Barry Soper: Senior Political Correspondent on the previous government's relationship with farmers

Labour's leader has revealed the previous Government had a major relationship breakdown with the agriculture sector at the end of its term in Government.  

Speaking to the Country from Fieldays, Chris Hipkins said he was at the event to listen to the concerns of farmers. 

Senior Political Correspondent, Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan farmers are the economic backbone of this country. 

Soper said “Farming exports way and above outweigh anything else in this country, so let’s look after them.” 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Barris so for senior political political correspondent, will wrap the
political week that was for us. Welcome back, Barry, Hello again.
Have I farmers will be feeling the love this week?

Speaker 2 (00:08):
Ah? Well, they will be, and what a time to
feel it when you're at the field days in Hamilton
and the government down in Wellington making all sorts of
moves on their behalf, first of all taking them out
of the eighty years. And that's a big deal for farmers,
even though as you heard me say earlier, Willie Jackson
seemed to think there had been a broad agreement on it,

(00:31):
that was never really an agreement on it. Farmers didn't
like it. No one knew how much this tax was
going to be. Farmers are already under the pressure, and
suddenly now a bit of that pressures off. There's been
other things that have taken place as well this week
that will make life a bit easier for farmers. And

(00:52):
I think they should. We should start thinking of them
as treasures, not tyrants. Are They are the backbone, the
economic backbone of this country. And the sooner we get
used to that, the better, because the exports, farming exports
way and above outweigh anything else in this country, so
let's look after them.

Speaker 3 (01:11):
Basically, we need their money to afford the toils Darmac buys. Yeah, yes, exactly,
I'd be grateful for it absolutely. Hey, do you reckon
the rules need to change that allow currently MPs to
claim an accommodation allowance when they own their own property
in Wellington.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah. I think there's about twenty three that do it. Essentially,
what the taxpayer is doing is paying their mortgages when
they own a property in Wellington. I guess there's an
argument both ways on this. Isn't there that if they
didn't own the house, they would be staying in an apartment.

(01:47):
They have to be paid for anyone they're not going
to render.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
Changing the rules will not save us a dollar, that's.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
Right, And because it is a set amount, and you know,
I think that the perception is not a good one.
Looks as though MPs unlike anyone else, can come to
Wellington and pay their mortgage of courtesy the taxpayer. But
it's not as simple as that. And Chris Luxon said
at the beginning of this argument, he said, really it's

(02:13):
the remunation authority to have a look at The Speaker
can look at it. But it's really the Remuneration authority
that sets all these rules and regulations, although the Speaker
does have a fairly significant input to them. But the
old story is heather to change something like this in
a parliament where people are benefiting very difficult.

Speaker 3 (02:35):
So tell me, well, I mean, yeah, absolutely right, they're
not going to They're not going to deny themselves in
the interim some free money.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
Do you think. I mean, they are not doing anything wrong,
and it will change the rules, will not save the
taxpayer a dollar. But for the perception, which is so
bad and people clearly hate it, is that sufficient to
change the rules?

Speaker 2 (02:56):
I'd say probably no, really yeah, because it's not saving anything.
And when people understand the reasons why this allowance is paid,
and a lot of people don't, as you say it
to one over lightly, the media point the finger at
the politicians for somehow making money on the backs of taxpayers.
It's that they're not doing that. They they work away

(03:19):
from their homes, they'll be paying a hotel bill. You know,
there's no benefit in it at all for anyone.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Do you not think there is some benefit in just
having just the perception. And the problem with the politicians
is they always there is always this perception that politicians
are screwing the scrum in their own favor, feathering their
own ness, and for that reason alone, that is sufficient,
just so that we continue to respect that institute.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
I think the problem is, particularly in recent years, that
you've got some people going into Parliament that many would
consider a morons and they shouldn't be in the place anyway,
and yet they're earning very good money. What a hundred
eighty thousand dollars a year. I've got all sorts of perks, taxis,
when they get to the airport into Parliament, air fears.

(04:07):
I mean, they get a lot of perks, but they've
got to get to Wellington, let's face it. So you know,
I think people are annoyed that they probably don't get
what they expect out of politicians in their own area.
Not necessarily the government, but when they look at their
own politicians. Yeah, exactly what are we getting back from that?

Speaker 1 (04:28):
Okay? Do you think that this Chinese visitor is I mean,
obviously it's a good sign. Is it going to change anything?

Speaker 2 (04:33):
Though? I think it's more of a flagway of being exercise.
I mean, the premiere was he was in Australia before
he came here. And it's good. I think, you know,
high level visits like this does say that China takes
New Zealand seriously and values our relationship, and so it should.

(04:53):
I mean, New Zealand was the first Western country to
get into a major free trade agreement with China. They
recognized China. Remember back in nineteen seventy three, a long
time ago, more than fifty years ago. We were the
first Western country to recognize China. So you know, I think,
I think, you know, visits build on a relationship that's

(05:16):
pretty strong anyway. And the premiere himself, who's a very
powerful man, number two in China, said essentially, what we
have differences and we respect that.

Speaker 1 (05:27):
Barry, thank you so much, really appreciate you. I'm Barry Soper,
Senior political correspondent.

Speaker 2 (05:31):
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