Eric, can you just run us through how your life would actually change if this was to happen? How would your new world in Whangarei change? What would have to be different? Because you've got a pack and save down the road who you would start competing more aggressively with? That could mean lower prices,

no? I compete aggressively with them right now.

There's only a certain amount of dollars in Whangarei, and I'd rather have that dollar in my bank account than Todd's.

But we compete quite ferociously, but obviously there's three Woolworths in town as well.

There's another new world, so there's lots of competition in town, and we're all competing for the same dollar.

How it would change for us is that we wouldn't have the scale and the efficiencies that help us keep our prices where they are.

The beauty of the co-op, it means that the price I pay for baked beans is the same as what Aroa and Kyle pay for baked beans in Ruatoria, or the same price as they have to pay up in Hohora, the furthest four square to the north.

Eric?

You're not going to lose anything.

You know, I don't believe that at all.

And that just goes to show that they have no understanding of actually how it works.

uh you know we'll find a way if we have to but um you know it's it's not going to be the same and it's a smaller it's the regions that are going to suffer because you know i know the aroha who who own four square ruatoria they pay the same amount for a can of baked beans as i do in whangarei as as as jason with your header does it how many packets that we pay the same price and that's because of the scale and and we we share the cost of of our transport across all our stores Now, if you were to split that up, those regions are going to be paying a lot more, you know, and I know she's said something about keeping the distribution chains intact, but it's not just distribution, there's IT, there's marketing, you know, all those teams will have to double the number.

If you're doubling the overheads, I can't see how the costs are going to get cheaper for the customer.

Now, while I've got you, what do you make of the All Blacks? Are they looking good?

Yeah, well, I've been over there and played against those boys in their backyard, and it's a tough gig.

But I love what Dave and the guys deal and the rest of the guys, Jason, are doing with the team.

How do you feel about Nicola Willis accusing you guys of vitriol?

Yeah, well, it's, it's, it's, it's a bit hard, isn't it, to see, you know, to, to, to listen to all of this stuff, you know? [laughs] And, uh, uh, I, I've actually talked about us having vested interest in, in all that kind of thing and, um, well, we have, we have got a vested interest, to be honest.

You know, we've ...

I've been working on this business for 16 years and, and, uh, worked some long and hard hours and, and, and then some politicians come along and say they can do it better.

Well, you know, I think I'd rather just rely on the guys who've been doing it 100 years, you know [laughs], rather than some, some campaign promises.

Now, um, while I've got you, what do you make of the All Blacks? Are they looking good?

Yeah.

Well, we, you know, so I've, I've been over there and, and played, uh, against [laughs] those boys in their backyard and it's a tough gig, but I, I, I, I love what Dave's, uh, and, uh, and the, and the guys deal and, and the rest of the guys Jason doing with the team.

How do you feel about Nicola Willis accusing you guys of vitriol?

Yeah, well, it's, it's, it's, it's a bit heartwarming to see, you know, to, to, to listen to all of the stuff, you know? And, uh, I, I know she talked about us having vested interest in, in all that kind of thing and, um, well, we have, we have got a vested interest, to be honest.

You know, with...

I've been working on this business for 16 years and, and, uh, worked some long and hard hours and, and, and then some politicians come along and say they can do it better.

Well, you know, I think I'd rather just rely on the guys who've been doing it 100 years [laughs] you know, rather than some, some campaign promises.

Now, um, while I've got you, what do you make of the All Blacks? Are they looking good?

Yeah, well, we, you know, so I've, I've been over there and, and played, uh, against [laughs] those boys in their backyard and it's a tough gig, but I, I, I, I love what Dave, uh, and, uh, and, uh, and the guys, Neil and, and the rest of the guys, Jason, are doing with the team.

We're playing with a lot more, a lot more steel now and, and I think it's actually, it's actually...

Mate, what was it like to be around all the Tunneys fans?

Oh, it was a sea of blue in town last night.

And even before the game, they put out a message and everyone showed up at the same pub.

There was one guy with a Crusaders jersey on his knee.

Oh, he was great.

And I must say, man, the Canterbury people that we were sitting around, man, they took it really well and they were respectful and humble, man.

It was a real good lesson on how to take a loss, eh? Really good.

Rushie, I mean, like of all the experiences you've had as a footballer, as someone involved in rugby, to be the father of two boys out there winning the Ranfurly Shield for your genuine province, your real province, where does this one sit for you?

Whangarei, for Kaikohe, for Kerikeri, for Matauri Bay, for Ohaiwai, for all of these places now that they can own the shield?

Well, I think that the plan is to get around as many places as they can get it this week because there's no guarantee it's going to be there next week.

That's just football.

So they're going to make sure that they share the love.

And, yeah, but they emptied the tank last night.

Man, they really did.

And to be fair, they tried to fill it up again later on that night, so they gave that a good nudge too, so...

Rushie, I mean, like of all the experiences you've had as a footballer, as someone involved in rugby, to be the father of two boys out there winning the Ranfurly Shield for your genuine province, your real province, where does this one sit for you?

I mean, what's this going to do for Whangarei, for Kaikohe, for Kerikeri, for Matauri Bay, for Ohaiwai, for all of these places now that they, They can own the shield.

Well, I think that the plan is to get around as many places as they can get it this week because there's no guarantee it's going to be there next week.

That's just football.

So they've got to make sure that they share the love.

And, yeah, but they emptied the tank last night.

Man, they really did.

And to be fair, they tried to fill it up again later on that night, so they gave that a good nudge too.

Rushie, I mean, like of all the experiences you've had as a footballer, as someone involved in rugby, to be the father of two boys out there winning the Ranfurly Shield for your genuine province, your real province, where does this one sit for you?

Yeah.

And, um, you know, we...

I forget which game it was, but it was out in the middle of nowhere.

Uh, we got sent out because Carly would, would keep the, the test team in Johannesburg or Pretoria or, or wherever we were.

And the midweek team had to fly off to Potchefstroom or Boland or, or Witbank or whatever the name of these, these, these little towns were.

And, and we'd go out there and, and just take a, a, a traveling bag basically, play the game and get back to, to prepare the test team, you know? Uh, but th- they were tough games and, um, we, we had one game where w- we drew and it was, uh, we scored in the last minute and John Preston had to kick it from the sideline and no one could find the kicking tee.

And, uh, and I saw it.

And I guess maybe for you, and seeing the young guys in the All Blacks, what you kind of would tell them to be able to try and deal with what's coming for the next six, seven weeks.