April 1, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Dr Victoria Hatton, Ray Smith, Komal Mistry-Mehta, and Hunter McGregor.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's The Country
Podcast with Jamie McGue thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I need somebody, not just bad, you know, I need
someone get a new Zealand and Welcome to the Country.
It's brought to you by Branton Jamie mccainney. This is
the Beatles. Some new movies coming out on the Beatles
(00:33):
and they've decided who are going to be the four
main actors. Four movies. Interesting right now. I will come
back to that one, but we're going to kick it
off with the Prime Minister. Earlier this morning I caught
up with them. We're all waiting to see what happens
tomorrow with Liberation Day in the US. Trump's tariffs what
it might mean for us, We're going to catch up
(00:54):
with We're heading to Palmerston North to talk to doctor
Victoria Hatton, chief executive of Food HQ Innovation Limited. Last
chatted tour in October twenty twenty two. I wonder what's
changed for the outlook of farming since we last chatted.
Ray Smith, all the big guns are on the show today.
He is a Director General of MPI. Just back from China.
(01:16):
Talking about China. We will be chatting to Hunter McGregor,
our guy there a bit later in the hour, and
a really good global dairy trade auction overnight for Fonterra
or for the dairy industry right across the board. Will
tell you all about that with commel Mystery Meta, what
an exotic sounding name that is? And commalas Fonterra's Chief
(01:37):
Innovation of or Chief Innovation and Brand Officer. Everyone at
Fonterra's got a good title. Plus will update what's happening
with rural news and sports news. And of course we
can't forget the atmospheric river. Will it be a drought breaker?
All that before the end of the hour On the Country.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Jeez.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Tell Wednesday's On the Country. The Prime Minister kicks off
the show tomorrow. Our time is Liberation Day. What did
Trump's tariffs potentially hold for New Zealand? Christopher Luxe And
I heard the Hosks say earlier this morning twenty percent.
And then you get on the phone to the don
and try and cut a deal.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Well, look, I mean the first thing I'd say is
that our trade with the US is pretty balanced and complementary,
you know, we're not an overall contributor to the US deficit.
OK deficit. Well, I think's really important as everybody just
needs to stay super super calm, take a very pragmatic approach,
intelligent approach. That's what we've been doing. There's going to
distinguish between the general noise and then actually what's going
(02:56):
to be implemented. And the reality is nobody really knows.
And we're looking at reports yesterday, it's going to be
on all countries. No, it's just going to be on
fifteen targeted specific countries. Are they going to be exemptions?
So how much will they be?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So?
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Look, the bottom line is New Zealand's relatively well positioned
compared to other countries in the world for two reasons.
One is that we've done the very best weekend to
build good relationships with a new administration. We had Winston
Peters in Washington recently with Rubil and Waltz. We've had
McLay engaging with trade representative Career recently, and we've had
our officials and with their officials for a couple of
(03:32):
months now just making the case constantly for New Zealand And.
So that's one part, but the second part Jamie, I
had to say to you, is that, you know, even
S and P I think it was. It's acknowledged that
New Zealand's relatively well placed in position because a lot
of the products that we sell the world. You think
about all the great food and beverage we're selling the world,
they are a huge demand across the world. There's eight
(03:52):
billion people out there. We're a country are five million people.
There is demand for our products and that's why we're
driving hard into other growth areas like in dear light Vietnam,
like UAE, like GCC. So you know, we'll we'll deal
with it, but we need to need to call calm
heads as we work our way through it.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Zespri you were at a zespre function last night. Zesprey
products now reaching one hundred million households worldwide.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Yeah, pretty impressive. I mean, I'm really proud of Espre
because you know, I know when if overseas, and I
have been actually for years, even before politics, I would
spend a lot of time with the guys when I
was at the New Zealand as well, and they've just
done a really good job of just they are ambitious,
They've got aspiration and ambition they've got. You know that
they really represent us well overseas. They understand their markets
(04:40):
very well, and when you see them in Japan and China,
they do an exceptional job. But you know that we
were celebrating the milestone of just hitting one hundred million
households that are buying zespri heavy fruit around the world.
I mean, that's pretty phenomenal. You think that's probably what
you know, one to two million households, million households in
New Zealand. That just since the relative size of the
(05:01):
job that are doing. And they've now built a four
billion dollar keew we fruit industry. It's you and it's
high margin, creating good jobs and money back into the economy.
So it's exactly the stuff that we're trying to achieve
as we double the value of our exports.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
They are a great.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Exempler of that. So bring on two hundred million households,
I say. But the good news is are off to
a great start this year as an industry. They're actually
pumping and doing better than they said last year, which
was a record year for two more challenging years before that.
Then you've got the red meat guy saying there's an
extra one point two billion at the table. You've got
water price that pilan has been for eighty years ut
lest it's recovering sharing prices. And then you've got a
(05:36):
good outlook and dairy. So it really is once again,
as I've always said, primary industry is most important industry,
and Zack finding the economy leading us out of recession.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
I agree with everything you say. You might want to
do your homework on the wall. It's not quite as
that flash. But anyhow so does that mean the economy's
turning the corner?
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Well, I mean you saw the GDP numbers in Q four.
They were for the first time positive at zero point
seven percent for the quarter. You know that means just
under one percent economic growth for that quarter, that thirteen
week period. As I said before, you've got a good
outlook sitting in agriculture and the growing sector. You've got
tourism now up twenty three percent for the year. We've
got manufacturing for the first time up two point six percent.
(06:16):
So it's sort of like a two speed thing at
the moment. I definitely think we've turned the corner. Like
it's been tough, I get it, it's still tough for
some folk, but for some folk in some sectors. It's
starting to turn relatively quickly. Now you've got average interest
rates that have fallen I think for three months when
I've been going up for thirty eight months previously, you've
had four ocr cuts, you've got inflation down below in
(06:37):
the band, and you've got I think the most important
thing for working New Zealand is, frankly, Jamie, is that
you've got wages now have risen faster than inflation for
five quarters the whole time that we've been in government,
and it wasn't the case for the previous thirteen quarters.
So look, it's been tough, no doubt about it. It's been
equal to the recession of nineteen ninety one. It's now
we've pippen in the corner and we've got to trust
(06:58):
the plan and the plan will get us to a place.
And now the question is the exciting workers. We don't
just want to watch a recovery take place. We actually
want to be able to see us build out and
transform the place so that we actually set the joint
up for great success in the future and realizing that potential.
So you know, that's why we're going hammer and tongs
in there and GCC and UAE and all that sort
(07:19):
of stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
The most worrying number in the last twenty four hours
for me was that a third of the people POLD
think it's the government's job to supply as school lunch.
Where are we going wrong as a country.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, I think we're trying to get this notion of
rocks and responsibilities into back into New Zealand again, and
we're doing that through benefit obligations and unruling tenants and
state houses and all that sort of stuff. But equally,
you know, the bottom line is if you can afford
to make a lunch for your kid and send them
off to school with the lunch, you should do that.
That is your job as a parent period. What we
(07:52):
have is we have a free school lunch program genuinely
for those kids that are vulnerable, that are coming from
low income homes for a number of reasons that come
to school without lunch. Is important because all the evidence
is if they don't have food, they're highly distracted and
they're not going to learn. If they don't learn, we're
not seeing them up for success and being able to
take opportunities that come there come come our way. So
(08:14):
you know, you know my ask as I keept saying
to you know, you and I spoke about a few
weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
They said to you.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
At the time, mu might sandwich and apple. You know,
parents can be that, if they can, they should and
what we should be left with as the kids genuinely
need a school lunch, you know, And that's the deal,
that's the contract. The taxpayer is paying for it to
help and support people who need help genuinely, so not
to subsidize or support middle class folks who can afford
(08:40):
to make their own lunches really quickly.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
To finish on Tamotha, Paul, Benjamin Doyle, Debbie and rah
Wary at A's a party Mary, are they the coalition
government's greatest assets? It's just are they the gift that
keeps on giving?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Well, I mean it's just like it's just to be
on a socide show. I mean, I'm really frankly focused
on what I've got to do as Prime Minister of
New Zealand. Is the New Zealand public want me to
get on and get the economy growing, restore law in
order to sort our education and healthcare. And you know,
to be honest, that's what I'm focused on and there
are all issues for the leadership of those respective parties
(09:14):
to step up and actually, you know, take responsibility for
their own caucuses and their behavior. But from my point
of view, that's a sideshow. I've got a I've been
elected to do a job and I've got to its
head down, tail up until twenty twenty six. Okay, that's
forul Way support us again.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, Well, Winston and Seymour are a walk in the park.
Poor old Chris Hepkins. I'm feeling sorry for him, Prime Minister,
thanks for your.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Time, great cool ja the way you take care.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yes, something we prepared a wee bit earlier this morning.
He might be getting some help from the likes of Tamotha,
Benjamin Debbie and Raweri. What a rebel that lot. Anyhow,
the Beatles four films apparently one focusing on each of
the members of the Beatles. Very interesting looking forward to
(10:01):
that one. Sam Mendes is the director of that one.
Now sporting Action today and I'm a bit worried about
what effect the atmospheric river will have on this In
seven Park Hamilton are the one day in New Zeala
or Pakistan put New Zealand at THEO Bat we're ninety
five for two, Henry Nichols not out nineteen, Darryl Mitchell
(10:22):
not out fifteen. I think they're both debutants, the opening debutants,
the opening batsman, Mario and Kelly out for eighteen and
thirty one, respectively. But you would have to think, just
looking at the forecast, we might struggle to get through
that full day of cricket in Hamilton because on the
Herald website I was reading heavy rain warnings about this
(10:46):
atmospheric river which is starting to wash over hearts of
both islands with more than thirty one hours of rain
expected and are whopping four hundred and fifty mills in
one region over the coming days. So a heavy rain
warning has been issued for Auckland and Northland. Will update
(11:08):
more on that as it comes to hand. Up next,
Doctor Victoria Hatton out of Palmerston, North hadn't spoken to
her since October twenty twenty two. What are the headwinds
facing red meat? She's up next?
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Tell you sound I think you'll loveers.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Next up on the country, Doctor Victoria Hatton, chief executive
of Food HQ, based out of Palmi North. I'm going
to talk about what food oach q does and the
future of meat in a tick. But Victoria, I last
chatted to you in October twenty twenty two when you
were with PwC and we were talking about the future
(11:56):
of farming in twenty thirty five. This is what you
had to say, What is farming going to look like
in New Zealand and twenty thirty five? Give me thirty
seconds on it.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Oh, well, we're going to have technologies. They're going to
come in. We're going to be looking at great mitigation
technologies for our livestock. But more importantly, we're going to
have regenerative farming practices. They're going to be building sustainability
into our mainstream thinking. We're going to have a zero
mindset where we're going to be thinking about innovation and
(12:27):
enterprise within our system. We're going to be measuring, reporting,
reducing emissions on farms, you know, planting and regenerating our
landscape so that they are able to reduce uses that
we want to be able to eat and market.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
So there you go, doctor Victoria ahead and from October
twenty twenty two, now I'm not start by asking this
one Victoria as regenerative farming and net zero mindset so
twenty twenty two, now are we over that.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
We're not? And definitely the world is not. The world
is just building up to it. So I think we
need to actually it sounded really good.
Speaker 6 (13:03):
That clips sounded really good, Jimmy, and I'm still really
believing that.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
By twenty thirty five that's the way that we need
to be heading.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Why the emphasis on regenerative farming.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Because it's good for the soil, it's good for the product,
it's good for community, and it's good for the.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Planet, But is it any good for the economy.
Speaker 6 (13:26):
So what's really interesting is that if you unpack what
regenerative agriculture is, we're already doing it, Okay, we just
don't label it. We have all of the criteria that
meets what other people think of as the generatives. We're
just so stuck in our ways that we refuse to
(13:47):
actually talk about the term, you know, we refuse to
actually acknowledge that that's a term that we can use
because possibly somebody else decided on that term.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Why did you go from PwC to food HQ. I
guess it's a promotion.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
So food HQ is a really good opportunity to create
a think tank for the sector where we're allowed to really.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
Challenge the thinking.
Speaker 6 (14:16):
And some of the articles that we've published over the
last twelve to eighteen months since I've been in my
role actually have just been conversation styllars for conversations that
we're just unlikely to have. If somebody lights food HQ
isn't around to start them.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
You have written that, or food HQ has written that
red meat faces for major headlines change in consumer demand, tic,
China's slow down, TICK, trade protectionism tic TIC, TIC TIC TICK,
and new protein technologies. But people will People always want
to eat a good steak.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
I believe they will, and I think that if you
look at what's happening globally from a consumer perspective, and
Darren mentioned it, the gpl one, a zampique type drug,
the consumer is going to want a really high protein,
high nutrition density piece of meat that they can trust.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
But it will be smaller, all right, So.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
Our two hundred and fifty gram I fill it is
not going to be needed. We're going to be looking
at fifty gram or eighty grand piece of meat so
that they will definitely one hundred percent want it.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Thank God, I'm a boomer. I couldn't. I couldn't face
anything less than two hundred and fifty grams Victoria. But
I guess I'm not. I guess I'm not the target
market in the future. There was another good quote to
come out of some of the research we did on
you and food HQ, and that's this was the quote.
People don't lean back and say, Wow, that steak was
so sustainable. I think it's a good quote.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
Yeah, and it's and they don't. We need them to,
because the image that red meat has is one that's
not terristic. All right.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
So, and there's a film that's about to come out
cold a World without Cows because people don't believe that
we need that life stuck in my system.
Speaker 5 (16:11):
We do. And the value of red meat into our
diet is one hundred percent, like critical and important.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
We need it, right, So we need to demonstrate to
the world that we can have our we can have
our meat and eat or you have our gig in edypt.
But it's produced sustainably, it's produced ethically, it's produced within
the planet's boundaries. That we need in order to have
that net zero mindset, the net zero approach that we
(16:41):
need for twenty fifty twenty.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Sixty, and that's going to be grass feed.
Speaker 6 (16:46):
It's definitely going to be grass fed. It's the most
efficient way of turning something that humans can't consume into
fantastic product.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Jamie, a fascinating glimpse into the future of redmate and farmer.
Doctor Victoria Haddon, chief executive of Food HQ out of
Palmi North. Let's not wait another two and a half
years until we chat again. Thanks for your time. Thanks Jamis,
Thank you, Victoria, Doctor Victoria twenty seven after twelve, you're
with the country. Not everyone enjoyed, Victoria. Someone said, Jamie,
(17:19):
get that work person off your program. We're all about diversity,
inclusion and equity on this show, pal Now thirty thirty
one hours of non stop rain. We eluded? What's that, Michelle?
Oh No, I'm not well we are. I mean we've
(17:39):
got gender balanced. There's you and Jane and me. So
that's two are you and one of me?
Speaker 7 (17:45):
That's true.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Yes, we're all white, middle class. I'm a boom are you?
What are you? Millennials? Millennial alder millennials, make some more
of your feedback. This is on the Atmospheric River thirty
one hours of non stop rain, give me a break,
right's the next Texter. We had five months of NonStop
rain in South and last spring. Yesh, you did have
a brutal spring. But they're talking maybe four hundred and
(18:09):
fifty mills over thirty one hours. That is going to
be an issue. We're going to be talking to Wayne Langford,
president of Federated Farmers on tomorrow's show. He's in Golden
Bay there. That's right in the heart of where the
atmospheric river is going to hit. Here's another one. Why
is the avocado industry in such a slump? We need
(18:30):
a zesprey where you probably do actually zesprey, and I
guess single desk marketer maybe that is the way to go.
Jamie the Prime Minister has no idea about school lunches.
The two school lunches, the two schools I'm involved with.
Get lunches for every child, not just the ones who
need it. This is where the wasters. I agree with you, Texter,
(18:52):
but apparently you can't single out kids who can't be fed.
But people are okay taking benefits that the rest of
us don't get. If you breed them, you feed them.
Fair comment, absolutely fair comment. Just on that. Let me
find this story on the Atmospheric River. An orange heavy
rain warning applies to parts of the South Island from
(19:13):
ten pm tonight. The heaviest weather is expected to hit
areas including Tasman, Marlborough and Buller. By early Friday, rain
will reach most of the North Island, where it will
be welcomed. Met Service sky Lewis Ferriss says Tasman should
expect thirty one hours of rain. Fore Warned is forearmed
up next Racemouth, Director General of MPI. We are talking
(19:44):
to all the big guns today on the country. You've
heard from the Prime Minister. Here's the Director General of MPI, Racesmith,
just back from China where he's been talking trade and
exports and i'd have to say, Ray, the primary sector
just about right across to say that isn't a bit
of a sweet spot at the moment.
Speaker 8 (20:03):
Yeah, JB. Look, we are actually and I think things
that you know, we turned that corner and things are
on the way up. And i'd have to say throughout China,
you know, I got I got a good fuel that
that things are just starting to pick up there and
there's there's a lot more positivity and looking will take
a while to flow through. But it's such a big
(20:24):
market and the number of people in the sort of
middle income area has grown so much that I think
we'll see things pull up strongly. I was quite impressed.
I went to the arrange it a couple of supermarkets over
there and had to look at some of the new
Zealand products that were that were on show, you know,
whether you know the red tivy fruit was dominating there.
But just just to just come into harbor actually that
(20:45):
you know, rocket apples, sulfo and farms had some good
meat products in the Oyster Bay had their wine on show.
Of course, Manuka honey is offers you extremely good prices
and then you've got the sort of anchor and and
a two products and in that very expensive dear velvet
that we export there.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Did the Prime Minister did you tag along with his
trip to India?
Speaker 8 (21:10):
No, I wasn't on the trip to India, but I
know that that was an incredibly successful trade mission. Of course,
a lot of our primary sector leaders were along for that,
and you know, there's just a massive opportunity there. Obviously,
the biggest population in the world and the economy and
middle classes growing and they'll want access to New Zealand products,
and you sort of got of imagine that in the
(21:31):
way that we have grown and developed with the China
market over a period of time, that the same opportunity
presents itself in India.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Now that's the good news. The bad news is a
large part of the North Island anyhow, is in drought.
What's the latest and what support is available through MPI
for those farmers and hopefully with the atmospheric river flowing
above us, we might get a break in the weather
for those farmers.
Speaker 8 (22:00):
Yeah, look, they might be a bit of a reprieve
this week might in there with that deluge that's coming,
but I guess it's not going to be enough to
change the fortunes quickly. Look, we classified Taraniki in February
is bidding and drought and it's been incredibly dry there
in parts of rainfall down to kind of about a
third of what you would normally see this time of
(22:20):
the year. And then last month's Wayketo and Northland Horizons, Marlborough,
Tairsman Nelson regions all went into drought effect as well.
So look we've got we put a bit of money
in there. There's one hundred and fifty thousand dollars made
available to real support groups and though the key sort
of coordinating groups that can get alongside farmers and give
them a hand if they're struggling. But what I'd encourage
(22:42):
farmers who need support to do, especially around the financial
area or feed budgets, is to get along to the
various regional events that are being held at the moment.
Whyketo's got a bunch of dry weather events been run
by the Real Support Trust and Beef and Lamb at
the moment, just to make sure that farmers are kind
of thinking their way through with someone else what they
can and do. And you know a good example of
that was in Taraniki where are you? Nearly three hundred
(23:05):
and seventy farmer families turned up to four dinners supported
by eighteen different rule providers there just to make sure
that people are talking to each other, keeping the spirits
up and thinking about you know, the best way that
they can get their way through. So look, I just
encourage people to get hold of Real Sport Trust. Federated
Farmers will reach out to one of our own farms
Sport people if they're really struggling and not can't quite
(23:27):
see their way forward.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Absolutely, a problem shared is a problem halved. Let's just
finish on the fruit fly and the bird flu as
the bird flu and the rare vision mirror. Now what
about the fruit fly.
Speaker 8 (23:39):
Yeah, look that you know big boot floe operation and
Moiraki down there in Dnedain, and I think they're just
at the end of the cleaning and disinfecting phase. You know,
when you get one of those in a big poultry farm,
it's a big job cleaning out, make sure that virus
is not left behind. But that's going well. On the
fruit fly, the Pepatoi one got closed out and fingers
(24:00):
crossed Jamie by the tenth of April. Next week we
will close out the one on the north shore. And look,
I mean we've cut up nine hundred and fifty kilograms
of fruit. We've searched high and low to see if
we can find any larvae. No further fruit flightes have
turned up. So that's a good sign and really a
big thanks to the community there. Everyday people in that community,
(24:22):
you've done their bit to support the primary sector by
putting their fruit in the right bins and helping us
kind of search for any larvae that might be sitting there,
so looks like it'll end well.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Okay, Ray Smith, Director General of MPI, thanks for your time.
Keep our borders safe.
Speaker 8 (24:37):
Thanks Jamie.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
That is twenty four away from one. You're the Country
playing the Beetles. Four new movies coming out about the Beetles,
each one concentrating on an individual beetle. Looking forward to
that one. Now. When I was telling Michelle, Michelle, I
was telling you, yes, she's nodding that when the Beatles
came here in nineteen sixty four, obviously I was too
(24:59):
young to say see them. But they only played for
half an hour.
Speaker 7 (25:02):
That's insane, isn't it. Concerts now so long.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Yeah, but Bruce Springsteen plays for about three or four hours,
but they played for half an hour. No one could
hear a word because there was teeny boppers screaming and screeching.
But in that half hour they got through a set
of ten or more songs and no Wonder, I Want
to Hold Your Hand two twenty three, Love Me Do,
(25:25):
two eighteen, A Hard Day's Night, two thirty Help just
over two minutes. Those were the days up next. Well,
by the way, we'll update the cricket for you. I'm
not sure we'll get through a four day's play in
Hamilton with the atmospheric River. We'll have a look at
Royal News, Sports news before the end of the hour,
Common mystery Mata out of Fonterra, Great GDT auction overnight
(25:46):
and Hunter McGregor our guy in Chana, Chana. Sorry, I've
got to stop doing that. You bang on twenty away
from one here on the country. We're going to update
(26:10):
the cricket for you in just a tech but here's
the latest and rural and news and an update on
the atmospheric River.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
The country's world news with Cob Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower Bread visit steel Ford dot co
dot in said for your local stockist.
Speaker 7 (26:26):
And yes, Jamie, as you mentioned earlier, some heavy rain
heading for parts of the North and South Island and
some warnings in place. The western regions of the South
Island now lie under heavy rain warnings, with more than
a day of rain to start falling from ten pm tonight.
A heavy rain watch has also been issued for Auckland
eighteen hours from ten pm Thursday. Northland is also under
(26:47):
a watch and Wykato as well from Friday at three
am and the top of the South Island. As much
as four hundred and fifty millimeters expected in Tasmas, so
that could be that's.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
A lot of water. That is a lot of water.
The cricket avoid the atmospheric river.
Speaker 7 (27:02):
It could be interesting looking at the map. It might
do today, tomorrow, it could be interesting, depends on when
it moves over. But forecasters, this is a big one
a warning. There will be a moderate chance of the
current orange warning to be updated to the highest red level,
So keep an eye out there guys if you're in
those areas.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Absolutely sport with AFCO Kiwi to the bone since nineteen
oh four.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Well when we last chatted to you, where we were
ninety odd or eighty odd for two. We've lost our
openers Mario and Kelly in the One Day International in Hamilton.
We've now lost Henry Nichols Darryl Mitchell. We are one
hundred and six for four after nineteen overs. Michael Braswaw
not out two and a bass the new guy he's
(27:45):
not out too as well, so hopefully a bit of
a fight back on the cards there. He's a wee
bit of the Beatles. Just while I find that other
news story, I'm gonna have to flick screens.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
And the other story is the Formula One in Japan
this weekend. Get as close as possible to max for
stup and are those are the orders for new Red
Bull Formula One driver Yuki Sonoda from Team Boss Christian
Horner ahead of his hometown Japanese Grand Prix this weekend? Well,
(28:22):
Ginner and New Zealand? Is I going to watch that
one with interest? Up next? I reckon she sounds like
a Bond girl. I won't say that to her, she
might take it the wrong way. Commel Mystery Meta. Don't
you think that could be a good name for a
Bond girl?
Speaker 7 (28:37):
No comment because Henry might be listening.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Oh Henry, I can't upset Henry Ackland. But anyhow, Commell's
up next. She's one of the head hon shows at Fonterra.
And honestly, this was a great GDT auction overnight. What
does it mean for this season's payout? And what about
Trump and his tariffs? It is Liberation Day tomorrow. That's
up next. Before the end of the hour, Our guy
in Shanghai Anto McGregor, Well, I reckon it was a
(29:07):
really good global Dairy Trade auction last night up one
point one percent. Whole milk powder is still over four
thousand dollars a time. Skim milk powder up nearly six percent.
Tell us more about it, and to tell us what's
going to happen tomorrow with Trump's liberation Day. I'm not
sure about that one, but we'll ask her anyhow. Com
Or mystery meta Fonterra's Chief Innovation and Brand office. So
(29:30):
let's start with the GDT auction, Commal. I think it
was a great result.
Speaker 9 (29:35):
It was absolutely a great result for New Zealand, great
results for our farmers and it was really pleasing to
see so a positive result overnight. And if you just
start with homework Potter, you know, we had a really
strong bid ratio for homework partter, so really good to
see pricing still at the four thousand marked. People are active,
(29:56):
so that's a really good sign.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
And the Chinese were into it, boots and all apparently.
Speaker 9 (30:00):
Yeah, a great a great representation from from from China,
but overall just really good representation and good ratios.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
So whole milk powder just down a tad, Skim milk
powder up five point nine percent. This was off the
back of lower volumes on the platform by you guys.
Speaker 9 (30:18):
Right, yeah, Look, I think the skim milk powder result,
I mean, if I if I zoom out a little bit,
that's the reason why we have the platform, so we
can achieve price discovery. And you know what we saw
play out overnight. We're able to achieve the best result
from a pricing perspective for our farmers. So you're going
to have you know, these dynamics play out. It's the
(30:40):
nature of an option. So it was really really pleasing
to see.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
But you can't withhold product forever.
Speaker 9 (30:46):
Well, look, I think it's I know we've seen the
current dryness of the season and that's kind of yet
to yet to play through. But overall, you know, the
position held, so we should be pleased with that.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Okay, here's the sixty four thousand dollars question. Don't duck
for cover. I know you will. You'll say it's above
your pay grade. Commal, I know you will. But I'm
quoting Mike McIntyre from jardin The Guy I Use. He
says this result gives them plenty of hope of an
improved midpoint as we move into the last few actions
of the season. So we might be ten dollars plus.
Speaker 9 (31:24):
I love I love that you always try, Jamie, but look,
when we have more information around that will be you'll
be the first to know.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Okay, only three auctions to go before the end of
the season, so you could take it from that that
the ten dollars is locked and loaded, though, throw me
a bone.
Speaker 9 (31:44):
No bones to be thrown. But look, overall, I think
we were really pleased, and I think you know, when
you start thinking about the overall Fonterra strategy and the
focus on B to B in particular, you know the
strength and our ingredients business.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
It was.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
It was pleasing to see, and you know we continue
to focus on strengthening that channel as well as our
food service channel and return the maximum value back to
our shareholders.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Actually I need to correct myself. I said only three
more auctions to go before the end of the season.
Of course we're in only in early April, so I
was wrong. There only three more options before we see
the opening milk price of next season. I'm not even
going to ask you about that, Commel, but it will
be strong.
Speaker 5 (32:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (32:28):
Look, I think you know we're happy with things where
things are at now.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
One more question for you to avoid before I bid
you farewell Liberation Day tomorrow. What's the think tank at
Fonterra saying about that, Well.
Speaker 9 (32:42):
I think we'll have to wait and see, you know,
what unfolds tomorrow. But I think that the beauty of
our business is that, you know, we're well diversified when
you kind of think about the markets that we operate,
and you know, the US continues to be an important
market for us, especially when we think about those high
value protein ingredients. So look, we'll wait to see what
(33:03):
Trump has in store.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Good on, You're doing a great job at Fonterra. Thanks
for your time.
Speaker 9 (33:07):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
It is turn away from one. We're going to wrap
the country with our guy in Shanghai, Hunter McGregor, the
ran your Jaga bad Just Our guy in China is
Hunter McGregor, based out of Shanghai, selling venison and red
meat to the Chinese. Now, what are the Chinese thinking
(33:31):
about Liberation Day tomorrow and Trump's tariffs?
Speaker 10 (33:35):
Well, good afternoon, Jamie. China has already got a few
tariffs on, so they're just like the rest of the world.
They're waiting and seeing what's going to happen. Because it's
going to be challenging for some and not challenging for others,
So let's see how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
We've chatted on the show already today to Ray Smith,
Director General of MPI, who was recently in China, and
he said he felt the vibe. These are my words,
not as on the ground, regarding a recovery in the economy.
In the economy, why are you such a pessimist?
Speaker 10 (34:06):
I'm actually I actually go talk to people across a
range of industries all the time, you know, part of
the research I do for the show, Jamie as I
actually get to the pub sometimes and yeah, in a
way to people in different industries.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
It's pretty tough.
Speaker 10 (34:20):
But you know what I'm seeing is, you know, this
time of the year, it's heading into spring. There's a
lot more positivity around because we're coming out of winter.
That's pretty normal. Restaurants are slowly you know, opening up
their balconies and that people are going out from hibernating
from from from winter. But there isn't a massive uptick
in in people going out and spending money and doing
(34:43):
that sort of thing. It's just a normal sort of
seasonal spring thing, you know. And and when to put
it into into perspective. You know, I was talking to
the company that does my logistics, or call stow. They
run a whole weep of call staws around China actually,
and they were saying in in Shanghai they're consolidating and
(35:03):
reducing their footprint of call stores here because what's happened
is that this year, from last year to this year,
they're down sixty percent in deliveries. You know, they're still
servicing the same amount of locations, it's just that there's
not that much pull through from where they're delivering the
restaurants and food service that they delivering. The volume is
(35:24):
significantly down, and that's what I'm hearing all the time.
You know, there's a lot of wishful thinking about Yep,
things are going to get better. As you said, there
might be a bit of a vibe. Hey, look, China's
a pretty cool place and there's lots of things happening,
but the reality is it's still pretty tough on the
ground for a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Talk to me about tom Sweeping Holiday, which is this
Friday in China.
Speaker 10 (35:48):
Yeah, it's a yearly national holiday, and you know, Toms
Sweeping is pretty self explanatory.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
You get.
Speaker 10 (35:53):
You know, traditionally people will go back to their family
terms and clean them up for spring and things like that.
Also what people do is they burn what they call pape.
They could burn paper, money and paper objects and stuff
for their ancestors to have things in the afterlife and
things like that. So what happens you can see it
in the most streets in China. Now they'll start at
(36:15):
night time. People will be out. I'll sort of drawer
sort of a half circle on the on the on
the pavement and burn a few bits and pieces. There's
more and then down south they sort of that they
offer food and things like that. So it's a pretty
important time, you know, just to remember you know people
that have come before you and they do a bit
of a spring clean and things. So we've got Friday
(36:37):
off for me. I will be probably taking my family
to a lovely restaurant enjoying some good New Zealand food.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
When we chatted to you a couple of weeks ago,
you were looking forward to enjoying some good New Zealand food,
new season Kiwi fruit. Have you tried it yet?
Speaker 5 (36:54):
Yes?
Speaker 10 (36:55):
I got my hands on some red kiwi fruit. They
were fantastic, really good, haven't cleaned and clean them out?
Good us a couple more on my fridge at the moment.
But Desprey does very well this time of the year.
You know, all the foods, all the fruit shops, all
the supermarkets, their major sort of stand or the major
sort of promotion is zspre product at the moment. It's fantastic.
(37:16):
And I saw I went to pick out one of
my children from from school the other day yesterday last night,
and one of the local fruit shops there their main
stand by the door was Thisprey, you know, which is great,
you know. And and the interesting thing is that with
all the marketing stuff that thisbre does is that it's
not New Zealand Zesprey, It's just Thisesprey. So you know,
(37:37):
the brands that powerful, that strong. You go in any supermarket,
especially in the major cities, and the major sort of
section of the fruit the focal point is Thisprey Kiwi fruit,
which is fantastic. And looking forward to getting my hands
on some gold and a bit of green ladder, you
know when they are right, so, which is good. And
then we've got apples. You did on fresh apples should
be arriving soon as well, which would be great because
(37:59):
I enjoy a good Kiwi apple as well as.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
You'd expect Hunter a boy straight out of Roxburgh where
they grow great apples as well. Right, that wraps the
country for today. Be aware of the atmospheric river. Check
your favorite weather app or website because there's going to
be a lot of rain in some places. One hundred
and twenty for four at the Cricket.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
Catch you all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist
in John Deere construction equipment
Catch all the latest from the land. It's The Country
Podcast with Jamie McGue thanks to Brent, You're specialist in
John Deere machinery.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I need somebody, not just bad, you know, I need
someone get a new Zealand and Welcome to the Country.
It's brought to you by Branton Jamie mccainney. This is
the Beatles. Some new movies coming out on the Beatles
(00:33):
and they've decided who are going to be the four
main actors. Four movies. Interesting right now. I will come
back to that one, but we're going to kick it
off with the Prime Minister. Earlier this morning I caught
up with them. We're all waiting to see what happens
tomorrow with Liberation Day in the US. Trump's tariffs what
it might mean for us, We're going to catch up
(00:54):
with We're heading to Palmerston North to talk to doctor
Victoria Hatton, chief executive of Food HQ Innovation Limited. Last
chatted tour in October twenty twenty two. I wonder what's
changed for the outlook of farming since we last chatted.
Ray Smith, all the big guns are on the show today.
He is a Director General of MPI. Just back from China.
(01:16):
Talking about China. We will be chatting to Hunter McGregor,
our guy there a bit later in the hour, and
a really good global dairy trade auction overnight for Fonterra
or for the dairy industry right across the board. Will
tell you all about that with commel Mystery Meta, what
an exotic sounding name that is? And commalas Fonterra's Chief
(01:37):
Innovation of or Chief Innovation and Brand Officer. Everyone at
Fonterra's got a good title. Plus will update what's happening
with rural news and sports news. And of course we
can't forget the atmospheric river. Will it be a drought breaker?
All that before the end of the hour On the Country.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Jeez.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Tell Wednesday's On the Country. The Prime Minister kicks off
the show tomorrow. Our time is Liberation Day. What did
Trump's tariffs potentially hold for New Zealand? Christopher Luxe And
I heard the Hosks say earlier this morning twenty percent.
And then you get on the phone to the don
and try and cut a deal.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Well, look, I mean the first thing I'd say is
that our trade with the US is pretty balanced and complementary,
you know, we're not an overall contributor to the US deficit.
OK deficit. Well, I think's really important as everybody just
needs to stay super super calm, take a very pragmatic approach,
intelligent approach. That's what we've been doing. There's going to
distinguish between the general noise and then actually what's going
(02:56):
to be implemented. And the reality is nobody really knows.
And we're looking at reports yesterday, it's going to be
on all countries. No, it's just going to be on
fifteen targeted specific countries. Are they going to be exemptions?
So how much will they be?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
So?
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Look, the bottom line is New Zealand's relatively well positioned
compared to other countries in the world for two reasons.
One is that we've done the very best weekend to
build good relationships with a new administration. We had Winston
Peters in Washington recently with Rubil and Waltz. We've had
McLay engaging with trade representative Career recently, and we've had
our officials and with their officials for a couple of
(03:32):
months now just making the case constantly for New Zealand And.
So that's one part, but the second part Jamie, I
had to say to you, is that, you know, even
S and P I think it was. It's acknowledged that
New Zealand's relatively well placed in position because a lot
of the products that we sell the world. You think
about all the great food and beverage we're selling the world,
they are a huge demand across the world. There's eight
(03:52):
billion people out there. We're a country are five million people.
There is demand for our products and that's why we're
driving hard into other growth areas like in dear light Vietnam,
like UAE, like GCC. So you know, we'll we'll deal
with it, but we need to need to call calm
heads as we work our way through it.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Zespri you were at a zespre function last night. Zesprey
products now reaching one hundred million households worldwide.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Yeah, pretty impressive. I mean, I'm really proud of Espre
because you know, I know when if overseas, and I
have been actually for years, even before politics, I would
spend a lot of time with the guys when I
was at the New Zealand as well, and they've just
done a really good job of just they are ambitious,
They've got aspiration and ambition they've got. You know that
they really represent us well overseas. They understand their markets
(04:40):
very well, and when you see them in Japan and China,
they do an exceptional job. But you know that we
were celebrating the milestone of just hitting one hundred million
households that are buying zespri heavy fruit around the world.
I mean, that's pretty phenomenal. You think that's probably what
you know, one to two million households, million households in
New Zealand. That just since the relative size of the
(05:01):
job that are doing. And they've now built a four
billion dollar keew we fruit industry. It's you and it's
high margin, creating good jobs and money back into the economy.
So it's exactly the stuff that we're trying to achieve
as we double the value of our exports.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
They are a great.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Exempler of that. So bring on two hundred million households,
I say. But the good news is are off to
a great start this year as an industry. They're actually
pumping and doing better than they said last year, which
was a record year for two more challenging years before that.
Then you've got the red meat guy saying there's an
extra one point two billion at the table. You've got
water price that pilan has been for eighty years ut
lest it's recovering sharing prices. And then you've got a
(05:36):
good outlook and dairy. So it really is once again,
as I've always said, primary industry is most important industry,
and Zack finding the economy leading us out of recession.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
I agree with everything you say. You might want to
do your homework on the wall. It's not quite as
that flash. But anyhow so does that mean the economy's
turning the corner?
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Well, I mean you saw the GDP numbers in Q four.
They were for the first time positive at zero point
seven percent for the quarter. You know that means just
under one percent economic growth for that quarter, that thirteen
week period. As I said before, you've got a good
outlook sitting in agriculture and the growing sector. You've got
tourism now up twenty three percent for the year. We've
got manufacturing for the first time up two point six percent.
(06:16):
So it's sort of like a two speed thing at
the moment. I definitely think we've turned the corner. Like
it's been tough, I get it, it's still tough for
some folk, but for some folk in some sectors. It's
starting to turn relatively quickly. Now you've got average interest
rates that have fallen I think for three months when
I've been going up for thirty eight months previously, you've
had four ocr cuts, you've got inflation down below in
(06:37):
the band, and you've got I think the most important
thing for working New Zealand is, frankly, Jamie, is that
you've got wages now have risen faster than inflation for
five quarters the whole time that we've been in government,
and it wasn't the case for the previous thirteen quarters.
So look, it's been tough, no doubt about it. It's been
equal to the recession of nineteen ninety one. It's now
we've pippen in the corner and we've got to trust
(06:58):
the plan and the plan will get us to a place.
And now the question is the exciting workers. We don't
just want to watch a recovery take place. We actually
want to be able to see us build out and
transform the place so that we actually set the joint
up for great success in the future and realizing that potential.
So you know, that's why we're going hammer and tongs
in there and GCC and UAE and all that sort
(07:19):
of stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
The most worrying number in the last twenty four hours
for me was that a third of the people POLD
think it's the government's job to supply as school lunch.
Where are we going wrong as a country.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, I think we're trying to get this notion of
rocks and responsibilities into back into New Zealand again, and
we're doing that through benefit obligations and unruling tenants and
state houses and all that sort of stuff. But equally,
you know, the bottom line is if you can afford
to make a lunch for your kid and send them
off to school with the lunch, you should do that.
That is your job as a parent period. What we
(07:52):
have is we have a free school lunch program genuinely
for those kids that are vulnerable, that are coming from
low income homes for a number of reasons that come
to school without lunch. Is important because all the evidence
is if they don't have food, they're highly distracted and
they're not going to learn. If they don't learn, we're
not seeing them up for success and being able to
take opportunities that come there come come our way. So
(08:14):
you know, you know my ask as I keept saying
to you know, you and I spoke about a few
weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
They said to you.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
At the time, mu might sandwich and apple. You know,
parents can be that, if they can, they should and
what we should be left with as the kids genuinely
need a school lunch, you know, And that's the deal,
that's the contract. The taxpayer is paying for it to
help and support people who need help genuinely, so not
to subsidize or support middle class folks who can afford
(08:40):
to make their own lunches really quickly.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
To finish on Tamotha, Paul, Benjamin Doyle, Debbie and rah
Wary at A's a party Mary, are they the coalition
government's greatest assets? It's just are they the gift that
keeps on giving?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Well, I mean it's just like it's just to be
on a socide show. I mean, I'm really frankly focused
on what I've got to do as Prime Minister of
New Zealand. Is the New Zealand public want me to
get on and get the economy growing, restore law in
order to sort our education and healthcare. And you know,
to be honest, that's what I'm focused on and there
are all issues for the leadership of those respective parties
(09:14):
to step up and actually, you know, take responsibility for
their own caucuses and their behavior. But from my point
of view, that's a sideshow. I've got a I've been
elected to do a job and I've got to its
head down, tail up until twenty twenty six. Okay, that's
forul Way support us again.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, Well, Winston and Seymour are a walk in the park.
Poor old Chris Hepkins. I'm feeling sorry for him, Prime Minister,
thanks for your.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Time, great cool ja the way you take care.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yes, something we prepared a wee bit earlier this morning.
He might be getting some help from the likes of Tamotha,
Benjamin Debbie and Raweri. What a rebel that lot. Anyhow,
the Beatles four films apparently one focusing on each of
the members of the Beatles. Very interesting looking forward to
(10:01):
that one. Sam Mendes is the director of that one.
Now sporting Action today and I'm a bit worried about
what effect the atmospheric river will have on this In
seven Park Hamilton are the one day in New Zeala
or Pakistan put New Zealand at THEO Bat we're ninety
five for two, Henry Nichols not out nineteen, Darryl Mitchell
(10:22):
not out fifteen. I think they're both debutants, the opening debutants,
the opening batsman, Mario and Kelly out for eighteen and
thirty one, respectively. But you would have to think, just
looking at the forecast, we might struggle to get through
that full day of cricket in Hamilton because on the
Herald website I was reading heavy rain warnings about this
(10:46):
atmospheric river which is starting to wash over hearts of
both islands with more than thirty one hours of rain
expected and are whopping four hundred and fifty mills in
one region over the coming days. So a heavy rain
warning has been issued for Auckland and Northland. Will update
(11:08):
more on that as it comes to hand. Up next,
Doctor Victoria Hatton out of Palmerston, North hadn't spoken to
her since October twenty twenty two. What are the headwinds
facing red meat? She's up next?
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Tell you sound I think you'll loveers.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Next up on the country, Doctor Victoria Hatton, chief executive
of Food HQ, based out of Palmi North. I'm going
to talk about what food oach q does and the
future of meat in a tick. But Victoria, I last
chatted to you in October twenty twenty two when you
were with PwC and we were talking about the future
(11:56):
of farming in twenty thirty five. This is what you
had to say, What is farming going to look like
in New Zealand and twenty thirty five? Give me thirty
seconds on it.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Oh, well, we're going to have technologies. They're going to
come in. We're going to be looking at great mitigation
technologies for our livestock. But more importantly, we're going to
have regenerative farming practices. They're going to be building sustainability
into our mainstream thinking. We're going to have a zero
mindset where we're going to be thinking about innovation and
(12:27):
enterprise within our system. We're going to be measuring, reporting,
reducing emissions on farms, you know, planting and regenerating our
landscape so that they are able to reduce uses that
we want to be able to eat and market.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
So there you go, doctor Victoria ahead and from October
twenty twenty two, now I'm not start by asking this
one Victoria as regenerative farming and net zero mindset so
twenty twenty two, now are we over that.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
We're not? And definitely the world is not. The world
is just building up to it. So I think we
need to actually it sounded really good.
Speaker 6 (13:03):
That clips sounded really good, Jimmy, and I'm still really
believing that.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
By twenty thirty five that's the way that we need
to be heading.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Why the emphasis on regenerative farming.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Because it's good for the soil, it's good for the product,
it's good for community, and it's good for the.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Planet, But is it any good for the economy.
Speaker 6 (13:26):
So what's really interesting is that if you unpack what
regenerative agriculture is, we're already doing it, Okay, we just
don't label it. We have all of the criteria that
meets what other people think of as the generatives. We're
just so stuck in our ways that we refuse to
(13:47):
actually talk about the term, you know, we refuse to
actually acknowledge that that's a term that we can use
because possibly somebody else decided on that term.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Why did you go from PwC to food HQ. I
guess it's a promotion.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
So food HQ is a really good opportunity to create
a think tank for the sector where we're allowed to really.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
Challenge the thinking.
Speaker 6 (14:16):
And some of the articles that we've published over the
last twelve to eighteen months since I've been in my
role actually have just been conversation styllars for conversations that
we're just unlikely to have. If somebody lights food HQ
isn't around to start them.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
You have written that, or food HQ has written that
red meat faces for major headlines change in consumer demand, tic,
China's slow down, TICK, trade protectionism tic TIC, TIC TIC TICK,
and new protein technologies. But people will People always want
to eat a good steak.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
I believe they will, and I think that if you
look at what's happening globally from a consumer perspective, and
Darren mentioned it, the gpl one, a zampique type drug,
the consumer is going to want a really high protein,
high nutrition density piece of meat that they can trust.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
But it will be smaller, all right, So.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
Our two hundred and fifty gram I fill it is
not going to be needed. We're going to be looking
at fifty gram or eighty grand piece of meat so
that they will definitely one hundred percent want it.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Thank God, I'm a boomer. I couldn't. I couldn't face
anything less than two hundred and fifty grams Victoria. But
I guess I'm not. I guess I'm not the target
market in the future. There was another good quote to
come out of some of the research we did on
you and food HQ, and that's this was the quote.
People don't lean back and say, Wow, that steak was
so sustainable. I think it's a good quote.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
Yeah, and it's and they don't. We need them to,
because the image that red meat has is one that's
not terristic. All right.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
So, and there's a film that's about to come out
cold a World without Cows because people don't believe that
we need that life stuck in my system.
Speaker 5 (16:11):
We do. And the value of red meat into our
diet is one hundred percent, like critical and important.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
We need it, right, So we need to demonstrate to
the world that we can have our we can have
our meat and eat or you have our gig in edypt.
But it's produced sustainably, it's produced ethically, it's produced within
the planet's boundaries. That we need in order to have
that net zero mindset, the net zero approach that we
(16:41):
need for twenty fifty twenty.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Sixty, and that's going to be grass feed.
Speaker 6 (16:46):
It's definitely going to be grass fed. It's the most
efficient way of turning something that humans can't consume into
fantastic product.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
Jamie, a fascinating glimpse into the future of redmate and farmer.
Doctor Victoria Haddon, chief executive of Food HQ out of
Palmi North. Let's not wait another two and a half
years until we chat again. Thanks for your time. Thanks Jamis,
Thank you, Victoria, Doctor Victoria twenty seven after twelve, you're
with the country. Not everyone enjoyed, Victoria. Someone said, Jamie,
(17:19):
get that work person off your program. We're all about diversity,
inclusion and equity on this show, pal Now thirty thirty
one hours of non stop rain. We eluded? What's that, Michelle?
Oh No, I'm not well we are. I mean we've
(17:39):
got gender balanced. There's you and Jane and me. So
that's two are you and one of me?
Speaker 7 (17:45):
That's true.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Yes, we're all white, middle class. I'm a boom are you?
What are you? Millennials? Millennial alder millennials, make some more
of your feedback. This is on the Atmospheric River thirty
one hours of non stop rain, give me a break,
right's the next Texter. We had five months of NonStop
rain in South and last spring. Yesh, you did have
a brutal spring. But they're talking maybe four hundred and
(18:09):
fifty mills over thirty one hours. That is going to
be an issue. We're going to be talking to Wayne Langford,
president of Federated Farmers on tomorrow's show. He's in Golden
Bay there. That's right in the heart of where the
atmospheric river is going to hit. Here's another one. Why
is the avocado industry in such a slump? We need
(18:30):
a zesprey where you probably do actually zesprey, and I
guess single desk marketer maybe that is the way to go.
Jamie the Prime Minister has no idea about school lunches.
The two school lunches, the two schools I'm involved with.
Get lunches for every child, not just the ones who
need it. This is where the wasters. I agree with you, Texter,
(18:52):
but apparently you can't single out kids who can't be fed.
But people are okay taking benefits that the rest of
us don't get. If you breed them, you feed them.
Fair comment, absolutely fair comment. Just on that. Let me
find this story on the Atmospheric River. An orange heavy
rain warning applies to parts of the South Island from
(19:13):
ten pm tonight. The heaviest weather is expected to hit
areas including Tasman, Marlborough and Buller. By early Friday, rain
will reach most of the North Island, where it will
be welcomed. Met Service sky Lewis Ferriss says Tasman should
expect thirty one hours of rain. Fore Warned is forearmed
up next Racemouth, Director General of MPI. We are talking
(19:44):
to all the big guns today on the country. You've
heard from the Prime Minister. Here's the Director General of MPI, Racesmith,
just back from China where he's been talking trade and
exports and i'd have to say, Ray, the primary sector
just about right across to say that isn't a bit
of a sweet spot at the moment.
Speaker 8 (20:03):
Yeah, JB. Look, we are actually and I think things
that you know, we turned that corner and things are
on the way up. And i'd have to say throughout China,
you know, I got I got a good fuel that
that things are just starting to pick up there and
there's there's a lot more positivity and looking will take
a while to flow through. But it's such a big
(20:24):
market and the number of people in the sort of
middle income area has grown so much that I think
we'll see things pull up strongly. I was quite impressed.
I went to the arrange it a couple of supermarkets over
there and had to look at some of the new
Zealand products that were that were on show, you know,
whether you know the red tivy fruit was dominating there.
But just just to just come into harbor actually that
(20:45):
you know, rocket apples, sulfo and farms had some good
meat products in the Oyster Bay had their wine on show.
Of course, Manuka honey is offers you extremely good prices
and then you've got the sort of anchor and and
a two products and in that very expensive dear velvet
that we export there.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Did the Prime Minister did you tag along with his
trip to India?
Speaker 8 (21:10):
No, I wasn't on the trip to India, but I
know that that was an incredibly successful trade mission. Of course,
a lot of our primary sector leaders were along for that,
and you know, there's just a massive opportunity there. Obviously,
the biggest population in the world and the economy and
middle classes growing and they'll want access to New Zealand products,
and you sort of got of imagine that in the
(21:31):
way that we have grown and developed with the China
market over a period of time, that the same opportunity
presents itself in India.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Now that's the good news. The bad news is a
large part of the North Island anyhow, is in drought.
What's the latest and what support is available through MPI
for those farmers and hopefully with the atmospheric river flowing
above us, we might get a break in the weather
for those farmers.
Speaker 8 (22:00):
Yeah, look, they might be a bit of a reprieve
this week might in there with that deluge that's coming,
but I guess it's not going to be enough to
change the fortunes quickly. Look, we classified Taraniki in February
is bidding and drought and it's been incredibly dry there
in parts of rainfall down to kind of about a
third of what you would normally see this time of
(22:20):
the year. And then last month's Wayketo and Northland Horizons, Marlborough,
Tairsman Nelson regions all went into drought effect as well.
So look we've got we put a bit of money
in there. There's one hundred and fifty thousand dollars made
available to real support groups and though the key sort
of coordinating groups that can get alongside farmers and give
them a hand if they're struggling. But what I'd encourage
(22:42):
farmers who need support to do, especially around the financial
area or feed budgets, is to get along to the
various regional events that are being held at the moment.
Whyketo's got a bunch of dry weather events been run
by the Real Support Trust and Beef and Lamb at
the moment, just to make sure that farmers are kind
of thinking their way through with someone else what they
can and do. And you know a good example of
that was in Taraniki where are you? Nearly three hundred
(23:05):
and seventy farmer families turned up to four dinners supported
by eighteen different rule providers there just to make sure
that people are talking to each other, keeping the spirits
up and thinking about you know, the best way that
they can get their way through. So look, I just
encourage people to get hold of Real Sport Trust. Federated
Farmers will reach out to one of our own farms
Sport people if they're really struggling and not can't quite
(23:27):
see their way forward.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Absolutely, a problem shared is a problem halved. Let's just
finish on the fruit fly and the bird flu as
the bird flu and the rare vision mirror. Now what
about the fruit fly.
Speaker 8 (23:39):
Yeah, look that you know big boot floe operation and
Moiraki down there in Dnedain, and I think they're just
at the end of the cleaning and disinfecting phase. You know,
when you get one of those in a big poultry farm,
it's a big job cleaning out, make sure that virus
is not left behind. But that's going well. On the
fruit fly, the Pepatoi one got closed out and fingers
(24:00):
crossed Jamie by the tenth of April. Next week we
will close out the one on the north shore. And look,
I mean we've cut up nine hundred and fifty kilograms
of fruit. We've searched high and low to see if
we can find any larvae. No further fruit flightes have
turned up. So that's a good sign and really a
big thanks to the community there. Everyday people in that community,
(24:22):
you've done their bit to support the primary sector by
putting their fruit in the right bins and helping us
kind of search for any larvae that might be sitting there,
so looks like it'll end well.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Okay, Ray Smith, Director General of MPI, thanks for your time.
Keep our borders safe.
Speaker 8 (24:37):
Thanks Jamie.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
That is twenty four away from one. You're the Country
playing the Beetles. Four new movies coming out about the Beetles,
each one concentrating on an individual beetle. Looking forward to
that one. Now. When I was telling Michelle, Michelle, I
was telling you, yes, she's nodding that when the Beatles
came here in nineteen sixty four, obviously I was too
(24:59):
young to say see them. But they only played for
half an hour.
Speaker 7 (25:02):
That's insane, isn't it. Concerts now so long.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Yeah, but Bruce Springsteen plays for about three or four hours,
but they played for half an hour. No one could
hear a word because there was teeny boppers screaming and screeching.
But in that half hour they got through a set
of ten or more songs and no Wonder, I Want
to Hold Your Hand two twenty three, Love Me Do,
(25:25):
two eighteen, A Hard Day's Night, two thirty Help just
over two minutes. Those were the days up next. Well,
by the way, we'll update the cricket for you. I'm
not sure we'll get through a four day's play in
Hamilton with the atmospheric River. We'll have a look at
Royal News, Sports news before the end of the hour,
Common mystery Mata out of Fonterra, Great GDT auction overnight
(25:46):
and Hunter McGregor our guy in Chana, Chana. Sorry, I've
got to stop doing that. You bang on twenty away
from one here on the country. We're going to update
(26:10):
the cricket for you in just a tech but here's
the latest and rural and news and an update on
the atmospheric River.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
The country's world news with Cob Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower Bread visit steel Ford dot co
dot in said for your local stockist.
Speaker 7 (26:26):
And yes, Jamie, as you mentioned earlier, some heavy rain
heading for parts of the North and South Island and
some warnings in place. The western regions of the South
Island now lie under heavy rain warnings, with more than
a day of rain to start falling from ten pm tonight.
A heavy rain watch has also been issued for Auckland
eighteen hours from ten pm Thursday. Northland is also under
(26:47):
a watch and Wykato as well from Friday at three
am and the top of the South Island. As much
as four hundred and fifty millimeters expected in Tasmas, so
that could be that's.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
A lot of water. That is a lot of water.
The cricket avoid the atmospheric river.
Speaker 7 (27:02):
It could be interesting looking at the map. It might
do today, tomorrow, it could be interesting, depends on when
it moves over. But forecasters, this is a big one
a warning. There will be a moderate chance of the
current orange warning to be updated to the highest red level,
So keep an eye out there guys if you're in
those areas.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Absolutely sport with AFCO Kiwi to the bone since nineteen
oh four.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Well when we last chatted to you, where we were
ninety odd or eighty odd for two. We've lost our
openers Mario and Kelly in the One Day International in Hamilton.
We've now lost Henry Nichols Darryl Mitchell. We are one
hundred and six for four after nineteen overs. Michael Braswaw
not out two and a bass the new guy he's
(27:45):
not out too as well, so hopefully a bit of
a fight back on the cards there. He's a wee
bit of the Beatles. Just while I find that other
news story, I'm gonna have to flick screens.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
And the other story is the Formula One in Japan
this weekend. Get as close as possible to max for
stup and are those are the orders for new Red
Bull Formula One driver Yuki Sonoda from Team Boss Christian
Horner ahead of his hometown Japanese Grand Prix this weekend? Well,
(28:22):
Ginner and New Zealand? Is I going to watch that
one with interest? Up next? I reckon she sounds like
a Bond girl. I won't say that to her, she
might take it the wrong way. Commel Mystery Meta. Don't
you think that could be a good name for a
Bond girl?
Speaker 7 (28:37):
No comment because Henry might be listening.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Oh Henry, I can't upset Henry Ackland. But anyhow, Commell's
up next. She's one of the head hon shows at Fonterra.
And honestly, this was a great GDT auction overnight. What
does it mean for this season's payout? And what about
Trump and his tariffs? It is Liberation Day tomorrow. That's
up next. Before the end of the hour, Our guy
in Shanghai Anto McGregor, Well, I reckon it was a
(29:07):
really good global Dairy Trade auction last night up one
point one percent. Whole milk powder is still over four
thousand dollars a time. Skim milk powder up nearly six percent.
Tell us more about it, and to tell us what's
going to happen tomorrow with Trump's liberation Day. I'm not
sure about that one, but we'll ask her anyhow. Com
Or mystery meta Fonterra's Chief Innovation and Brand office. So
(29:30):
let's start with the GDT auction, Commal. I think it
was a great result.
Speaker 9 (29:35):
It was absolutely a great result for New Zealand, great
results for our farmers and it was really pleasing to
see so a positive result overnight. And if you just
start with homework Potter, you know, we had a really
strong bid ratio for homework partter, so really good to
see pricing still at the four thousand marked. People are active,
(29:56):
so that's a really good sign.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
And the Chinese were into it, boots and all apparently.
Speaker 9 (30:00):
Yeah, a great a great representation from from from China,
but overall just really good representation and good ratios.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
So whole milk powder just down a tad, Skim milk
powder up five point nine percent. This was off the
back of lower volumes on the platform by you guys.
Speaker 9 (30:18):
Right, yeah, Look, I think the skim milk powder result,
I mean, if I if I zoom out a little bit,
that's the reason why we have the platform, so we
can achieve price discovery. And you know what we saw
play out overnight. We're able to achieve the best result
from a pricing perspective for our farmers. So you're going
to have you know, these dynamics play out. It's the
(30:40):
nature of an option. So it was really really pleasing
to see.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
But you can't withhold product forever.
Speaker 9 (30:46):
Well, look, I think it's I know we've seen the
current dryness of the season and that's kind of yet
to yet to play through. But overall, you know, the
position held, so we should be pleased with that.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Okay, here's the sixty four thousand dollars question. Don't duck
for cover. I know you will. You'll say it's above
your pay grade. Commal, I know you will. But I'm
quoting Mike McIntyre from jardin The Guy I Use. He
says this result gives them plenty of hope of an
improved midpoint as we move into the last few actions
of the season. So we might be ten dollars plus.
Speaker 9 (31:24):
I love I love that you always try, Jamie, but look,
when we have more information around that will be you'll
be the first to know.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Okay, only three auctions to go before the end of
the season, so you could take it from that that
the ten dollars is locked and loaded, though, throw me
a bone.
Speaker 9 (31:44):
No bones to be thrown. But look, overall, I think
we were really pleased, and I think you know, when
you start thinking about the overall Fonterra strategy and the
focus on B to B in particular, you know the
strength and our ingredients business.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
It was.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
It was pleasing to see, and you know we continue
to focus on strengthening that channel as well as our
food service channel and return the maximum value back to
our shareholders.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Actually I need to correct myself. I said only three
more auctions to go before the end of the season.
Of course we're in only in early April, so I
was wrong. There only three more options before we see
the opening milk price of next season. I'm not even
going to ask you about that, Commel, but it will
be strong.
Speaker 5 (32:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (32:28):
Look, I think you know we're happy with things where
things are at now.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
One more question for you to avoid before I bid
you farewell Liberation Day tomorrow. What's the think tank at
Fonterra saying about that, Well.
Speaker 9 (32:42):
I think we'll have to wait and see, you know,
what unfolds tomorrow. But I think that the beauty of
our business is that, you know, we're well diversified when
you kind of think about the markets that we operate,
and you know, the US continues to be an important
market for us, especially when we think about those high
value protein ingredients. So look, we'll wait to see what
(33:03):
Trump has in store.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Good on, You're doing a great job at Fonterra. Thanks
for your time.
Speaker 9 (33:07):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
It is turn away from one. We're going to wrap
the country with our guy in Shanghai, Hunter McGregor, the
ran your Jaga bad Just Our guy in China is
Hunter McGregor, based out of Shanghai, selling venison and red
meat to the Chinese. Now, what are the Chinese thinking
(33:31):
about Liberation Day tomorrow and Trump's tariffs?
Speaker 10 (33:35):
Well, good afternoon, Jamie. China has already got a few
tariffs on, so they're just like the rest of the world.
They're waiting and seeing what's going to happen. Because it's
going to be challenging for some and not challenging for others,
So let's see how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
We've chatted on the show already today to Ray Smith,
Director General of MPI, who was recently in China, and
he said he felt the vibe. These are my words,
not as on the ground, regarding a recovery in the economy.
In the economy, why are you such a pessimist?
Speaker 10 (34:06):
I'm actually I actually go talk to people across a
range of industries all the time, you know, part of
the research I do for the show, Jamie as I
actually get to the pub sometimes and yeah, in a
way to people in different industries.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
It's pretty tough.
Speaker 10 (34:20):
But you know what I'm seeing is, you know, this
time of the year, it's heading into spring. There's a
lot more positivity around because we're coming out of winter.
That's pretty normal. Restaurants are slowly you know, opening up
their balconies and that people are going out from hibernating
from from from winter. But there isn't a massive uptick
in in people going out and spending money and doing
(34:43):
that sort of thing. It's just a normal sort of
seasonal spring thing, you know. And and when to put
it into into perspective. You know, I was talking to
the company that does my logistics, or call stow. They
run a whole weep of call staws around China actually,
and they were saying in in Shanghai they're consolidating and
(35:03):
reducing their footprint of call stores here because what's happened
is that this year, from last year to this year,
they're down sixty percent in deliveries. You know, they're still
servicing the same amount of locations, it's just that there's
not that much pull through from where they're delivering the
restaurants and food service that they delivering. The volume is
(35:24):
significantly down, and that's what I'm hearing all the time.
You know, there's a lot of wishful thinking about Yep,
things are going to get better. As you said, there
might be a bit of a vibe. Hey, look, China's
a pretty cool place and there's lots of things happening,
but the reality is it's still pretty tough on the
ground for a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
Talk to me about tom Sweeping Holiday, which is this
Friday in China.
Speaker 10 (35:48):
Yeah, it's a yearly national holiday, and you know, Toms
Sweeping is pretty self explanatory.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
You get.
Speaker 10 (35:53):
You know, traditionally people will go back to their family
terms and clean them up for spring and things like that.
Also what people do is they burn what they call pape.
They could burn paper, money and paper objects and stuff
for their ancestors to have things in the afterlife and
things like that. So what happens you can see it
in the most streets in China. Now they'll start at
(36:15):
night time. People will be out. I'll sort of drawer
sort of a half circle on the on the on
the pavement and burn a few bits and pieces. There's
more and then down south they sort of that they
offer food and things like that. So it's a pretty
important time, you know, just to remember you know people
that have come before you and they do a bit
of a spring clean and things. So we've got Friday
(36:37):
off for me. I will be probably taking my family
to a lovely restaurant enjoying some good New Zealand food.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
When we chatted to you a couple of weeks ago,
you were looking forward to enjoying some good New Zealand food,
new season Kiwi fruit. Have you tried it yet?
Speaker 5 (36:54):
Yes?
Speaker 10 (36:55):
I got my hands on some red kiwi fruit. They
were fantastic, really good, haven't cleaned and clean them out?
Good us a couple more on my fridge at the moment.
But Desprey does very well this time of the year.
You know, all the foods, all the fruit shops, all
the supermarkets, their major sort of stand or the major
sort of promotion is zspre product at the moment. It's fantastic.
(37:16):
And I saw I went to pick out one of
my children from from school the other day yesterday last night,
and one of the local fruit shops there their main
stand by the door was Thisprey, you know, which is great,
you know. And and the interesting thing is that with
all the marketing stuff that thisbre does is that it's
not New Zealand Zesprey, It's just Thisesprey. So you know,
(37:37):
the brands that powerful, that strong. You go in any supermarket,
especially in the major cities, and the major sort of
section of the fruit the focal point is Thisprey Kiwi fruit,
which is fantastic. And looking forward to getting my hands
on some gold and a bit of green ladder, you
know when they are right, so, which is good. And
then we've got apples. You did on fresh apples should
be arriving soon as well, which would be great because
(37:59):
I enjoy a good Kiwi apple as well as.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
You'd expect Hunter a boy straight out of Roxburgh where
they grow great apples as well. Right, that wraps the
country for today. Be aware of the atmospheric river. Check
your favorite weather app or website because there's going to
be a lot of rain in some places. One hundred
and twenty for four at the Cricket.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
Catch you all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist
in John Deere construction equipment
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