The Country

The PM ponders a pay rise for politicians - are they overpaid or underpaid?  The polls - a sign of the tough economic times? Penny Simmonds and Melissa Lee - scapegoats or incompetent? Making life easier for farmers. Trade with India. And has he ever been duck hunting?

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Is a North Otago farmer and award-winning environmentalist who pulls no punches when it comes to the state of the sheep meat industry.

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The Campaign for Wool NZ's GM welcomes Sam Neill on board as an ambassador. But what can the iconic NZ actor do to improve the fate of strong wool?

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The chief executive of Rabobank comments on the state of the sheep farming industry, interest rates, and why the bank has partnered with a new television series Food Rescue Kitchen.

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Rowena Duncum talks to Damien O'Connor, Cameron Bagrie, Tom Martin, Tom Young, and Abbi Ayre. 

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The Opposition spokesman for trade looks at a report from law firm Chapman Tripp, Protecting New Zealand’s Competitive Advantage, on New Zealand exports and how environmental and sustainability requirements could affect Kiwi farmers. He also talks about work visa changes, planting trees on farms, and wool.

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Today the independent economist talks about interest rates that are refusing to go down despite inflation dropping, however, he says there is a positive side to this situation. Plus, he takes a closer look at rural banking and whether New Zealand could double its exports.

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UK correspondent reports on how wet weather is affecting arable farmers’ ability to plant, Parliament’s fairness in the food supply chain inquiry, and how everyone is looking forward to the third season of Clarkson’s Farm.

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The national livestock manager for Affco says the season is entering its “slow period” which has been “reasonably challenging” with North Island volumes affected by unpredictable weather.

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Reefton dairy farmer on how being part of the Farmstrong Supporters Network helps her to help others.

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Rowena Duncum talks to Phil Duncan, Richard McIntyre, Andew Douglas, Blair McLean, Jane Hunter, and Michelle Simpson.

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Weather.co.nz forecaster updates us on a cold Southerly moving into contention this week and on how Opening Weekend is looking for duck hunters.

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Federated Farmers national board member and employment spokesman on the latest findings in the 2024 Federated Farmers-Rabobank Farming Salaries Report.

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Andrew Douglas from Cape Produce looks at the Hawke’s Bay apple market and how those hit with Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle are faring.

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The Country’s viticulture correspondent and the owner of Hunter’s Wines review the 2024 grape harvest.

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The project manager of Ovis Management encourages duck hunters to get their dogs treated for sheep measles ahead of Saturday’s season opener.

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Rowena Duncum talks to Todd McClay, Jack Fagan, Miles Hurrell, Chris Russell, and Christopher Luxon.

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Rowena Duncum talks to Seth Carrier, Emma Poole and Tim Dangen, Hunter McGregor, Jason Everson, and Jason Wells.

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NIWA weatherman reports on a balmy Anzac Day but says we shouldn't expect this kind of weather next week. 

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This week, "The Dangen Zone" welcomes Sullivan Poole to the family, celebrates World Veterinary Day tomorrow, discusses the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final and the Clash of the Colleges competition, and looks forward to duck hunting. 

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Our Shanghai-based correspondent talks about the state of the Chinese economy, saying "Some parts are doing really well and some parts are doing quite poorly," plus an initiative to introduce Chinese consumers to Kiwi venison.    

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The Country's Rowena Duncum talks to PGG Wrightson Wool's Product and Innovation Manager about the state of the wool market, plus the Awatoto wool scour coming back online and the recent international wool conference in Adelaide. 

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Newstalk ZB's Political Editor wraps up a busy week in politics, including Winston Peters in Gallipoli, and what we can expect from MPs when Parliament resumes next week. 

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Rowena Duncum talks to Christopher Luxon, Chris Russell, Campbell Parker, and Mark de Lautour.

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The Prime Minister ponders the trade opportunities his Southeast Asia trip showcased, yesterday’s RMA announcement, employment legislation changes that affect the primary sector and where he’ll be spending Anzac Day.

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On the eve of Anzac Day, our Australian correspondent shares the amazing connections his family had with both World Wars.

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DairyNZ’s chief executive looks at what the proposed RMA changes mean for dairy farmers, the organisation’s connection with the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, and the importance of ongoing freshwater research.

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Open Country Dairy’s chief executive talks dairy farmer sentiment here in New Zealand, what he’s seeing in the overseas dairy markets and whether he just follows Fonterra’s Milk Price forecast.

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Rowena Duncum talks to Todd McClay, Miles Hurrell, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Bruce Weir, and Gerard Rushton.

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The Minister of Agriculture talks about proposed changes to the Resource Management Act, which Federated Farmers has heralded as “the end of the war on farming”. The bill is expected to be introduced into Parliament next month.

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Fonterra’s chief executive is back in New Zealand after leading the Prime Minister’s business delegation to Southeast Asia. He shares the opportunities he discovered for Kiwi businesses and dairy.

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One of New Zealand’s leading farming academics and the newly-appointed deputy chair of DairyNZ looks at primary sector productivity and how job cuts in R&D may affect farmers.

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Rabobank’s General Manager Country Banking on the bank’s latest Financial Capability Workshops.

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Mid Canterbury Rugby chair with an update on the stoush between NZ Rugby and the Provincial Rugby Unions.

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Rowena Duncum talks to David Seymour, Adam Thompson and Rhys Roberts, Peter Nation, Jack Fagan, and Phil Duncan. 

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Act Party Leader and deputy Prime Minister in waiting. Is he in the naughty boy corner with the PM still? His trip to Taupo for Supercars, visits to rural companies lately and will rural NZ be impacted by job cuts in the education sector?

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Zanda Panel. Rhys (Align Farms in Mid Canterbury) won the Zanda McDonald Award in 2022 and Adam (Restore Native in Cambridge) was a finalist in 2022. It’s Earth Day and we find Adam in the middle of his first day planting trees for the season, while Rhys is getting ready for the end of the dairy season and a farming trip to China.

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Fieldays CEO just over seven weeks out from the event. Where things are at in terms of the build and overseas interest, plus how his recent conversations with visiting Chinese dignitaries went.

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Winner of the Wagga Speed Shear on Saturday night ($12k for 21.06 seconds’ mahi!). Also making the NZ team for the UK post Fieldays (and getting to wear the black singlet for the first time – how good!) with six shearing tests on the cards.

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Weatherwatch.co.nz on the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM – but don’t call us BOM) claiming El Nino is done and dusted.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Todd McClay, Doug Avery, Nadine Tunley, Shane Jones, and Jim Hopkins.

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Rowena Duncum talks to Richard McIntyre, Stu Loe, Stu Duncan, Chris Brandolino, Kevin "Smiley" Barrett, and Barry Soper.

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Federated Farmers immigration and labour spokesperson on new changes to work visa requirements and what they mean for farmers. 

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Our farmer panel from North Canterbury and the Maniototo update both farm and economic conditions. 

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NIWA weather guy with what’s in store for farmers, plus an early Anzac morning forecast. 

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This week we find the Taranaki dairy farmer in Fiji ahead of tonight’s Hurricanes match. He updates how the end of the dairy season is going, plus comments on news this week that son Jordie is off on a sabbatical to Ireland. 

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Newstalk ZB’s senior political correspondent on how Shane Jones and to a lesser extent, Winston Peters, have dominated headlines this week.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Toby Williams, Peter Newbold, Chris Russell, Nick White and Simon White.

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Filling the big gumboots of Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford, is the Gisborne-based National Meat and Wool Chair. Today we talk about the future of sheep farming, A&P Shows, and hosting the Parliamentary rugby and netball teams.

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The GM of PGG Wrightson Real Estate takes his monthly look at the state of the rural market. And, surprise, surprise, it's tough out there!

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Our Australian correspondent talks about the terrorist attacks in Sydney, attending a hemp growers' conference, Wagyu steak with 60% marbling, and Winx falling pregnant again!

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Courtesy of the Luxury Trail Company we head to Clyde to catch up with a Cyclone Gabrielle-affected farmer who won a Farmstrong promotion to ride the Dunstan Trail.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Shane Jones, Mike Cronin, Jim Hopkins, Scott Duggan, and Karen Williams.

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The Prince of the Provinces is sitting in for the King of the Country (Christopher Luxon) who's hustling for trade on the world stage. From dim-witted frogs to dopey dolphins! Who's in his sights next? And does he want progress at any cost? We ask the Minister of Digging it Up and Damming it Up.

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Fonterra's head of co-operative affairs reviews last night's GDT auction - up 0.1 per cent with WMP up 0.4 per cent.

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Our resident rural raconteur has his say on Shane Jones, mining, the media and climate change denial.

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Has Volkswagen NZ's national sales manager got a deal for you on the new Amarok? You bet!

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Former vice president of Federated Farmers, and a Wairarapa arable farmer, who's been up the road a bit helping communities recover from Cyclone Gabrielle.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Damien O'Connor, Greg Millar, Nadine Tunley, and Todd Clark.

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Our US farming correspondent joins us from Bluegrass Country in Kentucky to talk about a good spring, the Kentucky Derby, getting the Bird Flu from dairy cattle, an ageing farming population and Donald Trump!

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The National Fundraising Manager for the IHC Calf and Rural Scheme joins us in the studio to discuss how farmers can donate to this wonderful charity.

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The chief executive of Horticulture NZ is calling for urgent changes to the RMA to protect fruit and vegetable production. Plus she updates the 2024 harvest season and the export prospects for kiwifruit and apples.  

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Today we find the former Ag Minister (now Opposition spokesman for Trade) at Bruce Bay on his bike. On the agenda is trade with India, selling farm land to foreigners and the contentious live animal export industry.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Todd McClay, Te Radar, Glenn Sutton, Doug Avery, and Mark Dillon. 

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We find the Minister of Agriculture and Trade in China and ask him what he's doing there. We also talk about the Methane review, the Woolshed tour and whether he's told the Chinese to keep their hands off our Kiwifruit plants!

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The voice of FMG Young Farmers Contest wraps the last of the regional finals, Northern, where Caleb Eady made it through to the Grand Final in Hamilton in July.

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Is a Dunedin Joiner who's running 617 km (the long way from Milford Sound to Dunedin), over four and a half days, over the hilliest country he can find to raise money for suicide awareness for Farmstrong. He leaves tomorrow. We salute him today and tell you how you can help him raise money and awareness.

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We ask the Resilient Farmer, who's forgotten more about droughts than most farmers can remember if we've seen the end of the Marlborough drought.

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We missed him at our 30th birthday party in Riversdale on Friday (he's the next-door neighbour) and that's because he was in the Waikato winning the NZ Ploughing Championships!

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Jamie Mackay talks to David Seymour, David Buick, Cameron Bagrie, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Jen Corkran, and Christopher Luxon.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Grant Nisbett, Kit Arkwright, Todd Charteris, Tom Shallard, Eric Roy, Rowena Duncum, Grant McCallum, Damien O’Connor, Sir John Key, Greg Menzies, Barry Soper, Michael Boggs, and Jason Winstanley.

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Grant Nisbett: The legendary rugby commentator soaks in the sights and sounds of the woolshed and talks a bit of footy.

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Beef+Lamb NZ’s chief executive congratulates Mackay on 30 years and talks about how B+LNZ is supporting Kiwi athletes at the 2024 Olympics in Paris - before discussing his favourite cut of lamb.

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The chief executive of Rabobank’s mum lives in Riversdale, so he’s returned from Hamilton to celebrate The Country’s 30th and give an overview of how Kiwi sheep farmers are faring.

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The Country is broadcasting live from Mark and Tania Shallard’s farm. Mark is a bit media-shy so he’s let his son talk about the family’s sheep stud and global markets.

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The local MP for Awarua in 1994, and former Government Chief Whip, is now a Southland farmer. He pops in to say hello to his old mate Mackay and look back on 30 years of farming and politics.

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The Country’s ex-executive producer is in Greymouth for day one of AgFest and she’s found National MP Grant McCallum and former Ag Minister Damien O’Connor to wish Mackay well for 30 years.

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The former Prime Minister makes a surprise phone call to thank Mackay for his “truly remarkable effort” in rural broadcasting.

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Emerson’s Marketing Manager and purveyor of the Tiny Pub congratulate PTS Logistics for getting the pub to Riversdale all the way from Auckland - before talking about what’s on offer behind the bar.

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The Country’s longest-standing political correspondent is also from a Royal Riversdale bloodline. He pays homage to the Mackay family and The Country’s 30 years.

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Mackay cheekily asks NZME’s chief executive for a pay rise before asking him what it’s like to mix with rural New Zealand. Then The Country host says thank you to NZME’s head of radio for putting up with him over the years.

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Jamie Mackay and Grant Nisbett talk to Sir Bill English, Warwick Catto, Don Carson, Graeme Smith, Tim Myers, Murray Deaker, and Chris Russell.

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We catch up with the former National MP for Wallace, and former Prime Minister, who reckons Mackay had “a lot of guts” to stop farming and take up the mic. He reflects on a long political career and comments on the current government. He also reveals how his farming background helped him in politics.

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The 1995 Young Farmer of the Year, and the man responsible for backing the show from day one through SouthFert (later became Ballance Agri-Nutrients). He pays homage to The Country’s legacy and remembers the legendary Christmas parties of the early years, saying “Thank goodness social media wasn’t around back then”.

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The Wool Board’s PR man from 1993-2000 and our second-to-longest serving correspondent. He commends Mackay for ignoring every sales rep who told him there was no commercial future in rural broadcasting.

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The former marketing manager for Ballance Agri-Nutrients and the former chief executive of Norwood - both instrumental in getting the show nationwide - comment on the importance of maintaining friendships outside of business.

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The self-proclaimed star of our Sunday Sports Show in 1994 reminisces about being on air with the team he used to refer to affectionately as “the Hayseeds from Gore”.

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The Country’s Australian correspondent is also the longest-serving since 1994 - only missing one interview in 2004. However, he had a good excuse - he’d had a heart attack the day before and his wife wouldn’t let him talk on air.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Christopher Luxon, Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Jen Corkran, Brad Osborne, Rowena Duncum and Tracey Anderson.

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We ask the PM why he aspires to be like Estonia when its GDP per capita is less than New Zealand's. Plus we talk polls, a pay rise for politicians, and (ahead of the OCR) whether Adrian Orr is obsessed with inflation at the expense of everything else in the economy.

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One of New Zealand's leading primary sector academics takes Greenpeace to task - yet again - over the state of the environment. Plus, we discuss living in the 11th happiest country in the world (6th if you're a Boomer!)

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 Rabobank's Senior Animal Protein Analyst previews the bank's April Agribusiness Monthly report (due out tomorrow), with a particular emphasis on her area of expertise, sheep and beef.

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In our monthly look at the markets we find PGG Wrightson Livestock's  Area Manager for Waikato/South Auckland in the Wairarapa looking at weaner calves.

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We preview AgFest, which is on this Friday and Saturday in Greymouth on the beautiful West Coast.

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Jamie Mackay talks to Cameron Bagrie, Dan Shand, Jo Luxton, Grant McCallum, Mark Patterson, and Phil Duncan.

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Ahead of tomorrow’s OCR announcement from Adrian Orr, we ask this independent economist if the Reserve Bank needs to shift the inflation goalposts with the recession starting to bite, according to the latest NZIER survey.

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On Saturday, April 27, one of North Canterbury’s newest trail running events, Skedaddle, will take place at Island Hills Station. All proceeds will go towards conservation efforts in the largest QEII Open Space Covenant in Canterbury, hoping that one day pest numbers will be low enough to return Kiwi to the property.

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We ask Labour’s Agriculture Spokeswoman if, on reflection, and after the election tidal wave kicked Labour to touch, the Ardern/Hipkins Government was far too tough on farmers.

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Today’s farmer/politician panel discusses the Woolshed Roadshow which began yesterday in Masterton and whether they deserve a pay rise.

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