March 14, 2025 • 39 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Jerry Buttimer, Jane Smith, Professor Keith Woodford, Winston Peters, and Dean Rabbidge.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The best of the Country with Rabobank.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Grow with Rubbobagay and Good Morning New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
My name's Jamie mckaie. Welcome to the Best of the Country.
Each and every Saturday morning here on news Talk said
be between six and seven, we play the best bits
of our weekday show which plays twelve to one, and
we do it courtesy of Rabobank. We're growing a better
New Zealand together. We're going to kick it off with
Jerry Buttomer. Who's he Well, he's an Irish politician, a
(00:51):
rural politician who was in the country recently and he
was at the Rural Games in Palmerston North last weekend.
What does he make of New Zealand agriculture. How do
we compare to Ireland? We are similar sort of pastoral
farming nations and what farming issues do we have in common?
Jane Smith, north Otago farmer has been having lunch with
David Seymour, dinner with Chris Luxen and what does she
(01:13):
make of fighting climate change by applying rock to our pastures.
Professor Keith Woodford, one of the sharpest minds in New
Zealand Agriculture wants on Terra to offer Kiwi's a bite
of the dairy cherry with an IPO float of its
consumer brands business Winston Peter's no show without punch, and
(01:35):
we wrap it with Dean Rabbage, a high profile South
and sheep and beef farmer who's had a wee bit
of time on his hands, done a bit of thinking
and came up with a very clever, humorous dig at
carbon farming. It's all on the best of the country.
It's brought to you by Rabobank.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
The best of the country with Rabobank choose to bank
with a huge network of progressive farming clients.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Rabobank Rural Games in Palmerston, North Up and over the
weekend Rowena Duncan was there representing the country and she
ran into this guy. His name is Jerry Buttima. He
is the Minister of State at the Department of Rural
and Community Development. That's a big title, isn't it, But
he's basically an Irish politician. He was there wandering around
with Mark Patterson, Todd McLay and Andrew Hoggard. Welcome to
(02:27):
the country. Our radio show. Welcome to the country, Jerry,
what do you make of New Zealand agriculture.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
It's absolutely fantastic to be here, and thank you for
having in the program and congratulations.
Speaker 6 (02:37):
To all involved in the Rural Games.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
On Saturday Sunday in Parmiston not we had a fantastic time.
Speaker 6 (02:45):
It really made me feel at home.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
It was a typical Irish agricultural sour as you called it,
a field day as well at home. And I suppose
for me as a city dweller who grew up in
a farm with my grandparents' farm, it reinforces the common
and the similar value that we have with you and
the importance of parish and in the importance of country
community and our farming and our agraarian society. And let
(03:10):
me just give your listeners a small bit of stupid
statistics if I can. We have four point five million
acres hea acres of agricultural land, eight hundred thousand hectares
of forestry, one hundred thirty three thousand farms, and you know,
one hundred and seventy one thousand people involved in agriculture
(03:31):
and the farming sector in our workforce. So that just
shows you the importance towards the farming and the agri
food sector and it's great to be here and you know,
it's wonderful to have the reception to engage with your
three ministers last weekend and again this week. It just
shows you that we have a lot of similarity as countries.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Irish farmers facing and I know the answer to this one,
but are they facing the same problems if you want,
regarding a missions profile, because when it comes to agricol
cutural nations, you're one of the most similar ones to us.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Absolutely, and farmers are are concerned about the you know,
the imposition as they see in some cases on them
around climate change. And we spend the morning in Wellington
today with Fronterra just discussing many different issues around that.
Speaker 6 (04:19):
But the Nitros directive in Europe is a big challenge for.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
Our farmers who have embraced change, who have made you know,
farming different than in a globalized world. We we must
look at how the sector can move forward in a
dynamic and innovative way, embracing change yet being true to
the values that farmers have in terms of the quality
of the product they care, they have for their animals
(04:41):
and the pride they have in whether it's be per
sucker or shape or tillage sector, that we can make
sure that they are in a world that is you know,
looking to the challenges, accepting that we must embrace the
need to do things differently. And I will always make
the point and our government's policy is farmers cannot go
(05:03):
green lifter in the red and that's why I think
Ireland and New Zealand have very similar attitudes, are very
similar ways of you know, walking the land together and
we as a country case huge proud about what we do,
but we also learn from you, for example, the whole
area of retention of young farmers and young people keeping
farming as a career. Very proud of the fact that
(05:25):
you know, Minister's Patterson bowed and McLay met with us
and every humans this week because it just shows the
importance of strength of partnerships.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Hey Jerry, look, I could check to you all day.
Love that Irish accent. By the way, looking forward to
Saint Patty's Day on Monday. I know you've got another
meeting to run to and Wellington. Thanks for some of
your time, Thanks for fronting up at the Rural Games.
They tell me you were a bit of a hurt
with the fans.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
Good well, can I just say it was a fantastic
event and as we say now Benetteina followed the glare
happy saying patters say to all of your listeners.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
I was comparing me bua around to Maury Screaminnium the.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Best of the country with Rabobank. Choose the bank with
a huge network of progressive farming clients.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Rabobank.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
So you've heard from Prime Minister Christopher luxem Well. One
woman who was having dinner with said leader was Jane Smith. Now, Jane,
you're a bit two faced. Last time you were on
this show, north Otago farmer, a former winner of the
Balance Farm Environment Awards, you told me that you'd rip
the National Party rosette from your twin set Cardigan.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Good afternoon, Jamie. Yes, probably I was a bit of
a wild card choice of guests, probably not the ideal
choice if they were looking for a passive dinner guest.
In fact, it was awkward at one point when a farmer,
let's call him Derek from Fairley, came up and when
I was talking to Duxton and said, gosh, I really
enjoyed when you talked about ripping the rosette from your cardigan, Jane.
(06:51):
When the NETS essentially came out and endorsed to Cinder's
emissions reduction target of fat, they increased it slightly. That
was a potential awkward moment, but I wasn't there just
for an agreement session, Jamie, and it was really it
was good to harness the opportunity to have a i'd
call it more of a speed date over a sort
of a fifteen minute period with myself in the PM,
(07:13):
and the conversation was really on everything from methane to
marry activists, from pine trees to property rights. So definitely
worth while, Jamie, though I was disappointed at one days
when Luxeon referred to people like groundswal and methane science
are called, which of course is as myself as sort
of right wing.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
In the great and wish he's right there.
Speaker 7 (07:35):
Well, I guess maybe right I'm right wing but potentially
not representing the views of middle New Zealand or farmers,
which I you know, I would actually argue with that.
And I assume he has this view from those that
are supposed to represent us in their egg industry, and
I just wonder whether they're actually reprehending us rather than
representing us. And I guess when you've got a traditionally
(07:56):
like a government and that's traditionally farmer friendly or business freely,
it can actually show up your advocacy because you can't
hide behind them or or blame the ministers like we
did with David Parker. And the reality is actually after
two days of at the upperclusa wannaka a MP show,
it really became obvious to me that actually those of
(08:17):
you know, the directors that are there to represent ours
have certainly have had that Wellington lobotomy and it really
failed to see things from a grassroots farmer or grassroots
rural person or any business point of view. So that
old Stockholm syndrome is alive and well even under a
new Okay.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
So was lux and trying to woo you to become
a National Party candidate, Joane, you're going to sell your soul.
Speaker 7 (08:39):
I doubt that very much.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Jamie, what I do, you'd be hopeless in Parliament.
Speaker 7 (08:43):
I would last about five minutes. And you know, I
guess what I do represent, I hope is just vibrant
rural communities and that is what I'm passionate about. Family
farms and sustainable opportunities going forward, not painting yourselves into
corners on say like as I said Methane, which is
we don't need or we do not need any further
(09:05):
taxpayer money wasted in that area.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Janney, Now if it wasn't bad enough or good enough
that you're having dinner with the Prime minister, you're also
lunching with the soon to be deputy Prime Minister David
Seymour at the Wonica amp show.
Speaker 7 (09:20):
To be fair, Jamie, that was just an opportune chance
that we took actually and at the Raven Sound tents
to catch up with David Seymour and have lunch, although
he wasn't lunching. Actually we were eating and he wasn't.
Maybe he was a wee bit sensitive about lunch lunches
at the moment given the school lunch program. But you
know that was refreshing and actually to have a really
(09:40):
non PC discussion about a lot of things, and you know,
without the sort of the woke rightness righteousness that is
creeping into a lot of our sector at the moment.
So and you know, we did talk about things like
fertilizer and delivering products and banks et cetera, without the
side serving of righteousness that seems to be hanging around
(10:00):
and costing our seat. Tore opportunities at the moment to Jamie,
and so that was a yeah, that was a good
opportunity and certainly be taking some of those discussions further, Jamie, did.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
You listen to the Associate Professor, the good doctor Peter
Armond on yesterday's show? Is this the way to fight
climate change? Putting the rock on the pastures in South?
Because she used to be a Ravenstown field wrap down
on South and back in the day.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
Jane, and I know that area well, Jamie. In terms
of Odahudi, I also know Lincoln University well as an
alumni of the establishment, and I honestly nearly choked on
my lunch. I actually could not believe what I was hearing.
And I know that overseas has been a lot of studies.
I'm not saying it wouldn't work, et cetera in terms
of applying that crushed basult rock to sequest CO two. Actually,
(10:48):
I thought that obviously completely missed the memo that thirty
three percent of New Zealand has covered in native bush.
What's that nine million kicked is that a sequet's seeing
co two every moment of the day, Jamie, And I'm thinking,
least alone the land that has been lost to pine trees.
What is that million stock in it's a year or
(11:09):
twenty two thousand hectares due to be planted, even just
in south and the same province this year. I thought, honestly,
what is the world coming to if we are wasting
good scientists time and resources which we don't have many of,
and tax pays money on this type of crap. I
just I actually checked that it wasn't April Fools Day, Jamie.
I thought, this cannot be true. We can't be doing
this in New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Well, look, in defense of myself, and I'm defending the
indefensible here, I've missed the obvious question was you know,
at what rate are we going to put the basalt
rock on per hectare? What do you reckon? How much
do you reckon? The answer is because we went back
after the show and found.
Speaker 7 (11:44):
Out I'd hate to think, Jamie, okay here it.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Is fifty tons per hectare. So yeah, okay, so that's
a lot, as you well know. And I went back
to him and said, well, here putting on that much.
How long is it before the pasture is edible or grazible?
And he said, well, the application should equate to about
five mills of rock dust on the pasture. As we expect,
(12:08):
with autumn growth and some rainfall, the paddocks should be
grazible again in one to three weeks. I'm not sure
I'd want to eat that grass.
Speaker 7 (12:16):
Oh, the reality is, Jamie, these are just ridiculous climate
change hysteria distractions on our real issues that we have
going on in this country. And I guess the saddest
thing is again the opportunity cost of the real science
and real issues and real solutions we could be coming
up with in this country instead of wasting time and
money on there, and you know, even just without even
(12:37):
looking at the rates and the foolishness around that, even
just the climate change costs of doing such such an action, no,
actually getting that rock there. I mean, it's just the
whole thing is just ridiculous, Jamie. And it's time that
this type of thing was absolutely wiped off any sort
of work scenario four.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
No, you'll be wiped off the Christmas Christmas card list
of doctor Peter Armand from your old Alma Martha Lincoln University.
Let's just finish on North Otago where you're farming. You
had a big thunderstorm overnight that rain would be welcome.
Speaker 7 (13:09):
Yeah, it certainly was, Jamie. But I sort of feel
a little bit guilty in a year like this where
actually had to getting a lot of precipitation, and I
feel that it could have gone to another area, but
I know it doesn't work like that. But yeah, I
think we got just over another inch last night. But
it's certainly turned winterry. But we can't complain in stock
are looking magnificent in North Otago. Finally feel like where
(13:29):
things are coming to fruition and you're.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Getting record prices for those beef cattle that.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
You breed, exactly, Jamie, and Lamb's looking great. Interest rates
heading downwards. Not low enough yet by the way, but yeah,
things are very very positive. And if we can just
get some of this ridiculousness out of our seat to
time and money being wasted, things onwards and up with Jamie.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yeah, and if Trump would just call as jets on
tariff spent anyhow, that's on my wish list. Jane Smith,
thank you very much for your time and I'm pleased
to hear that Nash Party. Rosetta's back on your twin
set Cardigan.
Speaker 7 (14:03):
Not sure it is, Jamie, but thank you.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Jane Smith, North Otago Farmer on the Best of the Country.
Good morning, my name's Janie McKay. The show's brought to
you by Rabobank. We're growing a better New Zealand together.
Up next, Professor Keith Woodford on why Fonterra should float
it's consumer brands business, Winston Peters and a very humorous
take from Dean Ravage, Southland farmer on carbon farming. It's
(14:29):
all on the Best of the Country, brought to you
by Rabobank.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
The Best of the Country with Rabobank the bank with
local agribanking experts passionate about the future of rural communities.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Rabobank, a next guest on the Country possesses one of
the sharpest minds in New Zealand agriculture, even if he's
having a bit of a battle at the moment with
his body. Professor Keith Woodford from Lincoln University and Keith,
I was alerted to some comments you'd made Unlock online
about Fonterra selling its consumer brand business. You're saying that
(15:07):
the decision to sell the consumer brands is no longer
a debate. It's happening. But the options are whether we
should sell to an existing international dairy marketer whose options
are based overseas, or an IPO, an initial public offering
here in New Zealand keep ownership of that in New Zealand.
Surely the latter, Keith Woodford is a win.
Speaker 8 (15:28):
Win, Yes, it is. It's something that all sides of
politics should be able to get their mind around, all
reasonable people. But it just needs to be The flag
needs to be waived just a bit more at the moment,
and the broader New Zealand community needs to understand that
(15:52):
this is an opportunity for all New Zealand to become
involved in the dairy industry. Is holders in what Fonterra
is saying would be called mainland and Mainland would own well,
they would be the international marketer both in New Zealand
(16:13):
and overseas of consumer branded products. Gosh, it really just
should be a win wind.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
Now let's just go back a step. I take it
that you're wholeheartedly in support of Fonterra selling its consumer
brands business.
Speaker 8 (16:31):
When they came out with that a year ago. I
was nervous because I think it's important that Fonterra retains
an open window through into the what's happening in the
consumer world. And the idea of Fonterra just selling bulk products,
be it as commodities or food service, that left me
(16:56):
very nervous. In real as the world changes, is it
pively will do? When Fonterra first talked of selling the
consumer brands, the talk seemed to be very much of
selling to an overseas company. Hey, that made me nervous. However,
(17:20):
I see now that Fonterra is actively exploring the two alternatives,
one being to sell to a trade buyer who would
come from overseas, the other being a IPO, a public offering,
so it would become a public company on the presumably
(17:42):
the New Zealand Stock Exchange could be New Zealand and
Australian Stock Exchange. But I think it, you know, be
good of its headquartered here in New Zealand. And ideally
Fonterra would retain a minority stake, so it'd still be
at the board table, but they wouldn't control the board.
(18:04):
The company would have its own totally different culture, which
relates to fast moving consumer goods and it's something we
could all be be part of.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Yeah, okay, just to finish on because I'm running out
of time. So you're also suggesting that the superfund or
acc could be ideal cornerstone investors if it was floated
on an IPO.
Speaker 8 (18:28):
Yes, remember that there's a number of superannuation funds. There's
the Government Superannuation Fund, but there's also all the other
private funds that most of us is where our retirement
savings go. And I'm pretty sure that there's some of
those would be interested in taking a significant steak and
(18:50):
then the rest of it gets floated for all of
us that we can buy buy shares on the sheer market.
So it's an exciting idea. And we've got to get
not just farmers on side, because the board would be
able to sell us, I'm sure to the farmers and
would still bring in a lot of capital, but we
(19:14):
need to get urban New Zealand on board as well.
But hey, this is exciting. What I'm saying is that
DEII is more than an industry. It's part of our
New Zealand DNA. It's incritically important to all of us
and Hey, this is one way that we can all
get an explicit stake.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Professor Keith Woodford always good to catch up with you.
That mind is still as sharp as a tack. Good luck.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
Thank Shamie.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
The Best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agri business experience.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Grow with Rubberbank, you really.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Get a New Zealand. Welcome back to the Best of
the Country. My name's Jamie McKay. The show was brought
to you by Rabobank. We're growing a better New Zealand together.
Next week's show, I'll be catching up worth Rabobanks GM
of Country Banking, Bruce ware good bloke too. Hello Bruce
if you're listening, and we'll be reviewing the bank's latest
(20:22):
rural Confidence survey, which is out or due out early
next week and I think it'll be pretty positive. Up
next on the Best of the Country. As I said
at the top of the hour, there's no show without punch.
Winston Peters caught up with them on Thursday, just before
we jumped on a plane to head over to Washington
to meet up with the Secretary of State Marco Rubio,
(20:42):
who's been broker in peace deals in the Middle East,
So Winston is playing at the big boys table. We
talked Trump Tariff's agriculture and weathers, and whether Winston's actually
doing a bit of a Trump himself when it comes
to diversity, equity and inclusion, and what about his war
on woke. I think you'll find our final best of
interview really entertaining. Dean Rabbish, high profile Southland sheep, beef
(21:06):
and dairy farmer, got to thinking when he was weighing
some lambs on his farm and he came up with
a very humorous stick at carbon farming and also a
very cleverly compiled pine tree menu on his new hypothetical restaurant.
You're going to love this interview, plus what's happening down
in Southland, Federated in Farmers, fish and Game, going to
(21:29):
war over the dark hunting season. It's all on the
best of the country and it's brought to you by Rabobank.
Musical theme today David Bowie. What a great artist, the
late great David Bowie.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Stage the best of the Country with Rabobank. Choose the
Bank with a huge network of progressive farming clients.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Rabobank he is.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
The Deputy Prime Minister and New Zealand First Leader and
Foreign Affairs minister. He's off to Washington later tonight to
meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Lots to talk about.
Are you going to cut some sort of deal with
in Winston Peters.
Speaker 9 (22:10):
Look, I think it's very wise when you're going to
see another country that you do in the courtesy of
making your message to them first before you tell everybody
else what a you're going to talk about. So I'm
very very courses to stay in our lane so to speak,
to put New Zealand's case and to above all hear
(22:31):
them out, listen to their side of the story, so
to speak.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
Well, it's going to be about tariffs and the geopolitical
tension in the Pacific. Do you think an Australia's failed
that you might be able to on the world stage
cut a deal with America around tariff's, especially when it
comes to agriculture, Because as it stands at the moment,
as I understand it, April second, we face tariffs on
agriculture again.
Speaker 9 (22:56):
This is something we're going to find out, We're going
to have a discussion about it. Remember that until twenty
twenty four, our balance of trade was pretty even, so
we were not, as I say, using the Americans. And
we've been a free trade country since the mid eighties,
and so we've got a good record to tell. And
also we already had tariffs on aluminium and steel. Our
(23:19):
job is to see what better we can get out
of it, and let's see how the talks develop. But
I'm not going in any other sense than to ensure
that there's an understanding of how important this country of
New Zealm of New Zealan is to them and to
the Pacific.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Have you had a phone call already. Have you met
Marco Rubio?
Speaker 9 (23:40):
Well, I spoke to him very shortly after we got
the job.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
Yes, will you get to run unto Trump while you're
in Washington at the White House.
Speaker 9 (23:50):
We don't make comments like that. We'd rather report to
you what this happened, rather than to build up a
wolder expectations and then fail people.
Speaker 6 (23:58):
When we get there.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Now, talking about Trump, are you doing a bit of
a trump around DEI Diversity, equity and inclusion, ridding the
public sector of woke left wing social engineering and diversity targets.
Speaker 9 (24:12):
Well, that's the kind of name thing that the mainstream
media have said, knowing full well that we campaigned extensively
packing halls all the way through twenty twenty three in
that campaign, a long time before the American presidential elections,
and to say that we're imitating Trump is just nonsense.
And the records all out there, and we've been doing
this for a long time in the campaign, all the
(24:34):
way to the Cordison Agreement, where we said we want
things change. Now, what you've got here is quotas plans,
and now I said, exercises in employment which are discriminatory
against people because if they don't feeld their so called
(24:56):
category minority as it might be, and they don't get
the job. And it's happening. I have been told by
the manstream media, we haven't got any examples. Well, on
our x account, on our Facebook account, we're going past
one hundred thousand people, many of whom are complaining exactly
(25:16):
of what we're talking about and saying, yeah, I know,
mister Peters, that's what happened to me. And so I'm
saying to the manstream media, stopping incredibly biased, start paying
attention to what the ordinary people out there were saying,
because they want a pair world a pair go at
the chance of employment and they don't want discrimination that
is designed by a hand picked small group of self
(25:40):
appointed social engineers.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
Now a lot, that's how simple, all right? A lot
of the people and circles that I move in, which
is mainly sort of farming, rugby golf circles, that may
not be a good cross section of society. Winston say,
I'm going to vote for New Zealand first. Winston and Shane,
I like what they're saying. Why is that not being
reflected than the polls on the last poll? And I
know you're going to say, bug, of the polls five
(26:04):
point one percent, you barely passed the threshold.
Speaker 9 (26:08):
Look, I am not both saying, but I've got to
we in political science, and I've brought a long career
in politics and been written off so many times for
a whole lot of people. You know what was big
in that poll which defied what you just said as
preferred prime minisiles on eight point six. Now eight point
six is not going to be a lesser sum of
people one in New Zealand first. It'll be eight point
(26:30):
six plus in one New Zealand first. And so there
is the real part of the poll which these mainstream
media people again, whether it's that of ignorance or purpose
totally neglect. But anyone who understands politics and understands the
poles are looking at the plus and minus for personalities
(26:51):
and we were just minus one. That dramatic turnaround and
eight point six and on the rise as preferred by
miss Now I'm not saying that other than tell you
that's the part of the poll that screamed out that
their interpretation of it was utterly wrong.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Just to finish on, you came from a humble background
in Northland, and I know you speak very highly of
your late mother. Did your mother ever have any difficulty
giving you school lunch?
Speaker 9 (27:20):
No, she didn't, and we were from a poor family,
but we always got some lunch, and often there would
be six separate lunches in the one bag and one person,
the senior person, was put in charge of it. And
that's what said has happened here. I know a lot
of teachers, a lot of teachers very very closely, and
they talked about the incredible waste of the former regime
(27:41):
and it was incredible. Now we could and should do
far more focus planning than that. Let me tell you
what it was like in my school, largely Mari school,
but the farming community provided a lot of the food
and vegetables and what have you. The boys were charged
with all the preparation work of the supervision of the
senior girls, and the girls made this to anybody wanted
(28:04):
some lunch could get it. Now, that's the difference between
now and back then, when we all were self reliant
and doing it ourselves.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Well, you were truly a diverse and inclusive and equitable
school back in those days, Winston, Dei back at your
primary school days in Northland.
Speaker 9 (28:21):
No, we didn't do Dei. We're not talking about diversity, equity,
inclusiveness and then have a master plan that comes out
of the sort of George orwell now, we talked about
giving people a chance to get decent health, to have
a good diet, and to get a decent education and
to take us as far as our dreams hoped it
could be. That was the magic of those former times
(28:41):
and we've got to have to regain that.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
Now, Winston. Good luck in Washington, go get us a
deal on agg or a deal without Paris. Thanks for
your time, Thank you, serious and we wish Winston Peters
all the best in Washington. Good morning. My name's Jamie Mackay.
This is the Best Country. It's brought to you by Rabobank.
Winstance a bit of a favorite on the show, but
(29:04):
my favorite interview is coming up next. Southland farmer Dean
Rabbage on the Best of the Country, The.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Best of the Country with Rabobank, the bank with local
acribanking experts passionate about the future of rural communities.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Rabobank.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
Do you want some proof that farmers are clever people?
Has an example. His name is Dean Rabbage. He's a
Southland sheep, beef and dairy farmer. He's a former Zanda
McDonald award went away back in twenty fourteen. He's involved
with Federated farmers at a local and national level, and
he is a strong anti carbon farming campaigner. He was
weighing lambs the other morning and his mind drifted towards
(29:52):
a new restaurant. I guess, Dean Rabbage, you would call
it diversification from your south and farming activities. Tell me
a but about your new restaurant. I think it's called Forester.
Speaker 10 (30:05):
Yeah, good afternoon, Jamie. Yes, the mine did wander a
little bit wayneland's out of the morning. Just with the
continuation of whole farm of fire station down here, sort
of starting to get a little bit angry along with
a lot of other people in the community about the
lots of jobs and the lots of spectacular farmland to
exotic pine trees. So sort of got me thinking about
(30:26):
we're not going to have much food left in the future,
are we if we carry on the trajectory that we're
going So come up with a bit of an alternative
menu being basically based on plantation forestry.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
Oh and it's brilliant because and this is going to
be posted on our Facebook page. But here's an example
for you. Here's your menu for starters. You can select
four pines, the selection of four exotic juvenile pine cones,
served with a bed of virtue signaling with biodiversity hummus.
For that, you'll pay twenty five carbon credits. Here's an
(30:57):
example of one of your mains called needle noodles, freshly
gathered pine needles tossed, tossed in a carbon credits source,
seasoned with overseas pollution. For that, you'll pay just thirty
four carbon credits. And one of my favorites. I think
is the main I guess it's like an age steak.
(31:18):
In this case, it's an aged thirty year old ring.
Premium thirty year old aged Pinus radiata ring served with
environmental damage comes with a paris accord. Jew How long
did it make you take you to make all this
stuff up?
Speaker 10 (31:35):
Oh, to be honest, not long once you sort of
got the ball rolling it sort of, I know, one
of those Eureka moments. So we ran with it, Jamie.
Speaker 4 (31:42):
Yeah, and of course you can finish off with dessert.
You can choose pine tree cone choose from either pine
Douglas or macrocarp or topping sprinkled with MP tokenism. This
is brilliant. It will be posted on our Facebook page.
Go and have a look at it. And often a
laughter is the best medicine. But this is a real
(32:03):
serious problem, especially down on your neck of the words.
Speaker 10 (32:06):
Yeah it, Jamie. We're still seeing farm sales for whole
farm forestation, mainly pines, and we're talking absolutely fantastic land. Look,
all of it could be cultivated with the two will
drive chect if you had to. And it's all happening
well after the December four announcement of a moratorium on
this sort of stuff happening. Forestry companies and landowners are
(32:29):
exploring some pretty gray areas, and the legislation, which obviously
hasn't passed through the House yet, we hear that it's
not going to be officially law until October. So in
the meantime, there's literally a gold brush going on down
here with forestry companies sort of for lack of better term,
praying on some vulnerable people or some people that are
in an awkward situations perhaps, and plowing on with planting
(32:52):
all this great south and land and pine trees.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
See, there's lots of places you can plant pine trees
for forestry or carbon credit, but it doesn't need to
be on good as you say. In some cases down there,
I know of arable land land that's been used for
cropping for growing food is now growing pine trees.
Speaker 10 (33:11):
It is criminal, Yeah, that's criminal. When you pull out
of a paddict with a combine harvester and follow it
with the planting tree for pines, you've got to ask
some questions. And there's also a whole lot of land
that could be easily converted to dairying as well. So
it's just there's the fly on effects in the royal
communities that we're really starting to feel now. It's the
schools of sports clubs, local sharing gang. I know, I
(33:33):
was talking to that lost ten center their business overnight.
It really starts to hurt because that money flows right
through the community, whereas forestry means nothing for the locals.
It does exact opposite. So we just really needed, well
want some menps to stand up and really enforce their
laws or the moratorium that they announced them decend before.
(33:54):
But we just don't seem to forgetting it.
Speaker 4 (33:55):
Okay, Well, you know, forestry is very important. It's our
fourth biggest industry and I'm not looking forestry, but my
fear for a lot of these plantations that are happening
out there, these farm conversions, is that they will never
be harvested. They will just become a climate and biodiversity threat. Anyhow,
that's not the only thing that's happening in Southland. Gee,
it's all on It's high noon at the ok Corral.
(34:17):
Federated Farmers, Southland, Federated Farmers, you're involved with them. You're
wanting people who are shooting ducks in Southland this season
to buy their license from another region. You guys are
literally at war with fish and game in Southland.
Speaker 10 (34:32):
Yeah, unfortunately we are, Jamie. Nobody ever wanted to get
this far as what it's got. But unfortunately for an
organization that relies heavily on the goodwill of farmers to
excess land for both hunting or game bird and fishing,
they seem to be very very good at putting in
roadblocks to make airlines very difficult with really unrealistic and
(34:55):
costly legislation which is just done holding up a lot
of processes for everybody. So yeah, we're sort of just
encouraging people not to shore legally. I still want you
to get a license, but yeah, just make sure we
bite out a region.
Speaker 4 (35:08):
Jason Herrick, who's the president of Federated Farmers down in Southland,
saying go and buy your license from Hawk's Bay or
Greater Wellington. She's a sad old day when Wellington is
more farmer friendly than Southland.
Speaker 6 (35:20):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 10 (35:22):
Unfortunately, we as you got going on. The fishing game
seems to be just isolated to a neck of the
woods too, So I know there's still a lot of
really good relationships out there with the rest of the country.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Also, you've got a bit of an issue with fish
and game over duck population in Southland at the moment,
they've had a magnificent breeding season, but the problem is
that the crops are being decimated by ducks.
Speaker 10 (35:44):
Yeah, there has been a good breeding season. Obviously there's
a lot of water around early on in the spring.
But yeah, there's been a fair bit of crop damage,
especially in brescas that are close to sort of some
of these awesome wetlands and protected streams at the farmers
that we've been fencing off and creating. So yeah, there's
been a bit of damage going around. So we just, yeah,
(36:04):
we'd like to get some sort of exemption so it
can just give to them with the easiest way possible,
with some lead applied to high velocity, just to make
sure that we can have enough enough one to crop.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
Really, that's politically incorrect to say that it's dark hunting
not dark shooting. Hey, now, I was just looking finally,
I was just looking at your forester menu. And if
you're a bit short on money, and you know, farming
can be a tough gig, and you've only got twelve
carbon credits available to spend at your restaurant. You could
go for the start of the poverty porridge, an empty
(36:34):
bowl of local produce from Heartland New Zealand, including empty schools,
sports clubs and abandoned towns. Dean Ravage, Congratulations, this is very,
very clever. It will be on our Facebook page. Looking
forward to some of the great feedback you're going to
get from your new restaurant.
Speaker 10 (36:52):
No, thanks very much, Jeremie, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
The best of the country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
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Speaker 1 (37:00):
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Speaker 4 (37:05):
Dean Rabbage, Southland Farmer wrapping the best of the country.
Good morning, My name's Jamie McKay. There are certainly some
changes happening on the landscape down in south in fact
right across the country. I hope you enjoyed Dean's tongue
and cheek take on carbon farming. They're talking about changes.
Here's how you could make some really positive changes to
(37:27):
your local rural community hall or your clubrooms, the footy
club or the Maria. Entries are now open for the
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In twenty twenty five. The competition provides entrance with a
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(37:48):
selected from across the country. They'll each receive five thousand
dollars that's one hundred k all up, and it will
fund the upgrade of their rural community hub. To find
out more, visit Rao Bank or the website rabobank dot
co dot insid it's me done on dust that I'm
gonna leave you with David Bowie and changes catch your back,
same time, same place, next Saturday morning.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
To change it and bass strange to change us, don't
tell her to pull off a part of it.
Speaker 11 (38:20):
To change it.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
Basins change where the shame your left us up to
her axcident.
Speaker 11 (38:28):
Down machan me j cans.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Strange fast.
Speaker 11 (38:39):
Fast artanger upsia the best lance change basins change.
Speaker 4 (38:56):
Look out your rocketporters to change.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Don't pays the strange to change.
Speaker 4 (39:05):
So now you're going to get hold out.
Speaker 11 (39:08):
Time pay change me, but I can't dress town.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
I've said that time pay change me, but I can't
dress
The best of the Country with Rabobank.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Grow with Rubbobagay and Good Morning New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
My name's Jamie mckaie. Welcome to the Best of the Country.
Each and every Saturday morning here on news Talk said
be between six and seven, we play the best bits
of our weekday show which plays twelve to one, and
we do it courtesy of Rabobank. We're growing a better
New Zealand together. We're going to kick it off with
Jerry Buttomer. Who's he Well, he's an Irish politician, a
(00:51):
rural politician who was in the country recently and he
was at the Rural Games in Palmerston North last weekend.
What does he make of New Zealand agriculture. How do
we compare to Ireland? We are similar sort of pastoral
farming nations and what farming issues do we have in common?
Jane Smith, north Otago farmer has been having lunch with
David Seymour, dinner with Chris Luxen and what does she
(01:13):
make of fighting climate change by applying rock to our pastures.
Professor Keith Woodford, one of the sharpest minds in New
Zealand Agriculture wants on Terra to offer Kiwi's a bite
of the dairy cherry with an IPO float of its
consumer brands business Winston Peter's no show without punch, and
(01:35):
we wrap it with Dean Rabbage, a high profile South
and sheep and beef farmer who's had a wee bit
of time on his hands, done a bit of thinking
and came up with a very clever, humorous dig at
carbon farming. It's all on the best of the country.
It's brought to you by Rabobank.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
The best of the country with Rabobank choose to bank
with a huge network of progressive farming clients.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Rabobank Rural Games in Palmerston, North Up and over the
weekend Rowena Duncan was there representing the country and she
ran into this guy. His name is Jerry Buttima. He
is the Minister of State at the Department of Rural
and Community Development. That's a big title, isn't it, But
he's basically an Irish politician. He was there wandering around
with Mark Patterson, Todd McLay and Andrew Hoggard. Welcome to
(02:27):
the country. Our radio show. Welcome to the country, Jerry,
what do you make of New Zealand agriculture.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
It's absolutely fantastic to be here, and thank you for
having in the program and congratulations.
Speaker 6 (02:37):
To all involved in the Rural Games.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
On Saturday Sunday in Parmiston not we had a fantastic time.
Speaker 6 (02:45):
It really made me feel at home.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
It was a typical Irish agricultural sour as you called it,
a field day as well at home. And I suppose
for me as a city dweller who grew up in
a farm with my grandparents' farm, it reinforces the common
and the similar value that we have with you and
the importance of parish and in the importance of country
community and our farming and our agraarian society. And let
(03:10):
me just give your listeners a small bit of stupid
statistics if I can. We have four point five million
acres hea acres of agricultural land, eight hundred thousand hectares
of forestry, one hundred thirty three thousand farms, and you know,
one hundred and seventy one thousand people involved in agriculture
(03:31):
and the farming sector in our workforce. So that just
shows you the importance towards the farming and the agri
food sector and it's great to be here and you know,
it's wonderful to have the reception to engage with your
three ministers last weekend and again this week. It just
shows you that we have a lot of similarity as countries.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Irish farmers facing and I know the answer to this one,
but are they facing the same problems if you want,
regarding a missions profile, because when it comes to agricol
cutural nations, you're one of the most similar ones to us.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Absolutely, and farmers are are concerned about the you know,
the imposition as they see in some cases on them
around climate change. And we spend the morning in Wellington
today with Fronterra just discussing many different issues around that.
Speaker 6 (04:19):
But the Nitros directive in Europe is a big challenge for.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
Our farmers who have embraced change, who have made you know,
farming different than in a globalized world. We we must
look at how the sector can move forward in a
dynamic and innovative way, embracing change yet being true to
the values that farmers have in terms of the quality
of the product they care, they have for their animals
(04:41):
and the pride they have in whether it's be per
sucker or shape or tillage sector, that we can make
sure that they are in a world that is you know,
looking to the challenges, accepting that we must embrace the
need to do things differently. And I will always make
the point and our government's policy is farmers cannot go
(05:03):
green lifter in the red and that's why I think
Ireland and New Zealand have very similar attitudes, are very
similar ways of you know, walking the land together and
we as a country case huge proud about what we do,
but we also learn from you, for example, the whole
area of retention of young farmers and young people keeping
farming as a career. Very proud of the fact that
(05:25):
you know, Minister's Patterson bowed and McLay met with us
and every humans this week because it just shows the
importance of strength of partnerships.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Hey Jerry, look, I could check to you all day.
Love that Irish accent. By the way, looking forward to
Saint Patty's Day on Monday. I know you've got another
meeting to run to and Wellington. Thanks for some of
your time, Thanks for fronting up at the Rural Games.
They tell me you were a bit of a hurt
with the fans.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
Good well, can I just say it was a fantastic
event and as we say now Benetteina followed the glare
happy saying patters say to all of your listeners.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
I was comparing me bua around to Maury Screaminnium the.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Best of the country with Rabobank. Choose the bank with
a huge network of progressive farming clients.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Rabobank.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
So you've heard from Prime Minister Christopher luxem Well. One
woman who was having dinner with said leader was Jane Smith. Now, Jane,
you're a bit two faced. Last time you were on
this show, north Otago farmer, a former winner of the
Balance Farm Environment Awards, you told me that you'd rip
the National Party rosette from your twin set Cardigan.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Good afternoon, Jamie. Yes, probably I was a bit of
a wild card choice of guests, probably not the ideal
choice if they were looking for a passive dinner guest.
In fact, it was awkward at one point when a farmer,
let's call him Derek from Fairley, came up and when
I was talking to Duxton and said, gosh, I really
enjoyed when you talked about ripping the rosette from your cardigan, Jane.
(06:51):
When the NETS essentially came out and endorsed to Cinder's
emissions reduction target of fat, they increased it slightly. That
was a potential awkward moment, but I wasn't there just
for an agreement session, Jamie, and it was really it
was good to harness the opportunity to have a i'd
call it more of a speed date over a sort
of a fifteen minute period with myself in the PM,
(07:13):
and the conversation was really on everything from methane to
marry activists, from pine trees to property rights. So definitely
worth while, Jamie, though I was disappointed at one days
when Luxeon referred to people like groundswal and methane science
are called, which of course is as myself as sort
of right wing.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
In the great and wish he's right there.
Speaker 7 (07:35):
Well, I guess maybe right I'm right wing but potentially
not representing the views of middle New Zealand or farmers,
which I you know, I would actually argue with that.
And I assume he has this view from those that
are supposed to represent us in their egg industry, and
I just wonder whether they're actually reprehending us rather than
representing us. And I guess when you've got a traditionally
(07:56):
like a government and that's traditionally farmer friendly or business freely,
it can actually show up your advocacy because you can't
hide behind them or or blame the ministers like we
did with David Parker. And the reality is actually after
two days of at the upperclusa wannaka a MP show,
it really became obvious to me that actually those of
(08:17):
you know, the directors that are there to represent ours
have certainly have had that Wellington lobotomy and it really
failed to see things from a grassroots farmer or grassroots
rural person or any business point of view. So that
old Stockholm syndrome is alive and well even under a
new Okay.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
So was lux and trying to woo you to become
a National Party candidate, Joane, you're going to sell your soul.
Speaker 7 (08:39):
I doubt that very much.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Jamie, what I do, you'd be hopeless in Parliament.
Speaker 7 (08:43):
I would last about five minutes. And you know, I
guess what I do represent, I hope is just vibrant
rural communities and that is what I'm passionate about. Family
farms and sustainable opportunities going forward, not painting yourselves into
corners on say like as I said Methane, which is
we don't need or we do not need any further
(09:05):
taxpayer money wasted in that area.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Janney, Now if it wasn't bad enough or good enough
that you're having dinner with the Prime minister, you're also
lunching with the soon to be deputy Prime Minister David
Seymour at the Wonica amp show.
Speaker 7 (09:20):
To be fair, Jamie, that was just an opportune chance
that we took actually and at the Raven Sound tents
to catch up with David Seymour and have lunch, although
he wasn't lunching. Actually we were eating and he wasn't.
Maybe he was a wee bit sensitive about lunch lunches
at the moment given the school lunch program. But you
know that was refreshing and actually to have a really
(09:40):
non PC discussion about a lot of things, and you know,
without the sort of the woke rightness righteousness that is
creeping into a lot of our sector at the moment.
So and you know, we did talk about things like
fertilizer and delivering products and banks et cetera, without the
side serving of righteousness that seems to be hanging around
(10:00):
and costing our seat. Tore opportunities at the moment to Jamie,
and so that was a yeah, that was a good
opportunity and certainly be taking some of those discussions further, Jamie, did.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
You listen to the Associate Professor, the good doctor Peter
Armond on yesterday's show? Is this the way to fight
climate change? Putting the rock on the pastures in South?
Because she used to be a Ravenstown field wrap down
on South and back in the day.
Speaker 7 (10:25):
Jane, and I know that area well, Jamie. In terms
of Odahudi, I also know Lincoln University well as an
alumni of the establishment, and I honestly nearly choked on
my lunch. I actually could not believe what I was hearing.
And I know that overseas has been a lot of studies.
I'm not saying it wouldn't work, et cetera in terms
of applying that crushed basult rock to sequest CO two. Actually,
(10:48):
I thought that obviously completely missed the memo that thirty
three percent of New Zealand has covered in native bush.
What's that nine million kicked is that a sequet's seeing
co two every moment of the day, Jamie, And I'm thinking,
least alone the land that has been lost to pine trees.
What is that million stock in it's a year or
(11:09):
twenty two thousand hectares due to be planted, even just
in south and the same province this year. I thought, honestly,
what is the world coming to if we are wasting
good scientists time and resources which we don't have many of,
and tax pays money on this type of crap. I
just I actually checked that it wasn't April Fools Day, Jamie.
I thought, this cannot be true. We can't be doing
this in New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Well, look, in defense of myself, and I'm defending the
indefensible here, I've missed the obvious question was you know,
at what rate are we going to put the basalt
rock on per hectare? What do you reckon? How much
do you reckon? The answer is because we went back
after the show and found.
Speaker 7 (11:44):
Out I'd hate to think, Jamie, okay here it.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Is fifty tons per hectare. So yeah, okay, so that's
a lot, as you well know. And I went back
to him and said, well, here putting on that much.
How long is it before the pasture is edible or grazible?
And he said, well, the application should equate to about
five mills of rock dust on the pasture. As we expect,
(12:08):
with autumn growth and some rainfall, the paddocks should be
grazible again in one to three weeks. I'm not sure
I'd want to eat that grass.
Speaker 7 (12:16):
Oh, the reality is, Jamie, these are just ridiculous climate
change hysteria distractions on our real issues that we have
going on in this country. And I guess the saddest
thing is again the opportunity cost of the real science
and real issues and real solutions we could be coming
up with in this country instead of wasting time and
money on there, and you know, even just without even
(12:37):
looking at the rates and the foolishness around that, even
just the climate change costs of doing such such an action, no,
actually getting that rock there. I mean, it's just the
whole thing is just ridiculous, Jamie. And it's time that
this type of thing was absolutely wiped off any sort
of work scenario four.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
No, you'll be wiped off the Christmas Christmas card list
of doctor Peter Armand from your old Alma Martha Lincoln University.
Let's just finish on North Otago where you're farming. You
had a big thunderstorm overnight that rain would be welcome.
Speaker 7 (13:09):
Yeah, it certainly was, Jamie. But I sort of feel
a little bit guilty in a year like this where
actually had to getting a lot of precipitation, and I
feel that it could have gone to another area, but
I know it doesn't work like that. But yeah, I
think we got just over another inch last night. But
it's certainly turned winterry. But we can't complain in stock
are looking magnificent in North Otago. Finally feel like where
(13:29):
things are coming to fruition and you're.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Getting record prices for those beef cattle that.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
You breed, exactly, Jamie, and Lamb's looking great. Interest rates
heading downwards. Not low enough yet by the way, but yeah,
things are very very positive. And if we can just
get some of this ridiculousness out of our seat to
time and money being wasted, things onwards and up with Jamie.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yeah, and if Trump would just call as jets on
tariff spent anyhow, that's on my wish list. Jane Smith,
thank you very much for your time and I'm pleased
to hear that Nash Party. Rosetta's back on your twin
set Cardigan.
Speaker 7 (14:03):
Not sure it is, Jamie, but thank you.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Jane Smith, North Otago Farmer on the Best of the Country.
Good morning, my name's Janie McKay. The show's brought to
you by Rabobank. We're growing a better New Zealand together.
Up next, Professor Keith Woodford on why Fonterra should float
it's consumer brands business, Winston Peters and a very humorous
take from Dean Ravage, Southland farmer on carbon farming. It's
(14:29):
all on the Best of the Country, brought to you
by Rabobank.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
The Best of the Country with Rabobank the bank with
local agribanking experts passionate about the future of rural communities.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Rabobank, a next guest on the Country possesses one of
the sharpest minds in New Zealand agriculture, even if he's
having a bit of a battle at the moment with
his body. Professor Keith Woodford from Lincoln University and Keith,
I was alerted to some comments you'd made Unlock online
about Fonterra selling its consumer brand business. You're saying that
(15:07):
the decision to sell the consumer brands is no longer
a debate. It's happening. But the options are whether we
should sell to an existing international dairy marketer whose options
are based overseas, or an IPO, an initial public offering
here in New Zealand keep ownership of that in New Zealand.
Surely the latter, Keith Woodford is a win.
Speaker 8 (15:28):
Win, Yes, it is. It's something that all sides of
politics should be able to get their mind around, all
reasonable people. But it just needs to be The flag
needs to be waived just a bit more at the moment,
and the broader New Zealand community needs to understand that
(15:52):
this is an opportunity for all New Zealand to become
involved in the dairy industry. Is holders in what Fonterra
is saying would be called mainland and Mainland would own well,
they would be the international marketer both in New Zealand
(16:13):
and overseas of consumer branded products. Gosh, it really just
should be a win wind.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
Now let's just go back a step. I take it
that you're wholeheartedly in support of Fonterra selling its consumer
brands business.
Speaker 8 (16:31):
When they came out with that a year ago. I
was nervous because I think it's important that Fonterra retains
an open window through into the what's happening in the
consumer world. And the idea of Fonterra just selling bulk products,
be it as commodities or food service, that left me
(16:56):
very nervous. In real as the world changes, is it
pively will do? When Fonterra first talked of selling the
consumer brands, the talk seemed to be very much of
selling to an overseas company. Hey, that made me nervous. However,
(17:20):
I see now that Fonterra is actively exploring the two alternatives,
one being to sell to a trade buyer who would
come from overseas, the other being a IPO, a public offering,
so it would become a public company on the presumably
(17:42):
the New Zealand Stock Exchange could be New Zealand and
Australian Stock Exchange. But I think it, you know, be
good of its headquartered here in New Zealand. And ideally
Fonterra would retain a minority stake, so it'd still be
at the board table, but they wouldn't control the board.
(18:04):
The company would have its own totally different culture, which
relates to fast moving consumer goods and it's something we
could all be be part of.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Yeah, okay, just to finish on because I'm running out
of time. So you're also suggesting that the superfund or
acc could be ideal cornerstone investors if it was floated
on an IPO.
Speaker 8 (18:28):
Yes, remember that there's a number of superannuation funds. There's
the Government Superannuation Fund, but there's also all the other
private funds that most of us is where our retirement
savings go. And I'm pretty sure that there's some of
those would be interested in taking a significant steak and
(18:50):
then the rest of it gets floated for all of
us that we can buy buy shares on the sheer market.
So it's an exciting idea. And we've got to get
not just farmers on side, because the board would be
able to sell us, I'm sure to the farmers and
would still bring in a lot of capital, but we
(19:14):
need to get urban New Zealand on board as well.
But hey, this is exciting. What I'm saying is that
DEII is more than an industry. It's part of our
New Zealand DNA. It's incritically important to all of us
and Hey, this is one way that we can all
get an explicit stake.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Professor Keith Woodford always good to catch up with you.
That mind is still as sharp as a tack. Good luck.
Speaker 8 (19:43):
Thank Shamie.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
The Best of the Country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agri business experience.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Grow with Rubberbank, you really.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Get a New Zealand. Welcome back to the Best of
the Country. My name's Jamie McKay. The show was brought
to you by Rabobank. We're growing a better New Zealand together.
Next week's show, I'll be catching up worth Rabobanks GM
of Country Banking, Bruce ware good bloke too. Hello Bruce
if you're listening, and we'll be reviewing the bank's latest
(20:22):
rural Confidence survey, which is out or due out early
next week and I think it'll be pretty positive. Up
next on the Best of the Country. As I said
at the top of the hour, there's no show without punch.
Winston Peters caught up with them on Thursday, just before
we jumped on a plane to head over to Washington
to meet up with the Secretary of State Marco Rubio,
(20:42):
who's been broker in peace deals in the Middle East,
So Winston is playing at the big boys table. We
talked Trump Tariff's agriculture and weathers, and whether Winston's actually
doing a bit of a Trump himself when it comes
to diversity, equity and inclusion, and what about his war
on woke. I think you'll find our final best of
interview really entertaining. Dean Rabbish, high profile Southland sheep, beef
(21:06):
and dairy farmer, got to thinking when he was weighing
some lambs on his farm and he came up with
a very humorous stick at carbon farming and also a
very cleverly compiled pine tree menu on his new hypothetical restaurant.
You're going to love this interview, plus what's happening down
in Southland, Federated in Farmers, fish and Game, going to
(21:29):
war over the dark hunting season. It's all on the
best of the country and it's brought to you by Rabobank.
Musical theme today David Bowie. What a great artist, the
late great David Bowie.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Stage the best of the Country with Rabobank. Choose the
Bank with a huge network of progressive farming clients.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Rabobank he is.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
The Deputy Prime Minister and New Zealand First Leader and
Foreign Affairs minister. He's off to Washington later tonight to
meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Lots to talk about.
Are you going to cut some sort of deal with
in Winston Peters.
Speaker 9 (22:10):
Look, I think it's very wise when you're going to
see another country that you do in the courtesy of
making your message to them first before you tell everybody
else what a you're going to talk about. So I'm
very very courses to stay in our lane so to speak,
to put New Zealand's case and to above all hear
(22:31):
them out, listen to their side of the story, so
to speak.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
Well, it's going to be about tariffs and the geopolitical
tension in the Pacific. Do you think an Australia's failed
that you might be able to on the world stage
cut a deal with America around tariff's, especially when it
comes to agriculture, Because as it stands at the moment,
as I understand it, April second, we face tariffs on
agriculture again.
Speaker 9 (22:56):
This is something we're going to find out, We're going
to have a discussion about it. Remember that until twenty
twenty four, our balance of trade was pretty even, so
we were not, as I say, using the Americans. And
we've been a free trade country since the mid eighties,
and so we've got a good record to tell. And
also we already had tariffs on aluminium and steel. Our
(23:19):
job is to see what better we can get out
of it, and let's see how the talks develop. But
I'm not going in any other sense than to ensure
that there's an understanding of how important this country of
New Zealm of New Zealan is to them and to
the Pacific.
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Have you had a phone call already. Have you met
Marco Rubio?
Speaker 9 (23:40):
Well, I spoke to him very shortly after we got
the job.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
Yes, will you get to run unto Trump while you're
in Washington at the White House.
Speaker 9 (23:50):
We don't make comments like that. We'd rather report to
you what this happened, rather than to build up a
wolder expectations and then fail people.
Speaker 6 (23:58):
When we get there.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Now, talking about Trump, are you doing a bit of
a trump around DEI Diversity, equity and inclusion, ridding the
public sector of woke left wing social engineering and diversity targets.
Speaker 9 (24:12):
Well, that's the kind of name thing that the mainstream
media have said, knowing full well that we campaigned extensively
packing halls all the way through twenty twenty three in
that campaign, a long time before the American presidential elections,
and to say that we're imitating Trump is just nonsense.
And the records all out there, and we've been doing
this for a long time in the campaign, all the
(24:34):
way to the Cordison Agreement, where we said we want
things change. Now, what you've got here is quotas plans,
and now I said, exercises in employment which are discriminatory
against people because if they don't feeld their so called
(24:56):
category minority as it might be, and they don't get
the job. And it's happening. I have been told by
the manstream media, we haven't got any examples. Well, on
our x account, on our Facebook account, we're going past
one hundred thousand people, many of whom are complaining exactly
(25:16):
of what we're talking about and saying, yeah, I know,
mister Peters, that's what happened to me. And so I'm
saying to the manstream media, stopping incredibly biased, start paying
attention to what the ordinary people out there were saying,
because they want a pair world a pair go at
the chance of employment and they don't want discrimination that
is designed by a hand picked small group of self
(25:40):
appointed social engineers.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
Now a lot, that's how simple, all right? A lot
of the people and circles that I move in, which
is mainly sort of farming, rugby golf circles, that may
not be a good cross section of society. Winston say,
I'm going to vote for New Zealand first. Winston and Shane,
I like what they're saying. Why is that not being
reflected than the polls on the last poll? And I
know you're going to say, bug, of the polls five
(26:04):
point one percent, you barely passed the threshold.
Speaker 9 (26:08):
Look, I am not both saying, but I've got to
we in political science, and I've brought a long career
in politics and been written off so many times for
a whole lot of people. You know what was big
in that poll which defied what you just said as
preferred prime minisiles on eight point six. Now eight point
six is not going to be a lesser sum of
people one in New Zealand first. It'll be eight point
(26:30):
six plus in one New Zealand first. And so there
is the real part of the poll which these mainstream
media people again, whether it's that of ignorance or purpose
totally neglect. But anyone who understands politics and understands the
poles are looking at the plus and minus for personalities
(26:51):
and we were just minus one. That dramatic turnaround and
eight point six and on the rise as preferred by
miss Now I'm not saying that other than tell you
that's the part of the poll that screamed out that
their interpretation of it was utterly wrong.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Just to finish on, you came from a humble background
in Northland, and I know you speak very highly of
your late mother. Did your mother ever have any difficulty
giving you school lunch?
Speaker 9 (27:20):
No, she didn't, and we were from a poor family,
but we always got some lunch, and often there would
be six separate lunches in the one bag and one person,
the senior person, was put in charge of it. And
that's what said has happened here. I know a lot
of teachers, a lot of teachers very very closely, and
they talked about the incredible waste of the former regime
(27:41):
and it was incredible. Now we could and should do
far more focus planning than that. Let me tell you
what it was like in my school, largely Mari school,
but the farming community provided a lot of the food
and vegetables and what have you. The boys were charged
with all the preparation work of the supervision of the
senior girls, and the girls made this to anybody wanted
(28:04):
some lunch could get it. Now, that's the difference between
now and back then, when we all were self reliant
and doing it ourselves.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Well, you were truly a diverse and inclusive and equitable
school back in those days, Winston, Dei back at your
primary school days in Northland.
Speaker 9 (28:21):
No, we didn't do Dei. We're not talking about diversity, equity,
inclusiveness and then have a master plan that comes out
of the sort of George orwell now, we talked about
giving people a chance to get decent health, to have
a good diet, and to get a decent education and
to take us as far as our dreams hoped it
could be. That was the magic of those former times
(28:41):
and we've got to have to regain that.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
Now, Winston. Good luck in Washington, go get us a
deal on agg or a deal without Paris. Thanks for
your time, Thank you, serious and we wish Winston Peters
all the best in Washington. Good morning. My name's Jamie Mackay.
This is the Best Country. It's brought to you by Rabobank.
Winstance a bit of a favorite on the show, but
(29:04):
my favorite interview is coming up next. Southland farmer Dean
Rabbage on the Best of the Country, The.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Best of the Country with Rabobank, the bank with local
acribanking experts passionate about the future of rural communities.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
Rabobank.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
Do you want some proof that farmers are clever people?
Has an example. His name is Dean Rabbage. He's a
Southland sheep, beef and dairy farmer. He's a former Zanda
McDonald award went away back in twenty fourteen. He's involved
with Federated farmers at a local and national level, and
he is a strong anti carbon farming campaigner. He was
weighing lambs the other morning and his mind drifted towards
(29:52):
a new restaurant. I guess, Dean Rabbage, you would call
it diversification from your south and farming activities. Tell me
a but about your new restaurant. I think it's called Forester.
Speaker 10 (30:05):
Yeah, good afternoon, Jamie. Yes, the mine did wander a
little bit wayneland's out of the morning. Just with the
continuation of whole farm of fire station down here, sort
of starting to get a little bit angry along with
a lot of other people in the community about the
lots of jobs and the lots of spectacular farmland to
exotic pine trees. So sort of got me thinking about
(30:26):
we're not going to have much food left in the future,
are we if we carry on the trajectory that we're
going So come up with a bit of an alternative
menu being basically based on plantation forestry.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
Oh and it's brilliant because and this is going to
be posted on our Facebook page. But here's an example
for you. Here's your menu for starters. You can select
four pines, the selection of four exotic juvenile pine cones,
served with a bed of virtue signaling with biodiversity hummus.
For that, you'll pay twenty five carbon credits. Here's an
(30:57):
example of one of your mains called needle noodles, freshly
gathered pine needles tossed, tossed in a carbon credits source,
seasoned with overseas pollution. For that, you'll pay just thirty
four carbon credits. And one of my favorites. I think
is the main I guess it's like an age steak.
(31:18):
In this case, it's an aged thirty year old ring.
Premium thirty year old aged Pinus radiata ring served with
environmental damage comes with a paris accord. Jew How long
did it make you take you to make all this
stuff up?
Speaker 10 (31:35):
Oh, to be honest, not long once you sort of
got the ball rolling it sort of, I know, one
of those Eureka moments. So we ran with it, Jamie.
Speaker 4 (31:42):
Yeah, and of course you can finish off with dessert.
You can choose pine tree cone choose from either pine
Douglas or macrocarp or topping sprinkled with MP tokenism. This
is brilliant. It will be posted on our Facebook page.
Go and have a look at it. And often a
laughter is the best medicine. But this is a real
(32:03):
serious problem, especially down on your neck of the words.
Speaker 10 (32:06):
Yeah it, Jamie. We're still seeing farm sales for whole
farm forestation, mainly pines, and we're talking absolutely fantastic land. Look,
all of it could be cultivated with the two will
drive chect if you had to. And it's all happening
well after the December four announcement of a moratorium on
this sort of stuff happening. Forestry companies and landowners are
(32:29):
exploring some pretty gray areas, and the legislation, which obviously
hasn't passed through the House yet, we hear that it's
not going to be officially law until October. So in
the meantime, there's literally a gold brush going on down
here with forestry companies sort of for lack of better term,
praying on some vulnerable people or some people that are
in an awkward situations perhaps, and plowing on with planting
(32:52):
all this great south and land and pine trees.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
See, there's lots of places you can plant pine trees
for forestry or carbon credit, but it doesn't need to
be on good as you say. In some cases down there,
I know of arable land land that's been used for
cropping for growing food is now growing pine trees.
Speaker 10 (33:11):
It is criminal, Yeah, that's criminal. When you pull out
of a paddict with a combine harvester and follow it
with the planting tree for pines, you've got to ask
some questions. And there's also a whole lot of land
that could be easily converted to dairying as well. So
it's just there's the fly on effects in the royal
communities that we're really starting to feel now. It's the
schools of sports clubs, local sharing gang. I know, I
(33:33):
was talking to that lost ten center their business overnight.
It really starts to hurt because that money flows right
through the community, whereas forestry means nothing for the locals.
It does exact opposite. So we just really needed, well
want some menps to stand up and really enforce their
laws or the moratorium that they announced them decend before.
(33:54):
But we just don't seem to forgetting it.
Speaker 4 (33:55):
Okay, Well, you know, forestry is very important. It's our
fourth biggest industry and I'm not looking forestry, but my
fear for a lot of these plantations that are happening
out there, these farm conversions, is that they will never
be harvested. They will just become a climate and biodiversity threat. Anyhow,
that's not the only thing that's happening in Southland. Gee,
it's all on It's high noon at the ok Corral.
(34:17):
Federated Farmers, Southland, Federated Farmers, you're involved with them. You're
wanting people who are shooting ducks in Southland this season
to buy their license from another region. You guys are
literally at war with fish and game in Southland.
Speaker 10 (34:32):
Yeah, unfortunately we are, Jamie. Nobody ever wanted to get
this far as what it's got. But unfortunately for an
organization that relies heavily on the goodwill of farmers to
excess land for both hunting or game bird and fishing,
they seem to be very very good at putting in
roadblocks to make airlines very difficult with really unrealistic and
(34:55):
costly legislation which is just done holding up a lot
of processes for everybody. So yeah, we're sort of just
encouraging people not to shore legally. I still want you
to get a license, but yeah, just make sure we
bite out a region.
Speaker 4 (35:08):
Jason Herrick, who's the president of Federated Farmers down in Southland,
saying go and buy your license from Hawk's Bay or
Greater Wellington. She's a sad old day when Wellington is
more farmer friendly than Southland.
Speaker 6 (35:20):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 10 (35:22):
Unfortunately, we as you got going on. The fishing game
seems to be just isolated to a neck of the
woods too, So I know there's still a lot of
really good relationships out there with the rest of the country.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Also, you've got a bit of an issue with fish
and game over duck population in Southland at the moment,
they've had a magnificent breeding season, but the problem is
that the crops are being decimated by ducks.
Speaker 10 (35:44):
Yeah, there has been a good breeding season. Obviously there's
a lot of water around early on in the spring.
But yeah, there's been a fair bit of crop damage,
especially in brescas that are close to sort of some
of these awesome wetlands and protected streams at the farmers
that we've been fencing off and creating. So yeah, there's
been a bit of damage going around. So we just, yeah,
(36:04):
we'd like to get some sort of exemption so it
can just give to them with the easiest way possible,
with some lead applied to high velocity, just to make
sure that we can have enough enough one to crop.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
Really, that's politically incorrect to say that it's dark hunting
not dark shooting. Hey, now, I was just looking finally,
I was just looking at your forester menu. And if
you're a bit short on money, and you know, farming
can be a tough gig, and you've only got twelve
carbon credits available to spend at your restaurant. You could
go for the start of the poverty porridge, an empty
(36:34):
bowl of local produce from Heartland New Zealand, including empty schools,
sports clubs and abandoned towns. Dean Ravage, Congratulations, this is very,
very clever. It will be on our Facebook page. Looking
forward to some of the great feedback you're going to
get from your new restaurant.
Speaker 10 (36:52):
No, thanks very much, Jeremie, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
The best of the country with Rubbobank.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
Choose the bank with one hundred and twenty years global
agribusiness experience.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Grow with rubber Bag.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
Dean Rabbage, Southland Farmer wrapping the best of the country.
Good morning, My name's Jamie McKay. There are certainly some
changes happening on the landscape down in south in fact
right across the country. I hope you enjoyed Dean's tongue
and cheek take on carbon farming. They're talking about changes.
Here's how you could make some really positive changes to
(37:27):
your local rural community hall or your clubrooms, the footy
club or the Maria. Entries are now open for the
Rabou Community Hub competition, running for the first time this year.
In twenty twenty five. The competition provides entrance with a
chance to win five ks towards the improvement of their
rural community hall, clubrooms or morai. Twenty winners will be
(37:48):
selected from across the country. They'll each receive five thousand
dollars that's one hundred k all up, and it will
fund the upgrade of their rural community hub. To find
out more, visit Rao Bank or the website rabobank dot
co dot insid it's me done on dust that I'm
gonna leave you with David Bowie and changes catch your back,
same time, same place, next Saturday morning.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
To change it and bass strange to change us, don't
tell her to pull off a part of it.
Speaker 11 (38:20):
To change it.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
Basins change where the shame your left us up to
her axcident.
Speaker 11 (38:28):
Down machan me j cans.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Strange fast.
Speaker 11 (38:39):
Fast artanger upsia the best lance change basins change.
Speaker 4 (38:56):
Look out your rocketporters to change.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Don't pays the strange to change.
Speaker 4 (39:05):
So now you're going to get hold out.
Speaker 11 (39:08):
Time pay change me, but I can't dress town.
Speaker 1 (39:14):
I've said that time pay change me, but I can't
dress
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