January 27, 2026 • 38 mins
Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Stephen Jacobi, Dr Robyn Dynes, and Paul Allison.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Catch you're the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Farmland's hit those summer
weeks hard.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Today.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Good afternoon, New Zealand. Now I'm Jamie McKay. Let me
clear my throat. This is the Country status Quo. I've
been rocking all over the world for ages. Winston was
quoting status quo in Parliament yesterday. The Prime Minister's going
to kick off the show, hot off the press, the
retirement of Attorney General Judith Collins Ow Well history judge.
(00:58):
Prime Minister up next on that one. Stephen Jacoby talking
about Winston. He says Winston is dog whistling and for
what it's worth, I reckon he's right. Over the Indian
Free Trade agreement, Stephen Jacoby is his name, and he
reckons we got a good deal in India and if
we'd waited any longer, we may not have got a
deal at all, and it could have been years before
(01:20):
there was another opportunity. So Stephen Jacoby on the free
trade agreement with India, and we'll also ask Christopher Luxen
whether Labour's going to support it. Robin Dines, Doctor Robin
Dines recognized in the New Year's Honors for services to
Agricultural science. She's a cracker. She is wear so many
(01:42):
hats and has so many awards and accolades in rural
New Zealand ag research and Paul Allison, well known sports commentator.
We're announcing the finalists of the New Zealand Rural Sports
Awards with the head judge and leading sports broadcaster. Of course,
he's a famous rug commentator as Paul former New Zealand
marathon champion himself as well. I want to get his
(02:04):
thoughts on who the next All Black coach would be.
Being a good Otago man like he is, I'm sure
he'll be nominating mister Jamie Joseph and who does he
want with him? Michelle, I'll have rural news for you
and we'll update sport for you as well. As it
is going to be a stinker of a day in
Australia for the Australian Tennis Open. Christopher Luckxon up next
(02:43):
the Prime Minister kicking off of that country on a Wednesday,
and hot off the press. Judith Collins, Attorney General, will
be retiring at the end of this election cycle and
Christopher Luckxon I put it to you she will be
a big loss.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yes, you just's been outstanding. I just want to personally
acknowledge as the huge record she has in public service.
You know, she's been in Parliament now for twenty four years,
you know, twelve years in opposition, twelve years in government
with Key and with myself, and she served usial on
incredibly well. She's taken on some of the hardest portfolios.
She's had to confront some of those difficult issues, and
(03:20):
you know, she's been massive And so she's a very
good friend. I know people, you know she's a flitable
public figure, but I know her as a friend and
I can tell you she's really loyal. She's a really
generous person. She's very smart, she's very funny, but she
cares about people a lot. Here in Wellington, you know,
she's got and across the country she's got a great
reputation of managing her staff and developing young people very
very well. So, yeah, she's going to leave behind a
(03:42):
big legacy.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
But the good news is we've got.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Her going into pointing her to a new position as
President of the Law Commission, and she'll be outstanding on
that job with her legal background as well.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Are you wishing Winston would retire. He's a bit of
a spanner in the works at the moment for you.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Oh no, Look, as I said to you many times before,
we got a colorless government. We've got three parties. You've
got a large National Party with two support parties in
that coalition and government. We're all bringing something different to
the mix. Everyone will say and do things differently. We're
all have slightly different constituents and policies and I get that.
But you know, in the core stuff, you know, which
is the really important things, getting the economy fixed, law
(04:19):
and order, health and education, all.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
That good stuff.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
You know, we're very very aligned. So no, no, I've
enjoyed as I said to you, I mean going to
the action November seven. Yes, I want to maximize the
National Party vote. I honestly believe it would be the
most stable, strongest form of government for New Zealand. But
the New Zealand people they have a thing called MMP
and they give us a result on election night and
then we have to go make it work in ways
that they may or may not want us to do so,
but we do. And in my case, as I've said before,
(04:44):
I want to maximize National but you know that it means,
you know, I'm open to working with Winston and David
again because we've worked incredibly constructively, but as sure as hell,
I won't be working with Labour Party.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I'm praise the Lord for that one. Winston's not working
constructively with you on the Indian Free Trade Agreement. But
the good news here and maybe sanity prevails and bipartisan
politics is alive. It sounds to me after talking to
Damian O'Connor on yesterday's show, that Labor will support this.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Look, I think it's not actually a political thing. I
think Winston's wrong on this, you know, like he was
wrong on the China FTA, which he opposed, he's wrong
on this and I appreciate he may have different views
and that's fair enough, but I disagree with him because
quite simply, in the next five, ten, fifteen, twenty years,
India is going to be the biggest economy in a
matter of years. We want to grow with the growing
(05:36):
economy as it gets wealthy. And that's what New Zealand
did from eight through to now on the back of China,
and that's what we can continue to do in many
parts of the world. But certainly in India. So you know,
I don't think I don't see it as deeply political.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
I see it as a.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
New Zealand thing, and it doesn't There's going to be
successive governments are different colors in the next thirty years
in New Zealand, and you know, we need to know
an opposition. I was the same. I always wanted to
back you know, FTAs because it's just the New Zealand's
interest and that's what it's about. So look, you know
we'll make the case very strongly to other parties to
support it. And you know it's great to hear encouraging
(06:11):
signs coming from Damien. That's wonderful. He understands trade well
as you know. But you know, Todd and I will
keep driving hard for it.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
A budget day is May twenty eight. Nikola Willis has
promised a cost cutting focus. Does that mean it's going
to be another really tough year? Because with inflation now
at three point one percent above the Reserve Bank band
of acceptance, if that's the correct terminology, it looks like
interest rates are going to be lifting This year. Is
(06:39):
the recovery the fix and twenty six going to be
a dead cat bounce.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
No, no, I think you know we've got enough data
as you're seeing your manufacturing services. Everything's bouncing back pretty quickly.
Now we had construction, you know up. I think consents
up twenty percent, jobs and construction up thirty percent, So
it's coming back quite quickly. But what we have to
do all Nicholas signaled and what I've signaled in my
State of the Nation address as well as look, it
(07:04):
would be insane. And I know what's going to happen.
You're gonna have a lot of political parties in an
election year come out and say they're going to have
grandiose programs and massive government spending again. And I'm telling
you that's what got us into the ungodly mess that
we inherited. But you know, any sane party would be
grossly wrong to make big, promising spending commitments in a
time when we know that has been the problem for
(07:26):
New Zealand and we need very good, sound financial management.
And I'm telling you these guys the capital gains tax,
Tipkins wants, Chloe wants a capital gains tax or wealth tax,
a trust tax, god knows what else, and they both
want to borrow billions tens of billions of dollars more money,
and I'm telling you that ain't the way forward for us.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Should the world be worried that Trump has confirmed that
he's pulling out a Paris, he's joining Iran, Libya and Yemen.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Goodness, son, Well, that's the point that you and I've
talked about this last year, is that we have obligations
and we've made a decision as a country that we
wanted to live in near Zera in twenty fifty. And
we're actually on track. You know, our farming agricultural community
is adopting new technology while it's lowering emissions, increasing productivity
(08:10):
and production and productivity, and that's a really good thing, right,
and so we can actually grow, but we are prioritizing growth,
and we can also manage our missions in our environment.
So my point is if I pulled out of Paris,
which I know a lot of I hear a lot
of it, and you know sometimes in the royal communities
they bounced around you here some extreme views say oh yeah,
it's very simple, you just pull out of Paris. You go,
oh yeah, right, interesting, How would that go?
Speaker 5 (08:30):
Mate?
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Well, how that would go is that immediately the countries
we compete with would kick us out of their countries too,
And we're just growing the European Union, you know, business
twenty nine percent last year. In the UK business twenty
two percent last year. So they're buying a hell of
a lot of our dairy products right here, right now.
And the second thing is the big companies in the
slaves and unile livers don't care where they buy the
stuff from, and they would just move it, frankly, to
(08:52):
Land of Lakes or to carry dairy or whoever hell
they want to buy it from. So you get to
a very simplistic argument saying stuff like that, actually we
want to be in Paris. We're not sending billions of
dollars overseas. We don't want to damage or punish our farmers.
And as a result, if we punish the farmers, we
would lose the energy to do ten thousand dollars for
every man, woman and child in this country. So the
(09:13):
whole of the country then goes into recession and we
have a whole bunch of other economic problems at that point.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Okay, I started by singing the praises of Judith Collins,
a retiring minister. I just want to reiterate I think
what I said to you last week about one of
your other ministers, how impressive he has been on the ground,
Mark Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
He's been great. He had been together the last week
and been into every region that was impacted with the
weather events. We did a vigil together in tlro Onng
and we've been out and we're talking with the families,
which has been an incredible experience, Jamie. Amazing people, you know,
amazing people just hearing about the people that we've lost.
And we've sadly lost nine people, you know, six at
(09:53):
malt Monganui to at Welcome Bay, one in a river
just out of Walkworth, and potentially one more missing on
a river Potocky, So you know, nine to ten people potentially,
and that's a huge, huge tragedy. But I've just been
so impressed by Mark's done a great job working with
the mayors and local government and the join up and
the response has been good. But now we've moved into
(10:15):
a recovery mode to making sure we get the resources
to the right places at the right time quickly.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Christoph lux On, Prime Minister, thanks for your time on
the country.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Appreciate it, Jamie.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Take care of a good day.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Sixteen, make that seventeen after twelve, Thank you, Prime Minister.
Charlie's just texted and you can get us on five
double oh nine pictures of matchstick Men. What a great choice, Jamie,
one of your best ever. Well, music's very subjective, but
I am a bit of a fan of the quote,
to be fair, and the reason we're introducing status Quo
(10:46):
on the playlist today is because Winston was comparing Michelle
Scott the quote. I think she was looking at it
and handsid. Winston was quoting status quo in reference to
the labor and the Greens. He's always very interesting, even
if he's got it completely wrong about the Indian Free
Trade Agreement. A Hopefully, as I said, bipartisan sensibility prevails
(11:15):
and labor I'm sure they will will help get that through. Okay,
up next Stephen Jacobe, a bloke who said Winston is
dog whistling. He's a trade specialist in this country. Before
the end of the hour, doctor Robin Dines Paul Allison,
who are the finalists for the New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
Rural Sports Awards. It's all on the country.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Can't beat a bit of status quo rocking all over
the world, and that's what we're doing. Have free trade agreements.
Let's welcome onto the country. Stephen Jacoby. Great to have
his time leading trade analysts these days. He's independent now
he's rubbish. Claims that New Zealand could have got a
better free trade deal with India if it had prolonged
(12:15):
the negotiations. He says that New Zealand had a window
to get this deal done now and if we and
if we hadn't taken it, the next opportunity could have
been years away with no guarantee of a better deal.
And more importantly, Stephen Jacoby, you said Winston is dog whistling.
Love that comment. Good afternoon, how are you doing. I
(12:37):
am excellent. Right, let's start with Winston. What's up? What
is he up to?
Speaker 7 (12:43):
Well, look at the lection in the air in case
no one's noted, and so I suppose we can expect
this sort of thing coming out more and more frequently. Look,
I think it's quite understandable that a political party will
want to take its time to you know, make its
judgment on a trade agreement and only do so once
they've seen the deep But in this case New Zealand
versus part of the government and to rule out, you know,
(13:05):
supporting this agreement on something so flimsy as the provisions
around the temporary entry of workers just as completely beyond
the pale.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
In my view, you can hang on. We need Indian
workers to come into the country and Filipino workers because
they're doing the work that we're too lazy or useless
to do ourselves.
Speaker 7 (13:25):
Well, we certainly need those workers. And you know, the
visas that are being talked about one thousand, six hundred
and something right, you know, and five thousand in any
one time is you know, has to be seen in
the comparison of around eighteen thousand you know, Indians in
New Zealand working on those sort of visas at the moment,
(13:48):
and it needs to be seen in the million or
so visas that we issue every year to workers from
all parts of the world. I mean, these are very
limited things that have been agreed and they those workers
will come, they'll make a good contribution, they'll take that
knowledge back to India and help you know, India grow
back there as well. That's a very good thing in
my view.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah, well, we all know Winston doesn't like immigration, but
the other one he's banging on about there wasn't enough
in it for New Zealand when it came to dairy.
But India has more bovines. It has a third of
the world's bovine population. We were never going to get
a deal on dairy, were.
Speaker 7 (14:24):
We We were never going to get a deal on
airy and that The proof of that is that the
EU has just concluded a massive trade agreement with India
and it has not got a deal on dairy either.
So you know, what we did get though with India,
which is important, I think, was the fact that dairy
is not completely excluded from the agreement. That's a very
(14:46):
important thing. We've got access for a range of high
value dairy products and that's good. And we've got an
understanding that it will be possible to import dairy products
for further processing in India for re export. It is
also good. So you know, I'm sure the dairy well,
I know the dairy industry is disappointed. I'm disappointed that
a better deal couldn't be got. But we've been around
(15:09):
the traps twice already with India in the last fifteen
years or so. This was the best deal. As you said,
quoting me, I think we could get in the time
available and in the circumstances, not a very positive environment
for trade globally. So go on now negotiated.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Okay, well, we're going to come back to that and
trade environment globally and mister Trump, but let's just look
at where this free trade deal with India has been
very advantageous, and you've pointed out quite rightly. Sheep meat.
That's a huge one for us. Also, kei we fruits
and apples.
Speaker 7 (15:44):
That's right. So the elimination of the thirty three percent
tariff on sheep meat from day one, that makes a
big difference. Of course, some sheep net exporters have work
to develop the Indian market over the years by selling
over that tariff. It's been quite difficult. Opens that up
quite a lot. By the way, the EU also got
the elimination of the tariff, so we'll have to compete
(16:05):
with them there, I guess, but that's a very important gain.
Kivi Fruit's interesting because this is the first time that
India has agreed to the elimination of the elimination of
the tariff on a horticultural product of this nature. So
we're going to get zero percent applied to a small
(16:26):
smallest quota of about six or seven thousand tons rising
to fifteen thousand tons. Look, that's very good indeed for
the Kievy fruit industry. Apples, you know, they getting a
quota of around thirty two five hundred tons. They're still
going to pay twenty five percent tariff, which is quite high,
I have to say, but it's come down from the
(16:46):
fifty percent tariff that applies to apples for India. At
the moment I've seen apples and using an apples on sale,
and when I've been to India, there is a market
there to be had, so very good outcomes, still high
tariffs remaining at the end, say, the best we could
get in the circumstances.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Yes, and let's not forget India. Currently I think is
the world's fourth biggest economy. I think Germany just pips
it into third, behind obviously the US and China. But
India will become very shortly you would think the world's
third biggest economy. We've got to be in their boots
and all.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
Well, this is the important thing I think is that
this agreement, you know, even though it might not be
the sort of gold standard we applied once upon a time,
and we can talk about why that is. It's never
going to give it's nevertheless going to give us the
basis to develop this market in the future, which is
the thing we really needed. I mean India, Betty, you know,
registers in the top ten of our export markets. Another
(17:42):
development in relation to the EU India agreement is that
the EU has got India to reduce its tariffs on
wine for one hundred from one hundred and fifty percent.
Can you imagine to twenty percent. Now we have an
agreement with India and our SDA that if they do
a better deal than the one we did with them,
(18:02):
whereby we reduced to seventy five percent the tarable playing
seventy five still very high, we will get the same agreement.
So our wine is set to get twenty percent in India.
And for all those you know, up or upper middle
class Indians, the four hundred million plus of them who
want to buy a new Zealand wine, there's a deal
(18:23):
for you.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Okay, I'm quoting you again. You say this FTA must
be seen in the context of a very disruptive international environment.
A lot of that has been caused by mister Trump,
and you point out that the days of getting a
really good deal like we got with China are effectively over.
Speaker 7 (18:40):
Yeah, I think that's the overriding consideration here. There were
two things. One is, you know, we've got this environment
for trade internationally where protectionism is rising and countries are
just not in the mood to open up all sectors
of the economy. I think obviously New Zealand's still keen
to do so in India at least going in that
(19:01):
direction the EU as well, But we also had a
difficult environment in the negotiation because they didn't want to
do a deal with agriculture. We didn't really want to
do a deal. It had too much in the way
of you know, immigration and visas. So you know, in
that sort of environment you have to look at what
you could get. Having been as they say, around the
traps already twice with India in the last fifteen years,
(19:23):
this was the time to make this deal.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
The final comment from you, and I asked this of
the Prime Minister Trump pulling out of Paris for the
second time, joining just Iran, Libya and Yemen as countries
that have pulled out or aren't in there, should we
be worried?
Speaker 7 (19:40):
Oh well, it's deeply disappointing for anybody who's worried about
the future of the planet that Trump's you know, finally
made you know, followed through on his promise to get
out of Paris. I mean that once before. You remember.
The only thing I think is that, you know, in
the United States, the real dynamism around climate response, mitigation,
(20:03):
adaptation is coming from the private sector, and the private
sector is still going to continue this regardless of what
the US government does, and that's still a very good thing,
and we want to link up with those parts of
the private sector who have that vision. Well. I think
it's more worrying, though, Jamie, of those people in New
Zealand saying that we should leave it too. I think
actually even our Foreign minister has suggested that that would
(20:26):
be a disaster for New Zealand because it would demonstrate
to the world that we aren't concerned about the sustainability
of our food production systems.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Stephen Jacobi, thanks as always for your time on the Country.
Love having you on the show.
Speaker 7 (20:39):
Cheers mate.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Bang On twelve thirty talks a lot of sense, doesn't it. Okay,
We're going to take a break on the other side
of it. Michelle with Rural News. We'll have sports news
for you before the end of the hour. Doctor Robin
Dines from ag Research. She became a member of the
New Zealand Order of Men in the New Year's Honors.
I know that when I was away, Hamish Mackay had
(21:05):
Neil bait up on from Rural Support Trust really well
deserved as gong. And to wrap the show, Paul Allison,
we're going to announce the finalists for the New Zealand
Rural Sports Awards. Welcome back to the country. Twenty seven
(21:38):
away from some one Texter has reminded me that I
think status quo we're first, first out of them up
to the batter's box at Live AID. I don't need
to check that, Michelle. You can google the Live AID
and London Wembley Stadium nineteen eighty five. Hey, great to
welcome is Suzu a ball as a naming sponsor here
(22:02):
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me just play the sweet Rural News liner.
Speaker 8 (23:28):
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Speaker 3 (23:38):
Yes, and it's your fault. We're playing Status Quo today.
I like Status Quo in instant quoting them in Parliament yesterday.
What did he say?
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Reminded he's talking about labor and the Greens. Reminded me,
particularly when they both finished their speeches of singing of
a singing group called Status Quo, who had a song
that went like this, whatever you want, whatever you like,
if you pay your money, make your choice, whatever you need.
He's quoting the song whatever you want. We'll play that
a wee bit later. What's happening in rural news? Yes,
(24:10):
I should turn your microphone on, thank you. I was
just getting too much Status Quo in my ear.
Speaker 9 (24:14):
That's all right.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
And were they first out?
Speaker 9 (24:16):
They were first out forty years ago, becoming the first
act to take live stage at Wibley. So great fact, Texter.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Yes and coming exactly trivia. Absolutely, what have you got
on rural news?
Speaker 9 (24:26):
Okay, in rural news now this is quite interesting actually
because I didn't even know that these dogs. I mean,
sales like this probably going all the time, but I
didn't even think about it until just now. So organizers
of a long standing North Island working dog auction are
in disbelief after three hundred and twenty thousand dollars changed
hands at their latest sale, and apparently hundreds attended this
(24:46):
annual ParaPara Marakivk Sheep Dog Trial Club auction held on
a real property up there, which featured more than sixty
dogs up for sale. One of the dogs, though, went
for quite a lot of money. I'm just trying to
find the fact there's a fierce competition pushed the hitting
Don Tricks to a top price of twelve two hundred dollars,
(25:06):
but during last year's base by nearly three grand.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Cheap at twice the price. Look, you have to pay
a farm worker, that's true.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
That's true.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Sixty or seventy grand. I don't know, something like that.
Whatever the wages, that's true.
Speaker 9 (25:18):
So that's quite cheap.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
Really, Look, a dog will work all day and all night.
You only got to feed them well, bed them well,
and they never complain. They're loyal, they don't have sick days.
They don't winge.
Speaker 9 (25:30):
I'm worried about these comments aimed at me.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Well, I mean, realistically, I can't replace you with a
work dog. But I just the man's best friend for
a reason. And if you get a good work dog.
And back in the day when I was a farmer,
because I lived next door to a die guy used
to trade really good dogs, I got some of the
cast offfs and had a couple of really good dogs
(25:55):
who in effect trained me. They were that good.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
I think sports on the country with AFCO invested in
your foaming success.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Damien McKenzie will watch with interest as New Zealand Rugby
pick a successor to Scott Robertson as All Blacks coach.
One of the contenders as Dave Rennie, who coached the
playmaker at the Chiefs in his early seasons. Mackenzie said
he's not looking too far ahead and just wants to
play well this season. All Blacks halfback cam Royguard has
extended his New Zealand rugby contract until the end of
(26:30):
twenty twenty nine. How good is that bloke? And Black
Caps past bowler Lockey Ferguson is inching closer to an
international cricket return in time for the T twenty World Cup.
And before I forget phone's going nuts with texts, before
I forget the winners of the cherries from Monday's show
with Blair Blizzard MacLean, the Mister Henry Cherry winners Hamish
(26:54):
Bryant and Tiawa Mutu and Betty Andrews and Ash Burton.
Up next, doctor Robert Dines in christ Church. Wow, here
is a very special woman, a very special woman in
(27:16):
New Zealand agriculture. Her name is doctor Robin Dines. She
will have no room at all left on her mantlepiece
because she's collecting all these awards and accolades, Robin out
of ag Research. The latest for you was in the
New Year's Honors. You were recognized for your services to
agricultural science. You've got a gong, a member of the
(27:37):
New Zealand Order of Merit. Congratulations, thank you, Jamie.
Speaker 10 (27:42):
And it's such a privilege to be recognized. It's kind
of a surreal moment in time.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
To be honest, Well, as I said, half in jest,
half in truth, you won't have much room left on
the mantlepiece because at the New Zealand Primary Industry Awards,
and I was lucky enough to be up there m
seeing and presenting you with the Royal champion An Award.
Speaker 10 (28:01):
And look, that one was really special, Jamie, because that's
when you're nominated by farmers and I think that you know,
that's really significant.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
But I'm also so pleased with my New Year's.
Speaker 10 (28:10):
Honor because agricultural science was recognized, and I believe that's
an essential computer contributor to the success of our sector.
It's not that unbiased or anything. Having had a long
career in science, we've got to have agricultural science, Jamie
underpins what we do in agriculture.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
And it was great to see the likes of Neil
Beta Rural Support Trust recognized in the New Year's Honors
as well. But I look through the list, Rob and
it's the first thing I look for at Queen's Birthday,
King's Birthday and of course New Years, and I look
for the people in agriculture. Yes we've recognized some, but
not enough.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
I completely agree.
Speaker 10 (28:46):
And you look right now, Jamie, just how essential the
agricultural sector is to New Zealand's export econ me.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Okay, as I said you're with ag research, you've also
bet you're on the Board of far the Foundation for
Arable Research. Who would want to be a cropping farmer,
Robin at the moment in Canterbury where you're based.
Speaker 10 (29:03):
Look, it's been such a tough start to the harvest.
Jamie completely agree. We were joking earlier. School went back
today and the sun has come out. So we simply need.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Now a month of sunshine and.
Speaker 10 (29:14):
That's what we need because those crops are really showing
the impact. And that's setting aside well for four and
a half thousand hectiars of cereal crops that were hit
by hail and all those winter forage crops as well,
the fodder beat that's had a hammering.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
So we need sunshine now and.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
The poor old arable farmers. When I look at New
Zealand farming sectors at the moment, it's the arable farmers
and the viticulture of the wine industry that's really suffering.
Everyone else is doing quite well, in some cases very well.
Even Wallsworth something these days, Robin exactly.
Speaker 10 (29:48):
And it's kind of ironic because if we look at
the arable sector, that's our export enabler. You know, not
only do we export specialty seeds, but it's their arable
sector that produce all the grass seeds to enable our
other sectors to flourish. So how do we get a
future where they're flourishing as well. I think it's a
real challenge.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
What's happening in Canterbury at the moment land use change wise?
How many do you know how many dairy farms are
going to come on stream this season or next and where?
And have they all come from arable properties?
Speaker 5 (30:21):
Look, I don't have those details, Jamie.
Speaker 10 (30:22):
There's certainly a lot of numbers being bumped around. We
know from when people make a decision to convert, it
does take time, so I wouldn't expect we would see
many coming on. I know of a small handful that
will be coming on for the coming season. But we're
certainly seeing our land use change being talked.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
About, aren't we.
Speaker 10 (30:43):
But we've got a long history and land use change, Jamie.
And you know our farmers. We're a free market economy,
so our farmers respond to market opportunity or necessity, So
you know, when we get in this situation, we do
see change, don't we.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
What happened to the argument that can already had too
many dairy farms on the Canterbury Plains.
Speaker 10 (31:03):
Probably not asking the right person that question, Jamie, Look,
what is the right land use? Well, you know we
can learn from history, can't we. And we look up
the East coast now and say why do we plant
so many trees? So let's learn from history because we
know in hindsight. It's great to be wise in hindsight, right,
But let's.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Strive for the WRIT enterprise in the right place.
Speaker 10 (31:23):
And we do have to look as we expand any
land use that we are putting them in the right place.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
And that's the.
Speaker 10 (31:30):
Question that has to be asked as we expand anything
including dairying.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
Is it the WRIT enterprise? Is it in the right place?
Speaker 10 (31:37):
Do they have the right system that they're putting in
for the landscape that they're putting it into.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
How do you build climate resilience into an arable cropping operation,
or for that matter, a horticulture operation. And I look
at the damage one storm, one flood can do to
a whole year's crop.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Look, isn't that interesting?
Speaker 10 (31:58):
And I think I did a case study recently on
David Burkett in his farm and the kind of climate
resilience strategies he has in place, and that gives me
real optimism that as we continue to deal with a
change in climate, many of our.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Farmers have already got the tools.
Speaker 10 (32:16):
So what are the kind of tools you can have
if you're growing grass seed? If you're growing grass seed
that have got different flowering dates, that gives you a
degree of resilience in a year like we're having.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
Ah how you whether you're using.
Speaker 10 (32:29):
Minimum tillage or cultivation, having a lot of tools in
the toolbox and knowing when to use them is part
of the resilience. But when it does come to crops,
We've always got that risk, haven't we. And that's the
strength of the sheep or the cow who will turn
their butt to the weather, stand it out and then
(32:49):
go back to grazing and producing that sabulous meat or
the milk.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Just one will comment from me like me, you grew
up on a Southland sheep farm. I'm right in saying that,
aren't I You are in now? Do you think on
those south and sheep farms and years to come they
might be growing key we fruit.
Speaker 10 (33:06):
Look, I'm holding out for avocados and Canterbury to be honest, No,
not for some period of time, not for a long time.
Speaker 7 (33:15):
Jamie.
Speaker 5 (33:15):
However, if I.
Speaker 10 (33:17):
Was to be producing food anywhere in the world in
twenty fifty, New Zealand would be my number one because, yes,
we've got challenges. We've seen the challenges of weather up
and down the country, and yet from a climate change perspective,
we've got more opportunities than pretty much anywhere else in
the world.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
And on that wonderfully positive note, doctor Robin Dines, I'm
going to leave you. It's been a pleasure catching up
with you again. Congratulations. Keep filling that mantlepiece with awards
and accolades because you've earned every one of them.
Speaker 10 (33:48):
Thanks so much, Jamie. Just keep sending the sun our.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Way, please, Yeah, we hope you do get some sun
on Canterbury, Robin, thank you for your time. If you
grow food anywhere in twenty fifty anywhere in the world,
it would be New Zealand, and very shortly, Paul Allison
and the finalists for the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
nine away from one. Just trying to track down Paul Allison. Paul,
(34:13):
if you're listening, tell us who's going to be the
next All Black coach. I think I know your answer.
Some of your feedback coming in. This is disappointing air
New Zealand is still planting pines in Southland. Sacrilege, says
the Texter, with the price of beef and lamb or derry. Yeah,
look good, pastoral land should produce protein, not pine trees.
(34:34):
Dennis Nielsen will hate me for saying that. And remember
Isuzu you're naming sponsor here on the country. Their demo
sales on Now you can get a D Max or
an m Ux. The D Max is, the m Ux
is the suv. Everyone comes with a six year warranty
plus this finance from seven point nine percent and with
the threat of rising interest rates this year, get in
(34:56):
while the going's good. Up next, surely Paul Allison wrapping
the country with Paul Allison, well known sporting commentator, great
rugby commentator, best radio commentator in the country by the
length of the strait. Also a former New Zealand marathon chance,
(35:18):
so he knows a lot about athletics. Paul. Just before
we get to the finalists in the New Zealand or
the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards, Sam Ruth, how
good is this kid? Give me twenty seconds.
Speaker 11 (35:29):
Outstanding our best sporting talent this country has ever produced.
In my opinion, We've seen some outstanding competitors in the past.
He's seventh on the all time list for the New
Zealand mile, seventh on the all time list for the
eight hundred meters. He would have won every Commonwealth Games
mile that's ever been raised. And he hadn't even had
his driver's license before he broke the four minute mile.
(35:51):
He's the best talent we've had for a long long time.
I can't think of anyone better than anyone. Close is
Lydia Coe and I'm saying something near Jamie.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
You are indeed as Jamie moph A Dundale for the
All Blacks coaching role.
Speaker 11 (36:02):
If he wants it, I think he is. I was
disappointed he didn't get it last time round. I thought
he was the best qualified candidate with the international experience
that he had. But Razer had a really good Indonesha
sorry domestic career as well. But if he wants it,
and if you can build a team around him and
he gets the terms that he wants, I can't think
of anyone better.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
You're the head judge for the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.
They've just announced hot off. In fact, we've got a
scoop here. Who are the finalists? Just run through the categories.
Speaker 11 (36:29):
Well, we had a meeting last night. We've set a record, Jamie,
since you weren't there this year won our fifty seven minutes.
We've narrowed it down to the finalist for the Ford
New Zealand Rural Sports Awards, the women's down the three
finalists harness racing trainer Michelle Wallace who won the national
coveted Group one Trot at Alexandra Park with Hillbilly Blue.
(36:51):
She's had an outstanding season. The defending champion Steph Drive
Out and tree Climbing is also a finalist in the
RX Plastics Rural Sports Woman of the Year and making
up the third of those, who's really another outstanding competitor.
And Laura Bradley who's done so so well with what
she's done in sharing this year, being the first female
(37:13):
to be ranked number one nationwide in the senior sharing grade.
So that's the women's category. The PTS Logistics Men Sportsman
of the Year. While he's there again, Jack Jordan. He
seems to be there every year. He won the World
Champs and wood chopping once more. He was the Supreme
winner in twenty three and twenty four and he also
won this category last year as well. He's joined by
(37:35):
a man called Leo Jafinko, a sheep dog trialist best
in the Country from Whitehadow, part of a New Zealand
team that won the competed in the Trans Tasman Rivalry
against Australia.
Speaker 7 (37:48):
For the while Ago Trophy.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
Do you know what wilelygo stands for, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
Yeah, it's a dog trawling Tom, we're running out of time, Paul,
be quick?
Speaker 11 (37:54):
All right, Well it means come away and let's go.
But yeah, so you've got Leo in there and making
up the finalists and the Logistics PTS Logistics sports Man
is Tim Stafford who's done everything he can in fencing.
And then the other performance award is the Fonterra Young
New Zealand Rural sports Person of the Hear Wilson House.
(38:14):
The harness racing driver. He had a huge number of
drives last year, over seven hundred and forty races in
total for him from a young man from Canterbury, along
with Jack Matthews out of the West Coast, promising wood
chopper and Judishi Kilpatrick R Kirkpatrick out of Sporting Royalty
in Gisbon from the Sharing Sports.
Speaker 7 (38:31):
Now the Finalists.
Speaker 11 (38:32):
We're also going to have this year, Jamie, the induction
of the Hall of Faith Sports and I'm.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Going to Love You and Leave You Paul Allison.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Catch all the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Farmland's hit those summer
weeks hard
Catch you're the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Farmland's hit those summer
weeks hard.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Today.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Good afternoon, New Zealand. Now I'm Jamie McKay. Let me
clear my throat. This is the Country status Quo. I've
been rocking all over the world for ages. Winston was
quoting status quo in Parliament yesterday. The Prime Minister's going
to kick off the show, hot off the press, the
retirement of Attorney General Judith Collins Ow Well history judge.
(00:58):
Prime Minister up next on that one. Stephen Jacoby talking
about Winston. He says Winston is dog whistling and for
what it's worth, I reckon he's right. Over the Indian
Free Trade agreement, Stephen Jacoby is his name, and he
reckons we got a good deal in India and if
we'd waited any longer, we may not have got a
deal at all, and it could have been years before
(01:20):
there was another opportunity. So Stephen Jacoby on the free
trade agreement with India, and we'll also ask Christopher Luxen
whether Labour's going to support it. Robin Dines, Doctor Robin
Dines recognized in the New Year's Honors for services to
Agricultural science. She's a cracker. She is wear so many
(01:42):
hats and has so many awards and accolades in rural
New Zealand ag research and Paul Allison, well known sports commentator.
We're announcing the finalists of the New Zealand Rural Sports
Awards with the head judge and leading sports broadcaster. Of course,
he's a famous rug commentator as Paul former New Zealand
marathon champion himself as well. I want to get his
(02:04):
thoughts on who the next All Black coach would be.
Being a good Otago man like he is, I'm sure
he'll be nominating mister Jamie Joseph and who does he
want with him? Michelle, I'll have rural news for you
and we'll update sport for you as well. As it
is going to be a stinker of a day in
Australia for the Australian Tennis Open. Christopher Luckxon up next
(02:43):
the Prime Minister kicking off of that country on a Wednesday,
and hot off the press. Judith Collins, Attorney General, will
be retiring at the end of this election cycle and
Christopher Luckxon I put it to you she will be
a big loss.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yes, you just's been outstanding. I just want to personally
acknowledge as the huge record she has in public service.
You know, she's been in Parliament now for twenty four years,
you know, twelve years in opposition, twelve years in government
with Key and with myself, and she served usial on
incredibly well. She's taken on some of the hardest portfolios.
She's had to confront some of those difficult issues, and
(03:20):
you know, she's been massive And so she's a very
good friend. I know people, you know she's a flitable
public figure, but I know her as a friend and
I can tell you she's really loyal. She's a really
generous person. She's very smart, she's very funny, but she
cares about people a lot. Here in Wellington, you know,
she's got and across the country she's got a great
reputation of managing her staff and developing young people very
very well. So, yeah, she's going to leave behind a
(03:42):
big legacy.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
But the good news is we've got.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Her going into pointing her to a new position as
President of the Law Commission, and she'll be outstanding on
that job with her legal background as well.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Are you wishing Winston would retire. He's a bit of
a spanner in the works at the moment for you.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Oh no, Look, as I said to you many times before,
we got a colorless government. We've got three parties. You've
got a large National Party with two support parties in
that coalition and government. We're all bringing something different to
the mix. Everyone will say and do things differently. We're
all have slightly different constituents and policies and I get that.
But you know, in the core stuff, you know, which
is the really important things, getting the economy fixed, law
(04:19):
and order, health and education, all.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
That good stuff.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
You know, we're very very aligned. So no, no, I've
enjoyed as I said to you, I mean going to
the action November seven. Yes, I want to maximize the
National Party vote. I honestly believe it would be the
most stable, strongest form of government for New Zealand. But
the New Zealand people they have a thing called MMP
and they give us a result on election night and
then we have to go make it work in ways
that they may or may not want us to do so,
but we do. And in my case, as I've said before,
(04:44):
I want to maximize National but you know that it means,
you know, I'm open to working with Winston and David
again because we've worked incredibly constructively, but as sure as hell,
I won't be working with Labour Party.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I'm praise the Lord for that one. Winston's not working
constructively with you on the Indian Free Trade Agreement. But
the good news here and maybe sanity prevails and bipartisan
politics is alive. It sounds to me after talking to
Damian O'Connor on yesterday's show, that Labor will support this.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Look, I think it's not actually a political thing. I
think Winston's wrong on this, you know, like he was
wrong on the China FTA, which he opposed, he's wrong
on this and I appreciate he may have different views
and that's fair enough, but I disagree with him because
quite simply, in the next five, ten, fifteen, twenty years,
India is going to be the biggest economy in a
matter of years. We want to grow with the growing
(05:36):
economy as it gets wealthy. And that's what New Zealand
did from eight through to now on the back of China,
and that's what we can continue to do in many
parts of the world. But certainly in India. So you know,
I don't think I don't see it as deeply political.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
I see it as a.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
New Zealand thing, and it doesn't There's going to be
successive governments are different colors in the next thirty years
in New Zealand, and you know, we need to know
an opposition. I was the same. I always wanted to
back you know, FTAs because it's just the New Zealand's
interest and that's what it's about. So look, you know
we'll make the case very strongly to other parties to
support it. And you know it's great to hear encouraging
(06:11):
signs coming from Damien. That's wonderful. He understands trade well
as you know. But you know, Todd and I will
keep driving hard for it.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
A budget day is May twenty eight. Nikola Willis has
promised a cost cutting focus. Does that mean it's going
to be another really tough year? Because with inflation now
at three point one percent above the Reserve Bank band
of acceptance, if that's the correct terminology, it looks like
interest rates are going to be lifting This year. Is
(06:39):
the recovery the fix and twenty six going to be
a dead cat bounce.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
No, no, I think you know we've got enough data
as you're seeing your manufacturing services. Everything's bouncing back pretty quickly.
Now we had construction, you know up. I think consents
up twenty percent, jobs and construction up thirty percent, So
it's coming back quite quickly. But what we have to
do all Nicholas signaled and what I've signaled in my
State of the Nation address as well as look, it
(07:04):
would be insane. And I know what's going to happen.
You're gonna have a lot of political parties in an
election year come out and say they're going to have
grandiose programs and massive government spending again. And I'm telling
you that's what got us into the ungodly mess that
we inherited. But you know, any sane party would be
grossly wrong to make big, promising spending commitments in a
time when we know that has been the problem for
(07:26):
New Zealand and we need very good, sound financial management.
And I'm telling you these guys the capital gains tax,
Tipkins wants, Chloe wants a capital gains tax or wealth tax,
a trust tax, god knows what else, and they both
want to borrow billions tens of billions of dollars more money,
and I'm telling you that ain't the way forward for us.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Should the world be worried that Trump has confirmed that
he's pulling out a Paris, he's joining Iran, Libya and Yemen.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Goodness, son, Well, that's the point that you and I've
talked about this last year, is that we have obligations
and we've made a decision as a country that we
wanted to live in near Zera in twenty fifty. And
we're actually on track. You know, our farming agricultural community
is adopting new technology while it's lowering emissions, increasing productivity
(08:10):
and production and productivity, and that's a really good thing, right,
and so we can actually grow, but we are prioritizing growth,
and we can also manage our missions in our environment.
So my point is if I pulled out of Paris,
which I know a lot of I hear a lot
of it, and you know sometimes in the royal communities
they bounced around you here some extreme views say oh yeah,
it's very simple, you just pull out of Paris. You go,
oh yeah, right, interesting, How would that go?
Speaker 5 (08:30):
Mate?
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Well, how that would go is that immediately the countries
we compete with would kick us out of their countries too,
And we're just growing the European Union, you know, business
twenty nine percent last year. In the UK business twenty
two percent last year. So they're buying a hell of
a lot of our dairy products right here, right now.
And the second thing is the big companies in the
slaves and unile livers don't care where they buy the
stuff from, and they would just move it, frankly, to
(08:52):
Land of Lakes or to carry dairy or whoever hell
they want to buy it from. So you get to
a very simplistic argument saying stuff like that, actually we
want to be in Paris. We're not sending billions of
dollars overseas. We don't want to damage or punish our farmers.
And as a result, if we punish the farmers, we
would lose the energy to do ten thousand dollars for
every man, woman and child in this country. So the
(09:13):
whole of the country then goes into recession and we
have a whole bunch of other economic problems at that point.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Okay, I started by singing the praises of Judith Collins,
a retiring minister. I just want to reiterate I think
what I said to you last week about one of
your other ministers, how impressive he has been on the ground,
Mark Mitchell.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
He's been great. He had been together the last week
and been into every region that was impacted with the
weather events. We did a vigil together in tlro Onng
and we've been out and we're talking with the families,
which has been an incredible experience, Jamie. Amazing people, you know,
amazing people just hearing about the people that we've lost.
And we've sadly lost nine people, you know, six at
(09:53):
malt Monganui to at Welcome Bay, one in a river
just out of Walkworth, and potentially one more missing on
a river Potocky, So you know, nine to ten people potentially,
and that's a huge, huge tragedy. But I've just been
so impressed by Mark's done a great job working with
the mayors and local government and the join up and
the response has been good. But now we've moved into
(10:15):
a recovery mode to making sure we get the resources
to the right places at the right time quickly.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Christoph lux On, Prime Minister, thanks for your time on
the country.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Appreciate it, Jamie.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
Take care of a good day.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Sixteen, make that seventeen after twelve, Thank you, Prime Minister.
Charlie's just texted and you can get us on five
double oh nine pictures of matchstick Men. What a great choice, Jamie,
one of your best ever. Well, music's very subjective, but
I am a bit of a fan of the quote,
to be fair, and the reason we're introducing status Quo
(10:46):
on the playlist today is because Winston was comparing Michelle
Scott the quote. I think she was looking at it
and handsid. Winston was quoting status quo in reference to
the labor and the Greens. He's always very interesting, even
if he's got it completely wrong about the Indian Free
Trade Agreement. A Hopefully, as I said, bipartisan sensibility prevails
(11:15):
and labor I'm sure they will will help get that through. Okay,
up next Stephen Jacobe, a bloke who said Winston is
dog whistling. He's a trade specialist in this country. Before
the end of the hour, doctor Robin Dines Paul Allison,
who are the finalists for the New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
Rural Sports Awards. It's all on the country.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Can't beat a bit of status quo rocking all over
the world, and that's what we're doing. Have free trade agreements.
Let's welcome onto the country. Stephen Jacoby. Great to have
his time leading trade analysts these days. He's independent now
he's rubbish. Claims that New Zealand could have got a
better free trade deal with India if it had prolonged
(12:15):
the negotiations. He says that New Zealand had a window
to get this deal done now and if we and
if we hadn't taken it, the next opportunity could have
been years away with no guarantee of a better deal.
And more importantly, Stephen Jacoby, you said Winston is dog whistling.
Love that comment. Good afternoon, how are you doing. I
(12:37):
am excellent. Right, let's start with Winston. What's up? What
is he up to?
Speaker 7 (12:43):
Well, look at the lection in the air in case
no one's noted, and so I suppose we can expect
this sort of thing coming out more and more frequently. Look,
I think it's quite understandable that a political party will
want to take its time to you know, make its
judgment on a trade agreement and only do so once
they've seen the deep But in this case New Zealand
versus part of the government and to rule out, you know,
(13:05):
supporting this agreement on something so flimsy as the provisions
around the temporary entry of workers just as completely beyond
the pale.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
In my view, you can hang on. We need Indian
workers to come into the country and Filipino workers because
they're doing the work that we're too lazy or useless
to do ourselves.
Speaker 7 (13:25):
Well, we certainly need those workers. And you know, the
visas that are being talked about one thousand, six hundred
and something right, you know, and five thousand in any
one time is you know, has to be seen in
the comparison of around eighteen thousand you know, Indians in
New Zealand working on those sort of visas at the moment,
(13:48):
and it needs to be seen in the million or
so visas that we issue every year to workers from
all parts of the world. I mean, these are very
limited things that have been agreed and they those workers
will come, they'll make a good contribution, they'll take that
knowledge back to India and help you know, India grow
back there as well. That's a very good thing in
my view.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah, well, we all know Winston doesn't like immigration, but
the other one he's banging on about there wasn't enough
in it for New Zealand when it came to dairy.
But India has more bovines. It has a third of
the world's bovine population. We were never going to get
a deal on dairy, were.
Speaker 7 (14:24):
We We were never going to get a deal on
airy and that The proof of that is that the
EU has just concluded a massive trade agreement with India
and it has not got a deal on dairy either.
So you know, what we did get though with India,
which is important, I think, was the fact that dairy
is not completely excluded from the agreement. That's a very
(14:46):
important thing. We've got access for a range of high
value dairy products and that's good. And we've got an
understanding that it will be possible to import dairy products
for further processing in India for re export. It is
also good. So you know, I'm sure the dairy well,
I know the dairy industry is disappointed. I'm disappointed that
a better deal couldn't be got. But we've been around
(15:09):
the traps twice already with India in the last fifteen
years or so. This was the best deal. As you said,
quoting me, I think we could get in the time
available and in the circumstances, not a very positive environment
for trade globally. So go on now negotiated.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Okay, well, we're going to come back to that and
trade environment globally and mister Trump, but let's just look
at where this free trade deal with India has been
very advantageous, and you've pointed out quite rightly. Sheep meat.
That's a huge one for us. Also, kei we fruits
and apples.
Speaker 7 (15:44):
That's right. So the elimination of the thirty three percent
tariff on sheep meat from day one, that makes a
big difference. Of course, some sheep net exporters have work
to develop the Indian market over the years by selling
over that tariff. It's been quite difficult. Opens that up
quite a lot. By the way, the EU also got
the elimination of the tariff, so we'll have to compete
(16:05):
with them there, I guess, but that's a very important gain.
Kivi Fruit's interesting because this is the first time that
India has agreed to the elimination of the elimination of
the tariff on a horticultural product of this nature. So
we're going to get zero percent applied to a small
(16:26):
smallest quota of about six or seven thousand tons rising
to fifteen thousand tons. Look, that's very good indeed for
the Kievy fruit industry. Apples, you know, they getting a
quota of around thirty two five hundred tons. They're still
going to pay twenty five percent tariff, which is quite high,
I have to say, but it's come down from the
(16:46):
fifty percent tariff that applies to apples for India. At
the moment I've seen apples and using an apples on sale,
and when I've been to India, there is a market
there to be had, so very good outcomes, still high
tariffs remaining at the end, say, the best we could
get in the circumstances.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Yes, and let's not forget India. Currently I think is
the world's fourth biggest economy. I think Germany just pips
it into third, behind obviously the US and China. But
India will become very shortly you would think the world's
third biggest economy. We've got to be in their boots
and all.
Speaker 7 (17:19):
Well, this is the important thing I think is that
this agreement, you know, even though it might not be
the sort of gold standard we applied once upon a time,
and we can talk about why that is. It's never
going to give it's nevertheless going to give us the
basis to develop this market in the future, which is
the thing we really needed. I mean India, Betty, you know,
registers in the top ten of our export markets. Another
(17:42):
development in relation to the EU India agreement is that
the EU has got India to reduce its tariffs on
wine for one hundred from one hundred and fifty percent.
Can you imagine to twenty percent. Now we have an
agreement with India and our SDA that if they do
a better deal than the one we did with them,
(18:02):
whereby we reduced to seventy five percent the tarable playing
seventy five still very high, we will get the same agreement.
So our wine is set to get twenty percent in India.
And for all those you know, up or upper middle
class Indians, the four hundred million plus of them who
want to buy a new Zealand wine, there's a deal
(18:23):
for you.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Okay, I'm quoting you again. You say this FTA must
be seen in the context of a very disruptive international environment.
A lot of that has been caused by mister Trump,
and you point out that the days of getting a
really good deal like we got with China are effectively over.
Speaker 7 (18:40):
Yeah, I think that's the overriding consideration here. There were
two things. One is, you know, we've got this environment
for trade internationally where protectionism is rising and countries are
just not in the mood to open up all sectors
of the economy. I think obviously New Zealand's still keen
to do so in India at least going in that
(19:01):
direction the EU as well, But we also had a
difficult environment in the negotiation because they didn't want to
do a deal with agriculture. We didn't really want to
do a deal. It had too much in the way
of you know, immigration and visas. So you know, in
that sort of environment you have to look at what
you could get. Having been as they say, around the
traps already twice with India in the last fifteen years,
(19:23):
this was the time to make this deal.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
The final comment from you, and I asked this of
the Prime Minister Trump pulling out of Paris for the
second time, joining just Iran, Libya and Yemen as countries
that have pulled out or aren't in there, should we
be worried?
Speaker 7 (19:40):
Oh well, it's deeply disappointing for anybody who's worried about
the future of the planet that Trump's you know, finally
made you know, followed through on his promise to get
out of Paris. I mean that once before. You remember.
The only thing I think is that, you know, in
the United States, the real dynamism around climate response, mitigation,
(20:03):
adaptation is coming from the private sector, and the private
sector is still going to continue this regardless of what
the US government does, and that's still a very good thing,
and we want to link up with those parts of
the private sector who have that vision. Well. I think
it's more worrying, though, Jamie, of those people in New
Zealand saying that we should leave it too. I think
actually even our Foreign minister has suggested that that would
(20:26):
be a disaster for New Zealand because it would demonstrate
to the world that we aren't concerned about the sustainability
of our food production systems.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Stephen Jacobi, thanks as always for your time on the Country.
Love having you on the show.
Speaker 7 (20:39):
Cheers mate.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Bang On twelve thirty talks a lot of sense, doesn't it. Okay,
We're going to take a break on the other side
of it. Michelle with Rural News. We'll have sports news
for you before the end of the hour. Doctor Robin
Dines from ag Research. She became a member of the
New Zealand Order of Men in the New Year's Honors.
I know that when I was away, Hamish Mackay had
(21:05):
Neil bait up on from Rural Support Trust really well
deserved as gong. And to wrap the show, Paul Allison,
we're going to announce the finalists for the New Zealand
Rural Sports Awards. Welcome back to the country. Twenty seven
(21:38):
away from some one Texter has reminded me that I
think status quo we're first, first out of them up
to the batter's box at Live AID. I don't need
to check that, Michelle. You can google the Live AID
and London Wembley Stadium nineteen eighty five. Hey, great to
welcome is Suzu a ball as a naming sponsor here
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real vehicles, real tough, real value. Michelle, good afternoon. Let
me just play the sweet Rural News liner.
Speaker 8 (23:28):
The country's world news with Cob Cadet, New Zealand's leading
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z for your local stockist.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
Yes, and it's your fault. We're playing Status Quo today.
I like Status Quo in instant quoting them in Parliament yesterday.
What did he say?
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Reminded he's talking about labor and the Greens. Reminded me,
particularly when they both finished their speeches of singing of
a singing group called Status Quo, who had a song
that went like this, whatever you want, whatever you like,
if you pay your money, make your choice, whatever you need.
He's quoting the song whatever you want. We'll play that
a wee bit later. What's happening in rural news? Yes,
(24:10):
I should turn your microphone on, thank you. I was
just getting too much Status Quo in my ear.
Speaker 9 (24:14):
That's all right.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
And were they first out?
Speaker 9 (24:16):
They were first out forty years ago, becoming the first
act to take live stage at Wibley. So great fact, Texter.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Yes and coming exactly trivia. Absolutely, what have you got
on rural news?
Speaker 9 (24:26):
Okay, in rural news now this is quite interesting actually
because I didn't even know that these dogs. I mean,
sales like this probably going all the time, but I
didn't even think about it until just now. So organizers
of a long standing North Island working dog auction are
in disbelief after three hundred and twenty thousand dollars changed
hands at their latest sale, and apparently hundreds attended this
(24:46):
annual ParaPara Marakivk Sheep Dog Trial Club auction held on
a real property up there, which featured more than sixty
dogs up for sale. One of the dogs, though, went
for quite a lot of money. I'm just trying to
find the fact there's a fierce competition pushed the hitting
Don Tricks to a top price of twelve two hundred dollars,
(25:06):
but during last year's base by nearly three grand.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Cheap at twice the price. Look, you have to pay
a farm worker, that's true.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
That's true.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
Sixty or seventy grand. I don't know, something like that.
Whatever the wages, that's true.
Speaker 9 (25:18):
So that's quite cheap.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
Really, Look, a dog will work all day and all night.
You only got to feed them well, bed them well,
and they never complain. They're loyal, they don't have sick days.
They don't winge.
Speaker 9 (25:30):
I'm worried about these comments aimed at me.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Well, I mean, realistically, I can't replace you with a
work dog. But I just the man's best friend for
a reason. And if you get a good work dog.
And back in the day when I was a farmer,
because I lived next door to a die guy used
to trade really good dogs, I got some of the
cast offfs and had a couple of really good dogs
(25:55):
who in effect trained me. They were that good.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
I think sports on the country with AFCO invested in
your foaming success.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Damien McKenzie will watch with interest as New Zealand Rugby
pick a successor to Scott Robertson as All Blacks coach.
One of the contenders as Dave Rennie, who coached the
playmaker at the Chiefs in his early seasons. Mackenzie said
he's not looking too far ahead and just wants to
play well this season. All Blacks halfback cam Royguard has
extended his New Zealand rugby contract until the end of
(26:30):
twenty twenty nine. How good is that bloke? And Black
Caps past bowler Lockey Ferguson is inching closer to an
international cricket return in time for the T twenty World Cup.
And before I forget phone's going nuts with texts, before
I forget the winners of the cherries from Monday's show
with Blair Blizzard MacLean, the Mister Henry Cherry winners Hamish
(26:54):
Bryant and Tiawa Mutu and Betty Andrews and Ash Burton.
Up next, doctor Robert Dines in christ Church. Wow, here
is a very special woman, a very special woman in
(27:16):
New Zealand agriculture. Her name is doctor Robin Dines. She
will have no room at all left on her mantlepiece
because she's collecting all these awards and accolades, Robin out
of ag Research. The latest for you was in the
New Year's Honors. You were recognized for your services to
agricultural science. You've got a gong, a member of the
(27:37):
New Zealand Order of Merit. Congratulations, thank you, Jamie.
Speaker 10 (27:42):
And it's such a privilege to be recognized. It's kind
of a surreal moment in time.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
To be honest, Well, as I said, half in jest,
half in truth, you won't have much room left on
the mantlepiece because at the New Zealand Primary Industry Awards,
and I was lucky enough to be up there m
seeing and presenting you with the Royal champion An Award.
Speaker 10 (28:01):
And look, that one was really special, Jamie, because that's
when you're nominated by farmers and I think that you know,
that's really significant.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
But I'm also so pleased with my New Year's.
Speaker 10 (28:10):
Honor because agricultural science was recognized, and I believe that's
an essential computer contributor to the success of our sector.
It's not that unbiased or anything. Having had a long
career in science, we've got to have agricultural science, Jamie
underpins what we do in agriculture.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
And it was great to see the likes of Neil
Beta Rural Support Trust recognized in the New Year's Honors
as well. But I look through the list, Rob and
it's the first thing I look for at Queen's Birthday,
King's Birthday and of course New Years, and I look
for the people in agriculture. Yes we've recognized some, but
not enough.
Speaker 5 (28:44):
I completely agree.
Speaker 10 (28:46):
And you look right now, Jamie, just how essential the
agricultural sector is to New Zealand's export econ me.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Okay, as I said you're with ag research, you've also
bet you're on the Board of far the Foundation for
Arable Research. Who would want to be a cropping farmer,
Robin at the moment in Canterbury where you're based.
Speaker 10 (29:03):
Look, it's been such a tough start to the harvest.
Jamie completely agree. We were joking earlier. School went back
today and the sun has come out. So we simply need.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Now a month of sunshine and.
Speaker 10 (29:14):
That's what we need because those crops are really showing
the impact. And that's setting aside well for four and
a half thousand hectiars of cereal crops that were hit
by hail and all those winter forage crops as well,
the fodder beat that's had a hammering.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
So we need sunshine now and.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
The poor old arable farmers. When I look at New
Zealand farming sectors at the moment, it's the arable farmers
and the viticulture of the wine industry that's really suffering.
Everyone else is doing quite well, in some cases very well.
Even Wallsworth something these days, Robin exactly.
Speaker 10 (29:48):
And it's kind of ironic because if we look at
the arable sector, that's our export enabler. You know, not
only do we export specialty seeds, but it's their arable
sector that produce all the grass seeds to enable our
other sectors to flourish. So how do we get a
future where they're flourishing as well. I think it's a
real challenge.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
What's happening in Canterbury at the moment land use change wise?
How many do you know how many dairy farms are
going to come on stream this season or next and where?
And have they all come from arable properties?
Speaker 5 (30:21):
Look, I don't have those details, Jamie.
Speaker 10 (30:22):
There's certainly a lot of numbers being bumped around. We
know from when people make a decision to convert, it
does take time, so I wouldn't expect we would see
many coming on. I know of a small handful that
will be coming on for the coming season. But we're
certainly seeing our land use change being talked.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
About, aren't we.
Speaker 10 (30:43):
But we've got a long history and land use change, Jamie.
And you know our farmers. We're a free market economy,
so our farmers respond to market opportunity or necessity, So
you know, when we get in this situation, we do
see change, don't we.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
What happened to the argument that can already had too
many dairy farms on the Canterbury Plains.
Speaker 10 (31:03):
Probably not asking the right person that question, Jamie, Look,
what is the right land use? Well, you know we
can learn from history, can't we. And we look up
the East coast now and say why do we plant
so many trees? So let's learn from history because we
know in hindsight. It's great to be wise in hindsight, right,
But let's.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Strive for the WRIT enterprise in the right place.
Speaker 10 (31:23):
And we do have to look as we expand any
land use that we are putting them in the right place.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
And that's the.
Speaker 10 (31:30):
Question that has to be asked as we expand anything
including dairying.
Speaker 5 (31:34):
Is it the WRIT enterprise? Is it in the right place?
Speaker 10 (31:37):
Do they have the right system that they're putting in
for the landscape that they're putting it into.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
How do you build climate resilience into an arable cropping operation,
or for that matter, a horticulture operation. And I look
at the damage one storm, one flood can do to
a whole year's crop.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Look, isn't that interesting?
Speaker 10 (31:58):
And I think I did a case study recently on
David Burkett in his farm and the kind of climate
resilience strategies he has in place, and that gives me
real optimism that as we continue to deal with a
change in climate, many of our.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Farmers have already got the tools.
Speaker 10 (32:16):
So what are the kind of tools you can have
if you're growing grass seed? If you're growing grass seed
that have got different flowering dates, that gives you a
degree of resilience in a year like we're having.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
Ah how you whether you're using.
Speaker 10 (32:29):
Minimum tillage or cultivation, having a lot of tools in
the toolbox and knowing when to use them is part
of the resilience. But when it does come to crops,
We've always got that risk, haven't we. And that's the
strength of the sheep or the cow who will turn
their butt to the weather, stand it out and then
(32:49):
go back to grazing and producing that sabulous meat or
the milk.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Just one will comment from me like me, you grew
up on a Southland sheep farm. I'm right in saying that,
aren't I You are in now? Do you think on
those south and sheep farms and years to come they
might be growing key we fruit.
Speaker 10 (33:06):
Look, I'm holding out for avocados and Canterbury to be honest, No,
not for some period of time, not for a long time.
Speaker 7 (33:15):
Jamie.
Speaker 5 (33:15):
However, if I.
Speaker 10 (33:17):
Was to be producing food anywhere in the world in
twenty fifty, New Zealand would be my number one because, yes,
we've got challenges. We've seen the challenges of weather up
and down the country, and yet from a climate change perspective,
we've got more opportunities than pretty much anywhere else in
the world.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
And on that wonderfully positive note, doctor Robin Dines, I'm
going to leave you. It's been a pleasure catching up
with you again. Congratulations. Keep filling that mantlepiece with awards
and accolades because you've earned every one of them.
Speaker 10 (33:48):
Thanks so much, Jamie. Just keep sending the sun our.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Way, please, Yeah, we hope you do get some sun
on Canterbury, Robin, thank you for your time. If you
grow food anywhere in twenty fifty anywhere in the world,
it would be New Zealand, and very shortly, Paul Allison
and the finalists for the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
nine away from one. Just trying to track down Paul Allison. Paul,
(34:13):
if you're listening, tell us who's going to be the
next All Black coach. I think I know your answer.
Some of your feedback coming in. This is disappointing air
New Zealand is still planting pines in Southland. Sacrilege, says
the Texter, with the price of beef and lamb or derry. Yeah,
look good, pastoral land should produce protein, not pine trees.
(34:34):
Dennis Nielsen will hate me for saying that. And remember
Isuzu you're naming sponsor here on the country. Their demo
sales on Now you can get a D Max or
an m Ux. The D Max is, the m Ux
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(34:56):
while the going's good. Up next, surely Paul Allison wrapping
the country with Paul Allison, well known sporting commentator, great
rugby commentator, best radio commentator in the country by the
length of the strait. Also a former New Zealand marathon chance,
(35:18):
so he knows a lot about athletics. Paul. Just before
we get to the finalists in the New Zealand or
the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards, Sam Ruth, how
good is this kid? Give me twenty seconds.
Speaker 11 (35:29):
Outstanding our best sporting talent this country has ever produced.
In my opinion, We've seen some outstanding competitors in the past.
He's seventh on the all time list for the New
Zealand mile, seventh on the all time list for the
eight hundred meters. He would have won every Commonwealth Games
mile that's ever been raised. And he hadn't even had
his driver's license before he broke the four minute mile.
(35:51):
He's the best talent we've had for a long long time.
I can't think of anyone better than anyone. Close is
Lydia Coe and I'm saying something near Jamie.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
You are indeed as Jamie moph A Dundale for the
All Blacks coaching role.
Speaker 11 (36:02):
If he wants it, I think he is. I was
disappointed he didn't get it last time round. I thought
he was the best qualified candidate with the international experience
that he had. But Razer had a really good Indonesha
sorry domestic career as well. But if he wants it,
and if you can build a team around him and
he gets the terms that he wants, I can't think
of anyone better.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
You're the head judge for the New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.
They've just announced hot off. In fact, we've got a
scoop here. Who are the finalists? Just run through the categories.
Speaker 11 (36:29):
Well, we had a meeting last night. We've set a record, Jamie,
since you weren't there this year won our fifty seven minutes.
We've narrowed it down to the finalist for the Ford
New Zealand Rural Sports Awards, the women's down the three
finalists harness racing trainer Michelle Wallace who won the national
coveted Group one Trot at Alexandra Park with Hillbilly Blue.
(36:51):
She's had an outstanding season. The defending champion Steph Drive
Out and tree Climbing is also a finalist in the
RX Plastics Rural Sports Woman of the Year and making
up the third of those, who's really another outstanding competitor.
And Laura Bradley who's done so so well with what
she's done in sharing this year, being the first female
(37:13):
to be ranked number one nationwide in the senior sharing grade.
So that's the women's category. The PTS Logistics Men Sportsman
of the Year. While he's there again, Jack Jordan. He
seems to be there every year. He won the World
Champs and wood chopping once more. He was the Supreme
winner in twenty three and twenty four and he also
won this category last year as well. He's joined by
(37:35):
a man called Leo Jafinko, a sheep dog trialist best
in the Country from Whitehadow, part of a New Zealand
team that won the competed in the Trans Tasman Rivalry
against Australia.
Speaker 7 (37:48):
For the while Ago Trophy.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
Do you know what wilelygo stands for, Jamie.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
Yeah, it's a dog trawling Tom, we're running out of time, Paul,
be quick?
Speaker 11 (37:54):
All right, Well it means come away and let's go.
But yeah, so you've got Leo in there and making
up the finalists and the Logistics PTS Logistics sports Man
is Tim Stafford who's done everything he can in fencing.
And then the other performance award is the Fonterra Young
New Zealand Rural sports Person of the Hear Wilson House.
(38:14):
The harness racing driver. He had a huge number of
drives last year, over seven hundred and forty races in
total for him from a young man from Canterbury, along
with Jack Matthews out of the West Coast, promising wood
chopper and Judishi Kilpatrick R Kirkpatrick out of Sporting Royalty
in Gisbon from the Sharing Sports.
Speaker 7 (38:31):
Now the Finalists.
Speaker 11 (38:32):
We're also going to have this year, Jamie, the induction
of the Hall of Faith Sports and I'm.
Speaker 3 (38:37):
Going to Love You and Leave You Paul Allison.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Catch all the latest from the Land. It's the Country
Podcast with Jamie McKay. Thanks to Farmland's hit those summer
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