April 6, 2025 • 9 mins
Today’s farmer/politician panel traverses topics as diverse as the North Island drought, the GE Free Bill, Federated Farmers taking the fight to Greenpeace, Grannie Flats, politicians being accosted at airports and Trump’s tariffs.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today's Farmer Politician Panel lots to chat about Andrew Hoggart
of course, act MP, former President of Federated Farmers Grant
McCullum or Grant mcnational as we like to call them
here on the show, MP for northlamd Okay, guys, before
we get into the ge Bill, I want to start
with the drought and I'm going to start with you
at the top of the country, Grant. I know Northland
(00:21):
and Auckland got meaningful rain. Is the drought over now.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
I'd like to think so everyone put it this way.
The farmer's up here got a much bigger smile on
their face. Now I'll give you a few figures. I'm
up here at kite Ti today at the one hundred
and fifty ath Anniversity of the Primary School, and they
had one hundred and ninety millimeters up here. Down at
Coyo they got two fifty, which is probably a wee
bit much, But anyway over Dargable Way, which was the
worst affected area in the North, had seventy odd and
(00:47):
the rest of that Meddanalow and North is about one
hundred and fifteen. So yes, I think we can safely
say at this point, particularly with the dropping temperatures that
were only get some good growth, particularly the kak.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Okay Let's head down country, Andrew Hoggard, when you're not
at Parliament, you drive up the road. Not as fast
as that guy Lundy, but you drive up the road
and you milk. Sorry I shouldn't have said that. And
you milk, and you milk the cows on your man
or what do you dairy farm? I don't know where
that came from. It's live radio. I can't take it back, Andrew.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Sorry, that's all right, that's right. He'd be loving the
transmission gully if he was out about these days anyway.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Sorry on track.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Look, in terms of where I'm at, we got a
good man of rain, not not the sort of numbers
Grant talked about, but we've been getting a little few
little skiffs before that, so it's screened up, it's growing.
Some of the coastal they may still need some more.
But from what I hear, Taranaki got next and nothing
(01:45):
seven odd mill and some of the more affected places
still need a lot more in Taranaki to get things
moving there.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Yeah, and I think ditto from what I understand for
likes of the King Country, South way Ato as well.
So it's going to be tough times because if a
drought can break before the end of March, you can
grow a meaningful feedbank before winter, I suppose, unless you're
in the winter as North like Grant. But there is
going to be some issues for those farmers.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Andrew Hoggard, Yeah, yeah, definitely, it's all it's good to
get their grass caring again back in sort of early April.
We usually get reasonably warm temperatures through April and usually
second half of May for the Lower North Island that
start dropping away temperature wise in most years, and then
it can be quite challenging. So a small window we
(02:36):
really need them to get some moisture so they can
get their grass pumping.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Andrew Hoggard, former president of Federated Farmers and Grant McCallum
with us. Andrew, I'm going to stay with you to
give a first shot on this one. I was watching
with interest. One of the network news channels did a
story yesterday on this ge bill, which is a bit
of a double edged sword. How's this going to play out?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Well, Yes, we're waiting for this obviously. Submissions are happening
to the Sleek Committee We've certainly got interested parties coming
to meet and discuss with politicians. I'm assuming it's happening
all around the House, and I guess once that Sleek
Committee come back with their feedback on it, then that
(03:20):
will form the basis of the discussions that happen going forward.
For me, I think it's all some technology that we
should be open to use, and we can't go back
to what we had, which was basically a circular discussion
where you could do some tests in the laboratory, but
there was absolutely no way of moving out of the laboratory.
We need a pathway through that where we can prove
(03:42):
safety that these products can make it and be used,
and that we need to have a system in New
Zealand where those that want it can use it and
those that don't want to use it can have assurance
that it's not going to affect their ability market their
products as GMO free and can be done. It happens
(04:06):
in the rest of the world. We're just going to
make sure we get the settings right here in New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
H Grant McCallum, what about our clean green image around
the world.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah, Well, I think people are going to put this
all in perspective. Around the world, this technology is getting
used more and more. You know, the Europeans are freeing up,
the Aussies are freed up. Of course, it's used wide
in America. I just think we used to We got
to proceed courtiously. We've to, but we need to embrace
the opportunities where it's appropriate, and that's why it's important
to have an oversight board that approves these projects and
(04:36):
takes it forward carefully. The submissions have been really interesting
and certainly I've been listening with a great deal of interest,
and I'm confident we can get the right balance so
everyone can get on and do their thing. It's not
compulsory to take up the technology for those that don't
want it for those that do, particularly in the space
of it's based. Its enhances the breeding capacity. Instead of
(04:57):
taking ten years to get a new say, for example,
new Apple, you might do in two. That sort of
stuff is actually makes a mess of difference because you're
leading a bandage in the market.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
As well, and effectively we're only trying to do what
the Aussies have already done. Okay, let's move on. I'm
hearing that Greenpeace are protesting today at the Port of Taroga.
Regarding the importation, I think of palm Kernel. I think
that that's what they're protesting against. Interestingly, and Trewe Hoggard,
your old organization Federated Farmers, who I must say are
on their game at the moment, are going after Greenpeace's
(05:29):
charitable status.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, well, I actually didn't think they had a charitable
status anymore. So I'm surprised that they've got one, because
you cannot say that they are a charity in any
sense of the word. You know, they are surely an
advocacy organization, no different to FEDS. And you know, we've
(05:52):
never tried to claim charity status at fed's when I
was there, anyway, and I don't believe they intend to
any any in the future. So to me, it seems
a ridiculous place where they're claiming that there are a
charity and thus able to send more of the money
they raise offshore to green Peace h Q wherever that is,
(06:13):
to fund more of their little stunts.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Grant McCallum, you're one of the more woke members of
the National Caucus that I know of. Where do you
sit on this?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Now?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Easy? Easy?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Some of us a bit more sensible than others. Actually, no, look,
I just think it's ridiculous the situation grief peace. They
have been taken all the way through the courts and
proved their genital status as far as aware. So we're
reviewing those rules, but not to affect the smaller little
charities that are all running around doing great things to
the community and all that sort of thing. It's more
than the really big ones like the green pieces that
(06:47):
actually are they a charity or they are really a business?
And should they be being taxed like the rest of
account like the rest of the business.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
All right, a couple to tidy up on granny flats, grant,
you're quite happy that we're allowed to build a granny
flat or a way building out the back seventy square
meters without a building and resource consent. It seems common
sense to me.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Absolutely. This has been very popular amongst the wider population people.
It's a great idea with its in the urban environment
or out on the farm. You don't have to go
through that concinni process. You do have to notify your counsel,
do you have to use a professional registered professional to
build it? And then bingo, you've actually got yourself an
affordable and useful, a useful building that has you bypassed
(07:32):
all that red tape which drives people manned.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Grant McCullum, you are my second favorite MP from Northland
behind Shane I'm sorry money, but behind the Prince of
the province is Shane Jones. And I'll stay with you.
What's gone wrong with this country? When some yobo's having
a crack at Missus Jones at the airport.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah, I had a correct chat with the Shane this
morning about it. He said it was not very pleasent
at all. I mean he had to restrain himself because
otherwise you can see what the story would have been,
and and and so and he was abusing dot and
it was really appalling what was going on. And as
a society we need to actually think about this, I
think really hard. And if we if we want to
(08:12):
have access to our politicians, then we have to respect
their ability to go about their daily job without being threatened.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah. I think it's really good that you can meet
a politician or talk to a politician at an airport
or anything like that, or in my case, spill a
drink over a green MP on a plane. And I
think we and I think we don't want to lose
lose that privilege. Now, just just to finish on the
pair of you Andrew Haggard, first, Trump, this is not good.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Well, look, I mean that's tariffs are never, in my view,
having done any economics degree, terifs are not the answer.
Free trade is always the answer to improve the economic
well being across the world for any country. And so
you know, but you know, personally, I think it's a
mistake what they're doing. I would just like to see
(09:03):
you move back more to the rules based order, trying
to get to LEAs tariffs quite frankly in the world.
And you know, I think the Americans have been hard
done by by a few countries that have pretty high
tariffs on them, but New Zealand ain't one of those.
So you know, I think I'd like to see a
bit of re reprosicity I think is the word in
(09:25):
terms of you know, we have very low tariffs, if any,
on most American goods, and I think that's how we
should be treated in return. But yeah, I just hope
that everyone comes to their senses and pulls back on this.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Don't worry, I can't say that word either. Andrew, Hey,
we've lost Grant mcnashal. I think that was that noise.
He's got to go to another meeting. Andrew Hoggard on
behalf of Grant McCallum, Thanks very much for your time
today on the Farmer Politician Panel.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
No thanks, Jamy
Today's Farmer Politician Panel lots to chat about Andrew Hoggart
of course, act MP, former President of Federated Farmers Grant
McCullum or Grant mcnational as we like to call them
here on the show, MP for northlamd Okay, guys, before
we get into the ge Bill, I want to start
with the drought and I'm going to start with you
at the top of the country, Grant. I know Northland
(00:21):
and Auckland got meaningful rain. Is the drought over now.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
I'd like to think so everyone put it this way.
The farmer's up here got a much bigger smile on
their face. Now I'll give you a few figures. I'm
up here at kite Ti today at the one hundred
and fifty ath Anniversity of the Primary School, and they
had one hundred and ninety millimeters up here. Down at
Coyo they got two fifty, which is probably a wee
bit much, But anyway over Dargable Way, which was the
worst affected area in the North, had seventy odd and
(00:47):
the rest of that Meddanalow and North is about one
hundred and fifteen. So yes, I think we can safely
say at this point, particularly with the dropping temperatures that
were only get some good growth, particularly the kak.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Okay Let's head down country, Andrew Hoggard, when you're not
at Parliament, you drive up the road. Not as fast
as that guy Lundy, but you drive up the road
and you milk. Sorry I shouldn't have said that. And
you milk, and you milk the cows on your man
or what do you dairy farm? I don't know where
that came from. It's live radio. I can't take it back, Andrew.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Sorry, that's all right, that's right. He'd be loving the
transmission gully if he was out about these days anyway.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Sorry on track.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Look, in terms of where I'm at, we got a
good man of rain, not not the sort of numbers
Grant talked about, but we've been getting a little few
little skiffs before that, so it's screened up, it's growing.
Some of the coastal they may still need some more.
But from what I hear, Taranaki got next and nothing
(01:45):
seven odd mill and some of the more affected places
still need a lot more in Taranaki to get things
moving there.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Yeah, and I think ditto from what I understand for
likes of the King Country, South way Ato as well.
So it's going to be tough times because if a
drought can break before the end of March, you can
grow a meaningful feedbank before winter, I suppose, unless you're
in the winter as North like Grant. But there is
going to be some issues for those farmers.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Andrew Hoggard, Yeah, yeah, definitely, it's all it's good to
get their grass caring again back in sort of early April.
We usually get reasonably warm temperatures through April and usually
second half of May for the Lower North Island that
start dropping away temperature wise in most years, and then
it can be quite challenging. So a small window we
(02:36):
really need them to get some moisture so they can
get their grass pumping.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Andrew Hoggard, former president of Federated Farmers and Grant McCallum
with us. Andrew, I'm going to stay with you to
give a first shot on this one. I was watching
with interest. One of the network news channels did a
story yesterday on this ge bill, which is a bit
of a double edged sword. How's this going to play out?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Well, Yes, we're waiting for this obviously. Submissions are happening
to the Sleek Committee We've certainly got interested parties coming
to meet and discuss with politicians. I'm assuming it's happening
all around the House, and I guess once that Sleek
Committee come back with their feedback on it, then that
(03:20):
will form the basis of the discussions that happen going forward.
For me, I think it's all some technology that we
should be open to use, and we can't go back
to what we had, which was basically a circular discussion
where you could do some tests in the laboratory, but
there was absolutely no way of moving out of the laboratory.
We need a pathway through that where we can prove
(03:42):
safety that these products can make it and be used,
and that we need to have a system in New
Zealand where those that want it can use it and
those that don't want to use it can have assurance
that it's not going to affect their ability market their
products as GMO free and can be done. It happens
(04:06):
in the rest of the world. We're just going to
make sure we get the settings right here in New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
H Grant McCallum, what about our clean green image around
the world.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Yeah, Well, I think people are going to put this
all in perspective. Around the world, this technology is getting
used more and more. You know, the Europeans are freeing up,
the Aussies are freed up. Of course, it's used wide
in America. I just think we used to We got
to proceed courtiously. We've to, but we need to embrace
the opportunities where it's appropriate, and that's why it's important
to have an oversight board that approves these projects and
(04:36):
takes it forward carefully. The submissions have been really interesting
and certainly I've been listening with a great deal of interest,
and I'm confident we can get the right balance so
everyone can get on and do their thing. It's not
compulsory to take up the technology for those that don't
want it for those that do, particularly in the space
of it's based. Its enhances the breeding capacity. Instead of
(04:57):
taking ten years to get a new say, for example,
new Apple, you might do in two. That sort of
stuff is actually makes a mess of difference because you're
leading a bandage in the market.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
As well, and effectively we're only trying to do what
the Aussies have already done. Okay, let's move on. I'm
hearing that Greenpeace are protesting today at the Port of Taroga.
Regarding the importation, I think of palm Kernel. I think
that that's what they're protesting against. Interestingly, and Trewe Hoggard,
your old organization Federated Farmers, who I must say are
on their game at the moment, are going after Greenpeace's
(05:29):
charitable status.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Yeah, well, I actually didn't think they had a charitable
status anymore. So I'm surprised that they've got one, because
you cannot say that they are a charity in any
sense of the word. You know, they are surely an
advocacy organization, no different to FEDS. And you know, we've
(05:52):
never tried to claim charity status at fed's when I
was there, anyway, and I don't believe they intend to
any any in the future. So to me, it seems
a ridiculous place where they're claiming that there are a
charity and thus able to send more of the money
they raise offshore to green Peace h Q wherever that is,
(06:13):
to fund more of their little stunts.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Grant McCallum, you're one of the more woke members of
the National Caucus that I know of. Where do you
sit on this?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Now?
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Easy? Easy?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Some of us a bit more sensible than others. Actually, no, look,
I just think it's ridiculous the situation grief peace. They
have been taken all the way through the courts and
proved their genital status as far as aware. So we're
reviewing those rules, but not to affect the smaller little
charities that are all running around doing great things to
the community and all that sort of thing. It's more
than the really big ones like the green pieces that
(06:47):
actually are they a charity or they are really a business?
And should they be being taxed like the rest of
account like the rest of the business.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
All right, a couple to tidy up on granny flats, grant,
you're quite happy that we're allowed to build a granny
flat or a way building out the back seventy square
meters without a building and resource consent. It seems common
sense to me.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Absolutely. This has been very popular amongst the wider population people.
It's a great idea with its in the urban environment
or out on the farm. You don't have to go
through that concinni process. You do have to notify your counsel,
do you have to use a professional registered professional to
build it? And then bingo, you've actually got yourself an
affordable and useful, a useful building that has you bypassed
(07:32):
all that red tape which drives people manned.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Grant McCullum, you are my second favorite MP from Northland
behind Shane I'm sorry money, but behind the Prince of
the province is Shane Jones. And I'll stay with you.
What's gone wrong with this country? When some yobo's having
a crack at Missus Jones at the airport.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah, I had a correct chat with the Shane this
morning about it. He said it was not very pleasent
at all. I mean he had to restrain himself because
otherwise you can see what the story would have been,
and and and so and he was abusing dot and
it was really appalling what was going on. And as
a society we need to actually think about this, I
think really hard. And if we if we want to
(08:12):
have access to our politicians, then we have to respect
their ability to go about their daily job without being threatened.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Yeah. I think it's really good that you can meet
a politician or talk to a politician at an airport
or anything like that, or in my case, spill a
drink over a green MP on a plane. And I
think we and I think we don't want to lose
lose that privilege. Now, just just to finish on the
pair of you Andrew Haggard, first, Trump, this is not good.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Well, look, I mean that's tariffs are never, in my view,
having done any economics degree, terifs are not the answer.
Free trade is always the answer to improve the economic
well being across the world for any country. And so
you know, but you know, personally, I think it's a
mistake what they're doing. I would just like to see
(09:03):
you move back more to the rules based order, trying
to get to LEAs tariffs quite frankly in the world.
And you know, I think the Americans have been hard
done by by a few countries that have pretty high
tariffs on them, but New Zealand ain't one of those.
So you know, I think I'd like to see a
bit of re reprosicity I think is the word in
(09:25):
terms of you know, we have very low tariffs, if any,
on most American goods, and I think that's how we
should be treated in return. But yeah, I just hope
that everyone comes to their senses and pulls back on this.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Don't worry, I can't say that word either. Andrew, Hey,
we've lost Grant mcnashal. I think that was that noise.
He's got to go to another meeting. Andrew Hoggard on
behalf of Grant McCallum, Thanks very much for your time
today on the Farmer Politician Panel.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
No thanks, Jamy
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