THE COUNTRYWITH JAMIE MACKAY12pm–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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The Prime Minister ponders the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), and wasteful Government spending. Plus, he comes up with his three nominees for ag person...
As the year draws to a close, the nation's experts are unveiling their picks for Politician of the Year. ACT leader David Seymour joined The Country to weigh in...
Winston Peters is on the defence after copping some backlash for the Government's handling of the ferry replacement announcement. He was named the new Rail Minister...
Former Labour Cabinet Minister and Minister of Forestry Stuart Nash unpacked the Government’s new forestry/carbon farming regulations announced last week. Nash says...
A better end to the year than expected for the dairy sector. Fonterra has raised its forecast Farmgate Milk Price's midpoint for the second time in less than a month. It's...
Saving prime farmland is the goal of new changes to forestry. The Government will be putting a moratorium on converting the best category 1 to 5 farm land into...
ACT's David Seymour has spoken in defence of carbon farming, claiming property rights trump land use. Seymour explained that the Government was committed to 'evening...
Following the kick-off of yesterday's “Restoring Farmer Confidence Tour” at Mystery Creek, the Prime Minister is full of ideas to bring hope back to the sector. Chris...
Most economists expect the Official Cash Rate will be cut by another 50 basis points this week. The Reserve Bank will review the cash rate on Wednesday at 2pm. Independent...
The head of kiwifruit giant Zespri is predicting a strong price forecast off the back of a solid growth period for the industry. New Zealand's kiwifruit sector has...
Meat processor Alliance Group is reporting a significant loss as it moves to close its Timaru meatworks. It's reporting a net loss after tax of $95.8 million for...
It's a big day for ACT's David Seymour, as the hīkoi marching down the country to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill arrived in Wellington today. Tens of thousands...
Climate Change Action Company founder and co-chair of Future Farmers NZ, Lake Hāwea Station’s Finn Ross has been at COP29. Ross speaks to Jamie Mackay about his...
Prime Minister Chris Luxon's opened up about his first one-on-one chat with US President-elect Donald Trump. The pair had a lengthy discussion about business, international...
Cup and Show Week gets underway today with the NZ Trotting Cup at Addington. Also on the week’s agenda is the A&P Show running from Thursday to Saturday, Free...
There's belief from some that Donald Trump winning a second term in office means voters have launched a 'war on woke'. Trump swept through the battleground states...
Former National leader Todd Muller is a big fan of American politics - and he's been following the US election closely. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have been...
ACT's David Seymour has echoed National's disapproval around introducing a capital gains tax. A recent poll shows over 65 percent of Kiwis would support this tax...
New Zealand and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have concluded negotiations on a trade agreement that will open up significant opportunities for New...
The Prime Minister is adamant that taxing New Zealand out of an economic downturn is not the way forward. Discussions about introducing a capital gains tax have...
Kate Scott is the newest person to take on the role of leading Horticulture NZ - and she's had a busy couple of weeks. New reports indicate the primary sector may...
One expert says New Zealand is working to meet global expectations when it comes to sustainability targets. World leaders will gather in Columbia tomorrow for the...
WeatherWatch’s head weather analyst says there’s a much more settled and dry week for Southland despite a frost this morning, while the North Island could feel more...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...