April 28, 2025 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Shane Jones, Andrew Hoggard, Stephen Jacobi, and Farmer Tom Martin.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay thanks to Brent, the starkest of
the leading agriculture brands.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good afternoon, New Zealand. My name's Jamie McKay. This is
the Country. It's brought to you by Brandt. But a
dire straits today, Michelle's thrown in there. I guess that's
an apt description for our economy. Yes, pre budget the
speech this morning from Finance Minister Nichola willis the economy
(00:51):
certainly is in dire straits. We are slashing billions from
our operating or operation spending. More about that with our
first guest. Who's going to kick off the show, Shane Jones,
the Mighty Martua, the Prince of the Provinces. Once again,
Hosking has cut my lunch. Andrew Hoggard is the Minister
for Biosecurity. He's in Ashburton today and he's going to
(01:15):
speak to the operational agreement for Foot and Mouth disease.
So it seeks to ensure we're prepared as possible for
a potential outbreak Heaven help us, but perhaps even equally
as importantly, how we're going to fund it and we've
got no money, Andrew Hoggard on that one. Today's keynote
interview will be Stephen Jacobi. I was going to kick
(01:36):
the show off with him, but I've had to get
Martua Jane Shane should I say to take that spot
because he's at the dog groomers apparently now he's this
month's Global Markets Inside Interview courtesy of silver Fern Farms.
This is the guy who's the expert in international trade.
We're going to dig to the bottom of what Trump's
tariffs actually mean for us in the world economy. And
(01:58):
earlier this morning I caught up with farmer Tom Martin,
our UK correspondent, trouble at mill for farmers in the UK.
You think you've got it tough air, Well we haven't. Really.
We're doing a hell of a lot better than the
Brits when it comes to farming. We'll have the latest
and rural news for you as well with Michelle Sports
News and we have one of those magnificent Kaiwaka jackets
(02:22):
to give away today, the Storm Force Parker worth four
hundred and sixty nine dollars, as worn by Scott Barrett,
All Black's captain, who will be on the show tomorrow.
Looking forward to that one, but there's no show without
punch up next to the mighty Martua. Here's the Prince
(02:58):
of the Provinces, Shane Jones are Shane and Shane You've
got to do me a favor. Hoskin keeps cutting my lunch.
I arranged an interview with you a day or so ago.
This morning I hear you first thing on Hosking, Have
you no shame?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Well? I and my leader, Winston Peters, have a deep
level of affection for your listenership and you in particular. However,
one third of the country's population do live in Auckland,
and a fair swag them do listen to Mike Hoskins,
So you know, needs must What is.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
It about you neiw Zealand First guys, you all call
Hosking Hoskins.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Yeah, it could be a dialectoral thing from us from
the north. Too much pooh and power and Delhi red wine.
I can't fully account of that.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Okay. Now, the reason you were talking to Mike Hoskins
this morning was about co governance and the white tacker
is I thought co governance was sort of so twenty
twenty three we were past that.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah, yeah, you know, we've moved beyond the co governance
FIESCO elevated by n Naya Mahute when she stuck away
to the un and bore all sorts of nefarious things
back into the New Zealand political system. We're not having
any more of that.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
But the Super City.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Council, dominated by labor identities, they have tried to sneak
it through. Unfortunately for them, I was onto it. No
disrespect to the local Huppoo, but look, we're not having
tiny huppou dislodged. The tenets of democracy and the twenty
seven thousand hectares on the outskirts of Auckland is a
dual belonging to all Aucklanders.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Now.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
I don't want to deny any tramper, any runner, any hiker,
and there needs to be some more hunters in therecas
there's a whole lot of feral pigs running around spreading
carry dibec disease. But I do not want to see
any Huppoo overplaying their hand. They're entitled to look after
historic sites and celebrate that part of their heritage hangy
pits and midden heaps and other such things, but not
(04:56):
to topple democracy.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I Shane, you realize that the hunters and the white
kerries and runners along the tracks could end in tears.
I just thought i'd remind you of that one Hey,
pre budget speech, Nicola willis this morning, we're cutting billions
off our operating spending. She's described it as the tightest
budget in a decade, and apparently these numbers that she's
(05:18):
come up with were pre the Trump tariffs. So how
bad of a situation are we in?
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Well?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I think Winston was absolutely correct what he said, let's
not overreact as to where the final results emerge. In
respect of our trading relationship with America, the last shot
has not been fired in that regard. But in terms
of our own economy, sadly, the size of the state
has expanded and our operational burden has grown since COVID,
(05:51):
and we've got to go for grace, which is why
naturally I'm one of the budget ministers working with Nikola.
She has exclusive of authority to talk about the budget.
But we also need to bear in mind those of
us that come from the primary sector, from the regions,
that without economic growth, without the regional powerhouses generating export revenue,
(06:14):
we are not going to have the surplus to pay
for these fanciful theory dreams called climate change.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Shane Jones, the Prince of the province is with a
hot topic on this show or yesterday anyhow, was dairy conversions.
Does New Zealand first support more dairy conversions?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Hell, yeah, of course we do.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
What about the environment, Chane, Well, you.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Should trust in science and technology. Science and technology means
that farming is getting smarter, just as coal mining is
getting more sophisticated, just as the gold mining in Otago's
going to generate. Well, stop all us catastrovization and exaggerating
the downsides of economic growth. Without growth, without export revenue,
(06:56):
where is the surplus going to come from to build
the Dunedin Hospital?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I know where you could get some tax revenue, Shane.
This is where you say where Jamie, And where you
could get somemers from Destiny Church you could tax them
or sanitarium.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Well, there are a variety of people who have that
privileged status. I think the most prominent of all is
the Latter who tribe down on the South Island. And
then there are various religious groups. But then a lot
of those groups do a lot of good. For example,
the Anglican Church as the Melanesian Trust, and they do
a tremendous amount of positive things in that part of
(07:36):
the Pacific. So, just just as the Minister of Finance,
Nikola has said, let's take our time and get it right,
because tax can be very obscure and very tricky. Naturally,
I support that more cautious approach that she's initiated.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Here's the question for you, because you're a parochial Northlander,
a bit like Winston to be perfectly us, are you
guys getting sweetheart deals for your home region? This Brian
Durwin thing one dollar in every ten and infrastructure spend
over the next decade or so will be on that road.
Why don't we just build a road around the side
(08:15):
of the Briandeuans.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
No, the road that you're referring to is going to
stretch from Warkworth up to far At eight. Now we
have a subtropical temperate climate. There's about one hundred and
ninety five thousand of us who call home in the
Far North and it's on the outskirts of Auckland. We've
got the largest deep sea port in the country and
we need to open up that part of New Zealand
(08:37):
to more investment, more residential development so people can enjoy
the climate in the north and stop exaggerating that everything
that we're going to develop is never ever going to
generate upside or revenue. This is what's wrong with the
New Zealand. Rather than seeing investments as a positive nation
(08:58):
building exercise, will sort of reduce to an abacus.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I'm just looking out for the blind frogs and the
skinks and the lizards.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Now we're not having any more deification, any more elevation
in some scriptural way of these critics and the bush
overwhelming economic growth or the advancement of our people. We
should respect the owls, the frogs, the swans. Actually, when
I was a kid, I think they used to cut
the breast of the swan out bunch away on it.
(09:27):
I didn't care for it much. They eat too many
flounders where I come from. Anyway.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Hey, Shane Jones, thanks very much for your time on
the Country. Always entertaining. And next time mister Hoskins asks
for an interview, tell him you've already been booked for
the country.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Okay, country first, Hoskin second, Bye.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
He nailed it. Shane, thank you very much for your time,
the Prince of the Provinces. Did I hear him correctly?
Did he say the swans eat the flounders?
Speaker 6 (09:53):
Yeah, I'm not too sure about that story.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Well if you know the answer to that, I didn't
realize swans eat flounders. I know Shane's eating the flounder
or two in his time, But anyhow, always entertaining the
Prince of the Provinces. Now on tomorrow's show, Christoph Luxan
for his weekly slot. I haven't been in the chair
for about a month when he's been on anyhow. Also
(10:17):
Scott Barrett on the show tomorrow, Good Taranaki farm Boy.
He is the ambassador for ky Walker Jackets or Stork.
What are these storm Parkers? They're worth four hundred and
sixty nine dollars Michelle, And we've got one to give
away each day this week?
Speaker 6 (10:36):
Who won yesterday's So yesterday the lucky one I was
Carolyn White, who's done eighty seasons in Taranaki and as
an Egmont village which has since found out sort of
near Inglewood.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Yes, I had well, i'd just had the check where
it was. I knew it was obviously around Mount Egmont,
Mount Taranaki to be more correct. It's just it's sort
of on the way from Inglewood to New Plymouth, sort
of on the north very northwest of slopes of we're
down on the flat a bit from Mount Taranaki. So
well done, well done to Carol and White. Eighty seasons
(11:10):
of farming. That's twenty years. What was their record yesterday,
two hundred and sixty seasons.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
Or something, yeah, something like that. It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
So if you want to win the storm Force jacket,
they're worth for the storm Force Parker to be more correct,
worth four hundred and sixty nine dollars. We've got one
to give away every day this week. All you need
to do is text us here on the country on
five double oh nine. We want to know how many
seasons you've been farming e g. Nine years equals thirty
(11:40):
six seasons. This is because Kaiwaker Clothing is celebrating two
hundred seasons. That's fifty years of protecting Kiwis from the elements.
So to win that Kaiwaker storm Force jacket, worth four
hundred and sixty nine dollars, text the keyword win and
how many seasons you've been farming to five double oh
don't forget to write your name and where you're listening from.
(12:03):
Kaiwalker Storm Force jackets are designed to keep you protected
no matter how much wind, rain, mud, or muck comes
your way. Check them out at Kiwalker Clothing dot com.
There you go from one politician to another. Although he's
also a man or two dairy farmer. Is the drought
over in his neck of the wards? Andrew Hoggard? Next,
(12:24):
he's an ash burden today here that ain't working from there.
He is the Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety Associate
egg as well and a manu or two dairy farmer.
(12:46):
His name is Andrew Hoggard, former president of Federated Farmers.
How many hats has this bloke worn? Andrew? Just before
we discuss what you're up to today? Is the drought
over in the man or two?
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Oh? Very definitely?
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Well?
Speaker 4 (13:00):
In my neck of the woods, it definitely is. We're
getting good recovery and covers a lift and so able
to dial the masback and yeah, the farm's looking healthy again.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
I was in jest talking to some farmers yesterday, dairy farmers,
asking them what they were going to do with all
their money at ten dollars plus.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
I think my wife's managed to spend it already all
for me. We've certainly done a lot of upgrading on
the farm, so all the local engineering shops and others
are well being serviced by all the work for us
for us.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, I think field Days could be good this year
for exhibitors, especially especially with the big ticket items, because
there's a lot of catch up spending and maintenance that
needs to be done.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Oh definitely. Yeah. Look a lot of people were to
hold it, held off on new bits of kit and
other improvements to the farms, So yeah, it'll definitely be
catch up time this year.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
What are you doing in ash Burton today?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
So meeting with Beef and Lamb and they're having a
bit of a meeting local farmers come along. I think
we're talking about the operational agreement around foot and mouth,
amongst any other things that everyone wants to talk about.
You know, I'm sure the conversation will go far and wide,
but primary thing is about the foot and mouth operational
(14:21):
agreement and trying to encourage people to vote in favor
of Beef and Lamb being part of that.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Well, it sets out how a response to foot and
mouth disease. Heaven help us if it ever got here,
I would be funded. The answer is obviously the government's
going to chip in big time because it'll break us
as a nation if we get it. But the farmers
I'm assuming have to pitch in as well.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Yeah. Much similar to well, not similar to a similar
process to microplasma bovus where you have a levy. However,
obviously foot and mouths expected to be potentially much bigger,
so there is caps for each of the sectors. And
I mean in the case of in Mouth, any levey
or levees won't be charged until a year after we
(15:06):
get back into markets, so we'll get trade flowing again,
get money coming back in for a year before any
levees might be applied. But yeah, the government will be
obviously contributing to a large amount. But mainly it's not
so much about the funding. It's mainly about the working
together and who does what, how we communicate, what are
(15:30):
all the moving pieces, and how we put the whole
response together. Because certainly, you know, what I've seen in
the role is we have situations like the recent fruit
fly in Auckland. You know, it was a very well
run process. Everyone knew what they were doing, they knew
weird things had to go up, who was doing what,
(15:50):
and that meant able to get on top of things
much quicker and much easier as opposed to everyone running
around like a bunch of headless chickens. So I think
this is a really key part in New Zealand's biosecurity
strategy is that collaboration between government and industry.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I'm going to come back to headless chickens, but as
the likes of bovus bird flu fruit fly you mentioned
have these they have been good dry runs for foot
and mouth disease.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
It certainly helps you learn. The more experiences you get,
even though you don't want them, the better it is
that you're able to prepare and respond when something really
massive like foot and mouth, which hopefully never ever happens,
but if it does, you know, hopefully we've got systems
(16:42):
in place that will mean we're able to manage it
quickly and efficiently and limit the harm.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
We've been talking about foot and mouth and what it
might mean for this country, but would we split our
country in half? Say there's a foot and mouth outbreak
on your farm in the Mana A two region there,
do we immediately block the cook straight.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I would think. So, I mean it's well, they'll be
as part of it, you've got your whole containment zones
that go up and there sort of in place, and
then depending on how the response is going, whether there's
vaccination happening, which they then cold two. But certainly what's
if you look at Europe, what's happened is you know
(17:23):
they've put up in blocks and saying right, we're not
exporting from this part of Germany, we're not doing X,
Y and Z. So I think if this was ever
to happen here in New Zealand, what we could reasonably
argue with other countries is if it hit in the
North Island and we're able to quickly contain it in
place to the North Island, we would be able to
(17:44):
argue that, hey, you know it's in the North Island,
South Island's free, let's get trade moving again from the
South Island, and then you know, quickly we're able to
get other parts of the North Island back in the
market again once that sort of guarantees are given that
it's truly contained to a certain spot and we've then
(18:08):
eliminated it from elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Okay, apologies for my flip and comment about headless chickens,
it'll get me in trouble. But on a more serious vein,
you announced I think yesterday, that you've on top of
bird flu in otago.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Yeah. So the response period has finished at the hell
Growth Farm, I think it's called. And basically all the
depopulating obviously happened a long time ago, but all the cleaning,
disinfecting and all of that's taking place and all the
testing confident that all traces of disease have been removed
(18:48):
instead of the now are able to restart repopulating that
farm and get back to producing eggs.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Andrew Hogar, the Minister of Biosecurity, Food Safety, Associate egg
former president of Federated Farmers and Manoritu Kwkoki, thanks for
your time today on the country.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
No worries, Thanks Jamy, thank you.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Andrew. It is twenty nine after twelve. You're going nuts
on the Kywaker storm Force Parker worth four hundred and
sixty nine dollars. Now, it's just you know, you just
got a textas on five double nine use the keyword
win win, and then how many seasons you've been farming
and don't forget your name and where you're listening from,
without naming and shaming him. And it doesn't matter how
(19:30):
many seasons you've been farming. You can be farming for
one or one hundred or in the case of Allen
from Taranaki, three hundred and twelve seasons. We've done the
math on Matt that's like seventy eight seasons. Well, Allen,
I'm not doubting your story. Three hundred and twelve seasons
to beat. I suppose if you left school at fourteen
(19:52):
or fifteen, you're ninety two or ninety three. Perhaps that's
the case. Good on you. What a great servant in
New Zealand Agriculture. Okay, upw Rural News and sports News.
Then our keynote interview for Today in fact for the
week in a lot of ways. Global Markets Inside Interview
this month brought to you by Silver Fern Farms. Stephen
Jacobi on Trump that's coming up shortly before the end
(20:15):
of the hour, Farmer Tom Martin, our UK farming correspondent.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Time, you know, I need to have a scene.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Welcome back to the country. Dire Straits today's musical theme
courtesy of the Economy, which is also in Dire Straits.
This reminds me of Lincoln College nineteen eighty two, Tunnel
of Love and Romeo and Juliet Great songs from dire straits.
(20:55):
Here's Michelle with the latest and rural news to.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
The count World news with Cob Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower brand. Visit steel Ford dot co
dot nz for your local stockist.
Speaker 6 (21:08):
TG Global announced today the opening of a Taiwan office
in June. The new office marks a significant milestone in
the company's growth and expansion in Asia, and Taiwanese consumers
purchase around two point eight metric tons of fruit each year,
making it a key growth market for TG's premium Envy
Apple brand. The new office, what will be located in
(21:29):
Taipei City, will be TG sixth in Asia and that's
whereal news. You can find more at the Country dot
co dot nz. He's Jamie was sport.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at a fco dot
co dot Nz.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Mark Tilea may only have one game left in his
Blues career. The All Black Swing has been suspended for
three weeks for a dangerous, dangerous lifting tackle on Red's
opposite Tim Ryan in the loss at sun Court Stadium.
Talking of such a place, Les Kiss is expected to
be finally confirmed as the next Wallabies coach tomorrow morning.
(22:04):
The Sydney Morning Morning Herald reports the Queensland Red's mentor
will be announced as the successor to Joe Schmidt, who
will stand down after the Rugby Championship. And you can't
keep him out of the news. We're going to talk
about him and just a tick and his tariffs. US
President Donald Trump has welcomed the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia
(22:25):
Eagles to the White House. There you go, that's your
sports news. Up next, keynote interview for the day, Stephen Jacobi,
Trade expert.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
Julie She had a.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Welcome back to the country. Let's welcome onto the show,
Trey Experts. Stephen Jacobi. He is this month's Global Markets
Insight interview. And Stephen, where do we start with Trump's tariffs?
We all knew they were coming, would be fair to say,
but I don't think any of us thought they would
be this bad. What do you say, you're an expert
(23:17):
in the field.
Speaker 7 (23:20):
Well, I think that's right, Jamie. We didn't actually foresee
this level of uncertainty and complexity in the role out
of you know, Trump's tariffs. I mean, we knew these
were coming. I guess after he was elected he'd spoken
about it so often. But who could have foreseen the
disruption that was going to be to be caused by
(23:41):
all of this, Not just the imposition of tariffs, which
is bad enough, but the constant changes and re evaluations.
And that is what is really hard to business.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Is some of the damage that's been done thus far irreparable.
Speaker 7 (23:58):
Well, I you know, be a brave person to say
that this is the last word on trade. I mean,
who knows if the president might change his mind or
that a future administration might head off in another direction.
But I think most common datas these days are saying
this actually marks a fundamental change in the global system.
(24:20):
It's changed in the global trade landscape. I mean, this
rising protectionism isn't exactly new. It didn't just come from
the United States. It's been around for a number of
years now. But certainly the president has turned into something
in an art form. I don't know if it would
turned to some earlier time, but probably not. I would say,
I'm going to have to get used to a different
(24:42):
way of interacting on the global stage.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
We haven't really learned from history, and correct me if
I get the name wrong here, but it was something
like the Smoot Hawley tariffs that sort of were one
of the reasons that we had the Great Depression in
the early nineteen thirties.
Speaker 7 (24:58):
Yeah, that's absolutely right. And they Smooth Haly tariff is
actually the model. These ones are actually higher, would you believe?
And Smooth Hawley wasn't accompanied by all of this back
and forth changing your mind and whatever is. But one
difference I would say to Jamie is that the world
is a different place. You know, we've heard through the
years of trade integration. It's a lot more integrated than
(25:20):
it was back then. And all countries in New Zealand
in particular, I would argue, do have options other than
the United States. And I guess we're going to see
all of that come to fruition, but we are going
to be looking at a more fragmented and uncertain global system,
particularly as the various countries try to make deals with
(25:41):
the United States to preserve their markets. Here word only
is up on the end of the day is really
hard to say at the moment.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Well, one of the big issues is obviously not only
the tariffs into the US, but the collateral damage calls
to other economies around the world. And we look at China,
where he's currently got what one hundred and forty five tariff,
though it seems to change daily. But this is not
going to do the Chinese economy any good. They are
our largest trading part partner. Admittedly the US is now
(26:08):
our second largest trading partner. But it's just no matter
which way you slice and diceon, it's just bad news
for a trading country like New Zealand.
Speaker 7 (26:18):
Yeah, I'm afraid that is the case. And you know,
I think the relationship with China obviously becomes even more
important to us in the current situation. But still mind
though that the shield of a Chinese experts the United
States is the proportion of their total trade is not
that high, and so you know, they have a very
(26:39):
large economy to probably withstand some of the shops. But
no doubt the economy has been, you know, in a
bit of trouble recently, has been flowed to file after
the pandemic. That certainly won't help. And we have the
problem of his additional towers in the United States. But
as you say, we have the secondary and even tertially
effects on other markets as a result of trade diversion.
(27:01):
And again this adds to the complexity of the environment
in which we're operating.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Let's try and make some lemonade out of these lemons.
Could this potentially present opportunity for New Zealand.
Speaker 7 (27:12):
Well, in jimmy business knows where in times of crisis,
there is risk, but there is also opportunity. I mean,
the reality is and in a number of other markets
we're going to face probably less US competition for some
of our agricultural products because of the tariffs with tali
agly tariffs that others are going to put on them.
And you know, the one example that can be pointed
(27:34):
to is that there's a great market for wine and
Canada now opening up as Canada excuse me, retaliates against
the United States. So you know, there are opportunities, without doubt,
and I think it's very important we don't you know,
panic and over dramatize. On the other hand, I don't
think we should you know, undercook all of this. It
(27:55):
will be a mix of risk of opportunity going forward.
But again I say in New Zealand is not without options.
We have a global good FDAs we have very strong
partners around the world, and that that is going to
stand us in good sped, in good spead, and I
think probably we will do our best to weather the
(28:17):
storm of these additional towers in the United States to
the extent that we're able to.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Let's just finish on the Paris Climate Accord. What do
you make of Trump pulling out? And as Winston and
David Seymour are suggesting, now, should we be following suit?
Speaker 7 (28:32):
Well, plump pulled out last time, and he's done it again.
Is not the end of American action to address climate change.
Most of this is in the hands of the business
community now in the United States and in the in
state governments, and there's going to be no turning back
on sustainability goals. The world is as long moved past this,
and I think it would be most unwise for New
(28:54):
Zealand to do anything similar. Frankly, I mean, you know,
we have a big opportunity for us. The opportunity wouldjusts
a humoge challenge affecting the world, but also to permission
to position ourselves as the sustainable alternative. And we've had
companies investing you know, deeply in this you know for
(29:14):
some years now. If we can do that satisfactually and
stay on the right side of these arguments and avoid
any you know, maybe trade protections that arises in you know,
disguised form, you know, we will do very well. And
that is the bigger picture we have to keep, you know,
in mind. Sustainability is at the heart of our offer
(29:35):
to international markets, and we don't want to be mucking
around by, you know, talking about what joins in the
Paris Agreement. I think that is very unwise.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Indeed, Stephen Chakobe, Trade expert, thanks for some of your
wisdom today on the country. Have really enjoyed chatting. Thanks Jamie,
as always is any good Stephen Jacoby. It is Michelle's nodding.
She enjoyed that. Jan that is sixteen away from one.
You're with the country. Remember if you want to win
the Kai Walker a right storm Force Parker textas on
(30:07):
five double oh nine, start with the keyword win, w
I N how many seasons you've been farming, don't forget
your name and where you're listening from. Will announce the
winner on tomorrow's show up next. Farmer Tom Martin in
the UK caught up with them earlier this morning. He's
(30:31):
our guy on the other side of the world, our
UK farming correspondent, farmer, Tom Martin, social media influencer. For
what it's worth, Tom, your Prime minister, Sir care starmer
appears to me to be a bit of a planker,
Can I say that without offending you? And he's certainly
cocked things up on the home front, especially with farmers,
but on the world stage he seems to be making
(30:54):
an impression.
Speaker 8 (30:55):
He's yeah, I mean, is he good? From far? Far
from good? Maybe for a range of ten thousand miles,
he looks pretty good. And I would say internationally, to
give him his credit, he seems to be doing a
good job of sitting between the US and the EU
and seemingly coordinating this coalition of the willing to move
(31:17):
things forward in Ukraine. But yeah, back home there there's
a lot of terrible, tough things going on. But no, internationally,
let's give him his due. He's certainly coming out pretty
well at the moment.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Well, let's have a look at things on the home
front and the UK. You've got your local elections coming
up on Thursday, your time, and you're suggesting this could
result in a bloody nose for Labor and the Reform
Party might make some gains. What, if anything, does that
mean for UK farmers.
Speaker 8 (31:52):
Well, it's a great question. This is I mean, these
are kind of early midterm elections. They are is the
time when typic of the incumbent government losers a load
of seats due to a kind of protest at national policy.
But I think this first what is it ten months
for the Labor Party has been particularly challenging. And unless
(32:13):
you're a train driver or possibly a junior doctor, who
were both given pretty fantastic pay rises early on in
the term, it's struggled. You'd struggle to find people who
are happy with the way we're being governed at the moment.
So I think there'll be a lot of people looking
to vote for other parties. Now. I think there's a
(32:33):
fair few people who are still probably a bit disappointed
with fourteen years of Conservatives. Do they want to vote
for Labor, No, they don't. Do they want to the
Conservatives now they don't. You know, if you want to
go right across the left, you've got the Green Party,
You've got the Liberals doing a pretty good job somewhere
in the middle, but on the right is the Reform
Party and they are gathering a huge, huge amount of votes.
(32:56):
I think the latest poll shows that if there was
an election to do on a majority of votes, we
would have a prime minister called Nigel Ferrati's the head
of the Reform Party. So it's a real time of
shake up, I mean globally, but also.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Here in the UK the labor government Sakia Starma not
doing much for farmers. Is Mother nature playing ball? You're
into your spring in the northern hemisphere.
Speaker 8 (33:21):
Well, well, I found very heavy clay, so we haven't
had a lot of rain in a fairly long time.
But we can handle that. There will be farmers on
the lighter soils, on the piz soils that are that
are really looking for a drop of rain. And considering
we spent the whole of our winter or I did
certainly complaining about how it was, we're very quickly to
(33:44):
start mentioning the d word of drought and people being
grateful for a drop of reign Jamie, I realized I
didn't fully answer your previous question, what would the advance
of reform do to UK farming? And reform are certainly
looking at are shaking things up. They are absolutely saying
that they are pro farming, but they're also pro doing
(34:06):
a lot of international deals there and they they're they're
very very against kind of red tape, very against government
interference and and and that would possibly mean bringing in
food produced to lower standards. So it's it's still it
would still be a concerning time for farmers. But if
they would reverse some of the crazy things that the
(34:28):
current government have done, that that could be a good thing.
But sorry, that's where we are. Just just realized I
hadn't quite answered your question.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Well not Nigel Faras is one of the great political survivors.
But going back to on the farm, you said it's
a bit dry. That's one part of the equation. The
whither what about your commodity prices?
Speaker 8 (34:46):
Yeah, a bit a bit of a shocker. I was
talking to one of the grain traders recently and he
said the only the only crop was really doing well
for us in terms of prices is canola, and for
us this year that's the one crop we haven't we
haven't got in the ground. So yeah, price is a
pretty soft here. And you know, for we'd need two
hundred pounds spurling a ton, really and you're looking at
(35:09):
one seventy, so you're looking at a fifteen percent discount
on that, and that's really going to cause a lot
of farmers to be struggling at a time when a
lot of the other government decisions, a lot of the
other meteorological impacts are causing and some issues. It's a
really challenging time in UK farming. And I feel like
(35:29):
I've been saying this a bit recently. I don't want
to be a broken record in it, but yeah, there's
a fair few challenges.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Good job you've got a good off farm and come
with your social media influencing Tom.
Speaker 8 (35:43):
That would be very nice, wouldn't it?
Speaker 2 (35:45):
The end of conversation. Now, Yesterday your time Sunday in
the UK was the London Marathon. I was looking for
you on the telly, or not on the telly, I
was watching it online. I was looking for you amongst
the hordes. Something like fifty thousand plus people running the
London Marathon. Unbelievable.
Speaker 8 (36:04):
Yeah, I was the biggest ever. I think it was
the biggest ever amount of finishers in any marathon. So
it's a remarkable event. I haven't run it this millennia.
I ran in nineteen ninety eight. But it is a
tremendous event. There are actually a lot of farmers running
for farming and countryside charities. A big shout out to
my friend Charles Annyon who actually ran the Manchester Marathon
(36:27):
which it was the same day for the farm Community Network.
So lots of great charities being demonstrated, a lot of
money raised for good causes, and an amazing spectacle of
various different people in costumes and all kinds of things
running around the streets of London. It's always an amazing day.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
I'd did it in two thousand and six and I
was getting a bit tired. Once I crossed over the
Tower Bridge, which is just shy of half way, and
I ran into an inverted piece of pizza and he
was He's said, are you getting a bit tired blood?
I said, yeah, I am. I've done all the training.
I don't know why I'm tired. Only halfway through he said,
stick with me, and I ran with the piece of
pizza for about two k's and he says, you'll be
(37:11):
right now when he took off into the future or
in front of me. Amazing the dress ups and the
event that is the London marathon. Anyhow, Tom Hey, thanks
for some of your time and good luck giving the
Labor government a message with those local elections on Thursday.
Your time.
Speaker 8 (37:25):
Thank you, Jammy, always a pleasure, Julia, it's okay.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Wrapping of our country. Just coming up to three away
from one. Congratulations Carol and White at Egmont Village taking
away the storm Force Parker worth four hundred and sixty
nine dollars. If you want to win one, text the
keyword win and how many seasons not years, how many
seasons you've been farming to five? Double nine, don't forget
(37:55):
your name and where you're listening from. On tomorrow's show
we will have the Kywalker Ambassador All Blacks, Captain Scott Barrett,
good luck to looking forward to yarning to him. The
PM Christopher Luxom will be on and so will Jim Hopkins.
Will see you then Yes and the.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Dream catch all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie mckue. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist
in John Deere machinery.
Catch all the latest from the land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay thanks to Brent, the starkest of
the leading agriculture brands.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good afternoon, New Zealand. My name's Jamie McKay. This is
the Country. It's brought to you by Brandt. But a
dire straits today, Michelle's thrown in there. I guess that's
an apt description for our economy. Yes, pre budget the
speech this morning from Finance Minister Nichola willis the economy
(00:51):
certainly is in dire straits. We are slashing billions from
our operating or operation spending. More about that with our
first guest. Who's going to kick off the show, Shane Jones,
the Mighty Martua, the Prince of the Provinces. Once again,
Hosking has cut my lunch. Andrew Hoggard is the Minister
for Biosecurity. He's in Ashburton today and he's going to
(01:15):
speak to the operational agreement for Foot and Mouth disease.
So it seeks to ensure we're prepared as possible for
a potential outbreak Heaven help us, but perhaps even equally
as importantly, how we're going to fund it and we've
got no money, Andrew Hoggard on that one. Today's keynote
interview will be Stephen Jacobi. I was going to kick
(01:36):
the show off with him, but I've had to get
Martua Jane Shane should I say to take that spot
because he's at the dog groomers apparently now he's this
month's Global Markets Inside Interview courtesy of silver Fern Farms.
This is the guy who's the expert in international trade.
We're going to dig to the bottom of what Trump's
tariffs actually mean for us in the world economy. And
(01:58):
earlier this morning I caught up with farmer Tom Martin,
our UK correspondent, trouble at mill for farmers in the UK.
You think you've got it tough air, Well we haven't. Really.
We're doing a hell of a lot better than the
Brits when it comes to farming. We'll have the latest
and rural news for you as well with Michelle Sports
News and we have one of those magnificent Kaiwaka jackets
(02:22):
to give away today, the Storm Force Parker worth four
hundred and sixty nine dollars, as worn by Scott Barrett,
All Black's captain, who will be on the show tomorrow.
Looking forward to that one, but there's no show without
punch up next to the mighty Martua. Here's the Prince
(02:58):
of the Provinces, Shane Jones are Shane and Shane You've
got to do me a favor. Hoskin keeps cutting my lunch.
I arranged an interview with you a day or so ago.
This morning I hear you first thing on Hosking, Have
you no shame?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Well? I and my leader, Winston Peters, have a deep
level of affection for your listenership and you in particular. However,
one third of the country's population do live in Auckland,
and a fair swag them do listen to Mike Hoskins,
So you know, needs must What is.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
It about you neiw Zealand First guys, you all call
Hosking Hoskins.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Yeah, it could be a dialectoral thing from us from
the north. Too much pooh and power and Delhi red wine.
I can't fully account of that.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Okay. Now, the reason you were talking to Mike Hoskins
this morning was about co governance and the white tacker
is I thought co governance was sort of so twenty
twenty three we were past that.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah, yeah, you know, we've moved beyond the co governance
FIESCO elevated by n Naya Mahute when she stuck away
to the un and bore all sorts of nefarious things
back into the New Zealand political system. We're not having
any more of that.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
But the Super City.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Council, dominated by labor identities, they have tried to sneak
it through. Unfortunately for them, I was onto it. No
disrespect to the local Huppoo, but look, we're not having
tiny huppou dislodged. The tenets of democracy and the twenty
seven thousand hectares on the outskirts of Auckland is a
dual belonging to all Aucklanders.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Now.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
I don't want to deny any tramper, any runner, any hiker,
and there needs to be some more hunters in therecas
there's a whole lot of feral pigs running around spreading
carry dibec disease. But I do not want to see
any Huppoo overplaying their hand. They're entitled to look after
historic sites and celebrate that part of their heritage hangy
pits and midden heaps and other such things, but not
(04:56):
to topple democracy.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I Shane, you realize that the hunters and the white
kerries and runners along the tracks could end in tears.
I just thought i'd remind you of that one Hey,
pre budget speech, Nicola willis this morning, we're cutting billions
off our operating spending. She's described it as the tightest
budget in a decade, and apparently these numbers that she's
(05:18):
come up with were pre the Trump tariffs. So how
bad of a situation are we in?
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Well?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I think Winston was absolutely correct what he said, let's
not overreact as to where the final results emerge. In
respect of our trading relationship with America, the last shot
has not been fired in that regard. But in terms
of our own economy, sadly, the size of the state
has expanded and our operational burden has grown since COVID,
(05:51):
and we've got to go for grace, which is why
naturally I'm one of the budget ministers working with Nikola.
She has exclusive of authority to talk about the budget.
But we also need to bear in mind those of
us that come from the primary sector, from the regions,
that without economic growth, without the regional powerhouses generating export revenue,
(06:14):
we are not going to have the surplus to pay
for these fanciful theory dreams called climate change.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Shane Jones, the Prince of the province is with a
hot topic on this show or yesterday anyhow, was dairy conversions.
Does New Zealand first support more dairy conversions?
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Hell, yeah, of course we do.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
What about the environment, Chane, Well, you.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Should trust in science and technology. Science and technology means
that farming is getting smarter, just as coal mining is
getting more sophisticated, just as the gold mining in Otago's
going to generate. Well, stop all us catastrovization and exaggerating
the downsides of economic growth. Without growth, without export revenue,
(06:56):
where is the surplus going to come from to build
the Dunedin Hospital?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I know where you could get some tax revenue, Shane.
This is where you say where Jamie, And where you
could get somemers from Destiny Church you could tax them
or sanitarium.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Well, there are a variety of people who have that
privileged status. I think the most prominent of all is
the Latter who tribe down on the South Island. And
then there are various religious groups. But then a lot
of those groups do a lot of good. For example,
the Anglican Church as the Melanesian Trust, and they do
a tremendous amount of positive things in that part of
(07:36):
the Pacific. So, just just as the Minister of Finance,
Nikola has said, let's take our time and get it right,
because tax can be very obscure and very tricky. Naturally,
I support that more cautious approach that she's initiated.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Here's the question for you, because you're a parochial Northlander,
a bit like Winston to be perfectly us, are you
guys getting sweetheart deals for your home region? This Brian
Durwin thing one dollar in every ten and infrastructure spend
over the next decade or so will be on that road.
Why don't we just build a road around the side
(08:15):
of the Briandeuans.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
No, the road that you're referring to is going to
stretch from Warkworth up to far At eight. Now we
have a subtropical temperate climate. There's about one hundred and
ninety five thousand of us who call home in the
Far North and it's on the outskirts of Auckland. We've
got the largest deep sea port in the country and
we need to open up that part of New Zealand
(08:37):
to more investment, more residential development so people can enjoy
the climate in the north and stop exaggerating that everything
that we're going to develop is never ever going to
generate upside or revenue. This is what's wrong with the
New Zealand. Rather than seeing investments as a positive nation
(08:58):
building exercise, will sort of reduce to an abacus.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
I'm just looking out for the blind frogs and the
skinks and the lizards.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Now we're not having any more deification, any more elevation
in some scriptural way of these critics and the bush
overwhelming economic growth or the advancement of our people. We
should respect the owls, the frogs, the swans. Actually, when
I was a kid, I think they used to cut
the breast of the swan out bunch away on it.
(09:27):
I didn't care for it much. They eat too many
flounders where I come from. Anyway.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Hey, Shane Jones, thanks very much for your time on
the Country. Always entertaining. And next time mister Hoskins asks
for an interview, tell him you've already been booked for
the country.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Okay, country first, Hoskin second, Bye.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
He nailed it. Shane, thank you very much for your time,
the Prince of the Provinces. Did I hear him correctly?
Did he say the swans eat the flounders?
Speaker 6 (09:53):
Yeah, I'm not too sure about that story.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Well if you know the answer to that, I didn't
realize swans eat flounders. I know Shane's eating the flounder
or two in his time, But anyhow, always entertaining the
Prince of the Provinces. Now on tomorrow's show, Christoph Luxan
for his weekly slot. I haven't been in the chair
for about a month when he's been on anyhow. Also
(10:17):
Scott Barrett on the show tomorrow, Good Taranaki farm Boy.
He is the ambassador for ky Walker Jackets or Stork.
What are these storm Parkers? They're worth four hundred and
sixty nine dollars Michelle, And we've got one to give
away each day this week?
Speaker 6 (10:36):
Who won yesterday's So yesterday the lucky one I was
Carolyn White, who's done eighty seasons in Taranaki and as
an Egmont village which has since found out sort of
near Inglewood.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Yes, I had well, i'd just had the check where
it was. I knew it was obviously around Mount Egmont,
Mount Taranaki to be more correct. It's just it's sort
of on the way from Inglewood to New Plymouth, sort
of on the north very northwest of slopes of we're
down on the flat a bit from Mount Taranaki. So
well done, well done to Carol and White. Eighty seasons
(11:10):
of farming. That's twenty years. What was their record yesterday,
two hundred and sixty seasons.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
Or something, yeah, something like that. It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
So if you want to win the storm Force jacket,
they're worth for the storm Force Parker to be more correct,
worth four hundred and sixty nine dollars. We've got one
to give away every day this week. All you need
to do is text us here on the country on
five double oh nine. We want to know how many
seasons you've been farming e g. Nine years equals thirty
(11:40):
six seasons. This is because Kaiwaker Clothing is celebrating two
hundred seasons. That's fifty years of protecting Kiwis from the elements.
So to win that Kaiwaker storm Force jacket, worth four
hundred and sixty nine dollars, text the keyword win and
how many seasons you've been farming to five double oh
don't forget to write your name and where you're listening from.
(12:03):
Kaiwalker Storm Force jackets are designed to keep you protected
no matter how much wind, rain, mud, or muck comes
your way. Check them out at Kiwalker Clothing dot com.
There you go from one politician to another. Although he's
also a man or two dairy farmer. Is the drought
over in his neck of the wards? Andrew Hoggard? Next,
(12:24):
he's an ash burden today here that ain't working from there.
He is the Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety Associate
egg as well and a manu or two dairy farmer.
(12:46):
His name is Andrew Hoggard, former president of Federated Farmers.
How many hats has this bloke worn? Andrew? Just before
we discuss what you're up to today? Is the drought
over in the man or two?
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Oh? Very definitely?
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Well?
Speaker 4 (13:00):
In my neck of the woods, it definitely is. We're
getting good recovery and covers a lift and so able
to dial the masback and yeah, the farm's looking healthy again.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
I was in jest talking to some farmers yesterday, dairy farmers,
asking them what they were going to do with all
their money at ten dollars plus.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
I think my wife's managed to spend it already all
for me. We've certainly done a lot of upgrading on
the farm, so all the local engineering shops and others
are well being serviced by all the work for us
for us.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, I think field Days could be good this year
for exhibitors, especially especially with the big ticket items, because
there's a lot of catch up spending and maintenance that
needs to be done.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Oh definitely. Yeah. Look a lot of people were to
hold it, held off on new bits of kit and
other improvements to the farms, So yeah, it'll definitely be
catch up time this year.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
What are you doing in ash Burton today?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
So meeting with Beef and Lamb and they're having a
bit of a meeting local farmers come along. I think
we're talking about the operational agreement around foot and mouth,
amongst any other things that everyone wants to talk about.
You know, I'm sure the conversation will go far and wide,
but primary thing is about the foot and mouth operational
(14:21):
agreement and trying to encourage people to vote in favor
of Beef and Lamb being part of that.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Well, it sets out how a response to foot and
mouth disease. Heaven help us if it ever got here,
I would be funded. The answer is obviously the government's
going to chip in big time because it'll break us
as a nation if we get it. But the farmers
I'm assuming have to pitch in as well.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Yeah. Much similar to well, not similar to a similar
process to microplasma bovus where you have a levy. However,
obviously foot and mouths expected to be potentially much bigger,
so there is caps for each of the sectors. And
I mean in the case of in Mouth, any levey
or levees won't be charged until a year after we
(15:06):
get back into markets, so we'll get trade flowing again,
get money coming back in for a year before any
levees might be applied. But yeah, the government will be
obviously contributing to a large amount. But mainly it's not
so much about the funding. It's mainly about the working
together and who does what, how we communicate, what are
(15:30):
all the moving pieces, and how we put the whole
response together. Because certainly, you know, what I've seen in
the role is we have situations like the recent fruit
fly in Auckland. You know, it was a very well
run process. Everyone knew what they were doing, they knew
weird things had to go up, who was doing what,
(15:50):
and that meant able to get on top of things
much quicker and much easier as opposed to everyone running
around like a bunch of headless chickens. So I think
this is a really key part in New Zealand's biosecurity
strategy is that collaboration between government and industry.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I'm going to come back to headless chickens, but as
the likes of bovus bird flu fruit fly you mentioned
have these they have been good dry runs for foot
and mouth disease.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
It certainly helps you learn. The more experiences you get,
even though you don't want them, the better it is
that you're able to prepare and respond when something really
massive like foot and mouth, which hopefully never ever happens,
but if it does, you know, hopefully we've got systems
(16:42):
in place that will mean we're able to manage it
quickly and efficiently and limit the harm.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
We've been talking about foot and mouth and what it
might mean for this country, but would we split our
country in half? Say there's a foot and mouth outbreak
on your farm in the Mana A two region there,
do we immediately block the cook straight.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I would think. So, I mean it's well, they'll be
as part of it, you've got your whole containment zones
that go up and there sort of in place, and
then depending on how the response is going, whether there's
vaccination happening, which they then cold two. But certainly what's
if you look at Europe, what's happened is you know
(17:23):
they've put up in blocks and saying right, we're not
exporting from this part of Germany, we're not doing X,
Y and Z. So I think if this was ever
to happen here in New Zealand, what we could reasonably
argue with other countries is if it hit in the
North Island and we're able to quickly contain it in
place to the North Island, we would be able to
(17:44):
argue that, hey, you know it's in the North Island,
South Island's free, let's get trade moving again from the
South Island, and then you know, quickly we're able to
get other parts of the North Island back in the
market again once that sort of guarantees are given that
it's truly contained to a certain spot and we've then
(18:08):
eliminated it from elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Okay, apologies for my flip and comment about headless chickens,
it'll get me in trouble. But on a more serious vein,
you announced I think yesterday, that you've on top of
bird flu in otago.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Yeah. So the response period has finished at the hell
Growth Farm, I think it's called. And basically all the
depopulating obviously happened a long time ago, but all the cleaning,
disinfecting and all of that's taking place and all the
testing confident that all traces of disease have been removed
(18:48):
instead of the now are able to restart repopulating that
farm and get back to producing eggs.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Andrew Hogar, the Minister of Biosecurity, Food Safety, Associate egg
former president of Federated Farmers and Manoritu Kwkoki, thanks for
your time today on the country.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
No worries, Thanks Jamy, thank you.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Andrew. It is twenty nine after twelve. You're going nuts
on the Kywaker storm Force Parker worth four hundred and
sixty nine dollars. Now, it's just you know, you just
got a textas on five double nine use the keyword
win win, and then how many seasons you've been farming
and don't forget your name and where you're listening from,
without naming and shaming him. And it doesn't matter how
(19:30):
many seasons you've been farming. You can be farming for
one or one hundred or in the case of Allen
from Taranaki, three hundred and twelve seasons. We've done the
math on Matt that's like seventy eight seasons. Well, Allen,
I'm not doubting your story. Three hundred and twelve seasons
to beat. I suppose if you left school at fourteen
(19:52):
or fifteen, you're ninety two or ninety three. Perhaps that's
the case. Good on you. What a great servant in
New Zealand Agriculture. Okay, upw Rural News and sports News.
Then our keynote interview for Today in fact for the
week in a lot of ways. Global Markets Inside Interview
this month brought to you by Silver Fern Farms. Stephen
Jacobi on Trump that's coming up shortly before the end
(20:15):
of the hour, Farmer Tom Martin, our UK farming correspondent.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Time, you know, I need to have a scene.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Welcome back to the country. Dire Straits today's musical theme
courtesy of the Economy, which is also in Dire Straits.
This reminds me of Lincoln College nineteen eighty two, Tunnel
of Love and Romeo and Juliet Great songs from dire straits.
(20:55):
Here's Michelle with the latest and rural news to.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
The count World news with Cob Cadet, New Zealand's leading
right on lawn Bower brand. Visit steel Ford dot co
dot nz for your local stockist.
Speaker 6 (21:08):
TG Global announced today the opening of a Taiwan office
in June. The new office marks a significant milestone in
the company's growth and expansion in Asia, and Taiwanese consumers
purchase around two point eight metric tons of fruit each year,
making it a key growth market for TG's premium Envy
Apple brand. The new office, what will be located in
(21:29):
Taipei City, will be TG sixth in Asia and that's
whereal news. You can find more at the Country dot
co dot nz. He's Jamie was sport.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Sport with AFCO. Visit them online at a fco dot
co dot Nz.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Mark Tilea may only have one game left in his
Blues career. The All Black Swing has been suspended for
three weeks for a dangerous, dangerous lifting tackle on Red's
opposite Tim Ryan in the loss at sun Court Stadium.
Talking of such a place, Les Kiss is expected to
be finally confirmed as the next Wallabies coach tomorrow morning.
(22:04):
The Sydney Morning Morning Herald reports the Queensland Red's mentor
will be announced as the successor to Joe Schmidt, who
will stand down after the Rugby Championship. And you can't
keep him out of the news. We're going to talk
about him and just a tick and his tariffs. US
President Donald Trump has welcomed the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia
(22:25):
Eagles to the White House. There you go, that's your
sports news. Up next, keynote interview for the day, Stephen Jacobi,
Trade expert.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
Julie She had a.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Welcome back to the country. Let's welcome onto the show,
Trey Experts. Stephen Jacobi. He is this month's Global Markets
Insight interview. And Stephen, where do we start with Trump's tariffs?
We all knew they were coming, would be fair to say,
but I don't think any of us thought they would
be this bad. What do you say, you're an expert
(23:17):
in the field.
Speaker 7 (23:20):
Well, I think that's right, Jamie. We didn't actually foresee
this level of uncertainty and complexity in the role out
of you know, Trump's tariffs. I mean, we knew these
were coming. I guess after he was elected he'd spoken
about it so often. But who could have foreseen the
disruption that was going to be to be caused by
(23:41):
all of this, Not just the imposition of tariffs, which
is bad enough, but the constant changes and re evaluations.
And that is what is really hard to business.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Is some of the damage that's been done thus far irreparable.
Speaker 7 (23:58):
Well, I you know, be a brave person to say
that this is the last word on trade. I mean,
who knows if the president might change his mind or
that a future administration might head off in another direction.
But I think most common datas these days are saying
this actually marks a fundamental change in the global system.
(24:20):
It's changed in the global trade landscape. I mean, this
rising protectionism isn't exactly new. It didn't just come from
the United States. It's been around for a number of
years now. But certainly the president has turned into something
in an art form. I don't know if it would
turned to some earlier time, but probably not. I would say,
I'm going to have to get used to a different
(24:42):
way of interacting on the global stage.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
We haven't really learned from history, and correct me if
I get the name wrong here, but it was something
like the Smoot Hawley tariffs that sort of were one
of the reasons that we had the Great Depression in
the early nineteen thirties.
Speaker 7 (24:58):
Yeah, that's absolutely right. And they Smooth Haly tariff is
actually the model. These ones are actually higher, would you believe?
And Smooth Hawley wasn't accompanied by all of this back
and forth changing your mind and whatever is. But one
difference I would say to Jamie is that the world
is a different place. You know, we've heard through the
years of trade integration. It's a lot more integrated than
(25:20):
it was back then. And all countries in New Zealand
in particular, I would argue, do have options other than
the United States. And I guess we're going to see
all of that come to fruition, but we are going
to be looking at a more fragmented and uncertain global system,
particularly as the various countries try to make deals with
(25:41):
the United States to preserve their markets. Here word only
is up on the end of the day is really
hard to say at the moment.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Well, one of the big issues is obviously not only
the tariffs into the US, but the collateral damage calls
to other economies around the world. And we look at China,
where he's currently got what one hundred and forty five tariff,
though it seems to change daily. But this is not
going to do the Chinese economy any good. They are
our largest trading part partner. Admittedly the US is now
(26:08):
our second largest trading partner. But it's just no matter
which way you slice and diceon, it's just bad news
for a trading country like New Zealand.
Speaker 7 (26:18):
Yeah, I'm afraid that is the case. And you know,
I think the relationship with China obviously becomes even more
important to us in the current situation. But still mind
though that the shield of a Chinese experts the United
States is the proportion of their total trade is not
that high, and so you know, they have a very
(26:39):
large economy to probably withstand some of the shops. But
no doubt the economy has been, you know, in a
bit of trouble recently, has been flowed to file after
the pandemic. That certainly won't help. And we have the
problem of his additional towers in the United States. But
as you say, we have the secondary and even tertially
effects on other markets as a result of trade diversion.
(27:01):
And again this adds to the complexity of the environment
in which we're operating.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Let's try and make some lemonade out of these lemons.
Could this potentially present opportunity for New Zealand.
Speaker 7 (27:12):
Well, in jimmy business knows where in times of crisis,
there is risk, but there is also opportunity. I mean,
the reality is and in a number of other markets
we're going to face probably less US competition for some
of our agricultural products because of the tariffs with tali
agly tariffs that others are going to put on them.
And you know, the one example that can be pointed
(27:34):
to is that there's a great market for wine and
Canada now opening up as Canada excuse me, retaliates against
the United States. So you know, there are opportunities, without doubt,
and I think it's very important we don't you know,
panic and over dramatize. On the other hand, I don't
think we should you know, undercook all of this. It
(27:55):
will be a mix of risk of opportunity going forward.
But again I say in New Zealand is not without options.
We have a global good FDAs we have very strong
partners around the world, and that that is going to
stand us in good sped, in good spead, and I
think probably we will do our best to weather the
(28:17):
storm of these additional towers in the United States to
the extent that we're able to.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Let's just finish on the Paris Climate Accord. What do
you make of Trump pulling out? And as Winston and
David Seymour are suggesting, now, should we be following suit?
Speaker 7 (28:32):
Well, plump pulled out last time, and he's done it again.
Is not the end of American action to address climate change.
Most of this is in the hands of the business
community now in the United States and in the in
state governments, and there's going to be no turning back
on sustainability goals. The world is as long moved past this,
and I think it would be most unwise for New
(28:54):
Zealand to do anything similar. Frankly, I mean, you know,
we have a big opportunity for us. The opportunity wouldjusts
a humoge challenge affecting the world, but also to permission
to position ourselves as the sustainable alternative. And we've had
companies investing you know, deeply in this you know for
(29:14):
some years now. If we can do that satisfactually and
stay on the right side of these arguments and avoid
any you know, maybe trade protections that arises in you know,
disguised form, you know, we will do very well. And
that is the bigger picture we have to keep, you know,
in mind. Sustainability is at the heart of our offer
(29:35):
to international markets, and we don't want to be mucking
around by, you know, talking about what joins in the
Paris Agreement. I think that is very unwise.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Indeed, Stephen Chakobe, Trade expert, thanks for some of your
wisdom today on the country. Have really enjoyed chatting. Thanks Jamie,
as always is any good Stephen Jacoby. It is Michelle's nodding.
She enjoyed that. Jan that is sixteen away from one.
You're with the country. Remember if you want to win
the Kai Walker a right storm Force Parker textas on
(30:07):
five double oh nine, start with the keyword win, w
I N how many seasons you've been farming, don't forget
your name and where you're listening from. Will announce the
winner on tomorrow's show up next. Farmer Tom Martin in
the UK caught up with them earlier this morning. He's
(30:31):
our guy on the other side of the world, our
UK farming correspondent, farmer, Tom Martin, social media influencer. For
what it's worth, Tom, your Prime minister, Sir care starmer
appears to me to be a bit of a planker,
Can I say that without offending you? And he's certainly
cocked things up on the home front, especially with farmers,
but on the world stage he seems to be making
(30:54):
an impression.
Speaker 8 (30:55):
He's yeah, I mean, is he good? From far? Far
from good? Maybe for a range of ten thousand miles,
he looks pretty good. And I would say internationally, to
give him his credit, he seems to be doing a
good job of sitting between the US and the EU
and seemingly coordinating this coalition of the willing to move
(31:17):
things forward in Ukraine. But yeah, back home there there's
a lot of terrible, tough things going on. But no, internationally,
let's give him his due. He's certainly coming out pretty
well at the moment.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
Well, let's have a look at things on the home
front and the UK. You've got your local elections coming
up on Thursday, your time, and you're suggesting this could
result in a bloody nose for Labor and the Reform
Party might make some gains. What, if anything, does that
mean for UK farmers.
Speaker 8 (31:52):
Well, it's a great question. This is I mean, these
are kind of early midterm elections. They are is the
time when typic of the incumbent government losers a load
of seats due to a kind of protest at national policy.
But I think this first what is it ten months
for the Labor Party has been particularly challenging. And unless
(32:13):
you're a train driver or possibly a junior doctor, who
were both given pretty fantastic pay rises early on in
the term, it's struggled. You'd struggle to find people who
are happy with the way we're being governed at the moment.
So I think there'll be a lot of people looking
to vote for other parties. Now. I think there's a
(32:33):
fair few people who are still probably a bit disappointed
with fourteen years of Conservatives. Do they want to vote
for Labor, No, they don't. Do they want to the
Conservatives now they don't. You know, if you want to
go right across the left, you've got the Green Party,
You've got the Liberals doing a pretty good job somewhere
in the middle, but on the right is the Reform
Party and they are gathering a huge, huge amount of votes.
(32:56):
I think the latest poll shows that if there was
an election to do on a majority of votes, we
would have a prime minister called Nigel Ferrati's the head
of the Reform Party. So it's a real time of
shake up, I mean globally, but also.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Here in the UK the labor government Sakia Starma not
doing much for farmers. Is Mother nature playing ball? You're
into your spring in the northern hemisphere.
Speaker 8 (33:21):
Well, well, I found very heavy clay, so we haven't
had a lot of rain in a fairly long time.
But we can handle that. There will be farmers on
the lighter soils, on the piz soils that are that
are really looking for a drop of rain. And considering
we spent the whole of our winter or I did
certainly complaining about how it was, we're very quickly to
(33:44):
start mentioning the d word of drought and people being
grateful for a drop of reign Jamie, I realized I
didn't fully answer your previous question, what would the advance
of reform do to UK farming? And reform are certainly
looking at are shaking things up. They are absolutely saying
that they are pro farming, but they're also pro doing
(34:06):
a lot of international deals there and they they're they're
very very against kind of red tape, very against government
interference and and and that would possibly mean bringing in
food produced to lower standards. So it's it's still it
would still be a concerning time for farmers. But if
they would reverse some of the crazy things that the
(34:28):
current government have done, that that could be a good thing.
But sorry, that's where we are. Just just realized I
hadn't quite answered your question.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Well not Nigel Faras is one of the great political survivors.
But going back to on the farm, you said it's
a bit dry. That's one part of the equation. The
whither what about your commodity prices?
Speaker 8 (34:46):
Yeah, a bit a bit of a shocker. I was
talking to one of the grain traders recently and he
said the only the only crop was really doing well
for us in terms of prices is canola, and for
us this year that's the one crop we haven't we
haven't got in the ground. So yeah, price is a
pretty soft here. And you know, for we'd need two
hundred pounds spurling a ton, really and you're looking at
(35:09):
one seventy, so you're looking at a fifteen percent discount
on that, and that's really going to cause a lot
of farmers to be struggling at a time when a
lot of the other government decisions, a lot of the
other meteorological impacts are causing and some issues. It's a
really challenging time in UK farming. And I feel like
(35:29):
I've been saying this a bit recently. I don't want
to be a broken record in it, but yeah, there's
a fair few challenges.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Good job you've got a good off farm and come
with your social media influencing Tom.
Speaker 8 (35:43):
That would be very nice, wouldn't it?
Speaker 2 (35:45):
The end of conversation. Now, Yesterday your time Sunday in
the UK was the London Marathon. I was looking for
you on the telly, or not on the telly, I
was watching it online. I was looking for you amongst
the hordes. Something like fifty thousand plus people running the
London Marathon. Unbelievable.
Speaker 8 (36:04):
Yeah, I was the biggest ever. I think it was
the biggest ever amount of finishers in any marathon. So
it's a remarkable event. I haven't run it this millennia.
I ran in nineteen ninety eight. But it is a
tremendous event. There are actually a lot of farmers running
for farming and countryside charities. A big shout out to
my friend Charles Annyon who actually ran the Manchester Marathon
(36:27):
which it was the same day for the farm Community Network.
So lots of great charities being demonstrated, a lot of
money raised for good causes, and an amazing spectacle of
various different people in costumes and all kinds of things
running around the streets of London. It's always an amazing day.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
I'd did it in two thousand and six and I
was getting a bit tired. Once I crossed over the
Tower Bridge, which is just shy of half way, and
I ran into an inverted piece of pizza and he
was He's said, are you getting a bit tired blood?
I said, yeah, I am. I've done all the training.
I don't know why I'm tired. Only halfway through he said,
stick with me, and I ran with the piece of
pizza for about two k's and he says, you'll be
(37:11):
right now when he took off into the future or
in front of me. Amazing the dress ups and the
event that is the London marathon. Anyhow, Tom Hey, thanks
for some of your time and good luck giving the
Labor government a message with those local elections on Thursday.
Your time.
Speaker 8 (37:25):
Thank you, Jammy, always a pleasure, Julia, it's okay.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Wrapping of our country. Just coming up to three away
from one. Congratulations Carol and White at Egmont Village taking
away the storm Force Parker worth four hundred and sixty
nine dollars. If you want to win one, text the
keyword win and how many seasons not years, how many
seasons you've been farming to five? Double nine, don't forget
(37:55):
your name and where you're listening from. On tomorrow's show
we will have the Kywalker Ambassador All Blacks, Captain Scott Barrett,
good luck to looking forward to yarning to him. The
PM Christopher Luxom will be on and so will Jim Hopkins.
Will see you then Yes and the.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Dream catch all the latest from the land. It's the
Country Podcast with Jamie mckue. Thanks to Brent, You're specialist
in John Deere machinery.
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