May 27, 2026 • 9 mins
Penny Simmonds says there is a lot of positives in the farming scene currently, but what should rural people expect in the Budget which is released today?
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
To say.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I love Penny Simmons is MP from Vicago, but as
well she is you gotta.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I tried to write this all down, but it took
a while.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Minister for Tertiary Education, Science, Innovation and Technology, the Associate
Minister for Social Development and Deployment, Penny, Good afternoon. It
was a lot easier in your last portfolio, as I'll
be honest, from my perspective, it might have been.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
But I'm loving the ones I've got. It's great, good
good afternoon anyway.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
And yeah, it's busy times at the moment. The budget
has due out very shortly. I don't know do we
expect much out of this is rural people, or should
we expect anything.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Look, it's not a lolly scramble budget. Everyone in the
rural sector knows the type financial situation the government is
in all the countries, and they know that the best
thing we can do is cheap discipline in and their
spending focus on the things that really matter health education.
We really it's a budget that focuses on the things
(01:10):
that can add the most value to our country, not
a lolly scramble. We're not going to be spraying the
money around, so I.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Suppose is what you're doing fiscally responsible to coin a.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Phrase, absolutely, and you know that's what we've got to do.
The sooner we can get this country back in surplus,
be paying off that debt, get rid of that as
much as we can of that nine billion dollars a
year that we are paying an interest, which we're not,
then spending on hospitals and on schools. We've just got
(01:41):
to be working towards that. We've got to be disciplined
in our spend. We've got to really squeeze back that
government spending and keep that discipline there. So no, it's
not a lolly scramble, it really isn't. And look that
our rural sector is doing exceptionally well, just exceptionally well
at the moment, right across the board, heart sector, horticultural sector,
(02:03):
saw dairyes great, which is fabulous. War and red meat
is great. I met with fed Farmers, Federated Farmers last night,
I met with dairy and Z this morning. You know,
it's a good time for our primary sector. And we
know it goes in cycles, but if we can ride
this wave a bit longer, that'll be great for us.
(02:24):
And I've been thrilled because with my new portfolio of science,
innovation and technology, it's a great link with their primary sector.
I went to Auckland. I was up in Auckland three days,
yes last week with tech Week Technology Week, and they
had the big Tech Awards. The overall winner of the
(02:47):
Tech Awards with Halter, a young dairy farmer's son, young
Craig Pigott who you know set up the whole thing
great for New Zealand. You know, it's fabulous New Zealand's
fabulars for the productivity of our dairy and cattle industry.
But he's now off around the world selling this so
(03:09):
great sort of test bed for it in New Zealand
helps their productivity, but then he can go and make
those export dollars. And then the other night I had
the Science Awards here in Parliament and Genome New Zealand
which my dear friend Ken Dodds and old Gore High
school friend Ken Dodds has been doing this for over
(03:31):
forty years. The sheep genetics work great. This is a
dairy farmer's son from the Dodds dairy family out of
Matara winning this top science award for this work that
they've been doing in the in the sheep industry for
such a long time. So you know, our primary sector
(03:56):
is not just doing great things with the export earnings,
but right out there cutting edge with advanced technology and
with world leading science. So it's a very proud time,
I think for our primary sector.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Now the news cycle is evolving almost hourly at the moment,
but it wasn't that long ago. We're being told about
diesels of fuel supplies for supplies for example, being an
issue down the line.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
What are we seeing? Are things starting to free up slightly?
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, Well, look, we've been really focused on making sure
that supply was there and we didn't want it turning
into another COVID drama with levels and the media we're
all excited thinking they we're going to have another COVID
moving from level two to three and things. And we
had our Prime Minister out there working the room with Singapore,
(04:50):
with South Korea making sure that the refineries supplied us
that we had good relationships with, making these arrangements to
ensure their security of food supply, our security of refined
fuel supply. And so just quietly out there doing the
work that we should be doing to make sure that
(05:12):
supply didn't push lack of supply wasn't pushing up price
any further, and we're gradually seeing a bit of a
reduction there. But you know, make no bones about it.
The primary sector is having a great time with price,
but they're also feeling it, you know, fertilizer and fuel
is tough on them at the moment. But we're doing
everything we can to just quietly keep that supply growing.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Good news around t why point as well, the fourth
pot line restart, is you at some stage.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Yes, yeah, look at us. Look sousand's humming at the moment,
absolutely humming. If the rest of the country was going
like Southland, well, the trouble is, if the rest of
the country was going like Southland, we'd be scrambling to
find enough people for our what we do down there.
But Southernd's absolutely leading the way. It really is, Brady
can growth. All the trade industries are still doing really well,
(06:05):
construction industries, the smelter having that long term prospect. Now
to the smelter being able to bring on the fourth
pot line again, it's great. We'll get more energy out
of Southland as well. So our challenge really is to
make sure that we use that additional energy in Southland,
(06:26):
that we have industries developing in Southland using the industry
rather than transporting it north.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Well, if we're leading the country, does that mean we're
going to get the potholes fixed on State Highway one anytime?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
So oh yeah, well while we're trying to. Yes, But
the trouble is you go up further north and they're
not potholes, they got craters. So it's all relative. And yet, look,
I do get it. I get it. We produce so
much of New Zealand's GDP and we don't feel that
(07:00):
we necessarily get the line's share of it. But then
when you go and drive from in the Hawk's Beat
to a place like Wairoa, or you drive up round
the far North and you're driving on goat tracks, you
kind of realize. And I know it's cold comfort and
I feel bad saying it, but there's a lot of
work to be done in some other areas as well.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
You can understand us looking at us from a southern viewpoint,
ovoid your respect use. There are other issues around the country,
but that comes with the territory in any way, shape
or form.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Yeah, look to keep holding me to account over it.
There's no doubt you need to. We we create the
wealth and we don't necessarily get the fiershe is spent
back on us. But then then we have to take
a nationwide view and say, well, look, if we don't
get some decent roading up in the far North, we're
(07:51):
never going to get them to be productive. We're never
going to get the horticulture industry and the tourism industry
booming up the end we need it to. We've got
the highest level of under twenty five year olds not
in education, training or employment up for the one and
every five young people person that you see under twenty
five is not working or training or being educated up
(08:15):
in the Northland. And that's a social chicking time bomb
for us. So yeah, look, I need the South to
keep reminding me we need air fear sheer back. But
also I need to see where we've got some problem
areas and that we need to be spending on.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
No, don't worry about that. Penny will be in contact
regarding these roads and were often not. But nonetheless, you've
got a big afternoon ahead of you. Always appreciate your
time on the Master.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, great to talk. Budget day is always a good
good day.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Yeah, heavy budget day. It is such a thing. Penny
Simmons MP from v Cagoo.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, just regarding the Vonterra point range for the upcoming
season just been. It was released this morning, nine dollars
seventy five of a forecast range from eight dollars to
eleven dollars. So yeah, good news story. Like Penny talked
about the endearing kicking goals. Brenton Helden's up next farming
a bit Bimore
To say.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I love Penny Simmons is MP from Vicago, but as
well she is you gotta.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I tried to write this all down, but it took
a while.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Minister for Tertiary Education, Science, Innovation and Technology, the Associate
Minister for Social Development and Deployment, Penny, Good afternoon. It
was a lot easier in your last portfolio, as I'll
be honest, from my perspective, it might have been.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
But I'm loving the ones I've got. It's great, good
good afternoon anyway.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
And yeah, it's busy times at the moment. The budget
has due out very shortly. I don't know do we
expect much out of this is rural people, or should
we expect anything.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Look, it's not a lolly scramble budget. Everyone in the
rural sector knows the type financial situation the government is
in all the countries, and they know that the best
thing we can do is cheap discipline in and their
spending focus on the things that really matter health education.
We really it's a budget that focuses on the things
(01:10):
that can add the most value to our country, not
a lolly scramble. We're not going to be spraying the
money around, so I.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Suppose is what you're doing fiscally responsible to coin a.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Phrase, absolutely, and you know that's what we've got to do.
The sooner we can get this country back in surplus,
be paying off that debt, get rid of that as
much as we can of that nine billion dollars a
year that we are paying an interest, which we're not,
then spending on hospitals and on schools. We've just got
(01:41):
to be working towards that. We've got to be disciplined
in our spend. We've got to really squeeze back that
government spending and keep that discipline there. So no, it's
not a lolly scramble, it really isn't. And look that
our rural sector is doing exceptionally well, just exceptionally well
at the moment, right across the board, heart sector, horticultural sector,
(02:03):
saw dairyes great, which is fabulous. War and red meat
is great. I met with fed Farmers, Federated Farmers last night,
I met with dairy and Z this morning. You know,
it's a good time for our primary sector. And we
know it goes in cycles, but if we can ride
this wave a bit longer, that'll be great for us.
(02:24):
And I've been thrilled because with my new portfolio of science,
innovation and technology, it's a great link with their primary sector.
I went to Auckland. I was up in Auckland three days,
yes last week with tech Week Technology Week, and they
had the big Tech Awards. The overall winner of the
(02:47):
Tech Awards with Halter, a young dairy farmer's son, young
Craig Pigott who you know set up the whole thing
great for New Zealand. You know, it's fabulous New Zealand's
fabulars for the productivity of our dairy and cattle industry.
But he's now off around the world selling this so
(03:09):
great sort of test bed for it in New Zealand
helps their productivity, but then he can go and make
those export dollars. And then the other night I had
the Science Awards here in Parliament and Genome New Zealand
which my dear friend Ken Dodds and old Gore High
school friend Ken Dodds has been doing this for over
(03:31):
forty years. The sheep genetics work great. This is a
dairy farmer's son from the Dodds dairy family out of
Matara winning this top science award for this work that
they've been doing in the in the sheep industry for
such a long time. So you know, our primary sector
(03:56):
is not just doing great things with the export earnings,
but right out there cutting edge with advanced technology and
with world leading science. So it's a very proud time,
I think for our primary sector.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Now the news cycle is evolving almost hourly at the moment,
but it wasn't that long ago. We're being told about
diesels of fuel supplies for supplies for example, being an
issue down the line.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
What are we seeing? Are things starting to free up slightly?
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, Well, look, we've been really focused on making sure
that supply was there and we didn't want it turning
into another COVID drama with levels and the media we're
all excited thinking they we're going to have another COVID
moving from level two to three and things. And we
had our Prime Minister out there working the room with Singapore,
(04:50):
with South Korea making sure that the refineries supplied us
that we had good relationships with, making these arrangements to
ensure their security of food supply, our security of refined
fuel supply. And so just quietly out there doing the
work that we should be doing to make sure that
(05:12):
supply didn't push lack of supply wasn't pushing up price
any further, and we're gradually seeing a bit of a
reduction there. But you know, make no bones about it.
The primary sector is having a great time with price,
but they're also feeling it, you know, fertilizer and fuel
is tough on them at the moment. But we're doing
everything we can to just quietly keep that supply growing.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Good news around t why point as well, the fourth
pot line restart, is you at some stage.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Yes, yeah, look at us. Look sousand's humming at the moment,
absolutely humming. If the rest of the country was going
like Southland, well, the trouble is, if the rest of
the country was going like Southland, we'd be scrambling to
find enough people for our what we do down there.
But Southernd's absolutely leading the way. It really is, Brady
can growth. All the trade industries are still doing really well,
(06:05):
construction industries, the smelter having that long term prospect. Now
to the smelter being able to bring on the fourth
pot line again, it's great. We'll get more energy out
of Southland as well. So our challenge really is to
make sure that we use that additional energy in Southland,
(06:26):
that we have industries developing in Southland using the industry
rather than transporting it north.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Well, if we're leading the country, does that mean we're
going to get the potholes fixed on State Highway one anytime?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
So oh yeah, well while we're trying to. Yes, But
the trouble is you go up further north and they're
not potholes, they got craters. So it's all relative. And yet, look,
I do get it. I get it. We produce so
much of New Zealand's GDP and we don't feel that
(07:00):
we necessarily get the line's share of it. But then
when you go and drive from in the Hawk's Beat
to a place like Wairoa, or you drive up round
the far North and you're driving on goat tracks, you
kind of realize. And I know it's cold comfort and
I feel bad saying it, but there's a lot of
work to be done in some other areas as well.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
You can understand us looking at us from a southern viewpoint,
ovoid your respect use. There are other issues around the country,
but that comes with the territory in any way, shape
or form.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Yeah, look to keep holding me to account over it.
There's no doubt you need to. We we create the
wealth and we don't necessarily get the fiershe is spent
back on us. But then then we have to take
a nationwide view and say, well, look, if we don't
get some decent roading up in the far North, we're
(07:51):
never going to get them to be productive. We're never
going to get the horticulture industry and the tourism industry
booming up the end we need it to. We've got
the highest level of under twenty five year olds not
in education, training or employment up for the one and
every five young people person that you see under twenty
five is not working or training or being educated up
(08:15):
in the Northland. And that's a social chicking time bomb
for us. So yeah, look, I need the South to
keep reminding me we need air fear sheer back. But
also I need to see where we've got some problem
areas and that we need to be spending on.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
No, don't worry about that. Penny will be in contact
regarding these roads and were often not. But nonetheless, you've
got a big afternoon ahead of you. Always appreciate your
time on the Master.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, great to talk. Budget day is always a good
good day.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Yeah, heavy budget day. It is such a thing. Penny
Simmons MP from v Cagoo.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, just regarding the Vonterra point range for the upcoming
season just been. It was released this morning, nine dollars
seventy five of a forecast range from eight dollars to
eleven dollars. So yeah, good news story. Like Penny talked
about the endearing kicking goals. Brenton Helden's up next farming
a bit Bimore
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