Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now the government has written to our underperforming state owned
enterprises telling them to buck up their ideas. The letters
have gone to Land Corp, New Zealand, Post Cordia and
a bunch of other soees telling them to perform at
a similar level to their competitors in the private sector.
Grant McCallum is the National MP for Northland, also a
farmer and with us now.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Haygrund, Yeah, good afternoon here. So I want to talk
to you.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
About land corpor because you understand this business. Why can't
these guys turn a profit? What's going on?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
They've lost their way, They've lost the focused on just
being the absolute basics of farming, which is to grow
grass efficiently, feed their animals efficiently, and focus in on that.
They've got lost in a whole lot of other ideas
I think haven't helped well. I think that they'll be
able to trying to melk deer and things like that,
(00:47):
which really I think most farming communities raise their eyebrows
that sort of thing. The opportunities are there, but we
look at the prices at the moment we're getting for
dairy products, for beef products, for land, the key we
fruit and so forth, they should be doing a lot
better than they are.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Well, how have they got themselves so wildly distracted?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Well, I think the previous leadership from previous from previous
boards haven't helped, and the encouragement from previous ministers to
get to go off on away from the basics of
New Zealand farming.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Inst is this not fundamentally is the problem not fundamentally
rooted in the fact that they do not have to
turn a profit. Right if you do not turn a profit,
you potentially lose your farm. If they don't turn a profit,
it's aokay.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I suspect that's been part of the issue because clearly
with the results haven't been up to spect. But now
then that's why I poured the minister. What he's saying
is they've got a focus on running this as a business.
The taxpayer deserves nothing less. They should be turning well
and excess of getting close to two billion dollars worth
of the air sets, they should be returning with an
(01:57):
excess of one hundred million minimum and getting up up
towards a couple of hundred million dollars over time from
some of those assets, which would be really help the
governments and help pay for other services like our health
and our social welfare and that sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
So should we sell a steak in Land Corps?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
The current governments policy is that no, not this term
of governments, and that's that'll be it for a decision
to be made by the Prime Minister going forward.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Basically, what I'm hearing from you is you have some
thoughts on the matter, but because you're part of the
National Party, you cannot share them with me right now.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Fair fair to say that what we have to do
now is get the performance out of this Saturday Enterprise
and any decisions about sales will be for another day.
But we committed this term and no asset sales.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Hey, listen, what is it that you've been telling the
producers You've got a problem with my views on rugby?
What's going on?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Well, actually, I'm finally quite intrigued heither. I've bumped into
you a couple of times at Eton Park. You've been
on the raid having a crack at the game of
rugby became I love and I take sapen and the
super competition is he's been outstanding saying that you don't
watch it anymore. I did you turn up then you
turn up at Eden Park and why are you there?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Because I'm there to talk to you, Grant. I want
to be inside the corporate box talking to you, and
you're talking to me. So you're not watching the game either,
are you?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Oh yes, I'm watching the rugby and so are you
hither And I just think it's important that you that
your listeners know that you are really a rugby fan
and you're just having bit of fun.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
No that, no, I will say. You've got me in
trouble now, haven't you, Grant. I'll see you at the
corporate box, mate, Bie grand Mcallum Northland Farmer. Hey listen
and MP No no, no, no, no no, let's just
get this straight, Okay. I love rugby, which is why
I winge about it because I can see it going
down the toilet and I'm not watching it. I'm standing there.
I literally I am standing there talking to Grant. And it's
(03:53):
because of my love of rugby that I complain about it.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (03:56):
You know what I mean. For more from Heather Duplessy,
Allen Drive, listen live to news Talks. It'd be from
four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio