Can you categorically rule out any emissions tax on food producers if you were to be in government again? Because ruling out campaigning on it to actually implementing one is, is two different, uh, strings, basically.

Yeah.

We recognize, and, and our view is that the, uh, ETS is actually broken, so that needs to be fully reviewed, and there's absolutely no, um, sense, makes no sense to put agriculture, uh, into the ETS when that's completely broken anyway.

And there's so, so much technology, um, things coming along, um, the pipeline that we think will really, you know, when farmers have the ability to pick that up and run with it, you know, it's gonna make a huge difference in itself.

So, you know, we've, we've made the decision that we're not going to price methane.

Uh, we want to review the ETS because that's got to be, you know, a key, key focus And then, um, help support and advance technology that can, um, help and support our farmers to reduce their emissions.

And you know, look, if I'm being, you know, completely honest, if I think back to when we [laughs] where we're farming back in '96, the practices and the things that have changed from then to now are absolutely huge.

What confidence can you give to our food and fiber sector about a Labor coalition government and the, I mean, you've said you've changed, what confidence can you give to farmers that you actually have?

Can you categorically rule out any emissions tax on food producers if you were to be in government again? Because ruling out campaigning on it to actually implementing one is, is two different, uh, strings, basically.

Yeah, we recognize, and, and our view is that the, uh, ETS is actually broken, so that needs to be fully reviewed, and there's absolutely no, um, sense, makes no sense to put agriculture, uh, into the ETS when that's completely broken anyway.

And there's so, so much technology, um, things coming along, um, the pipeline that we think will really, you know, when farmers have the ability to pick that up and run with it, you know, it's gonna make a huge difference in itself.

So, you know, we've, we've made the decision that we're not going to price methane.

Uh, we want to review the ETS because that's got to be, you know, a key, key focus, and then, um, help support and advance technology that can, um, help and support our farmers to reduce their emissions.

And you know, look, if I'm being, you know, completely honest, if I think back to when we [laughs], where we were farming back in '96, the practices [laughs] and the things that have changed from then to now are absolutely huge.

The sector has come ahead in leaps and bounds, and actually it's, in my view, it's not just agriculture that needs to reduce emissions.

What confidence can you give to our food and fiber sector about a Labor coalition government? And the, I mean, you've said you've changed, what confidence can you give to farmers that you actually have?

And to that end, you've come out with a new water storage policy.

Yeah.

Well, we know that water security is gonna be, you know, uh, it, it is and is going to be even more so in the future, a real, um, you know, challenge.

It's one of our key infrastructure challenges.

So, you know, having access, reliable access I should say, to water is essential for, you know, for our farms and for our, um, regional economies and for our communities.

And so our, uh, policy is, um, simply that we will, um, coordinate water investment through the National Infrastructure Planning and, uh, work alongside the Infrastructure Commission so that water security and water storage are actually reflected in the National Infrastructure Plan because, you know, I think what happens now is there is, you know, funding available through the likes of Kānoa and, and perhaps MPI.

When people want to look, um, [clears throat] or groups want to look at some sort of water storage, they kind of come to government.

Is there an act for sharemilkers?

I'll let you, I'll let you announce it.

Yeah.

I'm pretty pleased to be able to say that, um, Labour in government will, uh, progress water storage to strengthen New Zealand's, uh, water security.

This is something that is becoming an obvious issue for us.

Water security is a, is a big deal given the more extreme weather events that we are seeing.

El Nino's on its way.

It's gonna be probably one of the biggest droughts we've ever seen, so water security is becoming more and more important.

Can you just clarify will the capital gains policy apply to the family farm?

... to that end, you've come out with a new water storage policy.

Yeah.

Well, we know that water security's gonna be, you know, uh, it, it is and is going to be even more so in the future a real, um, you know, challenge.

It's one of our key infrastructure challenges.

So, you know, having access, reliable access, I should say, to water is essential for, you know, for our farms and for our, um, regional economies and for our communities.

And so our, uh, policy is, um, simply that we will, um, coordinate water investment through the national infrastructure planning and, uh, work alongside the Infrastructure Commission so that water security and water storage are actually reflected in the national infrastructure plan because, you know, I think what happens now is there is, you know, funding available through the likes of Kānoa and, and perhaps MPI.

When people want to look, um, or groups want to look at some sort of water storage, they kind of come to government, but what we're wanting is for a proactive approach where, uh, MB, sorry, Kānoa and MB and MPI will actually have to proactively, uh, look for opportunities for water storage, um, that will help, um, give communities resiliency.

Is there an act for sharemilkers?

And to that end, you've come out with a new water storage policy.

Yeah, well, we know that water security is going to be, you know, it is and is going to be even more so in the future, a real challenge.

It's one of our key infrastructure challenges.

So, you know, having access, reliable access, I should say, to water is essential for, you know, for our farms and for our regional economies and for our communities.

And so...

Our policy is simply that we will coordinate water investment through the National Infrastructure Planning and work alongside the Infrastructure Commission so that water security and water storage are actually reflected in the National Infrastructure Plan because I think what happens now is there is funding available through the likes of Kanoa and perhaps MPI.

When people want to look or groups want to look at some sort of water storage, they kind of come to government.

Is there an act for share milkers?

Jo Luxton of Labour.

Thank you very much.

It's lovely to see all of you here this evening.

Three years ago we lost the election.

You told us well and truly that you were unhappy.

with us and the direction that we had taken.

When we sat down after the election and thought about what had happened and we had a meeting with Chris Hipkins to discuss portfolios, I asked for the agriculture portfolio because I feel they have something to offer in that space.

So correct me if I'm wrong, but Rachel Brooking, when there was a debate going on about the RMA, the new RMA replacement laws, Rachel Brooking tried to move an amendment to return the fresh water rules.

So how do you come up with original policy, and how important is it rather than just giving some consistency and some certainty regardless of Labor to, uh, or National?

Yeah, one of the things that we've heard a lot is the, the issue with the flip-flopping and the concern, you know, from the agricultural sector.

And so we will still come out with some, you know, original, uh, policy, if you like, and, uh, but we also wanna ensure that, you know, the sector has certainty if there's a change of government, which I hope there is, that we're not gonna just repeal and replace everything.

There will be some changes, but the, the whole thing for me, um, with getting out and about with listening to the sector is that they just want that certainty, and that's something I really wanna, you know, give them that assurance of.

What specifically in the act do you think needs fixing? What, what, what do you want to achieve out of this?

Well, it's, it's, um, a very old act, you know.

It came about in the '30s.

And, um, the issue we've got now is that, um, the way people farm on dairy farms has changed.

Richard Dawkins, when I chatted to him recently, was almost gushing in his praise of you.

it's just a matter of the fact that we've just been working alongside the fed farmers building those relationships and I've said this and people probably get sick and tired of hearing me say it but it is the foundation that you need to have in order to have those hard conversations and then come to agreement on things or be adults in the room when it comes to things that you disagree on so you can never underestimate the power of good relationships I say

They're anti-business.

Well, we're campaigning on things that are important to people out there that we're hearing from the community.

They're concerned about the cost of living.

That is their number one issue that we're hearing about at the moment.

So we're out campaigning on the things that are important to New Zealanders, all New Zealanders, in fact.

And unlike the current Prime Minister...

Richard Dawkins, when I chatted to him recently, was almost gushing in his praise of you.

it's just a matter of the fact that we've just been working alongside the fed farmers building those relationships and I've said this and people probably get sick and tired of hearing me say it but it is the foundation that you need to have in order to have those hard conversations and then come to agreement on things or be adults in the room when it comes to things that you disagree on so you can never underestimate the power of good relationships I say

They're anti-business.

Well, we're campaigning on things that are important to people out there that we're hearing from the community.

They're concerned about the cost of living.

That is their number one issue that we're hearing about at the moment.

So we're out campaigning on the things that are important to New Zealanders, all New Zealanders, in fact.

And unlike the current Prime Minister...

person to

text.

Local communities are the best to know what they need.

And we're all about devolving decision-making to the local community because that is where you are going to get the best decisions about what your needs are.

At the same time, we need to have a serious ability at a central government level to pay for the infrastructure gaps.

Because what this government did is they put all of the responsibility but none of the money on those local councils to pay for massive infrastructure deficits we have in our fresh water, and our sewerage systems and lots of our infrastructure.

They're not fixing the potholes in the roads.

No, no. I'd rather be standing beside him than you.

So what responsibility do you take for incentivising pine conversions on valuable agricultural land?

When we were in government with New Zealand First, Shane Jones was very, very hot on the Billion Pine Tree Programme.

And so I think that he has something to answer.

He has questions to answer there as well.

When we were also in government, we made changes to the Overseas Investment Office where people that wanted to invest in forestry had to prove a benefit to New Zealand.

The current government has loosened that in 2025.

In 2023 we also handed it to communities to have a say in whether they agreed with conversions or not.

better support these sorts of communities facing job losses of this nature?

So those are questions that I want answered.

Yeah, and they will be answered in due course, Jamie, I promise you.

The manifesto will be coming out soon, but it's not different to any other election cycle.

Often policies aren't released until the campaign proper period.

You know, it's not too dissimilar to other campaigns where we haven't released policy yet.

And we haven't released all policy yet either.

I mean, there's been several policies that have announced, you know, small business policy is a really great policy.

It's a really great policy unless you want to buy some new plant or equipment.

So those are questions that I want answered.

Yeah, and they will be answered in due course, Jamie, I promise you.

The manifesto will be coming out soon, but it's not different to any other election cycle.

Often policies aren't released until the campaign proper period.

You know, it's not too dissimilar to other campaigns where we haven't released policy yet.

And we haven't released all policy yet either.

I mean, there's been several policies that have announced, you know, small business policy is a really great policy.

It's a really great policy unless you want to buy some new plant or equipment.

So those are questions that I want answered.

Yeah, Andy, they will be answered in due course, Jamie, I promise you.

The manifesto will be coming out soon, but it's not different to any other election cycle.

Often policies aren't released until the campaign proper period.

You know, it's not too dissimilar to other campaigns where we haven't released policy yet.

And we haven't released all policy yet either.

I mean, there's been several policies that have announced, you know, small business policy is a really great policy.

It's a really great policy unless you want to buy some new plant or equipment.

In the past, particularly around the dirty dairying, around the fresh water, all of that sort of stuff, got a little bit antagonistic, but it seems to have gone away.

It's interesting that you make that point and thinking on that, you probably are right.

I remember when we were dairy farming back in 96 and it was really frowned upon back then even.

But I think the public are seeing all the great things that are happening on farm and the things that farmers are doing around fencing up their waterways or riparian planting.

And just wanting to do the best.

I mean, no farmer goes out there and farms to destroy their land, do they? No.

No, they don't.

I mean, I've only asked that four times in this one interview.

Because your mate, David Parker, was gonna shut down 20% of the sheep and beef farms in this country, right?

We- we've been listening, and we've heard, we've heard the, um, the issues and the concerns that the farmers had around that time, yeah, that time, uh, and, and we've listened to that.

Uh, so our policies will be quite different to the, to the policies that were in place when we were in government last.

Did you hear the prime minister this morning?

No, no, I wasn't here for the prime minister's, uh, speech this morning.

But look, I think the mood is really buoyant.

Farmers are feeling really good at the moment, and rightly so.

You know, the SOP outlook is, was, uh, really great, and, and it's gonna continue to, to increase, and, you know, we've got the India free trade deal and all that.

Because your mate, David Parker, was gonna shut down 20% of the sheep and beef farms in this country, right?

We- we've been listening, and we've heard, we've heard the, um, the issues and the concerns that the farmers had around that time, yeah, that time, uh, and, and we've listened to that.

Uh, so our policies will be quite different to the, to the policies that were in place when we were in government last.

Did you hear the prime minister this morning?

No.

No, I wasn't here for the prime minister's, uh, speech this morning.

But look, I think the mood is really buoyant.

Farmers are feeling really good at the moment, and rightly so.

Where's Labour sitting

on that? Where are you guys sitting on that? So, we're part of this, well, I'm on the select committee, the primary production select committee, and we've been having some conversations about that.

as a committee as well, and I think we might look to get some more information on it.

The Labour Party, obviously, these companies are privately owned, so you can't tell them what to do necessarily, but we are very concerned for our growers here in New Zealand, that they're not going to have somewhere to send their produce to.

and you and we know that that uh that the peas and legumes are an important part of that rotation in the arable cycle of farming so we do share some concerns around that so we're just going to wait and sort of see what pans out here as far as this bid by the farmers go see if

And I just thought I might ask you, you know, what your thoughts

are on that.

Absolutely.

So that is such a crucial road link.

The Wild Wicked Gorge is absolutely crucial, Jamie.

And when we had that closure for weeks...

During, I think it was the end of January, I think it was costing about $8 million a day for the area and loss of GDP.

So it is crucial for us.

And like you say, those big organisations that employ lots of people in the area, you know, they need certainty to be able to get their produce through to Tauranga and other areas.

So it is a real worry.

Isn't that a bit rich from a government or a former government that hung farming out to dry, Joe?

Now more than ever, we need India.

Labour has always had a real strength when it comes to trade.

You know, we've got several really good trade agreements across the line in our time, thanks to the hard work of Damien.

Look, there are some concerns about some of the things within the trade agreement.

You know, we really want to work constructively with the government on this.

And I know that Chris is seeking some more clarification from the government.

There's just some concerns about bits in there that, you know, if they sign New Zealand up to be able to deliver certain things and what happens if we can't quite deliver that, what are the implications? So there's a few of those things to work through.

So it may not be the answer, but fix all we were looking for.

Was this all hooey and no doey? Where's the policy?

I hear your frustration there, Jamie.

It was a really good... couple of days.

I think it's gone from strength to strength, from the very first one to this one.

We had some really, really open, frank conversation.

We talked about a bit of a tabletop sort of, I guess, conversation to start with where we fleshed out ideas that some of the MPs, because there was a broad group of caucus members there that held many, many portfolios, which was really good, and a lot of conversation around concerns that farmers were bringing up with us, things that we'd been thinking about as ideas perhaps going forward, and that was a really good opportunity to to, I guess, hear the good, the bad and the ugly about everything.

It was just really, really beneficial for all of us.

They're going to make you unelectable, regardless of how popular Chippy might become.

Was this all hooey and no-doey? Where's the policy?

I hear your frustration there, Jamie.

It was a really good... couple of days.

I think it's gone from strength to strength, from the very first one to this one.

We had some really, really open, frank conversation.

We talked about a bit of a tabletop sort of, I guess, conversation to start with where we fleshed out ideas that some of the MPs, because there was a broad group of caucus members there that held many, many portfolios, which was really good, and a lot of conversation around concerns that farmers were bringing up with us, things that we'd been thinking about as ideas perhaps going forward, and that was a really good opportunity to to, I guess, hear the good, the bad and the ugly about everything.

It was just really, really beneficial for all of us.

They're going to make you unelectable, regardless of how popular Chippy might become.

What do you got for me?

Happy New Year to you too, Jamie, and to all your listeners.

Yeah, it's going to be a big year, election year.

It's going to be all hands to the pump, so to speak.

Policy.

So I still don't have anything further to say to you on that, Jamie, at this point.

You're just going to have to be patient, and there is still some work to be done with regards to our ag policy.

It's our fourth biggest export earner.

What have you got for me?

Happy New Year to you too, Jamie, and to all your listeners.

Yeah, it's going to be a big year, election year.

It's going to be all hands to the pump, so to speak.

Policy.

So I still don't have anything further to say to you on that, Jamie, at this point.

You're just going to have to be patient and there is still some work to be done with regards to our ag policy.

It's our fourth biggest export earner.