November 10, 2025 • 8 mins
Labour’s trade spokesman on an FTA with India, the Pike River movie, and whether Back Bench List MPs are a waste of space and money.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Damian O'Connor as Labour's trade spokesperson. This FTA with India,
Todd mcclay's talking it up, saying we're getting close. Is
there any chance at all in your mind that we
can sneak deiry into the deal?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Look, it's hard to know. I know there's been a
lot of work going on and if you go back
to what we were doing in government, we were building
partnerships and relationships with India and we saw that as
the best way forward. And I know that Prime Minister
promised at FTA which really pushed it rather quickly and
rather ambitiously, and good luck to the government it was.
(00:33):
You know, there was a lot of pushback from India
and if they've made substentive progress then good on them.
You know, we'll just wait and see as to what
we get from it. And obviously it's a big market,
but so we just have to be realistic about, you know,
what we will get from India. The government's talked the
big talk, so now it has to deliver.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
India adds more to its GDP every year than the
size of the entire New Zealand economy. They've got two
hundred and eighty times as many people as us. It's
a huge opportunity. But even if we don't get dairy
across the line, because I mean the sacred Coales sort
of thing going on there, what about for the like
salam and that it would be invaluable.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Oh, absolutely, Look any opportunity into a market like that
we're building. You know, this horticulture zespria doing work. And
you know, we're getting a lot of good people from
India who are coming into our economy and participating and
contributing in huge ways. So so building a relationship with
India as critical over time. But you know, we have
(01:37):
to be a realistic. We can feed forty to fifty
million people, so our contribution and total to India in
terms of food and protein production is very, very small.
So we've got to pick our niches around the world.
We've got to have a balance. You know, we don't
fill the market opportunities that we have at the moment,
and exporters you choose to decide where they go or
(01:57):
you know, the importers, it's up to them. So there
are plenty of opportunities. Now, you know, we don't need
an i FTA with India, but it would add potential
opportunities into the future.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Unlimited opportunities, I would have thought. Anyhow, since we last
chatted the Pike move, the Pike River Movie has premiered
A have you seen it? B Why weren't you? Wasn't
you were a local MP?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Well, you know it's about you know, about families related
to the Pike's not that politicians, although I think John
Key's mentioned in there. Look, yes, I have seen it.
I was at the premiere in Graymouth local community, and
you know, it runs deep into that community in many
many ways. And I think they did a brilliant job
of portraying a personal insight into Senior and Sonia and
(02:47):
as kind of life and the people around them. And
I think that's what it was aimed at doing. It
wasn't aimed at, you know, looking into the whys and
house of the actual disaster itself, or you know, it
did mention the fact that, you know, there's still potential litigation,
still accountability be to be had because there has been
(03:07):
very very little. So I thought it was a brilliant
movie and a lot of people will understand a bit
more about Pike when they see it.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
It was a bit of a political hatchet job on
John Key. Let's be honest about it, and was it
over the top just Cinda with her cameo role being herself.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Look, you know, I didn't direct the film. I wasn't
part of it, but it just it just laid out
the facts as they were delivered to the families through
that period. It was a difficult time. I don't think
anyone will if you're a West Coast, a family member
or you know, a politician. There was nothing good come
from this and there's been no accountability and I think
(03:45):
that's it's you know, it's something that has to be
resolved over time.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Shippy, he's too busy to appear on this show this month.
I'm just stuck. I'm just left with you and Joe Luxton.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Did you offend him more? No?
Speaker 1 (03:58):
No, I honestly, I honestly don't know. And Chloe hasn't
answered my calls either, And I wouldn't waste my breath
trying to talk to two party Mary. You must be
it must be such a nightmare for Chippy. I see
he's making some noises about them not being fit for government.
Of course they're not fit for government, Damien.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
If you open both your eyes and both your ears
as much as you open your mouth, then you know,
I don't probably see it as a balance show. But
you know they probably think that it's not balance, so
you know why bother. I mean, I'll have a word
with Chippy and say, look, it's good to go on
there and try and keep him honest, but it's a
hard job.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Do you think he's making the right noises about at
least he's to be fair to him. He's come out
and said they're not fit for government at the moment.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Who's that Chip said? I mean and motion to party
may I look, there a whole lot of issues that
they have to work through. And you know, while we
should comment on the policies from parties, you know, getting
into the directions of different parties, it happens to everyone
from time to time, having the National Party soon, so
you know you've got to be careful. What goes around
comes around in politics. And you know, democracy is should
(05:09):
be a healthy place for robust ideas, robust policies. And
there'll be a whole lot of people, more more diverse
range of people in Parliament now than there was in
the past, will be in the future, and we just
those parties have to work through, you know, how they
cooperate among themselves as well as with other parties.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Diversity, But at what cost I give you? Benjamin Doyle, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Mean, so what about that? You know there'll be people
make mistakes in life, people make mistakes and politics. I
don't think we have to victimize people. You know, we
just have to move on and try and have some
understanding as to why people do make mistakes and try
and help them to minimize them.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
See that was the beauty of the old first past
the post, Daman, and you've worked under that system. I
think you have happened to first it was no, no,
at least when you first pass the post, you had
to convince your electorate how many tens of thousands of
people that you were a worthy candidate, and it was
at least a vetting process because let's be honest, list MPs,
back bench list MPs are as useful as Australia on
(06:15):
one of your trail mikes.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Oh come on that. Look, you know, listing piece is
part of the system. You know, I've always believed in
constituency work and accountability, but we have MMP, we have
list MPs. On one of them at the moment. You know,
people have to get out and work and connect and
communicate in the best way they know how. And I
guess I've had the benefit of being a constituency MP
(06:41):
and understanding the importance of that. Not everyone does, but
you know, MMP will evolve as will in parliament.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Does a list MP like being semi retired.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
No, it certainly isn't. And you know, I guess I
go to a whole lot more places around the country.
I've always traveled a lot, but you know, following portfolio
work and looking after as a laboring P West Coast
Tasman and up around Marlborough and Cala Colra and you
know down around Otago as well. So you know, we're
all traveling, probably more than we'd like, but we do
(07:16):
have to keep in touch with people and bring that
representation along with leadership into parliament.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Damien, I kind of thanks for your Tom. We're going
to see at the christ Show later this week.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Look, I'm fortunately I can't be there. I am currently
in Ireland talking with farmers, talking with people about trade
and where things are moving, and everyone's seeing a bit
of a softing in the dairy price at the moment internationally,
and that's that's a worry for I guess for anyone
in the dairy industry and for our country.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
I didn't realize you're an island as we make this call.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Well, well, you can be anywhere in the world on
a phone called.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yes, I realized that, Dailien. But are we getting Is
it a waste of time sending a back bench list
MP to Ireland?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Well I don't think so. I think that what I
can bring back to my party, what I can bring
back into Parliament and a whole lot of people I
talk to on a weekly basis, will be valuable, I
have to say, being very privileged to and always do
get to talk to a whole lot of useful and
(08:22):
people who people who like New Zealand. There's a lot
of crossover, not just with Ireland, actually with the whole
of Europe in our free trade agreement, which I was
very happy two is offering us a huge number of opportunities.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
All right, I think the toll call is about to
run out to Ireland. Damien O'Connor, you surprise me daily. Okay,
thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Good thanks, Damie.
Damian O'Connor as Labour's trade spokesperson. This FTA with India,
Todd mcclay's talking it up, saying we're getting close. Is
there any chance at all in your mind that we
can sneak deiry into the deal?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Look, it's hard to know. I know there's been a
lot of work going on and if you go back
to what we were doing in government, we were building
partnerships and relationships with India and we saw that as
the best way forward. And I know that Prime Minister
promised at FTA which really pushed it rather quickly and
rather ambitiously, and good luck to the government it was.
(00:33):
You know, there was a lot of pushback from India
and if they've made substentive progress then good on them.
You know, we'll just wait and see as to what
we get from it. And obviously it's a big market,
but so we just have to be realistic about, you know,
what we will get from India. The government's talked the
big talk, so now it has to deliver.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
India adds more to its GDP every year than the
size of the entire New Zealand economy. They've got two
hundred and eighty times as many people as us. It's
a huge opportunity. But even if we don't get dairy
across the line, because I mean the sacred Coales sort
of thing going on there, what about for the like
salam and that it would be invaluable.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Oh, absolutely, Look any opportunity into a market like that
we're building. You know, this horticulture zespria doing work. And
you know, we're getting a lot of good people from
India who are coming into our economy and participating and
contributing in huge ways. So so building a relationship with
India as critical over time. But you know, we have
(01:37):
to be a realistic. We can feed forty to fifty
million people, so our contribution and total to India in
terms of food and protein production is very, very small.
So we've got to pick our niches around the world.
We've got to have a balance. You know, we don't
fill the market opportunities that we have at the moment,
and exporters you choose to decide where they go or
(01:57):
you know, the importers, it's up to them. So there
are plenty of opportunities. Now, you know, we don't need
an i FTA with India, but it would add potential
opportunities into the future.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Unlimited opportunities, I would have thought. Anyhow, since we last
chatted the Pike move, the Pike River Movie has premiered
A have you seen it? B Why weren't you? Wasn't
you were a local MP?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Well, you know it's about you know, about families related
to the Pike's not that politicians, although I think John
Key's mentioned in there. Look, yes, I have seen it.
I was at the premiere in Graymouth local community, and
you know, it runs deep into that community in many
many ways. And I think they did a brilliant job
of portraying a personal insight into Senior and Sonia and
(02:47):
as kind of life and the people around them. And
I think that's what it was aimed at doing. It
wasn't aimed at, you know, looking into the whys and
house of the actual disaster itself, or you know, it
did mention the fact that, you know, there's still potential litigation,
still accountability be to be had because there has been
(03:07):
very very little. So I thought it was a brilliant
movie and a lot of people will understand a bit
more about Pike when they see it.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
It was a bit of a political hatchet job on
John Key. Let's be honest about it, and was it
over the top just Cinda with her cameo role being herself.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Look, you know, I didn't direct the film. I wasn't
part of it, but it just it just laid out
the facts as they were delivered to the families through
that period. It was a difficult time. I don't think
anyone will if you're a West Coast, a family member
or you know, a politician. There was nothing good come
from this and there's been no accountability and I think
(03:45):
that's it's you know, it's something that has to be
resolved over time.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Shippy, he's too busy to appear on this show this month.
I'm just stuck. I'm just left with you and Joe Luxton.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Did you offend him more? No?
Speaker 1 (03:58):
No, I honestly, I honestly don't know. And Chloe hasn't
answered my calls either, And I wouldn't waste my breath
trying to talk to two party Mary. You must be
it must be such a nightmare for Chippy. I see
he's making some noises about them not being fit for government.
Of course they're not fit for government, Damien.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
If you open both your eyes and both your ears
as much as you open your mouth, then you know,
I don't probably see it as a balance show. But
you know they probably think that it's not balance, so
you know why bother. I mean, I'll have a word
with Chippy and say, look, it's good to go on
there and try and keep him honest, but it's a
hard job.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Do you think he's making the right noises about at
least he's to be fair to him. He's come out
and said they're not fit for government at the moment.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Who's that Chip said? I mean and motion to party
may I look, there a whole lot of issues that
they have to work through. And you know, while we
should comment on the policies from parties, you know, getting
into the directions of different parties, it happens to everyone
from time to time, having the National Party soon, so
you know you've got to be careful. What goes around
comes around in politics. And you know, democracy is should
(05:09):
be a healthy place for robust ideas, robust policies. And
there'll be a whole lot of people, more more diverse
range of people in Parliament now than there was in
the past, will be in the future, and we just
those parties have to work through, you know, how they
cooperate among themselves as well as with other parties.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Diversity, But at what cost I give you? Benjamin Doyle, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Mean, so what about that? You know there'll be people
make mistakes in life, people make mistakes and politics. I
don't think we have to victimize people. You know, we
just have to move on and try and have some
understanding as to why people do make mistakes and try
and help them to minimize them.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
See that was the beauty of the old first past
the post, Daman, and you've worked under that system. I
think you have happened to first it was no, no,
at least when you first pass the post, you had
to convince your electorate how many tens of thousands of
people that you were a worthy candidate, and it was
at least a vetting process because let's be honest, list MPs,
back bench list MPs are as useful as Australia on
(06:15):
one of your trail mikes.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Oh come on that. Look, you know, listing piece is
part of the system. You know, I've always believed in
constituency work and accountability, but we have MMP, we have
list MPs. On one of them at the moment. You know,
people have to get out and work and connect and
communicate in the best way they know how. And I
guess I've had the benefit of being a constituency MP
(06:41):
and understanding the importance of that. Not everyone does, but
you know, MMP will evolve as will in parliament.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Does a list MP like being semi retired.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
No, it certainly isn't. And you know, I guess I
go to a whole lot more places around the country.
I've always traveled a lot, but you know, following portfolio
work and looking after as a laboring P West Coast
Tasman and up around Marlborough and Cala Colra and you
know down around Otago as well. So you know, we're
all traveling, probably more than we'd like, but we do
(07:16):
have to keep in touch with people and bring that
representation along with leadership into parliament.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Damien, I kind of thanks for your Tom. We're going
to see at the christ Show later this week.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Look, I'm fortunately I can't be there. I am currently
in Ireland talking with farmers, talking with people about trade
and where things are moving, and everyone's seeing a bit
of a softing in the dairy price at the moment internationally,
and that's that's a worry for I guess for anyone
in the dairy industry and for our country.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
I didn't realize you're an island as we make this call.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Well, well, you can be anywhere in the world on
a phone called.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yes, I realized that, Dailien. But are we getting Is
it a waste of time sending a back bench list
MP to Ireland?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Well I don't think so. I think that what I
can bring back to my party, what I can bring
back into Parliament and a whole lot of people I
talk to on a weekly basis, will be valuable, I
have to say, being very privileged to and always do
get to talk to a whole lot of useful and
(08:22):
people who people who like New Zealand. There's a lot
of crossover, not just with Ireland, actually with the whole
of Europe in our free trade agreement, which I was
very happy two is offering us a huge number of opportunities.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
All right, I think the toll call is about to
run out to Ireland. Damien O'Connor, you surprise me daily. Okay,
thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Good thanks, Damie.
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