The Muster- Penny Simmonds

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm joined now by Penny Simmons MP and the cargo.
Understand you're up in Wellington today, Penny.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
How are you? I'm good, Thanks, Olivia. Yes, up in
Wellington and nice to hear you's standing in for the
boss and of course you're well steeped in the primary sector,
so you'll be as thrilled as I am to see
that primary sector export forecasts are going to reach a
record sixty four point three billion, that's billion with a

(00:31):
B in twenty twenty six, an absolute record four at
primary sector dairy twenty eight point six billion, meat and
wall fourteen point one billion, and horticulture nine point five billion,
and well on the way to meeting that expected forecast

(00:51):
of seventy billion by twenty thirty. I wouldn't be surprised
if we get there before twenty thirty, So you know
I was backing the primary sector, and why wouldn't you
with figures like that. The primary exports are absolutely the
savior of our economy at the moment, and so really

(01:14):
please that we've been able to announce investing one hundred
and forty three million across six commercial projects, so it's
in partnership together with industry industries putting in eighty four million,
We're putting in fifty nine million. And it's across dairying,
sheep and beef, horticulture. Can we fruit with zesprey, forestry, aquaculture.

(01:38):
So it's partnerships with a number of industry players like Zesbrey,
like Rabobanks, Halter, Dairy en Z And the goal of it,
the aim of it really is to pump that investment,
that innovation, the new technology in to enable our primary

(01:58):
sector returns to get even stronger and stronger while at
the same time reducing environmental impact. And I know that's
something that you're really interested in as well. So look,
it's just such good news for most of our primary sector.
Still pretty tough on the arable farmers acknowledging that, but

(02:21):
by Gollier primary sectors doing well at the moment, Ah.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
Those are wonderful figures and it can only but put
a positive mood into everybody. It is just not just
the direct impact of that, but the indirect impact that
that's giving to our communities as well, isn't it And employment.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yes, look it is, And it's the confidence that it
gives farmers and growers to be able to employ people
to be able to invest in our new machinery and equipment.
And that's why Southland is feeling so positive at the moment.
It's why the South Island really is feeling so positive,

(02:59):
and we just need that to spread up through the
country because we know that when are the primary sectors
doing well, jobs are out there in our rural communities,
our rural small townships and businesses, and our townships are
doing well as too. So look, it's a great story.

(03:20):
It's a great outcome for our farmers. And I think
it's wonderful to see f armers with their heads up
and our growers with their heads up and feeling confident
and feeling valued because for six years they weren't valued,
and we need to be in there backing them and saying,
you know, we'll put some money where our mouth is.

(03:41):
We value you, we back you, and we're putting some
money in to push things even more with these new projects.
So it's all good news for our rural sector.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
And as we get close to an election there, Penny,
there'll be sure a number of things that you guys
are doing. But to ensure that red tape isn't I
suppose put a negative spin onto some of these pieces.

Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah, yet look, still trying to strip out that red tape.
We've done a bit of it. We've got more coming up.
The RIMAY, a new Act for Resource Management. They are
coming up for their second readings and Committee of the Whole.
They've been to the Select Committee. So we're pushing on

(04:25):
with that because of course the RIMA has been one
of the biggest roadblocks to development right across the country,
whether it's housing, whether it's water storage, whether it's farming.
It really has held us back and so we have
to unblock that red tape because we want farmers doing

(04:46):
what they do well out there, farming, not spending all
the time filling informed.

Speaker 1 (04:52):
So a lot more opportunities into the future for farmers
to be able to make the heat where they need
to in that space then.

Speaker 2 (04:58):
Oh absolutely, And look it should be really encouraging our
young people as well. We've got Telford now in a
good space, we've got Lincoln looking good, Massy, it's now
the time for young people to be seeing a variety
of careers in the primary sector. And so the use

(05:18):
of technology, the use of modern farming systems that it
means there's so many different pathways for careers in their
primary septor now for our young people.

Speaker 1 (05:31):
Yeah, and opportunities are endless when it comes to those
careers as well. Whether it's actually on farm getting the
boots on and getting out there and somewhat good and
bad weather, or actually being some of those support services
are all counts to being able to have those flow
on effects into our communities.

Speaker 2 (05:48):
It certainly does. So things are feeling positive and this
government certainly backs our primary sept. And why wouldn't you
with the great job that they are all doing for us,
for our country.

Speaker 1 (06:00):
And Wellington this week? What's on the cards while you're up.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
There, Yes, so it's scrutiny week. It's when we have
to front up. The ministers have to front up to
select committees and get grilled by the opposition about why
we're spending on different things that were announced in the budget.
And so I've got to appear tomorrow Tuesday for tertiary education,

(06:24):
then on Wednesday for Social Development and on Thursday for Science,
Innovation and Technology. So a good grilling of an hour
an hour and a quarter for each of most of those.
So it gives the opposite opposition if they've done their
homework on the budget to really scrutinize us and put

(06:45):
pressure on us and be able to explain why we're
spending where we are.

Speaker 1 (06:54):
Jasimon's the MP for the cargo