The Country
12pm-1pm Weekdays
THE COUNTRY
WITH JAMIE MACKAY
12pm–1pm weekdays
New Zealand’s flagship rural radio show.
As a former sheep farmer and a current equity partner in a Southland dairy farm, Jamie Mackay knows agribusiness.
He delivers your daily fix of everything going on in NZ's biggest industry, along with a generous side-serve of news, sports and politics.
Tapping into contacts throughout the industry, Jamie always gets to the heart of a story.
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'Foolish and juvenile': Minister Shane Jones says climate activists won't silence mining bid
The Resources Minister says Greenpeace activists won't silence him on mining. Shane Jones is today attending the Minerals West Coast Forum in Ross. Greenpeace...
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Prime Minister Luxon tight-lipped ahead of OCR announcement
The Prime Minister's avoiding predictions for next week's Official Cash Rate decision. When the Reserve Bank cut 25 basis points off the rate in August, it predicted...
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October weather: What can farmers expect?
The last day of September brought sunny weather, but what can farmers expect in the coming days? As we head into October, WeatherWatch expert Phil Duncan joined...
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Fed Farmers spokesperson offers tips for Mental Health Awareness Week
This week marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week for 2024. Federated Farmers' national meat and wool chair Toby Williams joined The Country's Jamie Mackay...
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'Contempt for the country': Peter doubles down on Parliament's 'state of decay'
The Deputy Prime Minister is calling out what he says is a sharp decline in Parliament's standards. He says over the last three years, people have lost their sense...
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'Outstanding future ahead': Prime Minister Luxon claims boosting primary sector will help NZ economy
The Prime Minister is confident that boosting up New Zealand's primary sector will help turn the nation's economy around. Luxon returned from Malaysia and South...
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'Ghastly': Minister Shane Jones appalled by closures generated by power prices
Minister Shane Jones is adamant more businesses need to be saved from impending closure due to high power prices. Winstone Pulp is blaming high energy prices for...
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Prime Minister Luxon highlights trade opportunities in Southeast Asia
The Prime Minister says there's plenty of international demand for New Zealand products - and there's room for more trading overseas. Chris Luxon spend last week...
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Labour 's Chris Hipkins hopeful Kiingi Tuheitia's legacy can live on in politics
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he hopes the idea of kotahitanga Kiingi Tuheitia embraced can continue. Mourners have carried Te Kiingi's casket to the top of Taupiri...
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GDT auction: Dairy prices drop 0.4 percent
There has been a small dip in prices in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction, held overnight, with a 0.4 percent decrease across the board. This is after an impressive...
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Peters fires back at outgoing Treasury head over superannuation comments
The Deputy Prime Minister has criticised the outgoing Treasury boss for her comments on changing the superannuation age. As her five-year term ends, Caralee McLiesh...
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Fonterra details expansion plans in new announcement
Fonterra's set to expand one of its South Island sites to create a hub for high value proteins. The $75 million investment into the company's Studholme site is part...
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Todd McClay talks trade opportunities in India
Trade Minister Todd McClay has been exploring some overseas business opportunities. Following his most recent trip to India, Minister McClay joined The Country's...
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'I'm with Nicola': Minister Shane Jones agrees with changes to improve banking sector competition
New Zealand's own 'Prince of the Provinces' has weighed in on the Commerce Commission's recommendations to improve banking sector competition. Minister Shane Jones...
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‘A big move’: Rabobank responds to Reserve Bank cutting OCR
One leading economist has expressed surprised at the Reserve Bank's latest announcement. The Bank has slashed the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 percent. Rabobank...
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'We need to discover ambition': Prime Minister Luxon backs move to overturn gene tech ban
The Prime Minister says he's 'very proud' that the ban on gene technology outside the lab will be overturned. The Government will introduce legislation this year...
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'Nothing more important': Prime Minister Luxon on agriculture's role in the economy
Prime Minister Chris Luxon is adamant that agriculture plays an important role in New Zealand's economy. He claims it got the nation through the 2008 financial crisis...
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NZ to opt out of Australasian infant formula standard
New Zealand is opting out of new infant formula joint standards with Australia. The rules designed by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand restrict labelling...
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Financial climate adds to decreased farmer confidence, survey shows
Debt, interest rates and banks are top of mind for farmers. Federated Farmers’ latest Farm Confidence survey shows 66 percent consider the current economic climate...
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David Seymour: Act Party leader on wokeness polluting waterways policy
Act Party leader David Seymour tells Jamie about the ‘wokeness’ currently polluting our waterways policy. Plus, Seymour speaks about not taking shortcuts in the...
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Expert unpacks latest Agribusiness and Trade report
The NZ Herald’s business section has released their newest Agribusiness and Trade report. NZME’s Head of Business joined The Country to discuss two of her columns...
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Prime Minister Luxon calls for civility as US election stokes division
The Prime Minister says the US's political polarisation could be a lesson for New Zealand. An attempt was made to assassinate Donald Trump this month, and Joe Biden...
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'Bit of sacrifice': Brothers tackle Dry July to support dad's cancer fight
It’s 23 days into Dry July and Tom Plunkett is a bit parched but he knows it’s for a good cause. The Windwhistle farmer and his brothers Will, Ben and Olly have...
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Rabobank strategist weighs up likelihood of OCR cut
One expert believes OCR cuts could be kicking in for cash-strapped mortgage holders as soon as October. The Reserve Bank has taken on a more dovish tone following...
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Minister Shane Jones urges Reserve Bank to cut interest rates
The Regional Economic Development Minister is calling on the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates, amid falling levels of inflation. The Consumer Price Index has fallen...
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'The medicine's working': David Seymour responds to CPI data
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has expressed relief with today's inflation data. The latest Stats NZ figures show the Consumer Price Index rose 3.3 percent...
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The Country pays tribute to Norm Hewitt
Today on The Country, host Jamie Mackay pays tribute to former All Black Norm Hewitt, who passed away at the age of 55, after a battle with motor neurone disease. Listen...
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'Our farmers are up against it': Industry expert unpacks economic factors behind decline
One industry expert has warned a range of economic factors are contributing to the financial struggles impacting the primary sector. China's economic downturn and...
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Former All Blacks captain Graham Mourie talks food, footy and farming
Today on The Country, former All Blacks captain and Taranaki cow cocky, Graham Mourie, joined Jamie Mackay to talk food, footy and farming. Mourie recently lucked...
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Prime Minister Chris Luxon outlines plan to boost growth in the primary sector
On the second day of the Primary Industries Summit, Prime Minister Chris Luxon issued an address to a hopeful group of sector experts. Luxon's speech was built around...
