It's Fieldays this week - and it coincides with a poll finding just 3 per cent of farmers support Labour, while 54 per cent back National. Why is National seemingly the party of farmers?
Also, should farmers be able to use their Kiwisaver to purchase their first farm or herd?
To answer those questions, Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and National's Mike Butterick, live from Fieldays, joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk Said B focusing in on the issues
that matter politics Thursday on Wellington Mornings, News Talk said
B's shine.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Can you make sure.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Joining us politics Thursday is Labor's police spokesperson Ginny Anderson.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Morning, Jenny, Good morning, Mack.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
How are you good?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
We've got technology going. You're in our Auckland studio, so
can you hear us everything?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Okay, Yes, they've been very kind to me, so thank you.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
That's no problem at all.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
And live from Field Days as Nationals wire rapper MP
Mike Butterick.
Speaker 5 (00:51):
Morning, Mike, Morning, Morning, Jenny, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Tell us what the vibe is like at field Days, Mike,
what's what's the is the weather?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Okay? Is a cold and wet and yucky.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
No, look as it's not too bad. Little bit of
wheat stuff falling down, but no, look it's not too bad.
But you know, look it's interesting. The stands very busy.
We're going to stand here. But the confidence really it's palpable.
You can you can actually feel it, and you know
there's a lot of confidence out there, a lot of optimism,
and you know, you would have heard, you know, the
(01:26):
really good at the soapie. We call it. Situation and
outlook for the primary industries was released this morning and
that's for the primary sector year year end of June
twenty twenty five. Didn't quite crack the sixty billion. We
got the fifty nine point nine billion, and that is
a fantastic success story for not only the real sector
(01:47):
but all of New Zealand, Nick, because I tell you what,
when rural New Zealand does well, all of New Zealand
does well.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
A lot of talk about the new tax break stuff
and buying big items. Are the other people telling you
that are selling the track there's a lot more interest.
Is there a vibe up there of spending.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Yeah, look there is ant Look there will be I
guess there'll be themselves data announced at the end of
the field days in terms of how it's gone. But
you know, pretty much every exhibitor we've gone around and
talked to, Nick, they're all talking about it. That the
customers or potential customers are asking about it. And an
actual fact the day it was announced, all the day
after the budget, a guy that sells tractors in way Pakarau.
(02:25):
He had a guy walking and by two tractors.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
So look, everyone is talking about it, and of course
why it's important, Nick, is that'll get our towns going,
which will just spread around the economy. So it's great, really.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Great, Ginny. Are you going down to have a look?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I will be. I hope to do so. We've got
a good team on the ground in the air, they've
got a stall in there. And yeah, it's important to
back our rural communities and we're focused not just engaging
with the farming community, but also all the people who
live in rural communities because we know that jobs, health
and homes metter even more in some of those community
(03:07):
that have done it really tough with cuts to frontline services.
Are those rural communities that often suffer more.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I'm not sure whether you've seen the latest poll at
the Federation Farmers Commission, but it found that only three
percent of farmers would vote labor, fifty four would vote national.
Why don't farmers like labor, Jinny, They never have have
they really?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
We always work hard to build strong relationships in the
real sector. In the recent Farmers Forum, we joined representatives
and I think was from dairy and zed Head Beef
and lamb rural women, New Zealand, horticulture in ZED, irrigation,
INDs ED and even federated farmers. So we work right
across all those sectors because those issues are important to
(03:49):
our economy, but they're also important for people who live
in rural communities who struggle to get housing, health and
services that they rely upon for their families.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Mike, this is playing into your hands. I mean, national
are the Farmers Party, aren't they Let's be really, let's
cut to the chase, you know, that's.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
What they are.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Yeah, and we've we've got a long history you know
of having rural MPCE, farming, MPECE and the party. You know,
we've always understood, appreciated, supported farmers. You know, it's exally
in our parties, DNA and this particular government. We've got
more in peace with a lived experience as farmers. You know,
they've lived it, they've breathed it, they understand it, and
(04:30):
that's really really important.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
And you've got all this new wool carpet going into
all the Conguora houses as well, so you're obviously.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
You know.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
We're all paying nine dollars, We're all paying nine dollars
for a block of butter. So I'm sure that's doing
farm as well at the moment, but it's a bit
harder for those kiwis trying to make their grocery bell stretch.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Ginny, do you feel that the latest you know, the
Coalition government giving a little bit of a backhanded to farmers.
Do you think they're trying too hard to look after them?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
And I think it's Labor's different in the sense that
we support everyone, not just those who vote for us.
We want all of our communities to throw and we
have policies that back rural communities as well as farmers.
And some of the cuts we've seen to health services,
to cying or order to housing those areas really impact
rural communities. I know from when I worked in police
(05:20):
that family violence rates and access to family violence services
directly impact rural communities where people are isolated and don't
have access to those support services. So we want all
of our areas to thrive, and we engage right across
New Zealand. Whether or not we poll well in voting
those areas, we want all New Zealand to be doing well.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
But Ginny, what can you do? What can Labor do
to get farmers on side. Is there anything that they
can do that they're looking at and saying, what are
we doing wrong here? I mean, that's a very very
low percentage.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
We always make sure that we turn up and we
front and we have those conversations and we've done some
If we want to see more benefits in those areas,
it's important that we maintain those relationships. And we've been
working hard an opposition to build good, strong relationships with
the rural sector, and Joe Luxon, our spokesperson, works incredibly
(06:13):
hard in the space to reach out and continue to
have those conversations.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Let's talk key we savor.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
There's been a lot of discussion this week about farmers
being able to use their key we sab to buy
their first farm or even their herd. Mike, should key
we sabor really be used for things like buying a
farm or a herd?
Speaker 5 (06:33):
Well, It's interesting that I think obviously Sue's redmain, she
has a member's bill in the ballot. Niicola Willis is
actually looking into it, you know, but look, nothing's confirmed yet.
But it's probably not just the farmers that have what
we call service tendancy that live in a house. It's
sort of part of the job. But it also would
benefit potentially benefit you know, people like our defense personnel
(06:56):
that live in a site and give them perhaps an
opportunity to live buy a house that they are not
living in. There is a little bit of risk potentially
with scope creep if you go into livestock, because live
stock can go up and down and value. It's not
that bricks and mortar. And of course always got to
keep in mind, you know the ultimate goal of KIW
saver is to have a pot of money for people
(07:18):
when they retire, enabled them to buy a house, but
ultimately it's for retirement saving. So just being very mindful
of scope creep. But you know, look, Nichola Willis is
looking into it.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, I get the idea of the farm being able
to you should be able to use your key, we
save it for the farm. I get that. But the herd,
that's a whole different ballgame, I think. Anyway, Finance Minister Nicholas.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Willis, wait, do I get to say on that one
I was going to.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Come and ask you a question, but you don't up before.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
I know.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
You're in the studio, Jinny, But that doesn't mean you're
the host, all right.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Just because you're a scause just because.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
You're a Mike Hosking studio, it doesn't mean you're my
cost right, don't you say what you're going to say?
Don't don't tease us and they walk away.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
I think it's a fair point that Mike makes is
that you know, can you buy a gary? If you're
a mechanic, can you buy a shop? You know, it
creeps into things that aren't the first home. And so
let's not forget that national scrap that first home grant
which locked a lot of key Weis out of getting
their first home. The loan schemes that were in place
have been cut and taken away. So the priority has
(08:23):
to be enabling key Wes to buy their first home.
And so there's a fear that if you change those rules,
it's going to make it even harder than what the
government's already done to get New Zealanders into their first home.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Can I ask you this question, would you agree to
buying a farm if it was your first home, if
it was your first thing that you were buying. You
were saving and saving and saving, and all you want
to do is to be a farmer and buy a farm.
Should it be able to be used for that. If
it's your first purchase, exactly like a first house.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Well I wouldn't say no to that until you understood
how it would play out and if you're drawing, if
you're labeling that to come in. It's the question that
Mike raised is that there's creep. Where do you draw
the line? So while it's okay to your first farm,
why are you then denying someone who wants their first
business that's slightly different to a farm, and how you
(09:13):
do that? And otherwise, we really need Keywi's to save.
I mean, this government made massive changes to key we
Save it in the budget and that impacts the lowest
earning workers the most. They have to put more in
the and the government's putting less in. And we know
that kiwis are at record levels already of withdrawing the
key We saver because of hardship, and so those changes
(09:36):
under the budget are going to make it even harder
for hard working kiwis to save and retire comfortably.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Mike, you wanted to say something.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Then, yeah, look, I was just going to say, yep,
look at it has been tough, and you know I
would suggestion perhaps a little bit of enable goes and
as to what caused the tough conditions is called a recession,
and you know that's why it infrastrates went up.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
So look, thirteen thousand construction workers.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Going off shore Yep as a cult as a result
of a recession, as a.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Result of your canceling project Explatet the ferries and like
rail and a whole lot of other kyng order housing builds.
That's why thirteen thousand construction workers left New Zealand for
other countries. So your actions as your government contributed to
the existing situation that we're in now, which is going
on inflation and nine dollars for a block of butter.
It's unacceptable for Keywi. You don't afford to pay for food.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
But look, Jenny, the nine dollars for a block of
butter is a result of record export prices and if
it does cost, it does filter back through and to
the customers here. But it also has great benefit for
all of New Zealand when our rural communities though, go well, tell.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
That to people on my electorate who can't afford to
do baking with your.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Children to have would you prefer the export revenue to
be half.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well, well, I prefer people could have food to eat
and feed their children. That's what I would prefer and
right now eight dollars for a scone or not being
able to make basic food in your home because the
prices are too expensive. That is unacceptable when wages have
not kept up with the increase of prices of food,
and that leaves so many families having to not eat
good food when they need it.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Can you work it out?
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Can you work this one out for me though, Jinny?
How the hell can Costco be able to sell butter
so cheaply and no one else in the country can
tell me that one because I can't work that one out.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Well, somehow they've corrected you Opoly, So good on them
for being able to do that, but not everyone can
access Costco. Well, We're grateful we had one in the
Hut Valley. We very much appreciate that to help people
get the food they need.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
We'd like we'd like Wellington too, Jinny.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Just quietly Politics Thursday with Jenny Anderson and Mike Butterick.
Yesterday we talked about the findings of the Mental Health
and Well Being Commissioned.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
There's been no.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Change in suicide numbers since twenty eighteen overdoses are up
eighty eight percent in seven years, and thousands fewer people
are accessing specialist care. I want to ask you both
what you thought of these reports, but I'm going to
start with you, Ginny. Your government pumped one point nine
billion dollars into mental health. Why is a state of
(12:06):
our system so shocking?
Speaker 2 (12:10):
When that investment went in, that one point nine billion,
it was going to take at least five years to
get the workforce in place to give people the services
they needed. And that head was relying on continued investment
in that space for workforce, and that investment has not
occurred under the current government. Some of the investment we
did was to put in they called hip practitioners or
(12:32):
health intervention practitioners, and they sit inside a GP practice
and so when you go to your doctor for a checkup,
there's someone there with mental health specific skills to be
able to help people. That needed to continue to roll
out right across the country in order for people to
get the services they need. So, quite simply, we don't
have the health workforce in place because this government doesn't
(12:54):
pay the wages and invest in our health system in
order to meet the needs of the people.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Jinny, just to remind you that it was twenty nineteen.
Did the government pump that money into it? That's six
years ago.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, that's so we needed to keep investing off the
back of.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
That week six years ago.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Six years ago. So we've only got the new Caralition
government and.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
We've had this government and for eighteen months six years,
so for the past two budgets they needed to keep
investing in more mental health to keep that alive and
to keep the workforce going. We're not managing to compete
with wages of Australia and people go offshore. Pay equity
doesn't help health news.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Sorry to interrupt you, but most of these findings were
in the timing of when you guys were in government.
Now you didn't do a good job of it, and
now we're still paying the price for it.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
We knew we had a huge amount to make up
for that investment when in place it needed to be
built on year on year to give people the services
they need. On top of that, Nick, we've seen can
I just confusation? Of course you can. Meth and fetamine
use has skyrocketed by not ninety seven percent under this government.
(14:09):
The increased pressure on psychosis on mental health and as
you've said, overdoses, that is putting even more pressure on
our health system and that has come into play in
the last twelve months since those numbers of skyrocketed. We
need even more investment than what was protected back in
twenty nineteen because of the onslaught of methnphetamine in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Mike, what is the government actually doing to address these concerns?
I mean, are you taking it seriously enough?
Speaker 5 (14:36):
Yeah, And that was going to be the very first
point I would make Nickers that we do take it very,
very seriously because we see it in our community. We
see it. I doubt there's a New Zealander that hasn't
been impacted one way or another, you know, whether it's
a family member or a friend or someone they know.
So we take it absolutely seriously. You know, we were
the first to have a standalone mental health and Addiction
(14:57):
workforce plan. We were the first to have a mental
Health Minister. But you know we've only been we've been
in government for a year and a half. A target
data is starting to show signs of increase in access. Yep.
I agree, faster, faster progress is needed, but that's why
we're working at pace to try and increase that support
so that we can make sure that when people reach
out for support, that they actually receive it when and
(15:19):
where they need it. And that's really really important. Jenny,
can I just sorry sorry? That report show that money
alone doesn't actually fix the issue. You need to have
a plan, you've got to have direction, and you've got
to have accountability because the old spray and prey doesn't
always work well.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Surely by bringing in a Minister of mental Health, Matt Douc,
things would have changed.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Ginny, Well, I just was looking at the data because
you did mention what year it kicked in. So the
data released in early twenty twenty five shows that in
the year from twenty twenty three July so where the
last six months into June twenty twenty four, So that's
predominantly this government, over three thousand fewer people access specialist
(16:02):
mental health and addiction services compared to the previous year,
in more sixteen thousand fewer than four years ago. So
for those people needing services and not accessing them, that
has increased under this government's watch.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
I want to move on, even though I could speak
for the rest of the time on mental health stuff.
The government has announced that we'll be installing wall carpet
and every New State home with four five hundred homes
to be So, who're you.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Talking about this?
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Neck?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
I know you're pasionate, aren't you know? You're very passionate
about this.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
What about the wall carpets?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Well, I mean think about who's you're talking?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Well, you think about this right? Apparently it's not that
much more expensive. But is this a coalition agreement between
National and New Zealand first? And is it really a
big issue Jimmy.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Well, I'd say for the people who are living in
garages and cars because they can't get emergency housing, they
don't really care what the carpet is. They're just like
a roof over their heads. This government has introduced a
new criteria for housing, which is if you've contributed to
your own homelessness, you don't get access to immugient housing.
I deal with people in the Hut Valley who have
(17:09):
been kicked out of state housing because of family violence,
because there's been a family violence occurrence and they fled.
That's deemed to be contributing to their own homelessness, and
they have a thirteen week steamed down period.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Sorry, Judy, I'm going to go to Mike because you're
going off subject here. I'm wanting to talk about what's
on the floor, not who's going into the house.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
I mean, not who's homeless. All right, we'll talk about
carpet's not homelessness. That's much nicer for you.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Right, Well, I was trying to get to what I
was actually asking about.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
You.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
What do you say? Is it a distant agreement and
just had to do it, and.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
That's it kill I think with the wall, I think, yes, look,
it will be good value add for our economy. But
I think the important thing as well, Nick, is it's
good for the environment. You know, we spend a lot
of time talking about our environment and the impact that
we have on it. And you you've only got a
look in Auckland's backyard. Twenty five percent of the fish
in the Herricke Goal forgot microplastics in there in the
(18:05):
gut and in their flesh. So the wool it's natural
but biodegradable product. And I think it's a classic example
of the government actually walking walking the walk, not just
talking about it. And so yes, it will be value
ad for our economy, for our sheep, farmers, but the
environment will also be significant winner, and I think it
(18:25):
seems a very clear signal to other corporates other people. Actually,
you do have a choice to make in regards to
the environment. You can do things to help the environment,
protect the environment. So I think it's great.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Sorry Mike, but I'm feeling slightly aggrieved by this because
I believe strongly that this is just an agreement that
you had as a coalition government. You're looking after farmers
doing everything you possibly can. You're looking after one industry
and the rest of the country, well, who cares.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
But it's also about the environment. Nick as well, because
it is.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
A submission, doesn't usually care about the environment. We had
extended that our rivers will be swimmaball and you got.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Rid of that.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
The environment will be a significant winner because of microplas
that's there in our food, they're in our water, they're
even embedded in our bodies. So you know, it is
about leading by example.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
I'm struggling to.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I'm not buying that one. Our carbinal missions and all
of our targets for climate change window, would you prefer
David Parker. David Parker worked really hard to introduce standards
that our rivers will be swimmable so our kids can
swim in a river, and all of that's gone out
the window. So to sit here and listen to someone
saying that you're all for the environment, I just don't
(19:43):
think that that's true.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
A new report from the Ministerial Advisory Group on Serious
Organized Crime has found New Zealand is naive to the
threat of corruption which is rising fast here. We've had
cases of corrupt police, immigration officials, baggage handles and people
working and shipping it in the last few years. Ginny
is New Zealand as corrupt free as we we actually
(20:06):
believe it is, or think it is, or dream it is.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
It's it's not. And we see that increase in methan
fetamine that I already mentioned ninety seven percent as a
strong indicator that we are being targeted by organized crime.
It was interesting that the government cut the budget of
Customs right before that spike and meth and fetamine hit,
and then now they're trying to beef it up again.
But there's some real questions to be asked and will
(20:31):
be doing that in scrutiny week next week as to
whether the government dropped the ball and left open some gaps.
That's meant our communities are suffering. There's been a I'll
just quickly say this one that in Auckland Airport, what
police investigated was that all the baggage handlers are not
all but a group. There was a being targeted for corruption.
(20:51):
So the bags were containing beth and fetamine will being
basically gangs that infiltrated the baggage handling staff.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Can I just go to Mike on this one, Jenny, Mike, Mike,
this report suggested in all of government corruption strategy and
longer prison sentence. This is this is music to your guys' ears.
What's the government going to do about it? I mean
they want longer prison sentence. I want to lock these
people up longer. What are you going to do about it?
Speaker 5 (21:17):
Yeah, I mean obviously that's something that the Minnesota will
be able to talk about that more detail. But I
think in terms of your point, I mean, the world's
a very small place, a lot smaller than it used
to be. Now that you know, as the organized criminal groups,
they're becoming more sophisticated in their ability to actually infiltrate agencies,
(21:38):
private organizations. So we're going to have to make sure
that we keep ahead of those and find new ways
to respond, you know, to the threat of corruption. But
I would also note, you know, New Zealand, we are
one of the least corrupt countries in the world, not
saying there isn't some there, but we can't become complacent.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
We've just been told that we're not Mike, We've just
had a report that says that we are a hell
of a lot more corrupt than we even think we are,
and you're trying to blush it under the walk.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
No no, no, no, no, no, you got that wrong. I'd
say we're one of the least corrupt. I didn't say
there is no corruption. I'd see we are just one
of the least corrupt countries in the world.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
But I would argue that I would argue that, I
would argue that the focus on things like just ben
and geing pictures instead of actually looking at criminal needworks,
the government got the wrong focus. The real power and
organized crime is assets and cash and drugs, and the
focus should have been one hundred percent on that and
protecting a border, not on retail politics. To make a
good instrumy in a good headline Anderson.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Mike, Sorry, Mike, I've got to go. You've got to go.
So thanks to Mike Butterick and Jinny Anderson.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to news Talks It'd Be Wellington from nine to am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk Said B focusing in on the issues
that matter politics Thursday on Wellington Mornings, News Talk said
B's shine.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Can you make sure.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Joining us politics Thursday is Labor's police spokesperson Ginny Anderson.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Morning, Jenny, Good morning, Mack.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
How are you good?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
We've got technology going. You're in our Auckland studio, so
can you hear us everything?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Okay, Yes, they've been very kind to me, so thank you.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
That's no problem at all.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
And live from Field Days as Nationals wire rapper MP
Mike Butterick.
Speaker 5 (00:51):
Morning, Mike, Morning, Morning, Jenny, good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Tell us what the vibe is like at field Days, Mike,
what's what's the is the weather?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Okay? Is a cold and wet and yucky.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
No, look as it's not too bad. Little bit of
wheat stuff falling down, but no, look it's not too bad.
But you know, look it's interesting. The stands very busy.
We're going to stand here. But the confidence really it's palpable.
You can you can actually feel it, and you know
there's a lot of confidence out there, a lot of optimism,
and you know, you would have heard, you know, the
(01:26):
really good at the soapie. We call it. Situation and
outlook for the primary industries was released this morning and
that's for the primary sector year year end of June
twenty twenty five. Didn't quite crack the sixty billion. We
got the fifty nine point nine billion, and that is
a fantastic success story for not only the real sector
(01:47):
but all of New Zealand, Nick, because I tell you what,
when rural New Zealand does well, all of New Zealand
does well.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
A lot of talk about the new tax break stuff
and buying big items. Are the other people telling you
that are selling the track there's a lot more interest.
Is there a vibe up there of spending.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Yeah, look there is ant Look there will be I
guess there'll be themselves data announced at the end of
the field days in terms of how it's gone. But
you know, pretty much every exhibitor we've gone around and
talked to, Nick, they're all talking about it. That the
customers or potential customers are asking about it. And an
actual fact the day it was announced, all the day
after the budget, a guy that sells tractors in way Pakarau.
(02:25):
He had a guy walking and by two tractors.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
So look, everyone is talking about it, and of course
why it's important, Nick, is that'll get our towns going,
which will just spread around the economy. So it's great, really.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Great, Ginny. Are you going down to have a look?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I will be. I hope to do so. We've got
a good team on the ground in the air, they've
got a stall in there. And yeah, it's important to
back our rural communities and we're focused not just engaging
with the farming community, but also all the people who
live in rural communities because we know that jobs, health
and homes metter even more in some of those community
(03:07):
that have done it really tough with cuts to frontline services.
Are those rural communities that often suffer more.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I'm not sure whether you've seen the latest poll at
the Federation Farmers Commission, but it found that only three
percent of farmers would vote labor, fifty four would vote national.
Why don't farmers like labor, Jinny, They never have have
they really?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
We always work hard to build strong relationships in the
real sector. In the recent Farmers Forum, we joined representatives
and I think was from dairy and zed Head Beef
and lamb rural women, New Zealand, horticulture in ZED, irrigation,
INDs ED and even federated farmers. So we work right
across all those sectors because those issues are important to
(03:49):
our economy, but they're also important for people who live
in rural communities who struggle to get housing, health and
services that they rely upon for their families.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Mike, this is playing into your hands. I mean, national
are the Farmers Party, aren't they Let's be really, let's
cut to the chase, you know, that's.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
What they are.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Yeah, and we've we've got a long history you know
of having rural MPCE, farming, MPECE and the party. You know,
we've always understood, appreciated, supported farmers. You know, it's exally
in our parties, DNA and this particular government. We've got
more in peace with a lived experience as farmers. You know,
they've lived it, they've breathed it, they understand it, and
(04:30):
that's really really important.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
And you've got all this new wool carpet going into
all the Conguora houses as well, so you're obviously.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
You know.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
We're all paying nine dollars, We're all paying nine dollars
for a block of butter. So I'm sure that's doing
farm as well at the moment, but it's a bit
harder for those kiwis trying to make their grocery bell stretch.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Ginny, do you feel that the latest you know, the
Coalition government giving a little bit of a backhanded to farmers.
Do you think they're trying too hard to look after them?
Speaker 2 (04:59):
And I think it's Labor's different in the sense that
we support everyone, not just those who vote for us.
We want all of our communities to throw and we
have policies that back rural communities as well as farmers.
And some of the cuts we've seen to health services,
to cying or order to housing those areas really impact
rural communities. I know from when I worked in police
(05:20):
that family violence rates and access to family violence services
directly impact rural communities where people are isolated and don't
have access to those support services. So we want all
of our areas to thrive, and we engage right across
New Zealand. Whether or not we poll well in voting
those areas, we want all New Zealand to be doing well.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
But Ginny, what can you do? What can Labor do
to get farmers on side. Is there anything that they
can do that they're looking at and saying, what are
we doing wrong here? I mean, that's a very very
low percentage.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
We always make sure that we turn up and we
front and we have those conversations and we've done some
If we want to see more benefits in those areas,
it's important that we maintain those relationships. And we've been
working hard an opposition to build good, strong relationships with
the rural sector, and Joe Luxon, our spokesperson, works incredibly
(06:13):
hard in the space to reach out and continue to
have those conversations.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Let's talk key we savor.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
There's been a lot of discussion this week about farmers
being able to use their key we sab to buy
their first farm or even their herd. Mike, should key
we sabor really be used for things like buying a
farm or a herd?
Speaker 5 (06:33):
Well, It's interesting that I think obviously Sue's redmain, she
has a member's bill in the ballot. Niicola Willis is
actually looking into it, you know, but look, nothing's confirmed yet.
But it's probably not just the farmers that have what
we call service tendancy that live in a house. It's
sort of part of the job. But it also would
benefit potentially benefit you know, people like our defense personnel
(06:56):
that live in a site and give them perhaps an
opportunity to live buy a house that they are not
living in. There is a little bit of risk potentially
with scope creep if you go into livestock, because live
stock can go up and down and value. It's not
that bricks and mortar. And of course always got to
keep in mind, you know the ultimate goal of KIW
saver is to have a pot of money for people
(07:18):
when they retire, enabled them to buy a house, but
ultimately it's for retirement saving. So just being very mindful
of scope creep. But you know, look, Nichola Willis is
looking into it.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, I get the idea of the farm being able
to you should be able to use your key, we
save it for the farm. I get that. But the herd,
that's a whole different ballgame, I think. Anyway, Finance Minister Nicholas.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Willis, wait, do I get to say on that one
I was going to.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Come and ask you a question, but you don't up before.
Speaker 5 (07:45):
I know.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
You're in the studio, Jinny, But that doesn't mean you're
the host, all right.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Just because you're a scause just because.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
You're a Mike Hosking studio, it doesn't mean you're my
cost right, don't you say what you're going to say?
Don't don't tease us and they walk away.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
I think it's a fair point that Mike makes is
that you know, can you buy a gary? If you're
a mechanic, can you buy a shop? You know, it
creeps into things that aren't the first home. And so
let's not forget that national scrap that first home grant
which locked a lot of key Weis out of getting
their first home. The loan schemes that were in place
have been cut and taken away. So the priority has
(08:23):
to be enabling key Wes to buy their first home.
And so there's a fear that if you change those rules,
it's going to make it even harder than what the
government's already done to get New Zealanders into their first home.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Can I ask you this question, would you agree to
buying a farm if it was your first home, if
it was your first thing that you were buying. You
were saving and saving and saving, and all you want
to do is to be a farmer and buy a farm.
Should it be able to be used for that. If
it's your first purchase, exactly like a first house.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Well I wouldn't say no to that until you understood
how it would play out and if you're drawing, if
you're labeling that to come in. It's the question that
Mike raised is that there's creep. Where do you draw
the line? So while it's okay to your first farm,
why are you then denying someone who wants their first
business that's slightly different to a farm, and how you
(09:13):
do that? And otherwise, we really need Keywi's to save.
I mean, this government made massive changes to key we
Save it in the budget and that impacts the lowest
earning workers the most. They have to put more in
the and the government's putting less in. And we know
that kiwis are at record levels already of withdrawing the
key We saver because of hardship, and so those changes
(09:36):
under the budget are going to make it even harder
for hard working kiwis to save and retire comfortably.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Mike, you wanted to say something.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Then, yeah, look, I was just going to say, yep,
look at it has been tough, and you know I
would suggestion perhaps a little bit of enable goes and
as to what caused the tough conditions is called a recession,
and you know that's why it infrastrates went up.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
So look, thirteen thousand construction workers.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Going off shore Yep as a cult as a result
of a recession, as a.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Result of your canceling project Explatet the ferries and like
rail and a whole lot of other kyng order housing builds.
That's why thirteen thousand construction workers left New Zealand for
other countries. So your actions as your government contributed to
the existing situation that we're in now, which is going
on inflation and nine dollars for a block of butter.
It's unacceptable for Keywi. You don't afford to pay for food.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
But look, Jenny, the nine dollars for a block of
butter is a result of record export prices and if
it does cost, it does filter back through and to
the customers here. But it also has great benefit for
all of New Zealand when our rural communities though, go well, tell.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
That to people on my electorate who can't afford to
do baking with your.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Children to have would you prefer the export revenue to
be half.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well, well, I prefer people could have food to eat
and feed their children. That's what I would prefer and
right now eight dollars for a scone or not being
able to make basic food in your home because the
prices are too expensive. That is unacceptable when wages have
not kept up with the increase of prices of food,
and that leaves so many families having to not eat
good food when they need it.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Can you work it out?
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Can you work this one out for me though, Jinny?
How the hell can Costco be able to sell butter
so cheaply and no one else in the country can
tell me that one because I can't work that one out.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Well, somehow they've corrected you Opoly, So good on them
for being able to do that, but not everyone can
access Costco. Well, We're grateful we had one in the
Hut Valley. We very much appreciate that to help people
get the food they need.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
We'd like we'd like Wellington too, Jinny.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Just quietly Politics Thursday with Jenny Anderson and Mike Butterick.
Yesterday we talked about the findings of the Mental Health
and Well Being Commissioned.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
There's been no.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Change in suicide numbers since twenty eighteen overdoses are up
eighty eight percent in seven years, and thousands fewer people
are accessing specialist care. I want to ask you both
what you thought of these reports, but I'm going to
start with you, Ginny. Your government pumped one point nine
billion dollars into mental health. Why is a state of
(12:06):
our system so shocking?
Speaker 2 (12:10):
When that investment went in, that one point nine billion,
it was going to take at least five years to
get the workforce in place to give people the services
they needed. And that head was relying on continued investment
in that space for workforce, and that investment has not
occurred under the current government. Some of the investment we
did was to put in they called hip practitioners or
(12:32):
health intervention practitioners, and they sit inside a GP practice
and so when you go to your doctor for a checkup,
there's someone there with mental health specific skills to be
able to help people. That needed to continue to roll
out right across the country in order for people to
get the services they need. So, quite simply, we don't
have the health workforce in place because this government doesn't
(12:54):
pay the wages and invest in our health system in
order to meet the needs of the people.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Jinny, just to remind you that it was twenty nineteen.
Did the government pump that money into it? That's six
years ago.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, that's so we needed to keep investing off the
back of.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
That week six years ago.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Six years ago. So we've only got the new Caralition
government and.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
We've had this government and for eighteen months six years,
so for the past two budgets they needed to keep
investing in more mental health to keep that alive and
to keep the workforce going. We're not managing to compete
with wages of Australia and people go offshore. Pay equity
doesn't help health news.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Sorry to interrupt you, but most of these findings were
in the timing of when you guys were in government.
Now you didn't do a good job of it, and
now we're still paying the price for it.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
We knew we had a huge amount to make up
for that investment when in place it needed to be
built on year on year to give people the services
they need. On top of that, Nick, we've seen can
I just confusation? Of course you can. Meth and fetamine
use has skyrocketed by not ninety seven percent under this government.
(14:09):
The increased pressure on psychosis on mental health and as
you've said, overdoses, that is putting even more pressure on
our health system and that has come into play in
the last twelve months since those numbers of skyrocketed. We
need even more investment than what was protected back in
twenty nineteen because of the onslaught of methnphetamine in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Mike, what is the government actually doing to address these concerns?
I mean, are you taking it seriously enough?
Speaker 5 (14:36):
Yeah, And that was going to be the very first
point I would make Nickers that we do take it very,
very seriously because we see it in our community. We
see it. I doubt there's a New Zealander that hasn't
been impacted one way or another, you know, whether it's
a family member or a friend or someone they know.
So we take it absolutely seriously. You know, we were
the first to have a standalone mental health and Addiction
(14:57):
workforce plan. We were the first to have a mental
Health Minister. But you know we've only been we've been
in government for a year and a half. A target
data is starting to show signs of increase in access. Yep.
I agree, faster, faster progress is needed, but that's why
we're working at pace to try and increase that support
so that we can make sure that when people reach
out for support, that they actually receive it when and
(15:19):
where they need it. And that's really really important. Jenny,
can I just sorry sorry? That report show that money
alone doesn't actually fix the issue. You need to have
a plan, you've got to have direction, and you've got
to have accountability because the old spray and prey doesn't
always work well.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Surely by bringing in a Minister of mental Health, Matt Douc,
things would have changed.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Ginny, Well, I just was looking at the data because
you did mention what year it kicked in. So the
data released in early twenty twenty five shows that in
the year from twenty twenty three July so where the
last six months into June twenty twenty four, So that's
predominantly this government, over three thousand fewer people access specialist
(16:02):
mental health and addiction services compared to the previous year,
in more sixteen thousand fewer than four years ago. So
for those people needing services and not accessing them, that
has increased under this government's watch.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
I want to move on, even though I could speak
for the rest of the time on mental health stuff.
The government has announced that we'll be installing wall carpet
and every New State home with four five hundred homes
to be So, who're you.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Talking about this?
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Neck?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
I know you're pasionate, aren't you know? You're very passionate
about this.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
What about the wall carpets?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Well, I mean think about who's you're talking?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Well, you think about this right? Apparently it's not that
much more expensive. But is this a coalition agreement between
National and New Zealand first? And is it really a
big issue Jimmy.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Well, I'd say for the people who are living in
garages and cars because they can't get emergency housing, they
don't really care what the carpet is. They're just like
a roof over their heads. This government has introduced a
new criteria for housing, which is if you've contributed to
your own homelessness, you don't get access to immugient housing.
I deal with people in the Hut Valley who have
(17:09):
been kicked out of state housing because of family violence,
because there's been a family violence occurrence and they fled.
That's deemed to be contributing to their own homelessness, and
they have a thirteen week steamed down period.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Sorry, Judy, I'm going to go to Mike because you're
going off subject here. I'm wanting to talk about what's
on the floor, not who's going into the house.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
I mean, not who's homeless. All right, we'll talk about
carpet's not homelessness. That's much nicer for you.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Right, Well, I was trying to get to what I
was actually asking about.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
You.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
What do you say? Is it a distant agreement and
just had to do it, and.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
That's it kill I think with the wall, I think, yes, look,
it will be good value add for our economy. But
I think the important thing as well, Nick, is it's
good for the environment. You know, we spend a lot
of time talking about our environment and the impact that
we have on it. And you you've only got a
look in Auckland's backyard. Twenty five percent of the fish
in the Herricke Goal forgot microplastics in there in the
(18:05):
gut and in their flesh. So the wool it's natural
but biodegradable product. And I think it's a classic example
of the government actually walking walking the walk, not just
talking about it. And so yes, it will be value
ad for our economy, for our sheep, farmers, but the
environment will also be significant winner, and I think it
(18:25):
seems a very clear signal to other corporates other people. Actually,
you do have a choice to make in regards to
the environment. You can do things to help the environment,
protect the environment. So I think it's great.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Sorry Mike, but I'm feeling slightly aggrieved by this because
I believe strongly that this is just an agreement that
you had as a coalition government. You're looking after farmers
doing everything you possibly can. You're looking after one industry
and the rest of the country, well, who cares.
Speaker 5 (18:58):
But it's also about the environment. Nick as well, because
it is.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
A submission, doesn't usually care about the environment. We had
extended that our rivers will be swimmaball and you got.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Rid of that.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
The environment will be a significant winner because of microplas
that's there in our food, they're in our water, they're
even embedded in our bodies. So you know, it is
about leading by example.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
I'm struggling to.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
I'm not buying that one. Our carbinal missions and all
of our targets for climate change window, would you prefer
David Parker. David Parker worked really hard to introduce standards
that our rivers will be swimmable so our kids can
swim in a river, and all of that's gone out
the window. So to sit here and listen to someone
saying that you're all for the environment, I just don't
(19:43):
think that that's true.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
A new report from the Ministerial Advisory Group on Serious
Organized Crime has found New Zealand is naive to the
threat of corruption which is rising fast here. We've had
cases of corrupt police, immigration officials, baggage handles and people
working and shipping it in the last few years. Ginny
is New Zealand as corrupt free as we we actually
(20:06):
believe it is, or think it is, or dream it is.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
It's it's not. And we see that increase in methan
fetamine that I already mentioned ninety seven percent as a
strong indicator that we are being targeted by organized crime.
It was interesting that the government cut the budget of
Customs right before that spike and meth and fetamine hit,
and then now they're trying to beef it up again.
But there's some real questions to be asked and will
(20:31):
be doing that in scrutiny week next week as to
whether the government dropped the ball and left open some gaps.
That's meant our communities are suffering. There's been a I'll
just quickly say this one that in Auckland Airport, what
police investigated was that all the baggage handlers are not
all but a group. There was a being targeted for corruption.
(20:51):
So the bags were containing beth and fetamine will being
basically gangs that infiltrated the baggage handling staff.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Can I just go to Mike on this one, Jenny, Mike, Mike,
this report suggested in all of government corruption strategy and
longer prison sentence. This is this is music to your guys' ears.
What's the government going to do about it? I mean
they want longer prison sentence. I want to lock these
people up longer. What are you going to do about it?
Speaker 5 (21:17):
Yeah, I mean obviously that's something that the Minnesota will
be able to talk about that more detail. But I
think in terms of your point, I mean, the world's
a very small place, a lot smaller than it used
to be. Now that you know, as the organized criminal groups,
they're becoming more sophisticated in their ability to actually infiltrate agencies,
(21:38):
private organizations. So we're going to have to make sure
that we keep ahead of those and find new ways
to respond, you know, to the threat of corruption. But
I would also note, you know, New Zealand, we are
one of the least corrupt countries in the world, not
saying there isn't some there, but we can't become complacent.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
We've just been told that we're not Mike, We've just
had a report that says that we are a hell
of a lot more corrupt than we even think we are,
and you're trying to blush it under the walk.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
No no, no, no, no, no, you got that wrong. I'd
say we're one of the least corrupt. I didn't say
there is no corruption. I'd see we are just one
of the least corrupt countries in the world.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
But I would argue that I would argue that, I
would argue that the focus on things like just ben
and geing pictures instead of actually looking at criminal needworks,
the government got the wrong focus. The real power and
organized crime is assets and cash and drugs, and the
focus should have been one hundred percent on that and
protecting a border, not on retail politics. To make a
good instrumy in a good headline Anderson.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Mike, Sorry, Mike, I've got to go. You've got to go.
So thanks to Mike Butterick and Jinny Anderson.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to news Talks It'd Be Wellington from nine to am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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