August 21, 2025 • 7 mins
Michelle Watt says that positives outweigh negatives in the rural industry at the moment.
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
It is time for the Country Crossover with Mishelle Watte,
executive producer of the Country out of dnating good.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Afternoon, afternoon and and I love a bit of a
Vechi by the way, great choice.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Women's Rugby World Cup getting underway this weekend. This is
a tournament as far as growth around the globe has
gone gangbusters.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Oh, it's just crazy, Andy if someone who grew up
you know, I played rugby in high school and going back,
you know to how much we fought to get a
team in high school. I remember getting a petition and
taking it to our principal to try and get us
a team, and then you know, we ended up at
South Island tournament with a team and a lot of
us girls are still friends to this day and actually
played together in a premier team in Kitangata when we
(00:52):
were in our twenties. It's fantastic to see women's rugby
doing so well. I mean, there's still a lot of
work to be done, but it's really fan tastic stuff.
And I mean the first World Cup was how back
in nineteen ninety one. They've had ten of them. New
Zealand's won six of them. They could make it a
seventh I think this time round and it's just absolutely fascinating.
I mean, some are some facts for you here. Did
(01:13):
you know the very first one Andy, the Russian team
had to fundraise. They fundraised by trading booze that they
brought with them and the England team sold raffle tickets.
That was back in nineteen ninety one when they wanted
their first Rugby World Cup.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Here's a fact for you. You talk about that Russian
team in nineteen ninety one. There was a team from
the USSA come out to New Zealand in nineteen eighty
nine and when they came out here, they are pretty
much like the Pekham traders. They were selling stuff in
between games to fund their trip.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yeah, it's just it's amazing how far the game has gone,
you know, because now these top players are flowing if
you're far away from the destination, I believe they get paid,
you know, like to fly business cast now, you know.
So things have changed a lot. There's been ten Rugby
World Cups are women's won since nineteen ninety one, so
things have changed a lot. As great to see that,
and of course the crowds have growing. It's just amazing,
(02:03):
you know, the first match was three thousand people attended
it at Cardiff Arms Park in the final when USA
back Canada, and by the fifth final in England versus
versus New Zealand and Edmonton in two thousand and six,
the crowded doubled. By the six it was held in England,
it doubled again with thirteen thousand, and now for Twickenham,
they're expecting a full house of eighty two thousand watching
(02:25):
that match and.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
They reckon they could have sold the final out three
times over.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Oh it's insane, isn't it, you know? I mean, it's
just on the ride and it's great to see because
you know, the statistics around women's especially youth activity for
girls is not that great around the world, so it's
great to see such a positive influence around there. And
one of the positive influences is a breakout star Alonely Mayer.
If you get the chance to lock her up, definitely do.
One of the most positive people I've ever seen in sport,
(02:50):
in a real role model for women's sport as well.
Apparently she's going to be the biggest breakout star in
thirty years since All Black Swing Joon Oh Lomo. She
is the most famous player man or woman on social
media at the moment, but she is also an incredible player.
She's play center for the USA. Definitely, where's a watch
of course, the USA take on England I think at
(03:11):
six thirty am at time on Sunday, So where's to
watch that game?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Matt Wood was on the premier and the other day Michelle.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Now this spoke just Oozer's common sense and positivity for
the rural sector. There's a lot of negatives that we
can focus on, but at the moment it's some really
cool stuff going on as well.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Oh, there's so many fantastic things and people doing such
great stuff in the ag sector. And among those, of course,
you know, lots of young people. We just had the
Zanda McDonald's summit. Of course, it got postponed because of
the massive hurricane or cyclone that hit the Gold Coast
earlier in the eslad bestponing the summit until just a
couple of weeks ago. But absolutely amazing people. Of course,
you know, maybe.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Bloom very well.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
So yeah, yeah and Jack O'Connor were the winners the
twenty twenty five doing great things, and I tell you what,
it's really great to see Megan Blooms involved in aquaculture.
I think that's the first time that someone involved in
that area of the primary industry has been a finalist
or a winner within the Xander or any sort of awards.
Great to see different areas of primary industry being recognized
(04:11):
for the things they're doing within it as well. But
you know, just fantastic stuff going on within that. I mean,
we've obviously got Tim Danger and Emma Poll who are
always out there advocating for new staff, new things, and
of course technology. Young people are just you know, they're
so great with that stuff, aren't they. I say, young
people and makes me feel old. But honestly, you know,
we need more use coming up through the sector to
(04:33):
help with all this new stuff that's coming through and
bring new ideas up through the sector.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Well, Matt Taylor was talking about AI yesterday and the
way that it's coming to the agricultural world and it
was fascinating to give getters insight. But even last night
at the pub, a quick story short, we're a space
of a board of trustees meeting, but all the blokes
turned up to the pub a week early, so we
went there and had.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
A point instead.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
But anyway, I'm talking to the one guy there, Don Moore,
in just about AI how he gets his news source
from it every morning, just wrapped up into a fifteen
minute podcast, everything he needs to know. It's unbelievable where
technology is going.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Oh AI is incredible, and it's been used for so
many things in the primary sector at the moment. I mean,
you know you've got I can't off the top of
my head. There's just so many ideas running around that
it's been used for. I mean some of the stuff
we had on the show. Of course, it's been used
for safety stuff. It's being used to analyze things with
these automatic teat sprays. There's just so many uses within
(05:30):
the industry for it, and I think there's still more
to come. Obviously, it's still in its early stages where
it still needs to be checked and things need to
be worked on, but you know, it's getting that and
I think it'll be fascinating to see where it goes
in the future.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
The farming world hierarchy you reckon, there's a tall poppy
syndrome that needs addressed.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I just feel like it's interesting with this topic, and
it came to me because we were talking about obviously
Country Calendar during the week with the goat farmer that
was making the cheese, and it seems like, you know,
I started asking what makes the farmer a farmer because
it seems like there's quite a bit of a rural
rural divide in this area, where people seem to think that,
you know, to be a farmer, that you have to
(06:08):
have five hundred cows or you know, a thousand sheep
or something like that and be fully committing to the
whole role. But I don't know a farmer as someone
who takes care of animals, looks after the land, as
a custodian of the land, you know. I think somehow,
I think it's got lost along the way, and people
are a little bit judgmental sometimes about people doing new
things out there.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Country Calendar is an interesting one.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Sometimes they do some fantastic shows, especially when they talk
about the mustering and the high country and the North Island.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
But like so, last week's very boutiquey for me.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
It does, and you think of it, you think a
country calendar, you like to think of rural stories. It's
targeting an urban audience as well. That's the thing you
need to remember about the program.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
I suppose.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Yeah, it's got to target everyone and everyone's taste, and
there's a bit of something in there for everyone. Each week,
I think normally it changes around, but you know, it's
interesting just to see the attitude towards the different sort
of farming. I guess types and styles and things like that,
and I think, you know, people doing new things. Top
poppy syndrome is an issue in New Zealand in general.
You know, I think that you know, we talk about
(07:14):
that urban rural divide, but sometimes I think there is
a bit more of a rural rural one.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Look, we'll leave it there. Michelle up the Stags and
we'll talk to you next time. Catcha Michelle Ritson the
Country Crossover. Andrew Watterson is up next from Ustalk ZB
and before the end of the hour, Katrina Thomas out
of South and Rural Support Trust
It is time for the Country Crossover with Mishelle Watte,
executive producer of the Country out of dnating good.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Afternoon, afternoon and and I love a bit of a
Vechi by the way, great choice.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Women's Rugby World Cup getting underway this weekend. This is
a tournament as far as growth around the globe has
gone gangbusters.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Oh, it's just crazy, Andy if someone who grew up
you know, I played rugby in high school and going back,
you know to how much we fought to get a
team in high school. I remember getting a petition and
taking it to our principal to try and get us
a team, and then you know, we ended up at
South Island tournament with a team and a lot of
us girls are still friends to this day and actually
played together in a premier team in Kitangata when we
(00:52):
were in our twenties. It's fantastic to see women's rugby
doing so well. I mean, there's still a lot of
work to be done, but it's really fan tastic stuff.
And I mean the first World Cup was how back
in nineteen ninety one. They've had ten of them. New
Zealand's won six of them. They could make it a
seventh I think this time round and it's just absolutely fascinating.
I mean, some are some facts for you here. Did
(01:13):
you know the very first one Andy, the Russian team
had to fundraise. They fundraised by trading booze that they
brought with them and the England team sold raffle tickets.
That was back in nineteen ninety one when they wanted
their first Rugby World Cup.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Here's a fact for you. You talk about that Russian
team in nineteen ninety one. There was a team from
the USSA come out to New Zealand in nineteen eighty
nine and when they came out here, they are pretty
much like the Pekham traders. They were selling stuff in
between games to fund their trip.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yeah, it's just it's amazing how far the game has gone,
you know, because now these top players are flowing if
you're far away from the destination, I believe they get paid,
you know, like to fly business cast now, you know.
So things have changed a lot. There's been ten Rugby
World Cups are women's won since nineteen ninety one, so
things have changed a lot. As great to see that,
and of course the crowds have growing. It's just amazing,
(02:03):
you know, the first match was three thousand people attended
it at Cardiff Arms Park in the final when USA
back Canada, and by the fifth final in England versus
versus New Zealand and Edmonton in two thousand and six,
the crowded doubled. By the six it was held in England,
it doubled again with thirteen thousand, and now for Twickenham,
they're expecting a full house of eighty two thousand watching
(02:25):
that match and.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
They reckon they could have sold the final out three
times over.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Oh it's insane, isn't it, you know? I mean, it's
just on the ride and it's great to see because
you know, the statistics around women's especially youth activity for
girls is not that great around the world, so it's
great to see such a positive influence around there. And
one of the positive influences is a breakout star Alonely Mayer.
If you get the chance to lock her up, definitely do.
One of the most positive people I've ever seen in sport,
(02:50):
in a real role model for women's sport as well.
Apparently she's going to be the biggest breakout star in
thirty years since All Black Swing Joon Oh Lomo. She
is the most famous player man or woman on social
media at the moment, but she is also an incredible player.
She's play center for the USA. Definitely, where's a watch
of course, the USA take on England I think at
(03:11):
six thirty am at time on Sunday, So where's to
watch that game?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Matt Wood was on the premier and the other day Michelle.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Now this spoke just Oozer's common sense and positivity for
the rural sector. There's a lot of negatives that we
can focus on, but at the moment it's some really
cool stuff going on as well.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Oh, there's so many fantastic things and people doing such
great stuff in the ag sector. And among those, of course,
you know, lots of young people. We just had the
Zanda McDonald's summit. Of course, it got postponed because of
the massive hurricane or cyclone that hit the Gold Coast
earlier in the eslad bestponing the summit until just a
couple of weeks ago. But absolutely amazing people. Of course,
you know, maybe.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Bloom very well.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
So yeah, yeah and Jack O'Connor were the winners the
twenty twenty five doing great things, and I tell you what,
it's really great to see Megan Blooms involved in aquaculture.
I think that's the first time that someone involved in
that area of the primary industry has been a finalist
or a winner within the Xander or any sort of awards.
Great to see different areas of primary industry being recognized
(04:11):
for the things they're doing within it as well. But
you know, just fantastic stuff going on within that. I mean,
we've obviously got Tim Danger and Emma Poll who are
always out there advocating for new staff, new things, and
of course technology. Young people are just you know, they're
so great with that stuff, aren't they. I say, young
people and makes me feel old. But honestly, you know,
we need more use coming up through the sector to
(04:33):
help with all this new stuff that's coming through and
bring new ideas up through the sector.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Well, Matt Taylor was talking about AI yesterday and the
way that it's coming to the agricultural world and it
was fascinating to give getters insight. But even last night
at the pub, a quick story short, we're a space
of a board of trustees meeting, but all the blokes
turned up to the pub a week early, so we
went there and had.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
A point instead.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
But anyway, I'm talking to the one guy there, Don Moore,
in just about AI how he gets his news source
from it every morning, just wrapped up into a fifteen
minute podcast, everything he needs to know. It's unbelievable where
technology is going.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Oh AI is incredible, and it's been used for so
many things in the primary sector at the moment. I mean,
you know you've got I can't off the top of
my head. There's just so many ideas running around that
it's been used for. I mean some of the stuff
we had on the show. Of course, it's been used
for safety stuff. It's being used to analyze things with
these automatic teat sprays. There's just so many uses within
(05:30):
the industry for it, and I think there's still more
to come. Obviously, it's still in its early stages where
it still needs to be checked and things need to
be worked on, but you know, it's getting that and
I think it'll be fascinating to see where it goes
in the future.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
The farming world hierarchy you reckon, there's a tall poppy
syndrome that needs addressed.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I just feel like it's interesting with this topic, and
it came to me because we were talking about obviously
Country Calendar during the week with the goat farmer that
was making the cheese, and it seems like, you know,
I started asking what makes the farmer a farmer because
it seems like there's quite a bit of a rural
rural divide in this area, where people seem to think that,
you know, to be a farmer, that you have to
(06:08):
have five hundred cows or you know, a thousand sheep
or something like that and be fully committing to the
whole role. But I don't know a farmer as someone
who takes care of animals, looks after the land, as
a custodian of the land, you know. I think somehow,
I think it's got lost along the way, and people
are a little bit judgmental sometimes about people doing new
things out there.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Country Calendar is an interesting one.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Sometimes they do some fantastic shows, especially when they talk
about the mustering and the high country and the North Island.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
But like so, last week's very boutiquey for me.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
It does, and you think of it, you think a
country calendar, you like to think of rural stories. It's
targeting an urban audience as well. That's the thing you
need to remember about the program.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
I suppose.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Yeah, it's got to target everyone and everyone's taste, and
there's a bit of something in there for everyone. Each week,
I think normally it changes around, but you know, it's
interesting just to see the attitude towards the different sort
of farming. I guess types and styles and things like that,
and I think, you know, people doing new things. Top
poppy syndrome is an issue in New Zealand in general.
You know, I think that you know, we talk about
(07:14):
that urban rural divide, but sometimes I think there is
a bit more of a rural rural one.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Look, we'll leave it there. Michelle up the Stags and
we'll talk to you next time. Catcha Michelle Ritson the
Country Crossover. Andrew Watterson is up next from Ustalk ZB
and before the end of the hour, Katrina Thomas out
of South and Rural Support Trust
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