May 22, 2026 • 47 mins
Andy Muir talks to Jeff Grant, Jess Black, Don Morrison, Jeremy McPhail and Courtney Nimmo.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
A very good morning and welcome into the best of
the muster of collaboration of interviews that took our attention
here at Hakau Ehq. I'm Andy Muher. We start the
hour by catching up with Jeff Grant, Northern Southland business owner, farmer,
former politician, you name it. Jeff's wore a lot of
hats over the years, but today he's talking about the
consenting process. Why is it so difficult to get a
(00:25):
consent and get ahead in New Zealand. Jeff Black part
of the Young Enterprise scheme, which has included in a
lot of secondary schools these days, just talks about some
really cool initiatives that are going on by people are
getting towards the end of their schooling career, and possibly
he was going to give him a lead on into
agriculture as a whole. Don Morrison Farming at Wallowe Bank.
(00:47):
We talk about the stock prices and the rise of them,
but Don just wants to temper expectations. He was, of
course a former Alliance Group board director and how he
just thinks we need to hear it's really good, but
everything is just open to interpretation around the world at
the moment. Jeremy McPhail of Environment Southland, where he is chair,
joined us in studio to have a rather candid chat
(01:10):
about anything and everything long term plans gravel extraction. Jeremy
was very open book and Courtney nim I have bee
from their New Zealand talking about the Southern Farmer Council
and what people want to see up and running. Courtney says,
here's the opportunity for you to have your say about
what you'd like to see happening in the beef and
lamb space. So without further ado, we'll start the best
(01:31):
of the hour next with Jeff Grants.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Em as Mad and Jersey chairs Gordon Grimbian.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Welcome back to the muster. Jeff Grant joins US Northern
Southland farmer business owner and is involved in many committees
and continues to do so. Good afternoon, Jeff, how are
you good?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Andy and nice to be getting into the second part
of May and the ground condition is still pretty good.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Quite a bit going on in the political landscape at
the moment, but we'll start off of this. The OECD
reporters out talking about increasing production and cross border trade,
moving this out to twenty thirty four, so it's all
about upping amping production, would you say, yeah, Look.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I think the interesting thing these reports are the sort
of predictions and so you never guarantee what might happen.
But the cross border trade in the world has increased
over the last twenty years, and so seventeen percent of
everything that's producer is now trade across nations. But they
are predicting it's going to get out to twenty two
percent by twenty thirty four. And that is just a
(02:38):
reflection that the increase in productivity in agriculture doesn't necessarily
happen in the countries that are consuming the product, and
so a good sign for New Zealand because it just
means there will be increasing demand for carbohydrates protein and
that will continue to be dragged out of countries that
(03:01):
are producing it versus countries that are consuming. And so
while there's been some difficulty around trade over the last
three or four years with Trump especially driving tariffs, I
think that internationally it will start to settle down by
twenty thirty and change in the American politics, we'll probably
(03:23):
see a settling down and I think will continue to
see reasonably strong position around New Zealand commodities.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
So it's fair to say, you say that New Zealand's
looking pretty good as being an exporting.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Nation, the production by twenty thirty five, which is only
ten years away, has to increase by about fifteen percent
to continue to feed the world basically, and on that basis,
that would tell you that we're not thought producing it
up internationally and we've got to produce more. But the
(03:56):
carbohydrate consumption are going to have over three hundred per
person by then in terms of middle income and that's
just a strengthening of their buying power, which will reflect
and our ability to provide commodities.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Regular treat quagmire, stooling, farming? Is this all about PaperWorks
doing the obvious?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Oh look, I just had a recent experience I'm not
mentioned the council who involved, but trying to get a
coded compliance for a particular part of a building that
was done some years ago and hadn't for some reason
been signed off and the bureaucracy to get simply somebody
to inspect it. Got that done took five minutes. But
(04:38):
the ability to get that the documentation signed off through
a third party process that the councils now use has
just gone on for six weeks and now being told
that were perhap up to twenty days to complete this,
and I mean all it is is just saying yes,
the building is for purpose, and this is a reflection
(05:01):
of what we're seeing time time again. You know, consent
process is taken too long, and that on the basis
of that, you know, people just getting frustrated paying a
lot of money to get somewhere and not actually achieving it.
Consents taking longer than natural build which just seems to
me to be stupid.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Perhaps is the case of these councils just having to
cover their butts and going through process.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, look at some of it will have dragged on
from the leaky building days. But the reality is the
streamlining of that ability to have uniform standard conditions cross
the country hasn't been hasn't succeeded. I think that's part
of the ARIMA reform. May may give us that, but
the reality again, we're probably looking out till twenty eight
(05:48):
twenty nine before any of that will be implemented. It's
a bit like this whole local government reform. It just
seems to me to be starting to get into a
position where we're seen a bit some pieces being considered
around the edges that I saw of the latest one
to needing them my tech. You might look at joining
and then Targo being the central targer on q EL
you see you all being one. The devity you're going
(06:10):
to have in some of these areas pre sounds a
good example. The debt per household is twenty eight thousand.
Where you look at Central Targer District Council, the South
and District Council, the debt per household is two thousand
and so the capacity you get some of these councilors
to join together is going to be really high. And
(06:31):
I just see the same as South and it just
doesn't seem to be a clear pattern as to what's
going to be done. And Gore looking at going to
Cleifland goodness sake, you know, I just don't think that's
going to solve anything.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Three months. It doesn't seem like this is long enough
to get anything done in any way, shape or form,
especially given bureaucracy.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
There are some councils collectively around New Zealand that have
probably progressed this. Taranaki, Whykato would probably meet the three
months deadline? Southland should? I mean it just things pretty simple,
but all I've got to do is indicate what process
and what sort of design of the future council might
(07:14):
look like within the ninety days. To be honest, I
sort of the ninety days I should have made it sixty.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
What positives from your perspective, I suppose, Jeff, do you
see it from algamations? I mean, we've all heard the
figure the local elections six months ago. Over two hundred
positions worth filled councilors and mayors are elected, and that's
what really got people grumpy.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, Look, I think what people want or two things.
One is a rate base that fairly reflects the cost
and therefore get out of doing the stuff that you
don't really need to do. It's nice to have sort
of mentality that's crept into councils over the last decade
or so. And the second is that they just want
(07:59):
to simplify this them that is that when you want
to get something done and gets done and not tied
up in the bureaucracy that we see today.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Now, you talked about those debt levels Queenstown being twenty
five k whatever it was for a household as opposed
to teach or twenty eight thousand. Sorry, I was ten corrected,
but don't historical debt levels stay retained within that current
region though within that council jurisdiction.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yes they do, and if you look at the reformers
back in nineteen eighty nine, that's correct what happened. But
it eventually gets amalgamated. You know, you do the rating
on the basis there for a period of time, but
it all gets accumulated into what the problem you've got
this time around, the debt level differences between councils is
much greater. I mean, Queenstown's is still trying to seek
(08:46):
together the ceiling lifted. I'm going to say it's about
one hundred and eighty percent of rates now they're wanting
to shift it to the two hundred and thirty percent
of rates. So the problem you get to is that
the debt, well, you'd combined the councils, but the ability
to move in one area geographically to get things done
is still hamstrung by the debt that's in the household.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, it'll be interesting, given Queenstown still got a lot
going on there regarding monetary ways. Just finally as well,
in New Zealand, first Winston Peters indicating that New Zealand
first want to they be in z Bank from its
Australian pearance and merge it with Kiwibank, creating the National
Bank of New Zealand. Do you think this is a
good thing?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well, I can understand ideologically from New Zealand first, I
mean this wouldn't be a position unusual from what they've
had before in terms of someone it's nationalization of infrastructure
or key key assets in New Zealand. I think the
differently you have with this is that it starts to
indicate to international investors that r money invested in New
(09:53):
Zealand may be at risk at some point in time
when a government decides that it wants to nationalize something.
So for that reason, I think there is some difficulty
in sort of pursuing this type of policy. The other
part of that is what is it actually going to achieve?
Because it's still going to operate commercially, it's not going
to provide, you know, necessarily a benchmark that would lower
(10:18):
the other three major Australian banks, and therefore I'm not
sure what the final outcome would be.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Well, Kiewi Bank, I think it was created around two
thousand and one, so perhaps merging something. I don't know.
Winston's always going to do the patriotism card though too. Yeah, look,
there's a.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Good argument in terms of Kiwi Bank to really capitalize
it to a point where it does it does become
effective in terms of it's challenging the other four. But
I don't I don't see that happening. That requires, you know,
substantial capital. While they talk about five hunder million or
something at the moment, the reality is Kiwi Bank would
need to be up around ten or fifteen percent of
(10:56):
the market share before it would start having an influence
binding the two. Doesn't necessarily say that it's going to
change because they're still going to operate commercially in the
commercial market. Will be what before doing?
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Jeff grunt And joined the Sunshine this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Thanks any kitching.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Jess Black joins us next on the muster. She is
the Ottago Southland regional coordinator for YES, which stands for
a Young Enterprise Scheme. It's all about people in years
twelve and thirteen in secondary schools, kind of like a
dragon's den situation putting something together. And yeah, it's a
competition nationwide, I believe. So Jess is going to give
(11:47):
us a bit of a rundown on what this involved
in some really cool initiatives that are underway. Jess, good
afternoon and welcome.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Yeah sure, anyhow are you going pretty good?
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Can't complain blue sky in the South. It's cool and crisp.
But look, you think about young people and the way
they want to get involved with enterprise as such, this
sounds really neat.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Yeah, it's a fantastic program. Young Enterprise as a national
sort of competition run across the country and yeah, it's
loving getting out and about and seeing all their students
just pay.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, in a nutshell, how did you get involved with it?
Speaker 5 (12:24):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (12:24):
How did it come to fruition?
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:27):
So I've recently come on board as the coordinator looking
after Otago South and just been in the role a
couple of months. I was actually a youth student myself
about maybe about twelve years ago now, so been through
the program, understand what it's like being in the student's role,
and now I'm year back on board with the staff
(12:51):
and helping to see these young people thrive.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
So this has been going for a while obviously.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Yes, yes, Young Enterprise actually celebrating forty five years this year.
Well there you go, Yeah, which is pretty cool. We's
got a you know, it's definitely had a what we say,
yes effect. There are a lot of people who resonate
with young enterprise and the impact it's had on their lives.
So yeah, that that impact continues.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
So coincidentally, what were you doing for part when you
did this?
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Oh gosh, I don't seem nearly as cleverer of those
young people now, but I had a couple of products
and cool teens. The first year was a liquid seaweed
concentrate for your garden. That was pretty stinky in the
back shed, but that was awesome. We made it to
nationals with that, representing Southland. And then the year after
(13:46):
that was a gift box, a personalized gift box. We
called it Sender Smile. But yeah, no, compared to what
these young people are doing now the embarrassing to be honest,
but all all great learnings for me.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Yeah, so there's great buy and by Southern regent, by
Southern secondary schools, particularly amongst a rural folk.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yes, yeah, absolutely, We've got four schools that are participating
in the program this year up at in the College
Chapin Boys High Dan Targust and Saint Peter's College in
gor and many of those schools have a rural bent,
you know, the young people come in and the full
of ideas of challenges and opportunities that they see in
(14:33):
their rural life. So yeah, it's incredible seeing how that
translates into the businesses they come up with.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
And I'm just looking at what they've done this year.
For example, you're talking eel p a bird nesting strategy
to stop birds getting inside the tractor in springtime. So
I suppose you've got to be involved with your sector.
Do you understand what they're talking about? But yet again
you've got to think outside the square as to what
you think is going to work on the farm.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Oh absolutely, yeah, No, the ideas that of these teams
has come up with an incredible Here we have a
couple of standouts I think from the rural kind of
sphere and those two teams you mentioned here, we've got
million from the Lost Larder. She's developing an ill pet
hay which is a really unique product. And because she's
(15:22):
in there a second year of the challenge, so yeah,
she's she's really all about the Southland food scene and
bring a unique product from the farm to the plate.
It's pretty cool. And then no mis tech. They are
developing a product that goes within your tractor cad or
(15:44):
inside the engine bay of your tractor to scare off birds.
So all fantastic ideas and products that are these young
people got under development, solving real challenges for and opportunities
for farming.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
You see how many of these ideas do just actually
go through to the production stage if that's required.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Yeah, most teams, so they complete a series of force
of challenges through yes, and the first one around sales.
So the first one is around their business ideas, validating
that second one they go to Mendia Pictures. Third one
is sales and marketing, and the fourth one isn't in
(16:25):
your review sort of. It's a really condensed period of
time for them running their business. You know, it's only
a school year. Some of them do go beyond that.
They definitely want to scale, so most of them get
to that production, basic sales and marketing by about term three.
And those who don't, you know, they had pretty grand
(16:47):
visions for their company. So they're on a big, big,
dreaming brick scale, and so sometimes we'll see them produce
at a small scale, do local sales, pres and then
they'll get up to a you know, actually mass producing
and getting into the full business structure. And we love
(17:08):
seeing them take that from just you know, running a
business at high school to actually being a young entrepreneur.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Can you name of anything off the top of your
head the week and that's sexually got mess production, they'll commonplace.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Good question. We've had some local actually a good local
example of that was a young team from Southland. They
were up at em the College and they won nationals
a couple of years back, and they have a sort
of tree planting business which is possibly quite handed, you
(17:42):
know after a storm damage around the place. But I've
heard that they've done in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars of sales and they continue to run their business
while attending university. So yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
This is bringing agri business into the mainstream more or
less for these students.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
Oh yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
It's a cool way for them to take, as you say,
you know, a challenge or an opportunity they see and
translate that into the class into a real world business scenario.
You know, they really have to test their idea, but
it is a perfect combination for business egro business and
(18:30):
just getting that kind of great entrepreneurial experience.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Yeah, it's good, fascinating. I just finally, if people want
to learn more about what's going on, where do they kid?
Where do they go to?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
Yeah, if you're keen to follow along and hear more
about the Young Enterprise program, google Young Enterprise Yes and
head along to the Yes website. There's a little bit
more about the program there. That's sort of the best
water to follow along.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Just Black I Tiger South and regional coordinator for the
Young Price Scheme. Thanks your time on the Muster. Some
really cool space, some really cool things happening in the
secondary schooling space for students regarding arial culture. Thanks to
your time.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
Thank you. Thanks Eddie.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Slow down, you move too fast. You can't make the
morning last.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
Just kicking down the Carbo Stones looking for fun and
feel a little more crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Welcome back to the Muster. Don Morrison Farms at Willow Beg.
How are we just for you? Simon and Garfine called
the fifty ninth Street Bridge song feeling grievy hell sas.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
Oh, very good into Cura. Yeah, very very crazy introduction.
So yeah, it's probably a pretty crazy day out here too,
with a good frost this morning and and what looks
like pretty clear blue skies and they're going to get
a good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
So you're getting into that cruisy time of year, a
winter feeding.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
Look, we're probably about two weeks away from really getting
into the winter feeding, so now's a good time to
get a lot of a lot of catch up jobs done.
And that's what we've been busy doing trees and fences
where there's a lot of tidying up still to be
done from that storm last October. So at the time,
we got done what had to be done, and now
we're really got the big mess and clean up. So
(20:23):
a lot of chainsaw work, digger, there have been a
lot of work, and now yeah, properly, properly fixing some
fences that have been okay that need you need a
proper overhaul.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
So how long do you think it'll take you to
get things back up to speed properly.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
We'll be we'll still see the signs of it well,
and to you know, past October next year. A lot
of a lot of big trees and a lot of
stumps we've had to chop off and pull out, which
are just sitting out in the paddock. So of course
we won't be to get rid of all them over
the winter. But it's just been the cleanups and some
bonfires and as I say, the fences and then putting
a lot of side before I would have sort of
(21:01):
I hate wasting good dump timber. So we've we've tried
to retrieve what we could.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
So your focus is pretty much just getting organized for
the next six weeks twelve six to eight weeks.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
Yeah, I've got a better work to make sure we
get done, going in for another another shoulder off and
a couple of weeks. So that sort of makes me
a bit useless for the one FERD, but useless most
of the time. My team here would say, but certainly
had an action for a wee while this one.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
So jeez, you'll come out a lot of six million
dollar man, Steve Austin, after all this turn work you've
had done.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Yeah, look, I've gotta say, you know, a few generator
generation ago, there'll be that grumpy uncle or someone that
you knew and that would have probably been me with
with joints that didn't quite work. But I met us
from these days it's pretty good and you know, maybe
I should have just backed off a few of those
activities a bit younger might have been might have been sensible.
But hey, if you don't slow down, you'll never grow old. Andy.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
So noticing a big difference these operations you were getting
gradually over time, they've all come to fruition and they're
working awesome.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
So you know, I've had a new new hit knee
and a new hip and you know, no pain still
do plenty of sport, move reasonably fast and just a
shoulder a bit of a shoulder issue last year from
an old injury, and then one from an old footy injury.
This one too to clean up. So then I'll be
Then I'll be sweet. And I'm still managed the tennis
(22:24):
court in the meantim.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Yeah, and you still get your steps up moving the
brakes or is that a lucky's job?
Speaker 5 (22:29):
No that or that's it's a team job here. So
as soon as I'll be back, I'll be moving the brakes.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
As far as the wrap up to the harvesting season,
everything got drilled back into line as needed.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Yeah, we got it off the This weather has been
good for that. We got some some green feeding on.
Some paddicts will be croppling again next year and then
some some young grass s owned down and the other stuff.
It's all and dried. A bit of work this year
and grain drying complex we had a big catch up,
so it was it was the financial year to do that.
There was a bit a bit of supless around too,
(23:01):
and put into that sets us up good for the
next number of years with that. But but yeah, got
all the grain dried and sold, so that's pretty sweet too.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Yeah, you talk about the financial year, and we talk
about the price of lambs, a lot of people going
above budget with their process that will get a killing
sheets you would have been the same.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
Yeah, Look, everything was up. You know, ram sales were good,
Wool was basically double what I budgeted, so really pleased
the direction that that's going. Lambs of course, will been
very strong. You know, grain was good, yields okay and
even up a little bit on what I budgeted, and
just got some winter crops we sell which got mused
(23:40):
last week. So the yields on those are looking good
and you know they'll be pretty much in line with
what we expected.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
FK coming out yesterday, Tom Young talking to Jamie McKay
and the country about product about spring contracts that are
in the offering between eleven and twelve dollars. That's a
juicy number now see that.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
And it's certainly keeping that demand on for the store lambs.
I think there's you know, the few little store lambs
are still out there and pretty hot demand from what
I hear for just some of those slightly heavy ones
that people might want to turn over a bit quicker.
So yeah, that's that's got to be really positive, Andy.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
So there's got to be money in the processing plants
when they're paying that much for stock.
Speaker 5 (24:21):
What I believe is that there's still margins that they've
been achieving at that price. So yeahs's that's good for
everyone in the industry.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Andy, Well, it's pretty buoyant. And I mean when we've
speaking spoken to you in the past and rightly say
you've been a little bit reserved or quiet looking ahead
to the future, Like you say, being on the Alliance
board recently, you've got a bit of an understanding of
how the market works, a bit more than a lot
of people. But at the same time, when you're seeing
these prices and just keeps going up in these gains
(24:50):
like we're seeing it's got to be a great thing.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
You're seeing a world demand for high quality protein andy,
So that's certainly what's leading to the pricing that we've
got now and what would you would hope would give
you some confidence going forward, But there's just still that
global uncertainty. You know, what's going to happen with Iran,
what's going to take over with Ukraine? You know, posturing
(25:14):
still around the South China Sea, look him much of
that product we put them to China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Hong Kong. You know, we just don't want any disruption there.
So you know, it's my fingers crossed that we can
have another move into another strong year. But I think
you you know, I guess what I've seen in my
sheep farming career, Endy, is you don't you don't spend
(25:37):
the money till you've got it, because there's there's certainly
no guarantee what that next year is going to be like.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Okay, given the situation and the demand for protein around
the world, should we be looking at upping their budgets
around marketing and the likes actually pushing Kiwi product.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
Look, I think it's probably a bit reactive. That's a
strategy you've got to have in place, and you've got
to have you've got to have your or your brand
around that, so that that touch resourcing and then you know,
often just the quality of the product is the brand now,
the reputation of New Zealand lamb, the reputation of New
Zealand milk, the reputation of the key we fruit. So
(26:15):
I don't think it's something you can just make that
short term reaction to. It's got to be that's actually
got to be a more medium to long term strategy.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
But I don't think we realize how successful the one
hundred percent Pure brand was from a marketing viewpoint either, though.
Do you think that's a fair comment.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
Look, it's it's it's always an interesting debate because what
is one hundred percent pure? But it's certainly you're try
you're telling a directional story and and yeah, I think
that that resonates in a lot of the world when
they're wanting a safe product and they want one that's
you know, a traceability, safe and reputation and that's what
(26:55):
we deliver from New Zealand and why we're getting why
we've got those strong markets for a lot of our commodities.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Just finally, Howie, who's your all black starting ten this
year based on what you've seen? Or does Richie Mulwanga
come back into the fold.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
Without a doubt. I don't like. I just don't quite
get the rules where we try and keep Richie Mwanga
oltre period when every other country would have them straight
back in and they do have under their rules. No
i'd put Richie back. I don't know. Maybe depends on
where they want to play. McKenzie and I guess when
you've got Will Jordan at fullback. Yeah, I still have
(27:30):
dmat would be my starting number ten quite clearly.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
You got to be careful for all these operations. Surely
you'll be playing sender for a cake it.
Speaker 5 (27:39):
No, those days are long past, Andy, and ge e.
Time you go on for one of those bit of
a fix up, you think, no, I won't I won't
even be tempt it. So that's where I am. Tennis
is enough for me at the moment.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
You have thought about it, though, haven't you be honest?
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Oh, you always think about it, Andy, And you know
sometimes you're Brian's got to think a bit sharper than
a twenty one.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Year old brain fair comment there, good on you. How
are we always good to catch up?
Speaker 5 (28:07):
And they look forward to.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Jeromy mcfail is cheer of Environments Southland enjoys us in
the studio this afternoon. There's been a lot going on
in the Southern landscape, especially in local body politics. You
don't need me, you don't need me to tell you
that for Jerry Reason studio this this afternoon. They've been
in the role probably around six months now and just yeah,
we've heard all about what's going on and well basically
(28:38):
it's been interesting from your perspective. Jury, isn't it welcome?
Speaker 5 (28:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Thanks Andy, Yeah, it's an interesting place to be at
the moment, reasonably reasonably busy, I would say, a lot
busier than we probably thought it was going to be.
But challenging, but there's a lot of discussions we need
to have, so we've just got to get on my
So when you.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Took on this role, it's pretty much as you thought
it would be.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Yes, it wasn't an easy decision you go to because
it is quite a time commitment to doing these jobs.
So and as you know, you know, we have businesses
within the community and you're trying to balance everything. It
sometimes gets a bit bit overwhelming. But look, we said
we thought we had a good counsel and I was
(29:26):
duly elected and yeah, it's been very busy though, I
would say it's been a lot busier than probably expectations.
And from day one we get elected and within six
weeks the government's come out and said well you're all
gone in eighteen months. So it was quite challenging and
trying to work out or what does this mean for us?
(29:46):
So a lot going on. Some of that stuff has
been clarified since then too.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
I was going to say, one of your biggest frustrations
in the role, what is it? What would they be?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Well, that's an interesting question. Look, I think that is
a really quite a hard question because there are a
few frustrations. I want to get on with things. I
think at Southland wants to get on with things. I
know it's a few challenging This is around an air department. Environmentally,
I think the frustrations is we're not getting clarity from
(30:19):
the government and some of this when they're around regulation.
I think a lot of farmers actually just want to
know where to go, exactly what to do and then
they can invest in their businesses. So I suppose the frustrations.
Sometimes we think we're okay, we've got it sorted, and
then all of a sudden we have change of governments
(30:40):
and they bring their views into it, and sometimes it's
probably not quite what personally what I want to see.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Anyway, Now, freshwater farm plans, these have been paused for
eighteen months, Crystal and of Federated farmers coming on the
show use today saying this is a great thing to happen.
Federated farmers from Southland have been pretty vocal regarding these things.
How would you view your relationship with Feed's down here.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Look, I've always had a good relationship with Feds. As
I said, I think at the AGM at Feeds a
few weeks back, I said, look, we don't always agree,
but you've got to have a good space to be
able to have a yarn. So I got on pretty
well with Jason, and as I said to him, I
don't always agree with his points of view, but that's
what we do down here. And I know Chris resume
(31:28):
well too. But yeah, they do challenge us a bit,
and we obviously got the fresh water farm plans debate
at the moment where the government have basically kicked it
down the road another eighteen months. They're obviously coming in.
They're indicating they're going to be a bit more clarity
around what farm plans are going to have and it's
(31:51):
a bit challenging my south and because we've got this
appendix end which is a big topic which sort of
strains it's a talking point down here where it's law
at the moment, and that's where these dates are coming
into play because that's part of the water and land plan.
So yeah, it's again it's an interesting topic to discuss,
(32:13):
but we we've been given another eighteen months to work
through that.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Well.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Regarding plans and everything that farmers need to do these days,
do you think they're being weighed down by paperwork as such?
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Well, i'm a farmer. I have to admit that there
is a bit more paperwork involved, but I also know
that there's probably a bit of a reason for that paperwork.
We've got markets we've got to to adhere to there
what they want to know about our businesses because that's
where we see our export markets.
Speaker 6 (32:46):
That is.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
But there are to be honest, I don't necessarily say
there's this this bird, and I've heard, you know, our
Prime minister say, oh, it's two to three days a
week or thirty of their times doing paperwork. I probably
disagree with some of those discussions, but it's certainly changed
since thirty years ago when I started farming. So yeah,
(33:11):
we are in a different different space in regards to
audits and bits and.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Pieces, council amalgamations. This is another massive topic. You've got
three months to get everything organized. I know, I think
I know what your answer and this is going to be.
But I mean, you look at what happened at the
last elections unelected councilors and mayors for that matter, around
two hundred people, and general consensus Jeremy seems to be
we're wasting a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
It's funny looking from the outside and around council organizations,
I would say, you think you know a lot around
what the councilors do. I throw people out. There's too
many people. There's wasting money. You learn a lot when
you get in there and understand, yeah, there's places where
that can be improved, but it's not and abuse of
(34:01):
using the rate payers money. We probably do a lot.
I would say that most councils do a lot in
regards to the funding of how much we get and
what we actually have to do in our local regions
compared to what the government does. So I think, to
be honest, I think most councils do do the job
redes me well.
Speaker 6 (34:22):
But it's.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
To be honest, you don't get much love about doing
this job at times, and I do feel that, you know,
the community probably a bit hard on councils at time
for what they have to do and how much of
what they've got to be able to do that with.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
I think it's because you look at rate increases though
and what we've faced here, especially in Gore, and you
can understand the frustration.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Oh absolutely like rates. Rates are are always going to
be here. There's no bubts about it. But I think, yeah,
it's an interesting one. They don't take it lightly. Putting rates.
I know counselors don't do that, but I do struggle
(35:06):
at times. We do need to pay rates to provide
the facility or the services in our community and for
the future. So you know, when we're talking about local
government reform, the one things oh we're going to have
lower rates, We're going to have lower rates. Well, there'll
be efficiencies. I don't know whether the rates are going
to go down, but hopefully we get better value for money.
(35:26):
That's that's what we're looking for now.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
The work that's going on the Gored bridge. Is it
kind of damned if you do damned if you don't.
Situation I suppose looking at from your side of the fender.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Yeah, Look, that's I think that's quite exciting what we're
doing there. That's canow of Funding's joint funding little local
with central government. They provide sixty percent of the money,
we provide the other forty percent. This work at Gore
is the start of twenty five million dollars worth of work,
which I think is about approxim about eighteen million going
(35:57):
to be spent in the Matara catchment over five years.
So we've got some special agreement with the government in
this and this is this is just the start of
that project. And that's and to be honest, there was
a wee bit of discussion around either these loans or
what locally in the local district here. There's suspensary loans
(36:18):
that we have with the government and I just want
to clarify that if we get the work done they're forgiven,
that's basically what happens. So they're not going to be
ongoing debt against this council's gravel extraction.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
What's happening here because of her time and again about
the gravel situation.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Yes, I've heard lots about gravel over the years. Yeah, look,
there is a point there we need to probably have
a bit more How should a balanced approach to gravel? Obviously,
in the Water and Land Plan twenty sixteen came out
that basically was the start of, Hey, we've got to
look at what we're doing. And I personally not necessar
(36:57):
the council and even the council, there's a wee bit
of there is a balance where we need to get
and we're working really hard to do that. Takes time
to work through these things, but I think there is
work going to be done under the bridges and infrastructures
in regards to that. They have permitted activities to clear
gravel under the infrastructures the local district councils now, so
(37:17):
that's a good thing to start with anyway.
Speaker 1 (37:19):
So can we expect read take though to be minimal
and regards to gravel extraction because it is a big
topic for a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Yeah, look, it is the but as I'm saying about
the local councils around infrastructure, you know, there's been a
lot of talk about gravel around bridges. Just to be
clear that it's a permitted activity. There's no red tape
in regards to that. They can and they and Southern
District Council has been has asked and has been given
(37:46):
the go head to do do those. There's works in
certain spots where they need to do so. But again, yeah,
on the broader discussion around and gravel there, Yeah, we're
slowly getting there, I think.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Yeah. Last question as well, regarding night trade levels and
drinking water and now Greenpeace is being pretty vocal around this.
Make it there what you will, But do we have
genuine concerns around water quality.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Look, we we released a report I think it came
out and was it December January too. It was nothing new,
it was just putting all the data together. Nitrate discussions
in New Zealand wide discussion. It's nothing unique to South
and but it is a concern.
Speaker 6 (38:27):
You know.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
I live in the Gore. I live in Gore, in
the Gore District, and when I saw the levels of
nitrates coming from Cooper as well. I sort of raised
my my browse am I drinking this water. So I
think we certainly need need to sort some of this out,
and that's what we're trying to do in regards to that.
(38:49):
So the reports are there there, that's the information, the
best information we've got at this stage.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Well Green piece is saying they're blaming you guys, saying
that the blame you're not blaming dairy farming enough for
farm sector as one.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Yeah, look, I'll be upfront intensification as part of the
part of the discussion. Look where Look, I'll say on
a personal place like we're getting challenged conflicts of interest.
I'm a dairy farmer and beef farmer, but I'm actually
wanting to get on with some of this discussion to
actually sort some of this out. So, yeah, it's an
(39:24):
interesting thing. We're not sitting on her hands in regards
to this.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Good on your Jeremy, Thanks for coming into studio and
being up front about situation. Boys appreciated.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Good to eat the head.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
Courtney joins us in the beef and Lamb slot this afternoon.
She is a chair of the Southern Farmer Council. I've
gotta call you, Cory Courtney.
Speaker 5 (39:45):
Good afternoon, A good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
How you doing very well? Thanks? Well, look you've been
up there at christ Church at the Beef and Them
event up there first and goot people an understanding of
what this event is. It sounds really cool.
Speaker 6 (40:00):
Yeah, it's a really cool concept actually. So there's a
few events normally run every year, the Sheep Breeders Format
for Farm Accounts of Conference and the at the Gate Conference,
as well as the Sheep Industry Awards, and this year
Beef and Man brought them all together in the one spot.
And the really cool thing about it is, I think
I haven't got the final numbers, but I think last
(40:20):
tally was that brought about seven hundred of us from
the sector together, so which by all accounts makes it
one of the world largest events for sheep and beefs
in New Zealand in memory from what I've heard. So, yeah,
it's pretty cool to have all of those events come
together and just make a week of it, you know,
(40:41):
and get to connect with all the different parts of
our sector.
Speaker 1 (40:44):
You'd have to have the bar well stocked.
Speaker 6 (40:46):
Yeah, No, they shot pretty early last night, so everyone dispersed,
But no, it's been really good and there's lots of
connection and lots of positivity, and there's been so many
amazing speakers, particularly the last it was yesterday as the
Outdgate conference and today finishes about lunch and Simon Cruelty
(41:07):
was definitely a highlight.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
As per usual, there's Simon Cruelty, more Lesker's forecasts around
red meat and what we're going to see for the
upcoming season, and once again he's delivered on these prices.
Now we heard FCO coming out this week with their
spring premiums. What are we hearing from Simon? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (41:25):
And Simon is such a great speaker if anyone has
the chance to hear him. And last year he was
being on with his predictions. He actually undercooked some of
them and at the time when he talked to us
about those prices, everyone was like here right, oh, but
actually went above that. So and if people aren't aware
his background, he's a global meat trader and analyst who
really knows what he's talking about. And this year everyone
(41:46):
was just stoked because he came and said that these
prices will continue and will increase into this next season.
So I just scribbled down. I think ten forty five
prime Steer come May and twelve fifty for prime Lamon.
As you say, some of those contracts are already at
that level, so it says looking really positive.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Messive figures there, especially for Stair going over ten dollars. Unprecedented.
Speaker 6 (42:11):
We love that word when it's in this context.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
We absolutely I mean, we've got to celebrate the wins
when we get them. And what was this resch now
for the supply and demand simply coming into play, Yes.
Speaker 6 (42:22):
You're absolutely rights. It's that strong demand. Quite a few
of those large markets are in the rebuild phase and
New Zealand's actually ahead of those. So he did make
a joke that we're backfilling the back filler, but look,
it's at the end of the day, there's strong demand
and it's not a short term play. Protein consumption is
growing globally for a number of reasons, and he talked
(42:45):
about those which beco men will have a recording of
that that will come out that people should really have
a look at. But this isn't just a short term opportunity.
This is a long term one and that's what makes
it really exciting.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
So it's fair to say that New Zealand's well placed
was we don't need to tell everybody about the geopolitical
situation going on, but there's going to be a market
for broteain.
Speaker 6 (43:06):
Yeah, definitely. Like at the end of the day, as
you say, strong demand lack of supply puts us in
a really good position. And I guess overall food productions,
the whole is a really bright future and the protein
is king like we talked about. But another few of
the speakers challenged us on around our productivity as a
sector and the still we really need to step have
(43:27):
a massive step change on that productivity to maximize this opportunity.
So it was a really good challenge in the last
couple of days to make you get excited and be positive,
but also you know, where are the opportunities to maximize
this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
Now, we all love the good stories, but was there
anything in the messaging yesterday that people needed to be
weary off?
Speaker 6 (43:47):
To be fair, there wasn't anything I personally had an
allergic reaction to. There were some tough conversations. We had
a political panel and that was quite quite interesting having
the different the different cabinet members sitting on the couch
telling really terrible jokes, but I think, you know, electricity
(44:08):
something that's come up a few times over this conference
and how farmers can you know, take advantage of that opportunity.
But yeah, it's it really came back to around you know,
how we grace ourselves to take up this opportunity rather
than just sit there and think cool good prices, let's
carry on as usual.
Speaker 1 (44:27):
So you had members from all over the political spectrum.
Speaker 6 (44:30):
There, yes, yeah, there was who we had act National
Labor in the Greens and they were asked what their
policies were. To be fair, they couldn't share their what
do you call it like, their headline ones because they're
all saving them for field days, but they gave us
(44:50):
the gist. Ha'd some audience questions around you know, freshwater
farm plans, irima, that kind of thing, and I believe
all that was recorded as well, but nothing again, nothing
really surprising in that, but yet it'll be interesting to
see what comes out at field days, as I'm sure
there's some headlines to come.
Speaker 1 (45:10):
The Regional Delivery Plan court there, what do we need
to know about this?
Speaker 6 (45:14):
Yes, So the Regional Delivery Panel the RDP is one
of the centerpiece parts of what the Beef and Lamb
Farm Accouncil do every year, so that at that day
we work through I guess what we've how the year
has been in terms of extension, what the needs are
of our region, and we work together to advise Beef
(45:39):
and Lamb Extension Team on what events we want to
see around the region. So that's what kind of events,
when and where. So it's actually a really critical part
in our planning for the year ahead and it's the
foundation of what the Extension team will deliver. So it's
a big day, but it's built on quite a you know,
(46:00):
quite a range of insights leading up to it, and it's.
Speaker 1 (46:02):
A good chance for people to give feedback regarding what
they want to see to us suppose.
Speaker 6 (46:07):
One hundred percent and we really welcome you speaking on
behalf of the Farmer Council. We really you know, we're
here to represent the people in our community. So if
you have any feedback or there's events you want to see,
or you know, if you haven't been to a Beef
and Them event, you know, but what would you what
(46:30):
would get you there? That's what we really want to
We want to make sure that these extension activities paid
for through our levees are actually adding value to everyone,
so we really want to hear that feedback so you
can get in touch with your local farmer counselor if
you're not sure who that is, just talk to one
of the Beef of Them Extension team, jump on the
website and everyone's there at the moment, just talking to everyone.
(46:53):
And Collatings called the feedback for the day.
Speaker 1 (46:59):
And you said you how to get you Courtney. I'm
over there out of Beef in there, New Zealand, wrapping
up the best of the muster. That's us over and
number for the hour. My name is Andy Muir. Have
a good week end, see you Monday.
A very good morning and welcome into the best of
the muster of collaboration of interviews that took our attention
here at Hakau Ehq. I'm Andy Muher. We start the
hour by catching up with Jeff Grant, Northern Southland business owner, farmer,
former politician, you name it. Jeff's wore a lot of
hats over the years, but today he's talking about the
consenting process. Why is it so difficult to get a
(00:25):
consent and get ahead in New Zealand. Jeff Black part
of the Young Enterprise scheme, which has included in a
lot of secondary schools these days, just talks about some
really cool initiatives that are going on by people are
getting towards the end of their schooling career, and possibly
he was going to give him a lead on into
agriculture as a whole. Don Morrison Farming at Wallowe Bank.
(00:47):
We talk about the stock prices and the rise of them,
but Don just wants to temper expectations. He was, of
course a former Alliance Group board director and how he
just thinks we need to hear it's really good, but
everything is just open to interpretation around the world at
the moment. Jeremy McPhail of Environment Southland, where he is chair,
joined us in studio to have a rather candid chat
(01:10):
about anything and everything long term plans gravel extraction. Jeremy
was very open book and Courtney nim I have bee
from their New Zealand talking about the Southern Farmer Council
and what people want to see up and running. Courtney says,
here's the opportunity for you to have your say about
what you'd like to see happening in the beef and
lamb space. So without further ado, we'll start the best
(01:31):
of the hour next with Jeff Grants.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Em as Mad and Jersey chairs Gordon Grimbian.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Welcome back to the muster. Jeff Grant joins US Northern
Southland farmer business owner and is involved in many committees
and continues to do so. Good afternoon, Jeff, how are
you good?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Andy and nice to be getting into the second part
of May and the ground condition is still pretty good.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Quite a bit going on in the political landscape at
the moment, but we'll start off of this. The OECD
reporters out talking about increasing production and cross border trade,
moving this out to twenty thirty four, so it's all
about upping amping production, would you say, yeah, Look.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I think the interesting thing these reports are the sort
of predictions and so you never guarantee what might happen.
But the cross border trade in the world has increased
over the last twenty years, and so seventeen percent of
everything that's producer is now trade across nations. But they
are predicting it's going to get out to twenty two
percent by twenty thirty four. And that is just a
(02:38):
reflection that the increase in productivity in agriculture doesn't necessarily
happen in the countries that are consuming the product, and
so a good sign for New Zealand because it just
means there will be increasing demand for carbohydrates protein and
that will continue to be dragged out of countries that
(03:01):
are producing it versus countries that are consuming. And so
while there's been some difficulty around trade over the last
three or four years with Trump especially driving tariffs, I
think that internationally it will start to settle down by
twenty thirty and change in the American politics, we'll probably
(03:23):
see a settling down and I think will continue to
see reasonably strong position around New Zealand commodities.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
So it's fair to say, you say that New Zealand's
looking pretty good as being an exporting.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Nation, the production by twenty thirty five, which is only
ten years away, has to increase by about fifteen percent
to continue to feed the world basically, and on that basis,
that would tell you that we're not thought producing it
up internationally and we've got to produce more. But the
(03:56):
carbohydrate consumption are going to have over three hundred per
person by then in terms of middle income and that's
just a strengthening of their buying power, which will reflect
and our ability to provide commodities.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Regular treat quagmire, stooling, farming? Is this all about PaperWorks
doing the obvious?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Oh look, I just had a recent experience I'm not
mentioned the council who involved, but trying to get a
coded compliance for a particular part of a building that
was done some years ago and hadn't for some reason
been signed off and the bureaucracy to get simply somebody
to inspect it. Got that done took five minutes. But
(04:38):
the ability to get that the documentation signed off through
a third party process that the councils now use has
just gone on for six weeks and now being told
that were perhap up to twenty days to complete this,
and I mean all it is is just saying yes,
the building is for purpose, and this is a reflection
(05:01):
of what we're seeing time time again. You know, consent
process is taken too long, and that on the basis
of that, you know, people just getting frustrated paying a
lot of money to get somewhere and not actually achieving it.
Consents taking longer than natural build which just seems to
me to be stupid.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Perhaps is the case of these councils just having to
cover their butts and going through process.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, look at some of it will have dragged on
from the leaky building days. But the reality is the
streamlining of that ability to have uniform standard conditions cross
the country hasn't been hasn't succeeded. I think that's part
of the ARIMA reform. May may give us that, but
the reality again, we're probably looking out till twenty eight
(05:48):
twenty nine before any of that will be implemented. It's
a bit like this whole local government reform. It just
seems to me to be starting to get into a
position where we're seen a bit some pieces being considered
around the edges that I saw of the latest one
to needing them my tech. You might look at joining
and then Targo being the central targer on q EL
you see you all being one. The devity you're going
(06:10):
to have in some of these areas pre sounds a
good example. The debt per household is twenty eight thousand.
Where you look at Central Targer District Council, the South
and District Council, the debt per household is two thousand
and so the capacity you get some of these councilors
to join together is going to be really high. And
(06:31):
I just see the same as South and it just
doesn't seem to be a clear pattern as to what's
going to be done. And Gore looking at going to
Cleifland goodness sake, you know, I just don't think that's
going to solve anything.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Three months. It doesn't seem like this is long enough
to get anything done in any way, shape or form,
especially given bureaucracy.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
There are some councils collectively around New Zealand that have
probably progressed this. Taranaki, Whykato would probably meet the three
months deadline? Southland should? I mean it just things pretty simple,
but all I've got to do is indicate what process
and what sort of design of the future council might
(07:14):
look like within the ninety days. To be honest, I
sort of the ninety days I should have made it sixty.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
What positives from your perspective, I suppose, Jeff, do you
see it from algamations? I mean, we've all heard the
figure the local elections six months ago. Over two hundred
positions worth filled councilors and mayors are elected, and that's
what really got people grumpy.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, Look, I think what people want or two things.
One is a rate base that fairly reflects the cost
and therefore get out of doing the stuff that you
don't really need to do. It's nice to have sort
of mentality that's crept into councils over the last decade
or so. And the second is that they just want
(07:59):
to simplify this them that is that when you want
to get something done and gets done and not tied
up in the bureaucracy that we see today.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Now, you talked about those debt levels Queenstown being twenty
five k whatever it was for a household as opposed
to teach or twenty eight thousand. Sorry, I was ten corrected,
but don't historical debt levels stay retained within that current
region though within that council jurisdiction.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Yes they do, and if you look at the reformers
back in nineteen eighty nine, that's correct what happened. But
it eventually gets amalgamated. You know, you do the rating
on the basis there for a period of time, but
it all gets accumulated into what the problem you've got
this time around, the debt level differences between councils is
much greater. I mean, Queenstown's is still trying to seek
(08:46):
together the ceiling lifted. I'm going to say it's about
one hundred and eighty percent of rates now they're wanting
to shift it to the two hundred and thirty percent
of rates. So the problem you get to is that
the debt, well, you'd combined the councils, but the ability
to move in one area geographically to get things done
is still hamstrung by the debt that's in the household.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, it'll be interesting, given Queenstown still got a lot
going on there regarding monetary ways. Just finally as well,
in New Zealand, first Winston Peters indicating that New Zealand
first want to they be in z Bank from its
Australian pearance and merge it with Kiwibank, creating the National
Bank of New Zealand. Do you think this is a
good thing?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well, I can understand ideologically from New Zealand first, I
mean this wouldn't be a position unusual from what they've
had before in terms of someone it's nationalization of infrastructure
or key key assets in New Zealand. I think the
differently you have with this is that it starts to
indicate to international investors that r money invested in New
(09:53):
Zealand may be at risk at some point in time
when a government decides that it wants to nationalize something.
So for that reason, I think there is some difficulty
in sort of pursuing this type of policy. The other
part of that is what is it actually going to achieve?
Because it's still going to operate commercially, it's not going
to provide, you know, necessarily a benchmark that would lower
(10:18):
the other three major Australian banks, and therefore I'm not
sure what the final outcome would be.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Well, Kiewi Bank, I think it was created around two
thousand and one, so perhaps merging something. I don't know.
Winston's always going to do the patriotism card though too. Yeah, look,
there's a.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Good argument in terms of Kiwi Bank to really capitalize
it to a point where it does it does become
effective in terms of it's challenging the other four. But
I don't I don't see that happening. That requires, you know,
substantial capital. While they talk about five hunder million or
something at the moment, the reality is Kiwi Bank would
need to be up around ten or fifteen percent of
(10:56):
the market share before it would start having an influence
binding the two. Doesn't necessarily say that it's going to
change because they're still going to operate commercially in the
commercial market. Will be what before doing?
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Jeff grunt And joined the Sunshine this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Thanks any kitching.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Jess Black joins us next on the muster. She is
the Ottago Southland regional coordinator for YES, which stands for
a Young Enterprise Scheme. It's all about people in years
twelve and thirteen in secondary schools, kind of like a
dragon's den situation putting something together. And yeah, it's a
competition nationwide, I believe. So Jess is going to give
(11:47):
us a bit of a rundown on what this involved
in some really cool initiatives that are underway. Jess, good
afternoon and welcome.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Yeah sure, anyhow are you going pretty good?
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Can't complain blue sky in the South. It's cool and crisp.
But look, you think about young people and the way
they want to get involved with enterprise as such, this
sounds really neat.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Yeah, it's a fantastic program. Young Enterprise as a national
sort of competition run across the country and yeah, it's
loving getting out and about and seeing all their students
just pay.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, in a nutshell, how did you get involved with it?
Speaker 5 (12:24):
Boy?
Speaker 1 (12:24):
How did it come to fruition?
Speaker 5 (12:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:27):
So I've recently come on board as the coordinator looking
after Otago South and just been in the role a
couple of months. I was actually a youth student myself
about maybe about twelve years ago now, so been through
the program, understand what it's like being in the student's role,
and now I'm year back on board with the staff
(12:51):
and helping to see these young people thrive.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
So this has been going for a while obviously.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Yes, yes, Young Enterprise actually celebrating forty five years this year.
Well there you go, Yeah, which is pretty cool. We's
got a you know, it's definitely had a what we say,
yes effect. There are a lot of people who resonate
with young enterprise and the impact it's had on their lives.
So yeah, that that impact continues.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
So coincidentally, what were you doing for part when you
did this?
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Oh gosh, I don't seem nearly as cleverer of those
young people now, but I had a couple of products
and cool teens. The first year was a liquid seaweed
concentrate for your garden. That was pretty stinky in the
back shed, but that was awesome. We made it to
nationals with that, representing Southland. And then the year after
(13:46):
that was a gift box, a personalized gift box. We
called it Sender Smile. But yeah, no, compared to what
these young people are doing now the embarrassing to be honest,
but all all great learnings for me.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Yeah, so there's great buy and by Southern regent, by
Southern secondary schools, particularly amongst a rural folk.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Yes, yeah, absolutely, We've got four schools that are participating
in the program this year up at in the College
Chapin Boys High Dan Targust and Saint Peter's College in
gor and many of those schools have a rural bent,
you know, the young people come in and the full
of ideas of challenges and opportunities that they see in
(14:33):
their rural life. So yeah, it's incredible seeing how that
translates into the businesses they come up with.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
And I'm just looking at what they've done this year.
For example, you're talking eel p a bird nesting strategy
to stop birds getting inside the tractor in springtime. So
I suppose you've got to be involved with your sector.
Do you understand what they're talking about? But yet again
you've got to think outside the square as to what
you think is going to work on the farm.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Oh absolutely, yeah, No, the ideas that of these teams
has come up with an incredible Here we have a
couple of standouts I think from the rural kind of
sphere and those two teams you mentioned here, we've got
million from the Lost Larder. She's developing an ill pet
hay which is a really unique product. And because she's
(15:22):
in there a second year of the challenge, so yeah,
she's she's really all about the Southland food scene and
bring a unique product from the farm to the plate.
It's pretty cool. And then no mis tech. They are
developing a product that goes within your tractor cad or
(15:44):
inside the engine bay of your tractor to scare off birds.
So all fantastic ideas and products that are these young
people got under development, solving real challenges for and opportunities
for farming.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
You see how many of these ideas do just actually
go through to the production stage if that's required.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Yeah, most teams, so they complete a series of force
of challenges through yes, and the first one around sales.
So the first one is around their business ideas, validating
that second one they go to Mendia Pictures. Third one
is sales and marketing, and the fourth one isn't in
(16:25):
your review sort of. It's a really condensed period of
time for them running their business. You know, it's only
a school year. Some of them do go beyond that.
They definitely want to scale, so most of them get
to that production, basic sales and marketing by about term three.
And those who don't, you know, they had pretty grand
(16:47):
visions for their company. So they're on a big, big,
dreaming brick scale, and so sometimes we'll see them produce
at a small scale, do local sales, pres and then
they'll get up to a you know, actually mass producing
and getting into the full business structure. And we love
(17:08):
seeing them take that from just you know, running a
business at high school to actually being a young entrepreneur.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Can you name of anything off the top of your
head the week and that's sexually got mess production, they'll commonplace.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Good question. We've had some local actually a good local
example of that was a young team from Southland. They
were up at em the College and they won nationals
a couple of years back, and they have a sort
of tree planting business which is possibly quite handed, you
(17:42):
know after a storm damage around the place. But I've
heard that they've done in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars of sales and they continue to run their business
while attending university. So yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
This is bringing agri business into the mainstream more or
less for these students.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
Oh yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
It's a cool way for them to take, as you say,
you know, a challenge or an opportunity they see and
translate that into the class into a real world business scenario.
You know, they really have to test their idea, but
it is a perfect combination for business egro business and
(18:30):
just getting that kind of great entrepreneurial experience.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Yeah, it's good, fascinating. I just finally, if people want
to learn more about what's going on, where do they kid?
Where do they go to?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
Yeah, if you're keen to follow along and hear more
about the Young Enterprise program, google Young Enterprise Yes and
head along to the Yes website. There's a little bit
more about the program there. That's sort of the best
water to follow along.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Just Black I Tiger South and regional coordinator for the
Young Price Scheme. Thanks your time on the Muster. Some
really cool space, some really cool things happening in the
secondary schooling space for students regarding arial culture. Thanks to
your time.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
Thank you. Thanks Eddie.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Slow down, you move too fast. You can't make the
morning last.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
Just kicking down the Carbo Stones looking for fun and
feel a little more crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Welcome back to the Muster. Don Morrison Farms at Willow Beg.
How are we just for you? Simon and Garfine called
the fifty ninth Street Bridge song feeling grievy hell sas.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
Oh, very good into Cura. Yeah, very very crazy introduction.
So yeah, it's probably a pretty crazy day out here too,
with a good frost this morning and and what looks
like pretty clear blue skies and they're going to get
a good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
So you're getting into that cruisy time of year, a
winter feeding.
Speaker 5 (20:01):
Look, we're probably about two weeks away from really getting
into the winter feeding, so now's a good time to
get a lot of a lot of catch up jobs done.
And that's what we've been busy doing trees and fences
where there's a lot of tidying up still to be
done from that storm last October. So at the time,
we got done what had to be done, and now
we're really got the big mess and clean up. So
(20:23):
a lot of chainsaw work, digger, there have been a
lot of work, and now yeah, properly, properly fixing some
fences that have been okay that need you need a
proper overhaul.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
So how long do you think it'll take you to
get things back up to speed properly.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
We'll be we'll still see the signs of it well,
and to you know, past October next year. A lot
of a lot of big trees and a lot of
stumps we've had to chop off and pull out, which
are just sitting out in the paddock. So of course
we won't be to get rid of all them over
the winter. But it's just been the cleanups and some
bonfires and as I say, the fences and then putting
a lot of side before I would have sort of
(21:01):
I hate wasting good dump timber. So we've we've tried
to retrieve what we could.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
So your focus is pretty much just getting organized for
the next six weeks twelve six to eight weeks.
Speaker 5 (21:11):
Yeah, I've got a better work to make sure we
get done, going in for another another shoulder off and
a couple of weeks. So that sort of makes me
a bit useless for the one FERD, but useless most
of the time. My team here would say, but certainly
had an action for a wee while this one.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
So jeez, you'll come out a lot of six million
dollar man, Steve Austin, after all this turn work you've
had done.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Yeah, look, I've gotta say, you know, a few generator
generation ago, there'll be that grumpy uncle or someone that
you knew and that would have probably been me with
with joints that didn't quite work. But I met us
from these days it's pretty good and you know, maybe
I should have just backed off a few of those
activities a bit younger might have been might have been sensible.
But hey, if you don't slow down, you'll never grow old. Andy.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
So noticing a big difference these operations you were getting
gradually over time, they've all come to fruition and they're
working awesome.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
So you know, I've had a new new hit knee
and a new hip and you know, no pain still
do plenty of sport, move reasonably fast and just a
shoulder a bit of a shoulder issue last year from
an old injury, and then one from an old footy injury.
This one too to clean up. So then I'll be
Then I'll be sweet. And I'm still managed the tennis
(22:24):
court in the meantim.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Yeah, and you still get your steps up moving the
brakes or is that a lucky's job?
Speaker 5 (22:29):
No that or that's it's a team job here. So
as soon as I'll be back, I'll be moving the brakes.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
As far as the wrap up to the harvesting season,
everything got drilled back into line as needed.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
Yeah, we got it off the This weather has been
good for that. We got some some green feeding on.
Some paddicts will be croppling again next year and then
some some young grass s owned down and the other stuff.
It's all and dried. A bit of work this year
and grain drying complex we had a big catch up,
so it was it was the financial year to do that.
There was a bit a bit of supless around too,
(23:01):
and put into that sets us up good for the
next number of years with that. But but yeah, got
all the grain dried and sold, so that's pretty sweet too.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Yeah, you talk about the financial year, and we talk
about the price of lambs, a lot of people going
above budget with their process that will get a killing
sheets you would have been the same.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
Yeah, Look, everything was up. You know, ram sales were good,
Wool was basically double what I budgeted, so really pleased
the direction that that's going. Lambs of course, will been
very strong. You know, grain was good, yields okay and
even up a little bit on what I budgeted, and
just got some winter crops we sell which got mused
(23:40):
last week. So the yields on those are looking good
and you know they'll be pretty much in line with
what we expected.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
FK coming out yesterday, Tom Young talking to Jamie McKay
and the country about product about spring contracts that are
in the offering between eleven and twelve dollars. That's a
juicy number now see that.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
And it's certainly keeping that demand on for the store lambs.
I think there's you know, the few little store lambs
are still out there and pretty hot demand from what
I hear for just some of those slightly heavy ones
that people might want to turn over a bit quicker.
So yeah, that's that's got to be really positive, Andy.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
So there's got to be money in the processing plants
when they're paying that much for stock.
Speaker 5 (24:21):
What I believe is that there's still margins that they've
been achieving at that price. So yeahs's that's good for
everyone in the industry.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Andy, Well, it's pretty buoyant. And I mean when we've
speaking spoken to you in the past and rightly say
you've been a little bit reserved or quiet looking ahead
to the future, Like you say, being on the Alliance
board recently, you've got a bit of an understanding of
how the market works, a bit more than a lot
of people. But at the same time, when you're seeing
these prices and just keeps going up in these gains
(24:50):
like we're seeing it's got to be a great thing.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
You're seeing a world demand for high quality protein andy,
So that's certainly what's leading to the pricing that we've
got now and what would you would hope would give
you some confidence going forward, But there's just still that
global uncertainty. You know, what's going to happen with Iran,
what's going to take over with Ukraine? You know, posturing
(25:14):
still around the South China Sea, look him much of
that product we put them to China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Hong Kong. You know, we just don't want any disruption there.
So you know, it's my fingers crossed that we can
have another move into another strong year. But I think
you you know, I guess what I've seen in my
sheep farming career, Endy, is you don't you don't spend
(25:37):
the money till you've got it, because there's there's certainly
no guarantee what that next year is going to be like.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Okay, given the situation and the demand for protein around
the world, should we be looking at upping their budgets
around marketing and the likes actually pushing Kiwi product.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
Look, I think it's probably a bit reactive. That's a
strategy you've got to have in place, and you've got
to have you've got to have your or your brand
around that, so that that touch resourcing and then you know,
often just the quality of the product is the brand now,
the reputation of New Zealand lamb, the reputation of New
Zealand milk, the reputation of the key we fruit. So
(26:15):
I don't think it's something you can just make that
short term reaction to. It's got to be that's actually
got to be a more medium to long term strategy.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
But I don't think we realize how successful the one
hundred percent Pure brand was from a marketing viewpoint either, though.
Do you think that's a fair comment.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
Look, it's it's it's always an interesting debate because what
is one hundred percent pure? But it's certainly you're try
you're telling a directional story and and yeah, I think
that that resonates in a lot of the world when
they're wanting a safe product and they want one that's
you know, a traceability, safe and reputation and that's what
(26:55):
we deliver from New Zealand and why we're getting why
we've got those strong markets for a lot of our commodities.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Just finally, Howie, who's your all black starting ten this
year based on what you've seen? Or does Richie Mulwanga
come back into the fold.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
Without a doubt. I don't like. I just don't quite
get the rules where we try and keep Richie Mwanga
oltre period when every other country would have them straight
back in and they do have under their rules. No
i'd put Richie back. I don't know. Maybe depends on
where they want to play. McKenzie and I guess when
you've got Will Jordan at fullback. Yeah, I still have
(27:30):
dmat would be my starting number ten quite clearly.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
You got to be careful for all these operations. Surely
you'll be playing sender for a cake it.
Speaker 5 (27:39):
No, those days are long past, Andy, and ge e.
Time you go on for one of those bit of
a fix up, you think, no, I won't I won't
even be tempt it. So that's where I am. Tennis
is enough for me at the moment.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
You have thought about it, though, haven't you be honest?
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Oh, you always think about it, Andy, And you know
sometimes you're Brian's got to think a bit sharper than
a twenty one.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Year old brain fair comment there, good on you. How
are we always good to catch up?
Speaker 5 (28:07):
And they look forward to.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Jeromy mcfail is cheer of Environments Southland enjoys us in
the studio this afternoon. There's been a lot going on
in the Southern landscape, especially in local body politics. You
don't need me, you don't need me to tell you
that for Jerry Reason studio this this afternoon. They've been
in the role probably around six months now and just yeah,
we've heard all about what's going on and well basically
(28:38):
it's been interesting from your perspective. Jury, isn't it welcome?
Speaker 5 (28:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Thanks Andy, Yeah, it's an interesting place to be at
the moment, reasonably reasonably busy, I would say, a lot
busier than we probably thought it was going to be.
But challenging, but there's a lot of discussions we need
to have, so we've just got to get on my
So when you.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Took on this role, it's pretty much as you thought
it would be.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Yes, it wasn't an easy decision you go to because
it is quite a time commitment to doing these jobs.
So and as you know, you know, we have businesses
within the community and you're trying to balance everything. It
sometimes gets a bit bit overwhelming. But look, we said
we thought we had a good counsel and I was
(29:26):
duly elected and yeah, it's been very busy though, I
would say it's been a lot busier than probably expectations.
And from day one we get elected and within six
weeks the government's come out and said well you're all
gone in eighteen months. So it was quite challenging and
trying to work out or what does this mean for us?
(29:46):
So a lot going on. Some of that stuff has
been clarified since then too.
Speaker 1 (29:51):
I was going to say, one of your biggest frustrations
in the role, what is it? What would they be?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Well, that's an interesting question. Look, I think that is
a really quite a hard question because there are a
few frustrations. I want to get on with things. I
think at Southland wants to get on with things. I
know it's a few challenging This is around an air department. Environmentally,
I think the frustrations is we're not getting clarity from
(30:19):
the government and some of this when they're around regulation.
I think a lot of farmers actually just want to
know where to go, exactly what to do and then
they can invest in their businesses. So I suppose the frustrations.
Sometimes we think we're okay, we've got it sorted, and
then all of a sudden we have change of governments
(30:40):
and they bring their views into it, and sometimes it's
probably not quite what personally what I want to see.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Anyway, Now, freshwater farm plans, these have been paused for
eighteen months, Crystal and of Federated farmers coming on the
show use today saying this is a great thing to happen.
Federated farmers from Southland have been pretty vocal regarding these things.
How would you view your relationship with Feed's down here.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Look, I've always had a good relationship with Feds. As
I said, I think at the AGM at Feeds a
few weeks back, I said, look, we don't always agree,
but you've got to have a good space to be
able to have a yarn. So I got on pretty
well with Jason, and as I said to him, I
don't always agree with his points of view, but that's
what we do down here. And I know Chris resume
(31:28):
well too. But yeah, they do challenge us a bit,
and we obviously got the fresh water farm plans debate
at the moment where the government have basically kicked it
down the road another eighteen months. They're obviously coming in.
They're indicating they're going to be a bit more clarity
around what farm plans are going to have and it's
(31:51):
a bit challenging my south and because we've got this
appendix end which is a big topic which sort of
strains it's a talking point down here where it's law
at the moment, and that's where these dates are coming
into play because that's part of the water and land plan.
So yeah, it's again it's an interesting topic to discuss,
(32:13):
but we we've been given another eighteen months to work
through that.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Well.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Regarding plans and everything that farmers need to do these days,
do you think they're being weighed down by paperwork as such?
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Well, i'm a farmer. I have to admit that there
is a bit more paperwork involved, but I also know
that there's probably a bit of a reason for that paperwork.
We've got markets we've got to to adhere to there
what they want to know about our businesses because that's
where we see our export markets.
Speaker 6 (32:46):
That is.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
But there are to be honest, I don't necessarily say
there's this this bird, and I've heard, you know, our
Prime minister say, oh, it's two to three days a
week or thirty of their times doing paperwork. I probably
disagree with some of those discussions, but it's certainly changed
since thirty years ago when I started farming. So yeah,
(33:11):
we are in a different different space in regards to
audits and bits and.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Pieces, council amalgamations. This is another massive topic. You've got
three months to get everything organized. I know, I think
I know what your answer and this is going to be.
But I mean, you look at what happened at the
last elections unelected councilors and mayors for that matter, around
two hundred people, and general consensus Jeremy seems to be
we're wasting a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
It's funny looking from the outside and around council organizations,
I would say, you think you know a lot around
what the councilors do. I throw people out. There's too
many people. There's wasting money. You learn a lot when
you get in there and understand, yeah, there's places where
that can be improved, but it's not and abuse of
(34:01):
using the rate payers money. We probably do a lot.
I would say that most councils do a lot in
regards to the funding of how much we get and
what we actually have to do in our local regions
compared to what the government does. So I think, to
be honest, I think most councils do do the job
redes me well.
Speaker 6 (34:22):
But it's.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
To be honest, you don't get much love about doing
this job at times, and I do feel that, you know,
the community probably a bit hard on councils at time
for what they have to do and how much of
what they've got to be able to do that with.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
I think it's because you look at rate increases though
and what we've faced here, especially in Gore, and you
can understand the frustration.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Oh absolutely like rates. Rates are are always going to
be here. There's no bubts about it. But I think, yeah,
it's an interesting one. They don't take it lightly. Putting rates.
I know counselors don't do that, but I do struggle
(35:06):
at times. We do need to pay rates to provide
the facility or the services in our community and for
the future. So you know, when we're talking about local
government reform, the one things oh we're going to have
lower rates, We're going to have lower rates. Well, there'll
be efficiencies. I don't know whether the rates are going
to go down, but hopefully we get better value for money.
(35:26):
That's that's what we're looking for now.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
The work that's going on the Gored bridge. Is it
kind of damned if you do damned if you don't.
Situation I suppose looking at from your side of the fender.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Yeah, Look, that's I think that's quite exciting what we're
doing there. That's canow of Funding's joint funding little local
with central government. They provide sixty percent of the money,
we provide the other forty percent. This work at Gore
is the start of twenty five million dollars worth of work,
which I think is about approxim about eighteen million going
(35:57):
to be spent in the Matara catchment over five years.
So we've got some special agreement with the government in
this and this is this is just the start of
that project. And that's and to be honest, there was
a wee bit of discussion around either these loans or
what locally in the local district here. There's suspensary loans
(36:18):
that we have with the government and I just want
to clarify that if we get the work done they're forgiven,
that's basically what happens. So they're not going to be
ongoing debt against this council's gravel extraction.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
What's happening here because of her time and again about
the gravel situation.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Yes, I've heard lots about gravel over the years. Yeah, look,
there is a point there we need to probably have
a bit more How should a balanced approach to gravel? Obviously,
in the Water and Land Plan twenty sixteen came out
that basically was the start of, Hey, we've got to
look at what we're doing. And I personally not necessar
(36:57):
the council and even the council, there's a wee bit
of there is a balance where we need to get
and we're working really hard to do that. Takes time
to work through these things, but I think there is
work going to be done under the bridges and infrastructures
in regards to that. They have permitted activities to clear
gravel under the infrastructures the local district councils now, so
(37:17):
that's a good thing to start with anyway.
Speaker 1 (37:19):
So can we expect read take though to be minimal
and regards to gravel extraction because it is a big
topic for a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Yeah, look, it is the but as I'm saying about
the local councils around infrastructure, you know, there's been a
lot of talk about gravel around bridges. Just to be
clear that it's a permitted activity. There's no red tape
in regards to that. They can and they and Southern
District Council has been has asked and has been given
(37:46):
the go head to do do those. There's works in
certain spots where they need to do so. But again, yeah,
on the broader discussion around and gravel there, Yeah, we're
slowly getting there, I think.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Yeah. Last question as well, regarding night trade levels and
drinking water and now Greenpeace is being pretty vocal around this.
Make it there what you will, But do we have
genuine concerns around water quality.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Look, we we released a report I think it came
out and was it December January too. It was nothing new,
it was just putting all the data together. Nitrate discussions
in New Zealand wide discussion. It's nothing unique to South
and but it is a concern.
Speaker 6 (38:27):
You know.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
I live in the Gore. I live in Gore, in
the Gore District, and when I saw the levels of
nitrates coming from Cooper as well. I sort of raised
my my browse am I drinking this water. So I
think we certainly need need to sort some of this out,
and that's what we're trying to do in regards to that.
(38:49):
So the reports are there there, that's the information, the
best information we've got at this stage.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Well Green piece is saying they're blaming you guys, saying
that the blame you're not blaming dairy farming enough for
farm sector as one.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Yeah, look, I'll be upfront intensification as part of the
part of the discussion. Look where Look, I'll say on
a personal place like we're getting challenged conflicts of interest.
I'm a dairy farmer and beef farmer, but I'm actually
wanting to get on with some of this discussion to
actually sort some of this out. So, yeah, it's an
(39:24):
interesting thing. We're not sitting on her hands in regards
to this.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Good on your Jeremy, Thanks for coming into studio and
being up front about situation. Boys appreciated.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Good to eat the head.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
Courtney joins us in the beef and Lamb slot this afternoon.
She is a chair of the Southern Farmer Council. I've
gotta call you, Cory Courtney.
Speaker 5 (39:45):
Good afternoon, A good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
How you doing very well? Thanks? Well, look you've been
up there at christ Church at the Beef and Them
event up there first and goot people an understanding of
what this event is. It sounds really cool.
Speaker 6 (40:00):
Yeah, it's a really cool concept actually. So there's a
few events normally run every year, the Sheep Breeders Format
for Farm Accounts of Conference and the at the Gate Conference,
as well as the Sheep Industry Awards, and this year
Beef and Man brought them all together in the one spot.
And the really cool thing about it is, I think
I haven't got the final numbers, but I think last
(40:20):
tally was that brought about seven hundred of us from
the sector together, so which by all accounts makes it
one of the world largest events for sheep and beefs
in New Zealand in memory from what I've heard. So, yeah,
it's pretty cool to have all of those events come
together and just make a week of it, you know,
(40:41):
and get to connect with all the different parts of
our sector.
Speaker 1 (40:44):
You'd have to have the bar well stocked.
Speaker 6 (40:46):
Yeah, No, they shot pretty early last night, so everyone dispersed,
But no, it's been really good and there's lots of
connection and lots of positivity, and there's been so many
amazing speakers, particularly the last it was yesterday as the
Outdgate conference and today finishes about lunch and Simon Cruelty
(41:07):
was definitely a highlight.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
As per usual, there's Simon Cruelty, more Lesker's forecasts around
red meat and what we're going to see for the
upcoming season, and once again he's delivered on these prices.
Now we heard FCO coming out this week with their
spring premiums. What are we hearing from Simon? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (41:25):
And Simon is such a great speaker if anyone has
the chance to hear him. And last year he was
being on with his predictions. He actually undercooked some of
them and at the time when he talked to us
about those prices, everyone was like here right, oh, but
actually went above that. So and if people aren't aware
his background, he's a global meat trader and analyst who
really knows what he's talking about. And this year everyone
(41:46):
was just stoked because he came and said that these
prices will continue and will increase into this next season.
So I just scribbled down. I think ten forty five
prime Steer come May and twelve fifty for prime Lamon.
As you say, some of those contracts are already at
that level, so it says looking really positive.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Messive figures there, especially for Stair going over ten dollars. Unprecedented.
Speaker 6 (42:11):
We love that word when it's in this context.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
We absolutely I mean, we've got to celebrate the wins
when we get them. And what was this resch now
for the supply and demand simply coming into play, Yes.
Speaker 6 (42:22):
You're absolutely rights. It's that strong demand. Quite a few
of those large markets are in the rebuild phase and
New Zealand's actually ahead of those. So he did make
a joke that we're backfilling the back filler, but look,
it's at the end of the day, there's strong demand
and it's not a short term play. Protein consumption is
growing globally for a number of reasons, and he talked
(42:45):
about those which beco men will have a recording of
that that will come out that people should really have
a look at. But this isn't just a short term opportunity.
This is a long term one and that's what makes
it really exciting.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
So it's fair to say that New Zealand's well placed
was we don't need to tell everybody about the geopolitical
situation going on, but there's going to be a market
for broteain.
Speaker 6 (43:06):
Yeah, definitely. Like at the end of the day, as
you say, strong demand lack of supply puts us in
a really good position. And I guess overall food productions,
the whole is a really bright future and the protein
is king like we talked about. But another few of
the speakers challenged us on around our productivity as a
sector and the still we really need to step have
(43:27):
a massive step change on that productivity to maximize this opportunity.
So it was a really good challenge in the last
couple of days to make you get excited and be positive,
but also you know, where are the opportunities to maximize
this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
Now, we all love the good stories, but was there
anything in the messaging yesterday that people needed to be
weary off?
Speaker 6 (43:47):
To be fair, there wasn't anything I personally had an
allergic reaction to. There were some tough conversations. We had
a political panel and that was quite quite interesting having
the different the different cabinet members sitting on the couch
telling really terrible jokes, but I think, you know, electricity
(44:08):
something that's come up a few times over this conference
and how farmers can you know, take advantage of that opportunity.
But yeah, it's it really came back to around you know,
how we grace ourselves to take up this opportunity rather
than just sit there and think cool good prices, let's
carry on as usual.
Speaker 1 (44:27):
So you had members from all over the political spectrum.
Speaker 6 (44:30):
There, yes, yeah, there was who we had act National
Labor in the Greens and they were asked what their
policies were. To be fair, they couldn't share their what
do you call it like, their headline ones because they're
all saving them for field days, but they gave us
(44:50):
the gist. Ha'd some audience questions around you know, freshwater
farm plans, irima, that kind of thing, and I believe
all that was recorded as well, but nothing again, nothing
really surprising in that, but yet it'll be interesting to
see what comes out at field days, as I'm sure
there's some headlines to come.
Speaker 1 (45:10):
The Regional Delivery Plan court there, what do we need
to know about this?
Speaker 6 (45:14):
Yes, So the Regional Delivery Panel the RDP is one
of the centerpiece parts of what the Beef and Lamb
Farm Accouncil do every year, so that at that day
we work through I guess what we've how the year
has been in terms of extension, what the needs are
of our region, and we work together to advise Beef
(45:39):
and Lamb Extension Team on what events we want to
see around the region. So that's what kind of events,
when and where. So it's actually a really critical part
in our planning for the year ahead and it's the
foundation of what the Extension team will deliver. So it's
a big day, but it's built on quite a you know,
(46:00):
quite a range of insights leading up to it, and it's.
Speaker 1 (46:02):
A good chance for people to give feedback regarding what
they want to see to us suppose.
Speaker 6 (46:07):
One hundred percent and we really welcome you speaking on
behalf of the Farmer Council. We really you know, we're
here to represent the people in our community. So if
you have any feedback or there's events you want to see,
or you know, if you haven't been to a Beef
and Them event, you know, but what would you what
(46:30):
would get you there? That's what we really want to
We want to make sure that these extension activities paid
for through our levees are actually adding value to everyone,
so we really want to hear that feedback so you
can get in touch with your local farmer counselor if
you're not sure who that is, just talk to one
of the Beef of Them Extension team, jump on the
website and everyone's there at the moment, just talking to everyone.
(46:53):
And Collatings called the feedback for the day.
Speaker 1 (46:59):
And you said you how to get you Courtney. I'm
over there out of Beef in there, New Zealand, wrapping
up the best of the muster. That's us over and
number for the hour. My name is Andy Muir. Have
a good week end, see you Monday.
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