes that there's no apologies from that perspective. But you
know it doesn't surprise that he's entitled to his views,
of course. But you know, as I think you've put
it out on many occasions, this is owned by our
farmers and they'll make the ultimate decision.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Absolutely Radio. Now I'm going to have another crack at
you here. Why does big brother Fonterra tell farmers how
to vote on the Board of Director elections.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Yeah, I mean, I think you're referring to the independent
assessment panel. So you know, the board puts out sort
of a skills matrix and the gaps they need to
fill into the future that gets put to an independent panel.
They put through people that they put their hand up
and out pops those those that will go through the
process that's overseen by the Shielders Council or the Corporate
Counselors is called now. So you know, I think there's
(06:43):
a pretty robust process around that. At the same time,
it does mean that if you don't get through that process,
you can come through on your own right and there's
a few rules around that, but you can come through
on your own so and we've seen that done in
the past that quite successfully. So yeah, I think the
team are quite happy with the process. It's you know,
it's got a nice robus process around it with the
(07:04):
likes the independent panel and overseen by the council.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
That's a drafting gate against democracy.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Oh, I wouldn't call it that.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
You know, any board needs to ensure you have the
right skills and you know, as we look at the
sort of the new direction of the cooperative, you know,
it's really important we think about that into the future.
You've got you know, a couple of board members come
off next year. They have certain skills and I think
the board looking to make sure that they fill those
gaps and so yeah, that's what it's about and we'll
see what comes through in that process.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
I think late November. I think might be early December.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Now let's finish on a good news story a new
butter plant for Clandy Boy in South Canterbury.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Yeah, look, we're excited about this.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
I mean, this is very much aligned with the sort
of strategic direction of the cooperative. You know, fifty ton
of new capacity we're going to put into into clanny boards,
so that's you know, not quite twenty percent increase on
what we currently have and very much aligned to our
international food service and an ingredients business.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
A couple of different formats, a couple of types of butter.
So are you exciting and very much points to the
direction of where the cops heading.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Add to that, one hundred and fifty million dollars recent
announcement at Dale, another seventy five million at Studham, one
hundred and fifty million and Foddy are all aligned to
the new strategy and these are the things that we're
trying to sort of send a message to our farmers
that we have a heck of a future in those
areas that we have skills at, such as food service ingredients.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Maybe you need to send the block to Winston to
butter him up.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Well, you know, I'm heading to Jim's funeral tomorrow, former
Prime Minister's funeral tomorrow, and no doubt'll run into a
few of the politicians there, but I'll pay my respects
to the former Prime Minister and you. He's done a
pretty good job for news End over the years and
sad to see him go.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Yeah, the last of the great farmer politicians and of
course the Sun. Matt Bolger part of the Fonterra executive
two miles.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Yes he is and we were away in Europe last
week as a team and he had to come back
at short notice.
Speaker 5 (08:59):
Given even Jim took a turn for the worse at
the end.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
But great to see Matt and all his siblings and
the grandchildren in Wellington for his passing. As sad as
it is, it's really nice to see that the family
you're all there.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Miles Harrell, thanks has always for your time on the country.
Appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
Good only thanks Ammy.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Sixteen after twelve. It's going to be a big day tomorrow,
isn't it. Omerga strikes the weather. The funeral of Jim Bolger,
a man who turned down a knighthood because he was
a Republican. Rest in peace, The last great Farmer politician
Don Carson sent me that quote. It's a good one too. Okay,
(09:44):
up next, Christopher Luxon, have a look at the Alliance
and Fonterra Farmer votes Mega strikes the weather. He will
be no doubt at the Bulger funeral tomorrow. It's going
to be a huge day Spice Girls today is the theme?
They're having a reunion tour? Or is this talk of one?
I think next year, thirty years on. I don't think
(10:07):
Ginger is going to turn up. She might have a
bit on a plate with mister Horner, has she I
don't know anyhow. The text machine my brand new text machine,
and no one's texted me yet. I'm a bit disappointed.
So who is your favorite Spice Girl? Let's do a
pole here on the Country, just because we can. I'm
going to ask Jane Smith and Ema Higgins a wee
(10:28):
bit later in the hour about their favorite spy skirls,
because without giving their age away, knowing the two of
them as I do, I suspect they're of an age
where they were Spice Girl fans. Wednesdays on the Country,
(11:04):
we to the bloke running the country, Prime Minister Christopher
Luxe and the Alliance vote went as expected. I'm sure
Fonterra will go the same way should politicians and you
and I discussed this briefly in Gisbon last Friday. Be
meddling into farmer owned cooperatives. You and David Seymour are
consistent on that. Winston and Shane the complete opposite.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
Look, I just think farmers have had enough, as I
said to the other day, of politicians telling them what
they should or shouldn't do. It's their livelihood, that's their decision.
The smart business people, we're very grateful for what they're
doing hauling us out of recession, and that's really a
decision for them. They're quite capable of making that decision
without politicians are injecting their reckons into the mix.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
So when you've got a coalition government, obviously coalition parties
can have their own opinions separate from the government. What
happened to towing the party line?
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Well, look, I think in a coalition government in a
mature MMP environment, yep. I mean three parties are very
united around the core of what we're doing, which is
job number one, grow the economy, restore or in order
to better public services and health and education, but you know,
that's what we're really focused on. But of course each
party has its own sort of take on a different
set of the shoes and talking to its own constituents.
But you know, we've all got our personal view. I'm
(12:17):
a big fan of, actually the disposal of the consumer
brands business. I just don't think the margins are as
good as what you get in a food service or
a food ingredients business. And I've seen the success of
Fonterra shift and strategy over the last you know, a
few years, and I think that they are on the
right pathment doing exceptionally well. But doesn't really matter what
I think. It's actually not my decision. You know, I
can keep my reckons, but the point is it's not
(12:39):
helpful me, and really it's the farmers that are actually
making that call.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
I reckon. You've had quite a good week thus far,
Prime Minister. Is it about to get worse with the
strikes tomorrow and the weather.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Well like on the strikes, I just say, you know,
I think that has having huge impact on kids who've
already missed way too much school. We've got kids about
to go into NCAA exams and two weeks we're getting
parents and are mucked around with changes to schedules. We've
got six thousand patients that have been waiting too long
for surgery, and just remember labor, you know, blew the
wait list up for surgery up thirty times. It's all
(13:11):
politically motivated, frankly by the unions. And you know, we
value all the public sector employees, but it's the unions
that are actually decided they want to go to strike
and they don't want to come and get around the
bargaining table and compromise. And yet we've had a good
example recently, have the Primary Principals Union who actually did
come into the negotiation with very constructive, got a good
deal for themselves and did really well. But you know, frankly,
(13:34):
we've had got a week this week where there's a
lot of teacher only days. We've got Labor Day on Monday,
and there's a strike going down just after we've had
school holidays, and just before we're about to have exams.
We had the Secondary Teachers' Union wanting to talk to
the minister about Palestine. You know, we've had you know,
we're not asking unreasonably to say teacher only days and
professional development could be taken in one of the twelve
weeks of the school holidays, you know, for teachers, rather
(13:55):
than taking class time out for kids. We've offered binding
arbitration to the scene and your doctors saying, looks, let
someone else make the decision. You've been talking about this
for a year. Health New Zealand union, let it go.
Let the binding arbitray to make the decision. So we've
made constant new offers. Often I've even not been taken
out to union members, and I just think unions are
not serving their members well. But most importantly, if you're
(14:17):
a kid, pairent or a patient across this country, it's
pretty frustrating.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I still struggle to see why Palestine's on the agenda.
Look good news, bad news week. In terms of one
of your henchmen, I shouldn't call him that. He's probably
doing quite a good job, Chris Bishop. Building new roads
of national significance. Bring them on, especially the four lane highways.
But annual inflation that's three percent as expected, not so good.
We know it's going to track lower. But could this
(14:42):
be a spanner in the works for another one or
two OCR jobs.
Speaker 6 (14:47):
Well, I don't think so, Jamie. I mean, we've got
a Reserve Bank of New Zealand target range for inflation,
which is between one and three percent, and that's where
you ideally want it sitting. The Reserve Bank lookout and say, look,
we're interested in me and term inflation as to how
they set their interest rates around, and they're seeing inflation
sort of sitting around the two percent next year, which is.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
Why they continue into our interest rates.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
So I just remind everybody it wasn't that long ago
under labor that we were at seven point three percent
under labor and people getting we're in our band at
three percent, So it'll bounce around around the three percent.
But the bottom line is the trend is really good
that we're in the two percent type range. And most importantly,
(15:29):
for God's sake, I'm inflation at three percent, so I'll
have of a lot better being at seven point three.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Now tomorrow the Mega strikes. As we mentioned, mother Nature
doesn't look like she's going to pay play ball. That
would be ironic, wouldn't they if they had to cancel
the Mega strike because of the weather. But I guess
on a more serious vein Prime Minister, we farewell the
great Helmsman, the last of the great farmer politicians, Jim Bolger.
Speaker 6 (15:52):
Yeah, I think that's going to be a very special farewell. Actually,
I think it's an amazing family, the Bulger family, and
his contribution to New Zealander is pretty special. I mean,
you know, he sorted out us in ecotough economic times.
He pivoted US towards Asia, which was important for all
our export growth that you still see today. You know,
he he dealt with the Treaty Settlements, which I think
(16:15):
has been a very good move. And ultimately, you know,
he also introduced MP in a constitutional sense, so you
know there's some pretty big legacies coming out of him
in his government and the senior ministers at that time.
But yeah, really really great guy that said lunch once before.
You know, like I was with him in a bar
and why can I once and you know, he just
loved people and he just loved politics. So yeah, so
(16:35):
it'll be quite a special day tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
The rest in peace, Jim Bolger. Prime Minister Christopher Luxen,
thanks for your time is always on the country.
Speaker 6 (16:41):
Great to be with Jamie.
Speaker 5 (16:42):
Have a great week.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Thank you, Prime Minister twenty seven after twelve Yes, I
said you are with the country. Your favorite spice girl.
Baby Spices is doing very well in our poll at
the moment. Here's Robbie. I think Robbie is Robbie from
Hawk's Bay. I was sharing in the UK when the
Spice Girls came out and they were everywhere. It was mad.
Baby Spice was the pick, but not much to pick from. Geez, Robbie,
(17:10):
tell us what you really think good looking bunch of women. Gee, Robbie,
I want to see a picture of you. If you
don't think the Spice Girls were much to pick from.
I wonder if you're an oil painting yourself. Flick us
through a picture of yourself. Robbie, you've got our text number.
Our text numbers five double nine. You can tell us
(17:30):
who your favorite spice girl was. And we're just getting news,
breaking news that and we'll update this Michelle will update
it with rural news. The Mega Striker is going ahead tomorrow,
but outdoor rallies and major centers are canceled. They're going
to have to How do you have a placard waving
rally indoors? Maybe maybe that's karma, you strikers. Anyhow, up
(17:54):
next rural news and sports news. Before the end of
the hour Our two Spice Girl, Jane Smith and Emma Higgins.
(18:16):
Welcome back to the country. I'm Jamie McKay. The show's
brought to you by Brandt. Very shortly Michelle Watt with
the latest and rural news. I'll have sports news for you,
and I'm going to tell you why you should consider entering,
providing you qualify, of course, your farm in the Century
Farm and Station Awards. But success in farming and growing
isn't about big, flashy moments. As we all know, the
(18:37):
winds come from constant decision making and persistent effort, but
they all add up to a successful season. Farmlands is
here to help you score some wins this summer. Stopping
nasties like pests and disease from eating away your crop gains.
That's the one. Preventing a parasite outbreak with the right
treatments at the right time. That's the one. Getting a
(18:58):
head start on maintenance like fencing repairs so stock stay
where they're supposed to. That's the one. Stay in cool,
dry and protect it all summer with clothing that works
as hard as you do. Another one, the team at
Farmland's are ready to help you set up for some
wins with some expert advice and reliable products. So if
you want to score some wines this summer head and store,
(19:19):
order through Farmland's pro or talk to your rep about
Farmland's summer offers.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
The Country's world news with Cob Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower Brands, a steel for dot Co
dot z for your local stockist.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Apologies for the extended Spice Girls musical interlude there. I
was just reading something online and I can't do two
things at once. Michelle Watt, You've got the rural news
coming up? If I played the sting, yes, I have, Look,
I can't multitask, So before we talk about the Century
Farm and Station Awards and Lawrence, one of my favorite
(20:08):
rural functions or events of the whole year, celebrating, of course,
one hundred years of ownership for your farm. Who was
your spy? I bet you you were Sporty Spice.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
I was Sporty Spice. Not of similarities. Because we were
discussing she is the most talented one in the group.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Are you comparing yourself to that? I am, well, she
was the best singer I think, wasn't She was a
good singer, very successful par Old Posh Spice looked good
but she couldn't sing.
Speaker 7 (20:35):
She's also had a very successful career post Spice girls.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Well, yes, she has to be fair well, so's Jerry
Horner Scary Spice. I think she's gone broke. I don't
know what Baby Spice has done. And mal Spice, Male Spice,
Malca sporty Spice is I think she's done alright as well.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
Yeah, no, they've done all right out of it.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
I think, okay, what's in well, I know what's in
Rural News. It's Century Farm and Station or that's right.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
One of my favorite events as well. And I was
actually MC at this event this year, which was an
absolutely amazing opportunity. Shout out to Edie Fitzgerald and the
team down there in Lawrence. So the deadline is looming
for the twentieth annual Heritage Farming Awards. So the calls
going out to farming families with a long history of
farming on their land. You have until the thirtieth of
November to submit your application in time for this year's
(21:22):
intake for the awards. Our families who have farmed the
landsnse nineteen twenty five are asked or earlier are encouraged
to apply for special acknowledgment. You get a pluck in
a certificate and it's a fabulous dinner and event at Lawrence,
Absolutely fantastic event, and it's such a huge achievement. I think,
you know, saying your family's been on the land this
long now, especially with succession and all that, it takes
a lot of planning.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Yeah, and I'm not sure this function will exist in
one hundred years. I'm not sure farms will stay in
the same family for one hundred years. Our family, by
the way, was honored in twenty eleven. We bought our
farm or our four bested in nineteen ten.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Sport with a f go Kiwi to the bone nineteen
oh four.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Now the Spye Girls might have been all the rage
in nineteen ninety six, but hybrid players of the Rage
and Rugby now Crusaders are believed to have signed one
of New Zealand's most exciting and versatile talents. It's understood
the defending Super Rugby champions have learned Oli mathis south
from Waikato, where the New Zealand seven's rep has been
adept at flanker and on the wing. The first year
(22:23):
of his deal is supposedly on a wider training group contract,
meaning Mathis can only play to cover an injury, and
there's been plenty of those, Yes, hybrid players. Georgia Miller
now Oli mathis up next. The Spice Girl themes continues.
It's Jane Smith. She is a North Otago farmer who's
(22:46):
taken time out from her busy day. She's been tailing
in the wind, and there's been plenty of wind around
the country at the moment. Her name is Jane Smith.
Now Jane. Today's musical theme is the Spy Skirls. Without
wanting to give your age away, I reckon you would
be of an age where you were a bit of
a spicy fan when you were a youngster. Now I'm
(23:08):
going to ask you who your favorite spice girl is.
But when it comes to comparing you to one of
the Spice girls, it's not Baby Spice with the blonde hair.
It's scary Spice.
Speaker 8 (23:18):
Well, I think it's probably on point. Jamie.
Speaker 9 (23:21):
Actually, after this morning's tailing out in the Norwista, and
I was just thinking this morning the Norweista is about
as useful as a unionist on strike.
Speaker 8 (23:30):
Jamie in terms of absolutely use it all in it.
Speaker 9 (23:33):
So I think we're week five or week six of
the Noryista today, So scary spicy, I'll take that. But yeah,
spy skills, I certainly though are around in my era,
but I absolutely.
Speaker 8 (23:43):
Couldn't stand them, Jamie.
Speaker 9 (23:45):
Nothing worse than a girl band, So no, I don't
like you choice music at all today, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
Oh, well there you go. I'm a big boy band fan,
so we differ on that one. Look in my absence, Jane,
the methane targets emission targets have been halved, so that
will negate any use for your bunch of merry men
and women the Methane Science Accord.
Speaker 9 (24:06):
Oh, if I agreed with you, Jamie, we would both
be wrong on that one. In terms of the methane targets, yes,
they're slightly more palatable, but remembering that even the IPCC
have said that the methane the warming effect of methane
has been ovastated by four hundred percent, so.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
We're not even halfway there.
Speaker 9 (24:22):
So I mean, the Methane Review Panel knew that as well,
and they also knew that that no reduction is required
at all.
Speaker 8 (24:30):
But I guess politically.
Speaker 9 (24:32):
Again, it would wouldn't have been very palatable because not
so much around the Paris are called expectations, but the
amount of money that still is being squandered of taxpayer
money on methane reduction pills and potions and balduses and
that we simply do not need nor want, and so
that would be quite embarrassing for the sector and for
New Zealand.
Speaker 8 (24:52):
So it's it's a step in the right direction.
Speaker 9 (24:55):
But actually we just need to be coming out and saying, actually,
if the focus is on warming, there's actually nothing to
see here.
Speaker 8 (25:01):
We start already meeting that met zero get a chain
hang on.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
That depends on who you believe when it comes to
the scientific arguments.
Speaker 9 (25:11):
Absolutely not though, Jamien, because even actually our anemic academics
last week, while slipping on their prune juice, did come
out and say, actually, we should make targets higher to
make it as the world is doing less and it
would be heroic leadership to actually offset any global increase
in methane i e. You know, they were talking about
(25:32):
calling So even those academics could actually say that this
was never about never about emissions or actually warming, it
was actually about political grandstanding.
Speaker 8 (25:43):
Jamie.
Speaker 9 (25:43):
So, again, if we focus on warming, we are.
Speaker 8 (25:45):
Not adding to warming at all.
Speaker 9 (25:47):
And that's even before we add in the nine million
hectares of native biodiversity, et cetera, of which two point
six millionaredat are on chef and beef farms like our
own ones. So actually we need to have that conversation.
And so in terms of heading forward, I certainly me
and my team will still be dedicated to removing me
sane from the Paris Accord. We have to do there
(26:08):
in terms of trying to stop food inflation and also
around that food security, because people need to remember every
time they complain about carbon forestry, the price of butter,
the price of meat, the price of fresh vegetables, energy fuel,
ear flights, banking compliance, all of these are symptoms of
the greater problem, which is again the Paras Accord. And
(26:31):
in New Zealand we have this really strange Stockholm syndrome
where we have started agreeing, where we continue to agree
with our captives. The very thing that holds us captive
is the Paras Accord and it actually is very, very
damaging to pretty much everything that's leading to inflation in
this country. Jamiely, So, again we need to put the
grand standing out and actually I want to be able
(26:51):
to focus again on genuine environmental initiatives. I've said this
time and time again, biodiversity, water, sustainable food production, and
this unhinged a decision with admissions needs to stop.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
All right, Who am I to argue with, scary Spye?
So are you an alliance? Two part question here, double barrel?
Are you an Alliance supplier? And if so, how did
you vote?
Speaker 9 (27:11):
So we know, yeah, we're not alliance supply, Jamie, But
I was pleased to see the voter turnout was really
impressive and it was a mandate for change. And I
mean again, you can have nostalgia around the ownership, but
that doesn't pay the bills.
Speaker 8 (27:25):
And actually it will.
Speaker 9 (27:26):
Be good to inject some global governance and some other
sort of oversight around not just Alliance but also the
whole entire meat sector. So we really need more transparency
around that. So hopefully that does bring that, Jamie. So
well done to everyone for voting, regardless of which way
they voting.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
An alliance was a totally impure in my mind anyhow.
Speaker 9 (27:47):
Cooperative, right, And so that's the thing I've seen many
meat companies in the sector that tend to be a
lot more transparent than some of those that call themselves
a cooperative. So hopefully, Jamie, that it's really woke up
shareholders and they're looking for that transparency. And I have
no doubt that the entire sector that will hopefully flow
(28:08):
through to the entire sector.
Speaker 8 (28:09):
Jamie.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Okay, you started off by talking about strikes. The northwester
was as much use as a unionist on strike, I
think was your quote. I'm really annoyed about these strikes
and I'm totally behind doctors and nurses, married to a teacher,
my oldest sister is a teacher. But really, why should
Palestine be on the top or on the agenda at all?
(28:31):
What are they striking against?
Speaker 8 (28:33):
Exactly, Jamie.
Speaker 9 (28:34):
And once again it's unionist, you know, pushing their own
agenda forward. And I think, is there a one hundred
thousand people striking tomorrow? So just top of my head
while I was thinking and the tailing pen this morning,
that's probably twenty to fifty million dollars of our economy
at cost of the economy, let alone the cost to
children's learning and witless times, et cetera. And again, I
(28:56):
know many teachers and some of those in the sector
that don't necessarily agree with the way that this has
been executed. But there certainly are some issues, particularly in
the health sector. So again you know these type of things, Jamie,
where is the money going to come from? But also
these unionists need to be less focused on their incomes
and more focus on their outcomes and pull the head
(29:18):
And if they want to be in politics, Jamie, they
should be an MP.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Can we just finish with a quick word on the
late Jim Boulger. I know you've got a nice sweet
story to tell. We've already heard from Miles Hurrell and
Chris Lux and what's your story.
Speaker 8 (29:31):
I once made him a cup of tea, Jamie. Actually
that's my only claim to fame.
Speaker 9 (29:35):
And I really enjoyed a lot of the quotes of
Jim Bulger, particularly what was one Politicians, no matter who
they are, shouldn't be able to manipulate public on a
single issue. And you know that is absolutely relevant today
in terms of what's happening in parliament, particularly party Mary.
But it was a cly damn opening.
Speaker 8 (29:53):
So I was.
Speaker 9 (29:54):
Thirteen and my friend Lisa, her mum, was catering at
this and I.
Speaker 8 (29:59):
Remember there was.
Speaker 9 (30:00):
I absolutely remember there was protests outside in quite high
security for those days in nineteen ninety four, and Jim
and Joan were there and I made them a cup
of team and talk to them about farming. And Jim said,
at that point, make sure that you're sticking at farming
and be involved with that sector. Now, remembering ninety four,
(30:20):
things went great in the sector, so I'd always remember that.
And he just seemed like a really a real statesman
like you, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
So you were thirteen and nineteen ninety I'm doing the
maths that makes you fifteen and nineteen ninety six when
the Spice Girls exploded onto the world stage, Jane Smith,
I can't believe you weren't as spicy.
Speaker 8 (30:41):
I'm definitely scary, Jamie, but not a Spice Girl.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
See you later, Thanks, thank you, Jane. Robbie Robbie, I
was going to say, muzz muzzes on the Hawks Bay
Robbie's come back to me, hang on, hang on, he says,
I'm no oil painting, Jamie. But the Spice Girls were
mid at best, Robbie. Robbie, that's a show, Sooker. Beauty
is in the eye of the beholder. Up next, to
Emma Higgins really really well. She is a senior ag
(31:15):
analyst with Rabobank and continuing as Spy Girls musical theme
today on the Country. Emma Higgins, like Jane Smith, you're
of an age where you were probably a Spy Skirl
fan growing up or am I misreading you?
Speaker 10 (31:29):
Now? You have nailed me completely with what may likes
were when it comes to the nineties pop band and
I did have the platform shoes Jamie I did.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Jane hated the Spy Girls. She looked a bit like
Baby Spice with the blonde hair, but in real life,
Jane Smith's scary Spice. If we were to compare you
to one of the Spy s girls, who would it be? Wow?
Speaker 10 (31:54):
When I have a chu because I have quite dark here.
So I was always referred to as Posh Space.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
So you actually you actually had a nickname called Posh Spice.
Speaker 10 (32:04):
Well, no, but when we were doing our band performances,
obviously in front of all the school, Posh Space was
my character that I was trusted into. And you know what,
after watching her on Netflix, I'll still take Posh Space.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Let's get on to stuff that we need to talk about.
Emma Higgins and of course we've already chatted to Miles
Hurrel about the GDT auction event. It was a bit
of a dog's breakfast overnight getting the results. But the
tone of it is it's down a couple of percent,
pretty much as expected with the futures market now, I
asked him, so I've got to ask you not only
(32:39):
about the spice girls, but his ten dollars under threat.
Speaker 10 (32:43):
I think we need to be pruved in here, Jamie
and start thinking about what Emmitt price looks like.
Speaker 8 (32:47):
That's a little lower than that.
Speaker 10 (32:49):
I think tim Bucks is still achievable this season, but
our salespeople are going to have to work pretty hard
for that. And so in the absence of, you know,
putting a lot of trust and hope into our sales team,
it could be quite prudent for you farmers out there
to think about what nine fifty might look like or
something a little bit less than ten, just given that
(33:11):
the milk right the market right now has too much milk,
and that's what's reflected in the GDT outcomes that we've
seen of the last three whiles. And when you think
about it, we've just had our latest results come through
for September. When it comes to milk production, we've just
seen a record volume of milk being produced for the
month of September, and that's a trend that we've actually
(33:34):
been playing out since about May this year. So there's
a plenty of milk coming from this part of the world.
That's the same out of the United States as well,
similar to with Europe, and buyers are feeling pretty comfortable
that they've got plenty of choice.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
Yeah, Miles Cyrel said, they're smelling a bit of blood
in the water and thereafter a good deal. Interestingly, talking
to farmer Tom Martin, my UK correspondent yesterday, British milk
exports have lifted by twenty percent. So let's move on
from dairy. I want you to put on your red
meat hat. What commentary have you got around that Alliance vote?
Speaker 10 (34:10):
Well, it was a very strong outcome, wasn't it, Jamie.
And look, I know that you've traversed a lot of
this over the last few days and certainly in the
week's leading up to it, but certainly our farmers right
now are deciding the fate of cooperatives in one sense
or another. Whether it was the Alliance vote that we
just saw come through yesterday, or whether it's the Fonterra
(34:32):
vote and the outcome of which will be announced at
the end of this month. There are quite different circumstances
obviously between the two, but you know, it is a
watershed moment. Alliance was the last one hundred percent farm
owned red meat co operatives and they clearly have voted
against this model in favor of waters effectively foreign ownership,
(34:52):
where Dawn Meats owning sixty five percent steak in Alliance group,
assuming it all goes through all the eyes of dotted
T crossed and the High Court is also an agreement
as well. So look at is really a momentous time,
I think for a red meat space. And we've talked
about it before, Jamie. You know, cooperatives do have a
(35:13):
few challenges when it comes to accessing capital to really
maximize on market opportunities. We've seen it before historically, and
Alliance is no different right to other clocks have faced
their challenges. What we've seen in terms of this vote
is a vote for a fast capital injection, so external
(35:35):
capital coming in that will theoretically provide opportunity for the
group to progress and achieve whatever growth strategies that they have.
The risk is Jamie, let we see a dilution or
a loss of farm control. And also just around you know,
what what does profit look like and what does I
(35:57):
guess the tension maybe or what does the opportunit unity
for the different groups look like going forward? So you know,
it's a really interesting space right now.
Speaker 3 (36:05):
Let's wrap this on a very positive note. You've verged
a bit of caution around the dairy price, but you'd
have to say beef and lamb looking very promising for
this season.
Speaker 8 (36:16):
It is.
Speaker 10 (36:17):
Look, I think there's something to be really excited about
when it comes to the red meat space for farm
gate prices. Look, I joke about this all the time.
We're having to adjust their axes when we're trying to
show where prices are right now compared to the five
year average range and compared to the last couple of years.
So it's great news out there. We've seen very very
strong demand, particularly from the Northern Hemisphere and the beef
(36:40):
space that UIs market absolutely is yanking up that farm
gate price. And when it comes to the lamb space
as well, our friends over in the UK and EU
are certainly helping underpend solid returns at the farm gate level,
so a lot to be really happy about, lot to
be really confident about. I think, as we're passing through
(37:04):
Lemming and looking down the barrel of summer, let's just
hope the weather stays favorable in terms of maximizing on
as we move through the coming months.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
Well, Emma Bunton, Oops, that's a fraudy and slip. Let
me try Emma Higgins. Did you like what I did there?
Emma Higgins from Rabobank, Thanks for your time and thanks
for sharing your stories about being a posh spice in
a past life. Anytime, Jamie, anytime, Emma, well done, good
sport Hey, Jamie, silver fer and Farms just took forty
(37:35):
of my cattle at nine to sixty a kilo, says Steve.
What great money that is. We're going to wrap the
show with some of your Spice Girl feedback. Ye turn
you mic on wrapping the show with some of your
Spice Girl feedback. Thanks for it all, a lot of it.
I can't read being excellent to college.
Speaker 9 (37:56):
Jamie.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
You should know that none of the Spice Girls can sing.
I don't know if I agree with that one. I
think sporty and baby Spice could sing. We'll catch you
back tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to friend, you're specialist in
John Deere construction equipment
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