January 21, 2026 • 39 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Mark Mitchell, Brent Mountfort, Sandra Faulkner, Christopher Luxon, Jane Smith, Peter Newbold, and Chris Russell.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch are the latest from the land. It's The Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Farmlands helping to keep
animals fed and thriving.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Long where the mad good Afternoon, New Zealand. I wish
I could say it was a good afternoon. This is
the Country. I'm Jamie McKay. Tragic scenes unfolding at Mount
Monganui by that famous camp site. We're going to go
(00:36):
there right away to kick off the show. And thank
you very much for his time to the Minister for
Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell. Mark, I know you're
limited and what you can say at this stage. It's
very fluid situation. What's the latest you've got.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Hi, Jamie, It is fluid. I'm down at the Mount
mong Annuity Seth Saving Club which is where we're based
out of. It's an ongoing operation. It's lead by fence,
but you know a risk police are in there and
it's been overseen by a Settle defense and we're just
working through. We're just accounting and working out who's not
accounted for and the teams are working as quickly as
(01:15):
they can to try to color people.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
And I know you can't put a number on this,
but we're talking several people.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah, I can't put a number on it because it's
it is fluid, but yes, it is okay.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
So we've got that tragedy unfolding. We've also got other
people around the country unaccounted for this storm, this reign
event is becoming a real issue.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yes, and they all relate to let's be honest with you.
I just think for everyone listening, it's just although we've
got the tropical low has now gone offshore, there's a
little there's a tail of it that will be coming
over the South Island and we're watching closely down in Tasman.
But just the ground has set, and so just to
(02:01):
be aware that any areas, any hills or anything that
appear unstable, or just to be aware that there's still
that the slip risk has not gone away. And of
course that always makes it more challenging and difficult for
our contractors and our first responders when they're trying to
get in and help them recover people. That's the case
here obviously in Towernor because we've got two scenes at
(02:24):
the moment where where there's recovery going on.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, and also obviously not just limited to the Bay
of plenty. Northland's had rainfall amounts of biblical proportions. We
know the East coast getting hammered as well. Can you
give us a general overview of what you're hearing.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Yeah, so that's right. Northland. We're in a local state
of emergency up there.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
We had.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
We had Teams Corrimandor, we had Hawraki, we had Bay
Plenty and Tirafity, all in local states for emergency. Most
of them are still in the local states emergency because
they're still we're still assessing and still in many regards
and response before we move into recover. All of them
have come out of a red rain warning now, which
is good. And like I said, we're just sort of
(03:07):
dealing with that tale down on the South at the
top of the South Island. Just a shout out, I mean,
because you know, of course our farmers get hit. But
I drove through from Tham's Coromandel and then how RECKI
according to both the OCZ last night we drove through
to Tower on the late last night. We had trees
sort of coming down everywhere, and your farmer's out there
cutting and moving and making sure people are supported. But
(03:31):
so you know, just a big shout out to our
Royal Communities Yal Trust that always step up and are
there to help and support the community when we have
these events come through.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Well Mark Mitchell, I know you're a very busy man.
You've got a lot on your plate. Thanks for some
of your time today.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Thanks Jamie.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
There we go, Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and
Recovery right on the show today. It's a bit like
the situation unfortunately in Mount Manganuis. It's a rather fluid
run sheet today, but we're going to catch up very shortly.
Sorry I didn't get to your first guys as planned,
but I had to take Mark Mitchell when he was available.
(04:05):
Brent Mountford, who is Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president
and Sandra Faulkner, well known to the country listeners Gisbon
based National board member of Federated Farmers. Obviously a farmer
on the ground and there are lots of water, lots
of flooding on the East coast. Also on the show
today the Prime Minister. He is coming out of a
(04:28):
meeting to chat to us. We'll see if he's got
an update on the situation in Mount Monganui. I don't
suppose he has, because he's getting all of his information
from his minister, Mark Mitchell. Jane Smith's on the show
North Otago Farmer. It's hard to believe, isn't it with
all this water around the country and the flooding and
the slips, that North Otago South Canterbury actually quite dry.
(04:50):
Chris Russell's our assie correspondent, and if I get time,
Peter Neuball will take our monthly look at the state
of the rural real estate market. But up next we're off.
We're still in the Bay of Plenty and we're off
to the Gisbane East Coast Region. Welcome back to the
(05:24):
Country Quarter after twelve shows brought to you by farm Lands. Yeah,
trouble around the country today after massive rainfall and the
associated slips. We're going to stay in the Bay of Plenty.
Brent Mountfort is the Federated Farmer's President for Bay of Plenty.
But before we go to home, let's go to the
(05:45):
East Coast, Gisbane East Coast Region. Sandra Faulkner, local farmer,
National board member for Federated Farmers. We'll start with you, Sandra,
how a thing? How are underfoot conditions?
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Wow?
Speaker 6 (05:57):
It's pretty boddy. We've underfoot, to be fair about it.
But I don't know if you can hear in the background.
I'm standing next to to some motive posh and the
takatas are going nuts. It is a glorious day right here.
But I'm in gum boots pretty much up to my
ankles and land is moving around us.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah. Well, I guess the good news is this will
aid in the recovery a fine spell.
Speaker 6 (06:19):
Oh absolutely, And of course it's just fantastic for morale
as much as anything you have for those that are
out helping, and you are a huge shout out to those
teams that have watched over our districts and our communities
through the hours of darkness, because that's when it's toughest.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I don't like to make comparisons to Gabrielle, but it
is the mother of all recent storms anyhow. I mean,
the numbers for rainfall in some cases exceed Gabrielle in
some areas. What about you, guys.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Yeah, well, we're nearly five hundred mills since Christmas. That's
half our annual rainfall in two or three weeks. So
it's a bit crazy. And I know, Minister Mitchell was
saying earlier land subsidence, you know, slipping where water has
got into places where it probably shouldn't be in vath quantities.
(07:14):
We are going to see ongoing damage. This is going
to be a creeping damage. I suspect as it becomes
a parent.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, you're dead right. It's not exactly as it's not
exactly as though it just dries out and you don't
have to worry about landslips.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
It's a real issue.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Okay, let's go to the Bay of Plenty. In fact,
he is very much eastern Bay of Plenty. He's farming.
That's where are you farming? Sorry, Brent? Apologies?
Speaker 7 (07:38):
Yeah, Matatar, thank you.
Speaker 8 (07:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (07:41):
So I'm up in the hills. Basically, there's a hill
range that runs from Rua to the coast and I'm
up on that so on one side of my out
back towards the western Bay and on.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
And don't you just love mobile coverage in this country?
If we still got your brains? Okay, Well, just hopefully
Brent will come back to life in the meantime. Sandra,
you've got a back for time here.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Yeah, no, absolutely, And I think probably key messaging today
is as a shout out to those teams that are
still supporting families and communities that have been cut off.
Access obviously has gone by road in a lot of
cases overnight there were small communities up the coast here
(08:30):
that lost both the power and their telecommunications. So that's
when these events get really lonely, when you feel like
you're doing it on their own. So yeah, the teams
that have been supporting outstanding, and you mentioned Gabriel. For us,
it's actually putting everything we learned, everything that's Gabriel taught us,
(08:51):
putting all that in place. So that's super important for
bismon tivity key now is going to be a yes,
of course, we lost access to the north through the
Gorge through State Iowa two a week ago. That's now
going to be compounded by this event. Never mind the
fact that the crews are just not going to be
(09:13):
on site to be continuing to work on that gorge.
So for producers, our fresh produce, livestock going to market,
and just families disconnected with that Gorge road out, well,
it's a real issue in a bit of a major
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
The Gorge road is going to be out for months.
I hear rather than weeks and then the state. I
was at thirty five the other one and going right round.
That's out at the moment, so the only access is
really from the south. I think we might have Brent
Mountford back on from Hello, Brent, have you climbed to
a top of a hill somewhere for me?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Look?
Speaker 7 (09:52):
Connectivities mostly another discussion for another day.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
Absolutely great discussion today, I was only two great discussion
to that.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Well, well, Brent, there'll be there'll be a lot less
traffic passing through Marta Tar, I guess simply because of
the the blockage and the gorge.
Speaker 7 (10:11):
Yeah, that's right, That's exactly right, because that you know,
it's the main trunk line between the port, you know,
you know our main export port and Toto and in Gisbon.
You know, it's a real consent because there's a lot
of and I'm guessing has touched on this, there's a
lot of produce that has to get up our weight
because this is there's a lot of people up our
(10:33):
weight that Gisbon sends this way fresh produce to sell.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Absolutely, and I know that the Kiwi fruit industry is
very worried about getting that road clad State Highway too.
I think it is before Kiwi fruit harvest begins. Okay, Brent,
you've been talking to some of your farmers in the
Bay are plenty. What are they telling you? What are
you hearing?
Speaker 7 (10:50):
So up in the Western Bay so cutty cuffy and
in that area there they got a lot of rain
and it was sort of more like coramandel which really
got wet, interesting enough, only about twenty k's away. One
of my other farmers who's close and against the crime
ice there, they've only got one hundred and ten mills,
you know. But that was talking to them before six
(11:12):
o'clock last night. I haven't next seen the numbers since.
But some of the areas we were worried about down
on the planes here, they didn't get the water we did,
so it tended to fall up in the hill. So
we got over two hundred and forty mills here.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Yeah, And I got a text and from Jeff Crawford
up in Northland, who we spoke to on yesterday's show.
He's saying they're up over six hundred mills in Northland.
So these have been horrendous rainfall numbers. Hey, guys, look
I've got to go. I've just got it. This is
a moving feast today. I've just got a text in
from the Prime Minister, so I don't mean to drop
Federated Farmers for the PM, but he's on a busy
(11:48):
time frame as well.
Speaker 7 (11:50):
Could I just put one thing out yes, if anyone's
got any concerns and is worried, there's two numbers. One
is they can call eight hundred Farming, which has been
rated Farmers or the Rule sup Port Trust, which is
eight hundred seven eight seven two five four.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yep, you Federated Farmers. You're doing a great job. Thanks
for your time. Guys. There we go, Sandra, not Sandra,
Sandra Faulkner and Brent Mountfitot from Federated Farmer. It's going
to take a break, get the PM on after Thatded
Good twenty four after twelve year with the country brought
(12:32):
to you by Farmlands. The Prime Minister joins us Christoph
Lux and we were due to chat at eleven fifteen.
You postponed it so we could be as up to
date as we can with the tragedy that's unfolding at
Mount Monganui. I know that you're getting your information from
your man on the ground, Mark Mitchell. We've spoken to him,
but this is a tragedy unfolding.
Speaker 9 (12:54):
Yeah, good asening, Jamie, Yeah absolutely. I mean we're very
aware that there are some people unaccounted for and obvious
see there'll be a very worrying time for them and
their families and everyone affected. There's a full court press.
We're doing everything we can on the ground, providing support
to the campground staff and all the visitors then since
been responded to us as Mark would have alluded to
police and fireing, emergency, land search and rescue, Saint John.
(13:17):
There's even geotech experts being flowing and right now as well.
So the roads are closed. We just asked that people
stay away and avoid those areas. But clearly a very
deeply distressing event in Our top priority right now is
to make sure that we can ensure the safety and
well being of as many people as possible, and obviously
we'll keep sharing updates as we can.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Actually, I just want to give Mark Mitchell a pat
on the back. Not only is he doing a good
job with police, but he's an energizer bunny. He is
everywhere when a country needs them. As Minister for Emergency
Management and Recovery.
Speaker 9 (13:47):
He's doing an outstanding job, and as I've said too
many times before, it's about getting the right person on
the right assignment at the right time. And Mark is
just a great, visible, upfront leader for the police and
also for HI agency management. This week I've had him
actually just moving around the country because you know, every
time there's a weather event, he gets there early, he
sits alongside the local mayors, he gets into the local
(14:09):
emergency control centers. It's not just the events we're seeing
obviously with this tragedy at Mount Monganui, but it's also
what's happened across the whole of the North Island in
the course of this last few days. And we've seen
an incredible response from local government working with Mark and NIMA,
but also our marai up and down the country have
been outstanding as well. And so yeah, there's still real
(14:30):
challenges in Northland, obviously the Coramandel and now the Bay
of Plenty and in the East Coast.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
You announced politics Worst Keep Secret yesterday election date November
the seventh, and I was jesting about this on yesterday's
show Prime Minister, about how you have to time it
around all black test matches. But there's an element of
truth to that.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Isn't that.
Speaker 9 (14:50):
Yeah, Look, I mean there's a number of considerations. At
the end of the day. Since probably nineteen ninety, we've
had twelve elections I think eight of the twelve I've
ended up in late October November, and essentially that's the
window that we've had the vast majority of our elections in.
And then within that window, what you're looking at is,
you know, school holidays, events across the country, you know,
(15:12):
and those sorts of things that you end up weighing
it up. So we've done the tradition which we do
in New Zealand, which I think is probably quite good convention.
It's not done in other countries, but we come out
early in the election year and say, lot, the data
is November the seventh. You know, I'm very clear about
what this election will be about. The choice I think
between a national and a labor lead governments are going
(15:34):
to be very very different and where they want more
taxes and capital game taxes and all those things. We
want to want to punish people, want to reward people
for hard work and getting on. But at the end
of the day, now we get back to the job
of governing, because we've got a full year ahead of us,
and it's important. We got a lot more to do
in the course of this year.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Well, it's all about the feel good factor as well.
The economy will turn in your favor. Will see how
much it turns. And of course we do talk about
the all blacks, the feel good then they gets when
the all blacks go. Well, have you thought on a
light tonight, because it's a bit of a bad news
sad news day of doing a bit of a Trump
and annexing Tony Brown for the good of the nation.
Have you thought of that?
Speaker 9 (16:12):
He's a very talented guy, Tony Brown. But look, I
don't know what kind of employment contract he would have.
It'll be up for New Zealand Rugby to talk to
or work through. But look, I mean I think for
our on our view, what we're really encouraged about is
that you know, we have been through some really difficult
and tough times. You heard me say last year it's
two speed and a lot of your listeners in the
(16:32):
rural community and the primary industries and sectors we're doing
much better than the rest of New Zealand. But we're
now seeing growth and services and exports and tourism and
manufacturing and even services data yesterday was really positive. So
you know, the good news is the recovery's coming.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Now.
Speaker 9 (16:47):
The question is, how do we not just watch a
recovery happen, how do we actually shape into some important
things that actually make this country much wealthier into the future.
And that's the really exciting work.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Christopher Luxon, thanks for your time. I know you've taken
time out of a meeting to chat to us today.
I really do appreciate you making yourself available.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Pleasure Jamie.
Speaker 9 (17:06):
Goodly with you and a happy new year and all
the best for great twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yep, there we go, Prime Minister Christopher Luxen. Yep, just
reiterating what I was saying about Mark Mitchell. He does
do a great job. And if you've just joined us
and wondering what we're talking about at Mount Monganui, well
here's the latest from the Herald. Several people are unaccounted
for after a massive landslide destroyed parts of the iconic
(17:32):
Mount Monganui campground. We all know it, We've all been
there before. Tents were flattened and a campervan was sent
into the hot puls and I'm sure many of you
have been to the hot pulls at the mount as well.
Emergency services are desperately lifting debris in search of campers.
They won't or can't put a number on it now,
but we are talking several people who are unaccounted for.
(17:56):
Are tragedy unfolding at Mount Monganui. We're going to take
a break on the other the side of it are
rural news and sports news. Before the end of the hour,
Jane Smith in North Otago, Chris Russell in Australia and
if I can squeeze him, and I want to talk
real estate with Peter Newbold from PGG Rights in real Estate.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
To be.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Welcome back to the country. Brought to you by Farmlands
twenty seven away from one. The latest we've got on
our Newsboss machine. A major emergency operations underway in Mount Monganui.
A landslide roared into the beachside holiday park at the
base of the mountain about nine thirty am and several
people are still unaccounted for. Prime Minister Christopher Ukhsen says
(18:49):
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell is at the mount and
the Government is doing everything to support impacted people. Our
thoughts are with you. Here's Michelle with the latest and
rural news.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
What the country's world us with Cod Cadet New Zealand's
leading right on lawn bower Bread, visit steel for dot cot,
dot zip for your locals doggist.
Speaker 8 (19:10):
And yeah Jamie, just updating the latest on though searching
through the mud apparently searches it digging through mud to
find those missing people in Mount Monganoi and that slip
at the moment and children are believed to be among
those missing in Mount Monganoy on the landslide. If you
want to keep up with the live feed, you can
go to the Herald dot co dot n Z. They've
got a live feed operating there on the disaster at
the moment. But keep an eye on those weather warnings.
(19:31):
Also listen to local civil defense and if you're in trouble,
as Brent said, give rural support, trust a care or
local feeds. If you're in the farming district.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Yep, don't be afraid to reach out if you need
a hand. Just before I forget all the rain, all
the rain that's happening around the country, especially in the
North Island, means one that's actually there's an irony. It's
causing all this damage, yet it's going to be good
in the long run for farmers because they can grow grass.
Someone else who also likes grass growing as John mcavinnie,
(20:02):
not only because he's sheet and beef farmer at Waititamo,
but because he sells the cub cadet right on MOA's Well,
we've got one to give away this week on the Country.
When do we announce the winner?
Speaker 8 (20:12):
Monday?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Monday, We'll get John on to announce the winner. So
you've got to what close.
Speaker 8 (20:16):
The play Sunday midnight night.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
If you're silly enough to be up at midnight on Sunday,
make sure you enter before then. So go to the
Country dot co dot nz, our website or are to
enter or text the keyword cub cub to five double
nine will send you a link to enter. It is
the cub cadet LX five or seven right on MOA,
(20:39):
valued at six four hundred dollars. It is a beauty.
We've had a play round with it. It literally can
turn on a dime, turns round on itself. You are
going no matter how big your lawns are or your
paddocks are, on your hobby, on your Lifestyle Live sentence
block one of these cub cadet right on MOA's will
sort you out. We will take a break. Have I
(21:00):
do on sports teach?
Speaker 1 (21:01):
No, I haven't right sports on the country with AFCO
invested in your farming success.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Oh, I was nearly in trouble with AFCO there. So
we were talking about the Prime Minister annexing Tony Brown.
Maybe we could do a free trade deal with South
African rugby and get him back. Well, Tony Brown is
keeping his All Black coaching aspirations alive, just not now.
The former First five has confirmed he intends to honor
his spring Box assistant contract until next year's World Cup.
(21:31):
He missed out on the All Blacks role in twenty
twenty three. He had hitched his wagon loyally to Jamie
Joseph and Jamie's bid failed, so he wasn't in Razors
ticket even though Razor approached him apparently in the past
few months. I'm a bit disappointed that he's not going
to or it looks like you don't know what's going
to happen, but it looks like he's not going to
(21:53):
be in the coaching team because he plays in our
Wednesday Afternoon golf group.
Speaker 8 (21:57):
I was going to say, can't you just give him
away elbow and send him in the right wreck.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Well, no, no, everyone's elbowing. But it'd be good to
have an all blacks coach in your golfing group. You
get lots of good goss then if you had that.
But anyhow, all the best, Tony Brown. We need you,
your country needs you. Up next Jane Smith. She's a
(22:27):
North Otago farmer, former winner of the Balanced Farm Environment Awards.
Her name is Jane Smith. And Jane, while it is
flooding in the North North Otago, where you are is
pretty dry.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Good afternoon, Jamie. Well, yes, and no so closer to
the coast, so near the township of Bomaru up against
the Waiteki River and South Canterbury, they have certainly been
very dry. We were, but we've had one hundred and
twenty odd mills and another inch last night so far
in twenty twenty six. So that's just really due to
our altitude. And he grabbed quite a lot of sort
(23:01):
of fog and and other bits and pieces as it
goes through. So we've been really lucky and it's been
great to see areas like the Hakatarameir valley. Who you know,
they had some big lamb sales yesterday up through the
Wai Techi Valley through a Marama Tarras. I mean, those
areas are just looking phenomenal. So I'm sure the price
of store lambs is going up by the day, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
I was going to say, how hot livestock prices at
the moment, and you wouldn't want to be buying store
lambs or store cattle because, as the old saying, a
farmer with a dollar in his pocket and some grass
and his paddock can be a dangerous beast.
Speaker 10 (23:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
Well, it's pretty exciting actually for the sector. And you
know it's funny as sheef and beef farmers were always
looking over our shoulders thinking surely this is you know,
something's going to hit us next, and this can't be true.
But you know, to use a Hollywood analogy, we've sort
of gone from silence of the lambs to more of
a game of who dares win, so basically who's dead
to remain passionate about sheef and beef farming. I mean,
it's really been a forty year struggle, hasn't it, Jamie.
(23:56):
But the sector isn't a really good place because of
course we've had to be highly efficient just in order
to you know, to keep the banks happy over the
last few years. And we're moving off the back teat
to the front foot Jamie and I really do hope
this is a new norm and we need to actually
capture capture those games. And I'd love to see some
you know, some really good conversations happen around the strategy
(24:18):
for the sector. We talk a lot about the structure
in terms of you know, processing, et cetera, an actual
strategy and some reinvestment or some deinvestment in some areas
as well to come up with a strategy. But we're
often you know, human nature is sort of like a
game of the money or the bag, and we tend
to sort of take the money rather than looking at
what we could do long term for our sector. But
it's certainly exciting to see you know, a pastor raise
(24:41):
free range protein getting what it deserves. Jamie.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I'd like to see some forestry conversions, i e. Conversions
from forestry carbon farms back to pasture where it should
have been in the first place.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
Absolutely, Jamie. And we're probably only a few few big
fires away from that, and I just I guess to
I watched interest or we were sort of actively involved
in a way with the western Victoria fires last week.
We've got a joint venture small Parandale startover in Skipton,
which is one hundred and sixty k's west of Melbourne.
And of course there's been four hundred thousand hectares in
(25:14):
Victoria and sort of northern New South Wales that has
been burnt last week and really scary to see, you know,
to see the destruction and the generations of work and
good land, and of course they don't have the type
of topsails that we have in New Zealand. But that's
been really scary, and I guess that sort of made
us realize even more so what could happen here if
you look at both the carbon forestry. I'm hesitant to
(25:37):
call it farming because it's not farming. The fact that
you know, again was very poor fire fire weed and
test control, sort of an abdication of any sort of dams,
et cetera or fire breaks, and plus the eight point
seven million hectors, it's under dock management, if you could
call it management, and again it is really scary and
(25:57):
something we need to be more proactive and Jamie, so yeah,
I would love to see conversions of those areas back
to producing protein.
Speaker 7 (26:03):
Jamie.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Let's just finish with the election date. November. The seventh
worst kept secret in New Zealand was released yesterday. No
surprise that Christopher Luxen's going to give himself a long
run in because the economy is on the turn.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Well it's interesting, Jamie. I mean with what a nine
month month's gestation between now and the election, the actual
election date, it's scary to think what the parties might
give birth to come come November in terms of you know,
the Labor Party though they sort of are missing an
action at the moment. Most of the Greens are still
locked up and to party Mary, I guess it looks
like the two parties over, doesn't it. But it's it
(26:39):
was me. I would have done a muldoon and actually
called a snap election asap, because you know what, you
could save that the country in terms of time and
money rather than waiting you know, every wasting sorry eighteen
months every three years of an election cycle on sort
of pre and post election nonsense. I see Japan. The
female Prime Minister of in Japan called a snap election
(27:00):
last week, didn't she And it's in February, so that's
highly efficient and probably too short a window. But I
just think, gosh, we waste so much time and what
could be done in that time frame, Jamie, rather than
dithering round with electioneering and just again the cost of that.
I'd love to see it just straight away, Jamie. But
you know, really exciting in terms of what might you know,
what might be happening with the economy. I think there
is still some you know this, some business is really
(27:22):
hurting out there. It's very easy to be saying that
things are going well in and the farming sector, that gosh,
there's business. Small business is hurting out there. And you know,
the country's borrowing what is it, seventy five million dollars
a day just to just to tread water. So we
really need business growth. What is it one percent GDP
increases adds another eight hundred million dollars of tax takes.
(27:44):
So those type of figures are what we need to
see turning through Jamie. Between now and.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Then, well, you've got nine months to decide whether you're
going to stand Jane Smith, thanks for your time. We'll
catch you next month. Thank you, Sammy, Thank you Jane.
It is quarter away from on you with the Country
brought to you by Farmland's latest we've got out of
Mount Monganui is several people aren't accounted for after slips
crashed into Mount Monganui's popular beachside holiday park. Screams could
(28:11):
be heard as a part of the hill came down
at about nine point thirty of this morning. An eyewitness
reports an eye witness reports seeing people trying to dig
out a campsite building filled with dirt. They say girls
trapped in the campground toilet block managed to yell out
to their parents, and they saw a man whose wife
(28:32):
was also reportedly trapped. Now News Talks edb's sports reporter
and local legend Brian Kelly says a slip has already
had already taken out the ocean side of the path
to the summit of Mount Monganui. You've just passed me
a note, Mischelle. I'm not sure what the Mark Mitchell
Live at one pm on News Talks EDB with the
(28:54):
press conference updating the Mount Monganui situation. Up next Peter
Newbolt on real estate and if I can find them
before the end of the hour, our Elsie correspondent Chris
Russell as well. Monthly here on the Country, we tell
(29:20):
you how much your farm is worth, and it's a
fair bet to say. Peter Newbold GMFPGG writes in real Estate,
is it worth a bit more this month than it
was last month?
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Yeah, it's interesting, Jamie. You know, the last probably eight weeks,
we've seen a lot of momentum and probably some of
the sales and the actual results I think all through
the country have been well ahead of where everyone anticipated.
And I see the momentum continuing. And when you look
at a look ahead at all the listings come into
(29:54):
the market and I guess where buyers headspaces, I think
it's looking really really good.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Traditionally, autumn is the best time, well the most favored
time to sell your farm, list your farm, So if
you're thinking about doing that, you really need to be
getting prepared right now.
Speaker 4 (30:11):
Yeah, well that's right, And that's one thing we have
seen is a lot of activity in that with autumn
sales being prepared. And I think we'll see your number
come to the market early and I think that's where
we're going to see some real momentum in and around
the sheep and beef sector. And you know, if you
look on the other side, all those farm returns are
looking really strong and that's only going to assist that
(30:33):
segment which has been I guess, you know, pre November
has been a little bit quiet, but we've seen over
the last couple of months on real activity there.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I heard one of your agents down in Southland speaking
on the local Hokanui show talking about dairy farms. He
can't get enough, he said, he hasn't got any to sell.
As soon as they come to the market, they're selling.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
Is that correct, Yeah, pretty much so, and especially the
quality ones. There's a lot of interest.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
You know.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
I guess that birepool is strong and you know you've
just seen recently, you know, the dairy prices firming again.
So look, that market strong and there's a lot of
people that are wanting to get into it. So yet
now he's one hundred percent right.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Sheep and beef of course on a bit of a
high at the moment. In fact, on a real high.
Sheep and beef prices have never been this high. Is
that reflecting an interest in farms and farm values?
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Oh? Look, I think it's one of the key drivers
at the moment is that you know, you know yourself.
You go out into the field now and you know
a lot of farmers have got a you know, a
big smile in their face. They're enjoying things and long
mat continue. And definitely it's having impact on people wanting
to either you know, expand their current footprint or get
(31:48):
into that industry. And if you look ahead, you know,
all those indicators look really strong. So yeah, it's had
a big impact on the sheep and beef sector and
I think it will continue, which is great.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
I was in the Bay a place last week and
doing a bit of talking about Kiwi fruit she there's
an industry on a bit of a high at the moment.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Yeah, it is, and you know we've often talked about it,
and we're just starting to see science now of properties
come to the market and interest from buyers. So it's
been probably slow in that respect, but now I think
everything's settled and I think we're going to see quite
a bit of activity in that. So if you add
up all the various sectors you know, sheep, beef, dairy, hought,
(32:29):
they're all in a fantastic space and I believe the
future looks really good, and it'll help a lot of
those farmers who want to retire or they've got succession
or want to expand. Things are looking great.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
What about the elephant in the room? Is this a
past thing? Is it history now? The carbon farming, the
forestry conversion.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
I'm gonna be careful here, but I'd like to say
hopefully it is. We can't afford any more of our
good land to go onto trees. Definitely, though to answer
your question, yes, things have slowed. We're not seeing a
lot of activity or very little activity in that space,
so it's at the moment, i'd say it's a bit
of a non event.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
So things are certainly looking positive. And I think the
really positive thing about farm sales these days, and it's
long overdue as well, people are now buying on yield
to make a profit rather than for capital gain, and
that's long been a bit of a bugbear for farming.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
Yeah, and I think it's really clear that's what's happening
at the moment. And I think the other thing that
helps that is if you look at the future, you know,
all those indicators look really strong over the next couple
of years, so that helps people make decisions and gives
them some I guess good feelings about what's ahead, so
they're happy to go and invest in. And as you said,
(33:46):
they're definitely investing on a yield basis rather than a
capital gain, which is good I think long term.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Peter Newbolt, thanks for time. We'll catch you again next month.
Speaker 4 (33:55):
Cheers Jamie.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
It is stay away from one the country.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Mark Mitchell is going to be he was kicked off
our show. He's going to be live at one the
one pm news on News talks 'db a life press
conference from Mount Monganui. A tragedy unfolding, several people unaccounted for,
just a text and here where is it? We've heard
from one Balanced Farm Environment Awards winner in the form
(34:22):
of Jane Smith. Another grant Weller golfing mate of mine
has just sent me one saying reminding me, scolding me,
almost grant Jamie. Unless the store sellers are receiving good returns,
there will not be any store stock in the future. Remember,
we take the risk of having to carry a u
for twelve months of feeding and the risk of loss
through storms et cetera, lamming. The risk for finishes is
(34:45):
low and as low in comparison and their margins at
the moment are high. Yes, long overdue, good returns for
everyone across the board. Long may it continue. Radio up
next Chris Russell to wrap the country? Is there Ossie
(35:07):
correspondent Chris Russell back for another year on the country.
He's going to get a long service meat all this man? Hey,
Chris a Zempek. The weight loss drug a threat or
an opportunity for red meat, particularly beef.
Speaker 10 (35:21):
Yes, well, this is a debate that's going on because
there's been there's a big confidence going on at the
moment in America where they're in Nashville where they're talking
about how the total demand for food in America is
dropping about ten to fifteen percent because so many people
and they're saying up to half Americans are now on
(35:42):
one of these GLP one drugs, which remember they found
the Gilly monster lizard actually a longer time between meals
who didn't feel hungry, so they're giving us his enzymes.
And in fact they're saying, well, there are people are
going to stop buying food that could affect their export
and because people are eating eight hundred less calories a day.
(36:04):
But in fact there's another debate that in fact says
that protein is going to become more important because neutue
in density and portion control and so on is now
something that wasn't important to America and it is now.
So we might see not only a main maintenance of
our market, but also high quality piece quality markets improved,
(36:26):
so that means they might start taking more of our
high quality meat. We could act to the value of
our market. So you know, this has got to be
really a marketing dream for US. It's our biggest market
by far, and everyone's hoping, well, maybe win JB could
be a win for us rather than a.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Lost Chris Russell, let's move from beef to lamb. Australia
Day Monday, Ossies eat Lamb. You do a great job
promoting it.
Speaker 10 (36:50):
Yeah, well, I talked about this was Hamish and this
year's add is no different to any other year. It's
a fantastic ad. It lifts our LAMB sales about twenty
five percent around that time domestically, which is an amazing result.
And of course they're just classic ads. I don't know
who guess that contract, but I hope they pay them
well because they do an awesome job. This year focusing
(37:13):
on the fact that Australia's dropped out of the top
ten most desirable places to live, and of course sam
Kekeovich is saying, well, Lamb's going to be the cure
for that. It'll make everyone want to come back to
with their lab So enjoy the ad. It's very very
effective advertising.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Jomie, Chris Russell, thank you very much for your time today.
Today is a rare event in Australia, only the third
time the century you have a national day of mourning
for the Bondai tragedy. Good luck with that. We'll catch
them back next week.
Speaker 10 (37:40):
No worry Shami.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Pour away from one wrapping the country yet, Mark Mitchure,
as we said, we'll be live on news Talks, they'd
be at one pm press conference about the tragedy unfolding
at Mount Monganui. All sorts of rainfall records have been
in some cases broken and some biblical. Note was Jeff Crawford,
who we spoke to on the show yesterday in Northland
(38:04):
six hundred mills since Sunday in parts of Northland Met
Services saying many places had record breaking rainfall yesterday. He
said Taonga recorded two hundred and seventy four mills millimeters,
the most since records began since nineteen ten. And on
(38:26):
a brighter note to finish the show today, it's been
a bit of a sad show in a lot of ways. Remember,
if you want to win the cub cadet right on
MOA worth six three hundred and eighty nine dollars, go
to the Country dot co dot nz to enter, or
text the keyword cub to five double nine and we'll
send you the link to enter. Our thoughts are with
(38:47):
the people around the country being affected by these terrible
floods and slips.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Catch you're the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie Mackay. Thanks to farmlands helping to keep
animals fed and thriving,
Catch are the latest from the land. It's The Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Farmlands helping to keep
animals fed and thriving.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Long where the mad good Afternoon, New Zealand. I wish
I could say it was a good afternoon. This is
the Country. I'm Jamie McKay. Tragic scenes unfolding at Mount
Monganui by that famous camp site. We're going to go
(00:36):
there right away to kick off the show. And thank
you very much for his time to the Minister for
Emergency Management and Recovery, Mark Mitchell. Mark, I know you're
limited and what you can say at this stage. It's
very fluid situation. What's the latest you've got.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Hi, Jamie, It is fluid. I'm down at the Mount
mong Annuity Seth Saving Club which is where we're based
out of. It's an ongoing operation. It's lead by fence,
but you know a risk police are in there and
it's been overseen by a Settle defense and we're just
working through. We're just accounting and working out who's not
accounted for and the teams are working as quickly as
(01:15):
they can to try to color people.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
And I know you can't put a number on this,
but we're talking several people.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah, I can't put a number on it because it's
it is fluid, but yes, it is okay.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
So we've got that tragedy unfolding. We've also got other
people around the country unaccounted for this storm, this reign
event is becoming a real issue.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yes, and they all relate to let's be honest with you.
I just think for everyone listening, it's just although we've
got the tropical low has now gone offshore, there's a
little there's a tail of it that will be coming
over the South Island and we're watching closely down in Tasman.
But just the ground has set, and so just to
(02:01):
be aware that any areas, any hills or anything that
appear unstable, or just to be aware that there's still
that the slip risk has not gone away. And of
course that always makes it more challenging and difficult for
our contractors and our first responders when they're trying to
get in and help them recover people. That's the case
here obviously in Towernor because we've got two scenes at
(02:24):
the moment where where there's recovery going on.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, and also obviously not just limited to the Bay
of plenty. Northland's had rainfall amounts of biblical proportions. We
know the East coast getting hammered as well. Can you
give us a general overview of what you're hearing.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
Yeah, so that's right. Northland. We're in a local state
of emergency up there.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
We had.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
We had Teams Corrimandor, we had Hawraki, we had Bay
Plenty and Tirafity, all in local states for emergency. Most
of them are still in the local states emergency because
they're still we're still assessing and still in many regards
and response before we move into recover. All of them
have come out of a red rain warning now, which
is good. And like I said, we're just sort of
(03:07):
dealing with that tale down on the South at the
top of the South Island. Just a shout out, I mean,
because you know, of course our farmers get hit. But
I drove through from Tham's Coromandel and then how RECKI
according to both the OCZ last night we drove through
to Tower on the late last night. We had trees
sort of coming down everywhere, and your farmer's out there
cutting and moving and making sure people are supported. But
(03:31):
so you know, just a big shout out to our
Royal Communities Yal Trust that always step up and are
there to help and support the community when we have
these events come through.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Well Mark Mitchell, I know you're a very busy man.
You've got a lot on your plate. Thanks for some
of your time today.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Thanks Jamie.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
There we go, Mark Mitchell, Minister for Emergency Management and
Recovery right on the show today. It's a bit like
the situation unfortunately in Mount Manganuis. It's a rather fluid
run sheet today, but we're going to catch up very shortly.
Sorry I didn't get to your first guys as planned,
but I had to take Mark Mitchell when he was available.
(04:05):
Brent Mountford, who is Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty president
and Sandra Faulkner, well known to the country listeners Gisbon
based National board member of Federated Farmers. Obviously a farmer
on the ground and there are lots of water, lots
of flooding on the East coast. Also on the show
today the Prime Minister. He is coming out of a
(04:28):
meeting to chat to us. We'll see if he's got
an update on the situation in Mount Monganui. I don't
suppose he has, because he's getting all of his information
from his minister, Mark Mitchell. Jane Smith's on the show
North Otago Farmer. It's hard to believe, isn't it with
all this water around the country and the flooding and
the slips, that North Otago South Canterbury actually quite dry.
(04:50):
Chris Russell's our assie correspondent, and if I get time,
Peter Neuball will take our monthly look at the state
of the rural real estate market. But up next we're off.
We're still in the Bay of Plenty and we're off
to the Gisbane East Coast Region. Welcome back to the
(05:24):
Country Quarter after twelve shows brought to you by farm Lands. Yeah,
trouble around the country today after massive rainfall and the
associated slips. We're going to stay in the Bay of Plenty.
Brent Mountfort is the Federated Farmer's President for Bay of Plenty.
But before we go to home, let's go to the
(05:45):
East Coast, Gisbane East Coast Region. Sandra Faulkner, local farmer,
National board member for Federated Farmers. We'll start with you, Sandra,
how a thing? How are underfoot conditions?
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Wow?
Speaker 6 (05:57):
It's pretty boddy. We've underfoot, to be fair about it.
But I don't know if you can hear in the background.
I'm standing next to to some motive posh and the
takatas are going nuts. It is a glorious day right here.
But I'm in gum boots pretty much up to my
ankles and land is moving around us.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah. Well, I guess the good news is this will
aid in the recovery a fine spell.
Speaker 6 (06:19):
Oh absolutely, And of course it's just fantastic for morale
as much as anything you have for those that are
out helping, and you are a huge shout out to those
teams that have watched over our districts and our communities
through the hours of darkness, because that's when it's toughest.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I don't like to make comparisons to Gabrielle, but it
is the mother of all recent storms anyhow. I mean,
the numbers for rainfall in some cases exceed Gabrielle in
some areas. What about you, guys.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Yeah, well, we're nearly five hundred mills since Christmas. That's
half our annual rainfall in two or three weeks. So
it's a bit crazy. And I know, Minister Mitchell was
saying earlier land subsidence, you know, slipping where water has
got into places where it probably shouldn't be in vath quantities.
(07:14):
We are going to see ongoing damage. This is going
to be a creeping damage. I suspect as it becomes
a parent.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, you're dead right. It's not exactly as it's not
exactly as though it just dries out and you don't
have to worry about landslips.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
It's a real issue.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Okay, let's go to the Bay of Plenty. In fact,
he is very much eastern Bay of Plenty. He's farming.
That's where are you farming? Sorry, Brent? Apologies?
Speaker 7 (07:38):
Yeah, Matatar, thank you.
Speaker 8 (07:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (07:41):
So I'm up in the hills. Basically, there's a hill
range that runs from Rua to the coast and I'm
up on that so on one side of my out
back towards the western Bay and on.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
And don't you just love mobile coverage in this country?
If we still got your brains? Okay, Well, just hopefully
Brent will come back to life in the meantime. Sandra,
you've got a back for time here.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
Yeah, no, absolutely, And I think probably key messaging today
is as a shout out to those teams that are
still supporting families and communities that have been cut off.
Access obviously has gone by road in a lot of
cases overnight there were small communities up the coast here
(08:30):
that lost both the power and their telecommunications. So that's
when these events get really lonely, when you feel like
you're doing it on their own. So yeah, the teams
that have been supporting outstanding, and you mentioned Gabriel. For us,
it's actually putting everything we learned, everything that's Gabriel taught us,
(08:51):
putting all that in place. So that's super important for
bismon tivity key now is going to be a yes,
of course, we lost access to the north through the
Gorge through State Iowa two a week ago. That's now
going to be compounded by this event. Never mind the
fact that the crews are just not going to be
(09:13):
on site to be continuing to work on that gorge.
So for producers, our fresh produce, livestock going to market,
and just families disconnected with that Gorge road out, well,
it's a real issue in a bit of a major
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
The Gorge road is going to be out for months.
I hear rather than weeks and then the state. I
was at thirty five the other one and going right round.
That's out at the moment, so the only access is
really from the south. I think we might have Brent
Mountford back on from Hello, Brent, have you climbed to
a top of a hill somewhere for me?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Look?
Speaker 7 (09:52):
Connectivities mostly another discussion for another day.
Speaker 6 (09:56):
Absolutely great discussion today, I was only two great discussion
to that.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Well, well, Brent, there'll be there'll be a lot less
traffic passing through Marta Tar, I guess simply because of
the the blockage and the gorge.
Speaker 7 (10:11):
Yeah, that's right, That's exactly right, because that you know,
it's the main trunk line between the port, you know,
you know our main export port and Toto and in Gisbon.
You know, it's a real consent because there's a lot
of and I'm guessing has touched on this, there's a
lot of produce that has to get up our weight
because this is there's a lot of people up our
(10:33):
weight that Gisbon sends this way fresh produce to sell.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Absolutely, and I know that the Kiwi fruit industry is
very worried about getting that road clad State Highway too.
I think it is before Kiwi fruit harvest begins. Okay, Brent,
you've been talking to some of your farmers in the
Bay are plenty. What are they telling you? What are
you hearing?
Speaker 7 (10:50):
So up in the Western Bay so cutty cuffy and
in that area there they got a lot of rain
and it was sort of more like coramandel which really
got wet, interesting enough, only about twenty k's away. One
of my other farmers who's close and against the crime
ice there, they've only got one hundred and ten mills,
you know. But that was talking to them before six
(11:12):
o'clock last night. I haven't next seen the numbers since.
But some of the areas we were worried about down
on the planes here, they didn't get the water we did,
so it tended to fall up in the hill. So
we got over two hundred and forty mills here.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Yeah, And I got a text and from Jeff Crawford
up in Northland, who we spoke to on yesterday's show.
He's saying they're up over six hundred mills in Northland.
So these have been horrendous rainfall numbers. Hey, guys, look
I've got to go. I've just got it. This is
a moving feast today. I've just got a text in
from the Prime Minister, so I don't mean to drop
Federated Farmers for the PM, but he's on a busy
(11:48):
time frame as well.
Speaker 7 (11:50):
Could I just put one thing out yes, if anyone's
got any concerns and is worried, there's two numbers. One
is they can call eight hundred Farming, which has been
rated Farmers or the Rule sup Port Trust, which is
eight hundred seven eight seven two five four.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yep, you Federated Farmers. You're doing a great job. Thanks
for your time. Guys. There we go, Sandra, not Sandra,
Sandra Faulkner and Brent Mountfitot from Federated Farmer. It's going
to take a break, get the PM on after Thatded
Good twenty four after twelve year with the country brought
(12:32):
to you by Farmlands. The Prime Minister joins us Christoph
Lux and we were due to chat at eleven fifteen.
You postponed it so we could be as up to
date as we can with the tragedy that's unfolding at
Mount Monganui. I know that you're getting your information from
your man on the ground, Mark Mitchell. We've spoken to him,
but this is a tragedy unfolding.
Speaker 9 (12:54):
Yeah, good asening, Jamie, Yeah absolutely. I mean we're very
aware that there are some people unaccounted for and obvious
see there'll be a very worrying time for them and
their families and everyone affected. There's a full court press.
We're doing everything we can on the ground, providing support
to the campground staff and all the visitors then since
been responded to us as Mark would have alluded to
police and fireing, emergency, land search and rescue, Saint John.
(13:17):
There's even geotech experts being flowing and right now as well.
So the roads are closed. We just asked that people
stay away and avoid those areas. But clearly a very
deeply distressing event in Our top priority right now is
to make sure that we can ensure the safety and
well being of as many people as possible, and obviously
we'll keep sharing updates as we can.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Actually, I just want to give Mark Mitchell a pat
on the back. Not only is he doing a good
job with police, but he's an energizer bunny. He is
everywhere when a country needs them. As Minister for Emergency
Management and Recovery.
Speaker 9 (13:47):
He's doing an outstanding job, and as I've said too
many times before, it's about getting the right person on
the right assignment at the right time. And Mark is
just a great, visible, upfront leader for the police and
also for HI agency management. This week I've had him
actually just moving around the country because you know, every
time there's a weather event, he gets there early, he
sits alongside the local mayors, he gets into the local
(14:09):
emergency control centers. It's not just the events we're seeing
obviously with this tragedy at Mount Monganui, but it's also
what's happened across the whole of the North Island in
the course of this last few days. And we've seen
an incredible response from local government working with Mark and NIMA,
but also our marai up and down the country have
been outstanding as well. And so yeah, there's still real
(14:30):
challenges in Northland, obviously the Coramandel and now the Bay
of Plenty and in the East Coast.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
You announced politics Worst Keep Secret yesterday election date November
the seventh, and I was jesting about this on yesterday's
show Prime Minister, about how you have to time it
around all black test matches. But there's an element of
truth to that.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Isn't that.
Speaker 9 (14:50):
Yeah, Look, I mean there's a number of considerations. At
the end of the day. Since probably nineteen ninety, we've
had twelve elections I think eight of the twelve I've
ended up in late October November, and essentially that's the
window that we've had the vast majority of our elections in.
And then within that window, what you're looking at is,
you know, school holidays, events across the country, you know,
(15:12):
and those sorts of things that you end up weighing
it up. So we've done the tradition which we do
in New Zealand, which I think is probably quite good convention.
It's not done in other countries, but we come out
early in the election year and say, lot, the data
is November the seventh. You know, I'm very clear about
what this election will be about. The choice I think
between a national and a labor lead governments are going
(15:34):
to be very very different and where they want more
taxes and capital game taxes and all those things. We
want to want to punish people, want to reward people
for hard work and getting on. But at the end
of the day, now we get back to the job
of governing, because we've got a full year ahead of us,
and it's important. We got a lot more to do
in the course of this year.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Well, it's all about the feel good factor as well.
The economy will turn in your favor. Will see how
much it turns. And of course we do talk about
the all blacks, the feel good then they gets when
the all blacks go. Well, have you thought on a
light tonight, because it's a bit of a bad news
sad news day of doing a bit of a Trump
and annexing Tony Brown for the good of the nation.
Have you thought of that?
Speaker 9 (16:12):
He's a very talented guy, Tony Brown. But look, I
don't know what kind of employment contract he would have.
It'll be up for New Zealand Rugby to talk to
or work through. But look, I mean I think for
our on our view, what we're really encouraged about is
that you know, we have been through some really difficult
and tough times. You heard me say last year it's
two speed and a lot of your listeners in the
(16:32):
rural community and the primary industries and sectors we're doing
much better than the rest of New Zealand. But we're
now seeing growth and services and exports and tourism and
manufacturing and even services data yesterday was really positive. So
you know, the good news is the recovery's coming.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Now.
Speaker 9 (16:47):
The question is, how do we not just watch a
recovery happen, how do we actually shape into some important
things that actually make this country much wealthier into the future.
And that's the really exciting work.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Christopher Luxon, thanks for your time. I know you've taken
time out of a meeting to chat to us today.
I really do appreciate you making yourself available.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Pleasure Jamie.
Speaker 9 (17:06):
Goodly with you and a happy new year and all
the best for great twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Yep, there we go, Prime Minister Christopher Luxen. Yep, just
reiterating what I was saying about Mark Mitchell. He does
do a great job. And if you've just joined us
and wondering what we're talking about at Mount Monganui, well
here's the latest from the Herald. Several people are unaccounted
for after a massive landslide destroyed parts of the iconic
(17:32):
Mount Monganui campground. We all know it, We've all been
there before. Tents were flattened and a campervan was sent
into the hot puls and I'm sure many of you
have been to the hot pulls at the mount as well.
Emergency services are desperately lifting debris in search of campers.
They won't or can't put a number on it now,
but we are talking several people who are unaccounted for.
(17:56):
Are tragedy unfolding at Mount Monganui. We're going to take
a break on the other the side of it are
rural news and sports news. Before the end of the hour,
Jane Smith in North Otago, Chris Russell in Australia and
if I can squeeze him, and I want to talk
real estate with Peter Newbold from PGG Rights in real Estate.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
To be.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Welcome back to the country. Brought to you by Farmlands
twenty seven away from one. The latest we've got on
our Newsboss machine. A major emergency operations underway in Mount Monganui.
A landslide roared into the beachside holiday park at the
base of the mountain about nine thirty am and several
people are still unaccounted for. Prime Minister Christopher Ukhsen says
(18:49):
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell is at the mount and
the Government is doing everything to support impacted people. Our
thoughts are with you. Here's Michelle with the latest and
rural news.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
What the country's world us with Cod Cadet New Zealand's
leading right on lawn bower Bread, visit steel for dot cot,
dot zip for your locals doggist.
Speaker 8 (19:10):
And yeah Jamie, just updating the latest on though searching
through the mud apparently searches it digging through mud to
find those missing people in Mount Monganoi and that slip
at the moment and children are believed to be among
those missing in Mount Monganoy on the landslide. If you
want to keep up with the live feed, you can
go to the Herald dot co dot n Z. They've
got a live feed operating there on the disaster at
the moment. But keep an eye on those weather warnings.
(19:31):
Also listen to local civil defense and if you're in trouble,
as Brent said, give rural support, trust a care or
local feeds. If you're in the farming district.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Yep, don't be afraid to reach out if you need
a hand. Just before I forget all the rain, all
the rain that's happening around the country, especially in the
North Island, means one that's actually there's an irony. It's
causing all this damage, yet it's going to be good
in the long run for farmers because they can grow grass.
Someone else who also likes grass growing as John mcavinnie,
(20:02):
not only because he's sheet and beef farmer at Waititamo,
but because he sells the cub cadet right on MOA's Well,
we've got one to give away this week on the Country.
When do we announce the winner?
Speaker 8 (20:12):
Monday?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Monday, We'll get John on to announce the winner. So
you've got to what close.
Speaker 8 (20:16):
The play Sunday midnight night.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
If you're silly enough to be up at midnight on Sunday,
make sure you enter before then. So go to the
Country dot co dot nz, our website or are to
enter or text the keyword cub cub to five double
nine will send you a link to enter. It is
the cub cadet LX five or seven right on MOA,
(20:39):
valued at six four hundred dollars. It is a beauty.
We've had a play round with it. It literally can
turn on a dime, turns round on itself. You are
going no matter how big your lawns are or your
paddocks are, on your hobby, on your Lifestyle Live sentence
block one of these cub cadet right on MOA's will
sort you out. We will take a break. Have I
(21:00):
do on sports teach?
Speaker 1 (21:01):
No, I haven't right sports on the country with AFCO
invested in your farming success.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Oh, I was nearly in trouble with AFCO there. So
we were talking about the Prime Minister annexing Tony Brown.
Maybe we could do a free trade deal with South
African rugby and get him back. Well, Tony Brown is
keeping his All Black coaching aspirations alive, just not now.
The former First five has confirmed he intends to honor
his spring Box assistant contract until next year's World Cup.
(21:31):
He missed out on the All Blacks role in twenty
twenty three. He had hitched his wagon loyally to Jamie
Joseph and Jamie's bid failed, so he wasn't in Razors
ticket even though Razor approached him apparently in the past
few months. I'm a bit disappointed that he's not going
to or it looks like you don't know what's going
to happen, but it looks like he's not going to
(21:53):
be in the coaching team because he plays in our
Wednesday Afternoon golf group.
Speaker 8 (21:57):
I was going to say, can't you just give him
away elbow and send him in the right wreck.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Well, no, no, everyone's elbowing. But it'd be good to
have an all blacks coach in your golfing group. You
get lots of good goss then if you had that.
But anyhow, all the best, Tony Brown. We need you,
your country needs you. Up next Jane Smith. She's a
(22:27):
North Otago farmer, former winner of the Balanced Farm Environment Awards.
Her name is Jane Smith. And Jane, while it is
flooding in the North North Otago, where you are is
pretty dry.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Good afternoon, Jamie. Well, yes, and no so closer to
the coast, so near the township of Bomaru up against
the Waiteki River and South Canterbury, they have certainly been
very dry. We were, but we've had one hundred and
twenty odd mills and another inch last night so far
in twenty twenty six. So that's just really due to
our altitude. And he grabbed quite a lot of sort
(23:01):
of fog and and other bits and pieces as it
goes through. So we've been really lucky and it's been
great to see areas like the Hakatarameir valley. Who you know,
they had some big lamb sales yesterday up through the
Wai Techi Valley through a Marama Tarras. I mean, those
areas are just looking phenomenal. So I'm sure the price
of store lambs is going up by the day, Jamie.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
I was going to say, how hot livestock prices at
the moment, and you wouldn't want to be buying store
lambs or store cattle because, as the old saying, a
farmer with a dollar in his pocket and some grass
and his paddock can be a dangerous beast.
Speaker 10 (23:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
Well, it's pretty exciting actually for the sector. And you
know it's funny as sheef and beef farmers were always
looking over our shoulders thinking surely this is you know,
something's going to hit us next, and this can't be true.
But you know, to use a Hollywood analogy, we've sort
of gone from silence of the lambs to more of
a game of who dares win, so basically who's dead
to remain passionate about sheef and beef farming. I mean,
it's really been a forty year struggle, hasn't it, Jamie.
(23:56):
But the sector isn't a really good place because of
course we've had to be highly efficient just in order
to you know, to keep the banks happy over the
last few years. And we're moving off the back teat
to the front foot Jamie and I really do hope
this is a new norm and we need to actually
capture capture those games. And I'd love to see some
you know, some really good conversations happen around the strategy
(24:18):
for the sector. We talk a lot about the structure
in terms of you know, processing, et cetera, an actual
strategy and some reinvestment or some deinvestment in some areas
as well to come up with a strategy. But we're
often you know, human nature is sort of like a
game of the money or the bag, and we tend
to sort of take the money rather than looking at
what we could do long term for our sector. But
it's certainly exciting to see you know, a pastor raise
(24:41):
free range protein getting what it deserves. Jamie.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I'd like to see some forestry conversions, i e. Conversions
from forestry carbon farms back to pasture where it should
have been in the first place.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
Absolutely, Jamie. And we're probably only a few few big
fires away from that, and I just I guess to
I watched interest or we were sort of actively involved
in a way with the western Victoria fires last week.
We've got a joint venture small Parandale startover in Skipton,
which is one hundred and sixty k's west of Melbourne.
And of course there's been four hundred thousand hectares in
(25:14):
Victoria and sort of northern New South Wales that has
been burnt last week and really scary to see, you know,
to see the destruction and the generations of work and
good land, and of course they don't have the type
of topsails that we have in New Zealand. But that's
been really scary, and I guess that sort of made
us realize even more so what could happen here if
you look at both the carbon forestry. I'm hesitant to
(25:37):
call it farming because it's not farming. The fact that
you know, again was very poor fire fire weed and
test control, sort of an abdication of any sort of dams,
et cetera or fire breaks, and plus the eight point
seven million hectors, it's under dock management, if you could
call it management, and again it is really scary and
(25:57):
something we need to be more proactive and Jamie, so yeah,
I would love to see conversions of those areas back
to producing protein.
Speaker 7 (26:03):
Jamie.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Let's just finish with the election date. November. The seventh
worst kept secret in New Zealand was released yesterday. No
surprise that Christopher Luxen's going to give himself a long
run in because the economy is on the turn.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
Well it's interesting, Jamie. I mean with what a nine
month month's gestation between now and the election, the actual
election date, it's scary to think what the parties might
give birth to come come November in terms of you know,
the Labor Party though they sort of are missing an
action at the moment. Most of the Greens are still
locked up and to party Mary, I guess it looks
like the two parties over, doesn't it. But it's it
(26:39):
was me. I would have done a muldoon and actually
called a snap election asap, because you know what, you
could save that the country in terms of time and
money rather than waiting you know, every wasting sorry eighteen
months every three years of an election cycle on sort
of pre and post election nonsense. I see Japan. The
female Prime Minister of in Japan called a snap election
(27:00):
last week, didn't she And it's in February, so that's
highly efficient and probably too short a window. But I
just think, gosh, we waste so much time and what
could be done in that time frame, Jamie, rather than
dithering round with electioneering and just again the cost of that.
I'd love to see it just straight away, Jamie. But
you know, really exciting in terms of what might you know,
what might be happening with the economy. I think there
is still some you know this, some business is really
(27:22):
hurting out there. It's very easy to be saying that
things are going well in and the farming sector, that gosh,
there's business. Small business is hurting out there. And you know,
the country's borrowing what is it, seventy five million dollars
a day just to just to tread water. So we
really need business growth. What is it one percent GDP
increases adds another eight hundred million dollars of tax takes.
(27:44):
So those type of figures are what we need to
see turning through Jamie. Between now and.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Then, well, you've got nine months to decide whether you're
going to stand Jane Smith, thanks for your time. We'll
catch you next month. Thank you, Sammy, Thank you Jane.
It is quarter away from on you with the Country
brought to you by Farmland's latest we've got out of
Mount Monganui is several people aren't accounted for after slips
crashed into Mount Monganui's popular beachside holiday park. Screams could
(28:11):
be heard as a part of the hill came down
at about nine point thirty of this morning. An eyewitness
reports an eye witness reports seeing people trying to dig
out a campsite building filled with dirt. They say girls
trapped in the campground toilet block managed to yell out
to their parents, and they saw a man whose wife
(28:32):
was also reportedly trapped. Now News Talks edb's sports reporter
and local legend Brian Kelly says a slip has already
had already taken out the ocean side of the path
to the summit of Mount Monganui. You've just passed me
a note, Mischelle. I'm not sure what the Mark Mitchell
Live at one pm on News Talks EDB with the
(28:54):
press conference updating the Mount Monganui situation. Up next Peter
Newbolt on real estate and if I can find them
before the end of the hour, our Elsie correspondent Chris
Russell as well. Monthly here on the Country, we tell
(29:20):
you how much your farm is worth, and it's a
fair bet to say. Peter Newbold GMFPGG writes in real Estate,
is it worth a bit more this month than it
was last month?
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Yeah, it's interesting, Jamie. You know, the last probably eight weeks,
we've seen a lot of momentum and probably some of
the sales and the actual results I think all through
the country have been well ahead of where everyone anticipated.
And I see the momentum continuing. And when you look
at a look ahead at all the listings come into
(29:54):
the market and I guess where buyers headspaces, I think
it's looking really really good.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Traditionally, autumn is the best time, well the most favored
time to sell your farm, list your farm, So if
you're thinking about doing that, you really need to be
getting prepared right now.
Speaker 4 (30:11):
Yeah, well that's right, And that's one thing we have
seen is a lot of activity in that with autumn
sales being prepared. And I think we'll see your number
come to the market early and I think that's where
we're going to see some real momentum in and around
the sheep and beef sector. And you know, if you
look on the other side, all those farm returns are
looking really strong and that's only going to assist that
(30:33):
segment which has been I guess, you know, pre November
has been a little bit quiet, but we've seen over
the last couple of months on real activity there.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I heard one of your agents down in Southland speaking
on the local Hokanui show talking about dairy farms. He
can't get enough, he said, he hasn't got any to sell.
As soon as they come to the market, they're selling.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
Is that correct, Yeah, pretty much so, and especially the
quality ones. There's a lot of interest.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
You know.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
I guess that birepool is strong and you know you've
just seen recently, you know, the dairy prices firming again.
So look, that market strong and there's a lot of
people that are wanting to get into it. So yet
now he's one hundred percent right.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Sheep and beef of course on a bit of a
high at the moment. In fact, on a real high.
Sheep and beef prices have never been this high. Is
that reflecting an interest in farms and farm values?
Speaker 4 (31:27):
Oh? Look, I think it's one of the key drivers
at the moment is that you know, you know yourself.
You go out into the field now and you know
a lot of farmers have got a you know, a
big smile in their face. They're enjoying things and long
mat continue. And definitely it's having impact on people wanting
to either you know, expand their current footprint or get
(31:48):
into that industry. And if you look ahead, you know,
all those indicators look really strong. So yeah, it's had
a big impact on the sheep and beef sector and
I think it will continue, which is great.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
I was in the Bay a place last week and
doing a bit of talking about Kiwi fruit she there's
an industry on a bit of a high at the moment.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Yeah, it is, and you know we've often talked about it,
and we're just starting to see science now of properties
come to the market and interest from buyers. So it's
been probably slow in that respect, but now I think
everything's settled and I think we're going to see quite
a bit of activity in that. So if you add
up all the various sectors you know, sheep, beef, dairy, hought,
(32:29):
they're all in a fantastic space and I believe the
future looks really good, and it'll help a lot of
those farmers who want to retire or they've got succession
or want to expand. Things are looking great.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
What about the elephant in the room? Is this a
past thing? Is it history now? The carbon farming, the
forestry conversion.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
I'm gonna be careful here, but I'd like to say
hopefully it is. We can't afford any more of our
good land to go onto trees. Definitely, though to answer
your question, yes, things have slowed. We're not seeing a
lot of activity or very little activity in that space,
so it's at the moment, i'd say it's a bit
of a non event.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
So things are certainly looking positive. And I think the
really positive thing about farm sales these days, and it's
long overdue as well, people are now buying on yield
to make a profit rather than for capital gain, and
that's long been a bit of a bugbear for farming.
Speaker 4 (33:24):
Yeah, and I think it's really clear that's what's happening
at the moment. And I think the other thing that
helps that is if you look at the future, you know,
all those indicators look really strong over the next couple
of years, so that helps people make decisions and gives
them some I guess good feelings about what's ahead, so
they're happy to go and invest in. And as you said,
(33:46):
they're definitely investing on a yield basis rather than a
capital gain, which is good I think long term.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Peter Newbolt, thanks for time. We'll catch you again next month.
Speaker 4 (33:55):
Cheers Jamie.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
It is stay away from one the country.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Mark Mitchell is going to be he was kicked off
our show. He's going to be live at one the
one pm news on News talks 'db a life press
conference from Mount Monganui. A tragedy unfolding, several people unaccounted for,
just a text and here where is it? We've heard
from one Balanced Farm Environment Awards winner in the form
(34:22):
of Jane Smith. Another grant Weller golfing mate of mine
has just sent me one saying reminding me, scolding me,
almost grant Jamie. Unless the store sellers are receiving good returns,
there will not be any store stock in the future. Remember,
we take the risk of having to carry a u
for twelve months of feeding and the risk of loss
through storms et cetera, lamming. The risk for finishes is
(34:45):
low and as low in comparison and their margins at
the moment are high. Yes, long overdue, good returns for
everyone across the board. Long may it continue. Radio up
next Chris Russell to wrap the country? Is there Ossie
(35:07):
correspondent Chris Russell back for another year on the country.
He's going to get a long service meat all this man? Hey,
Chris a Zempek. The weight loss drug a threat or
an opportunity for red meat, particularly beef.
Speaker 10 (35:21):
Yes, well, this is a debate that's going on because
there's been there's a big confidence going on at the
moment in America where they're in Nashville where they're talking
about how the total demand for food in America is
dropping about ten to fifteen percent because so many people
and they're saying up to half Americans are now on
(35:42):
one of these GLP one drugs, which remember they found
the Gilly monster lizard actually a longer time between meals
who didn't feel hungry, so they're giving us his enzymes.
And in fact they're saying, well, there are people are
going to stop buying food that could affect their export
and because people are eating eight hundred less calories a day.
(36:04):
But in fact there's another debate that in fact says
that protein is going to become more important because neutue
in density and portion control and so on is now
something that wasn't important to America and it is now.
So we might see not only a main maintenance of
our market, but also high quality piece quality markets improved,
(36:26):
so that means they might start taking more of our
high quality meat. We could act to the value of
our market. So you know, this has got to be
really a marketing dream for US. It's our biggest market
by far, and everyone's hoping, well, maybe win JB could
be a win for us rather than a.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Lost Chris Russell, let's move from beef to lamb. Australia
Day Monday, Ossies eat Lamb. You do a great job
promoting it.
Speaker 10 (36:50):
Yeah, well, I talked about this was Hamish and this
year's add is no different to any other year. It's
a fantastic ad. It lifts our LAMB sales about twenty
five percent around that time domestically, which is an amazing result.
And of course they're just classic ads. I don't know
who guess that contract, but I hope they pay them
well because they do an awesome job. This year focusing
(37:13):
on the fact that Australia's dropped out of the top
ten most desirable places to live, and of course sam
Kekeovich is saying, well, Lamb's going to be the cure
for that. It'll make everyone want to come back to
with their lab So enjoy the ad. It's very very
effective advertising.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Jomie, Chris Russell, thank you very much for your time today.
Today is a rare event in Australia, only the third
time the century you have a national day of mourning
for the Bondai tragedy. Good luck with that. We'll catch
them back next week.
Speaker 10 (37:40):
No worry Shami.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Pour away from one wrapping the country yet, Mark Mitchure,
as we said, we'll be live on news Talks, they'd
be at one pm press conference about the tragedy unfolding
at Mount Monganui. All sorts of rainfall records have been
in some cases broken and some biblical. Note was Jeff Crawford,
who we spoke to on the show yesterday in Northland
(38:04):
six hundred mills since Sunday in parts of Northland Met
Services saying many places had record breaking rainfall yesterday. He
said Taonga recorded two hundred and seventy four mills millimeters,
the most since records began since nineteen ten. And on
(38:26):
a brighter note to finish the show today, it's been
a bit of a sad show in a lot of ways. Remember,
if you want to win the cub cadet right on
MOA worth six three hundred and eighty nine dollars, go
to the Country dot co dot nz to enter, or
text the keyword cub to five double nine and we'll
send you the link to enter. Our thoughts are with
(38:47):
the people around the country being affected by these terrible
floods and slips.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Catch you're the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie Mackay. Thanks to farmlands helping to keep
animals fed and thriving,
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