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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Strong Chinese demand helps boost NZ's meat sector - report
Chinese demand for Kiwi red meat has spiked as the China-US tariff tit-for-tat continues. Donald Trump has imposed 145 percent tariffs on China - matched by 125...
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'A good sign': Shane Jones voices support for new wool directive
New Zealand's self-professed Prince of the Provinces has voiced support with a new Government directive. From July, all new Crown agency builds costing more than...
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PM Luxon questions the fairness of US tariffs
New Zealand's asking the US whether imposing 10 percent tariffs is fair. President Donald Trump announced mass tariffs last week - triggering market chaos and retaliatory...
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PM Luxon doubles down on 'personal responsibility' regarding school lunches
The Prime Minister says the Government is trying to bring back the idea of Kiwis having rights and responsibilities. A majority of respondents in an RNZ-Reid Research...
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Trump's 'Liberation Day': What can economists expect?
President Donald Trump has spent the last few weeks promoting April 2nd as 'Liberation Day' - the day where a significant number of tariffs will be announced. The...
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ACT's David Seymour weighs up costs of staying in the Paris Accord
David Seymour says New Zealand need to weigh up the benefits - and the costs - of staying in the Paris Climate Accord. The US' withdrawal from the agreement has...
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Labour's Chris Hipkins criticises Green MP Tamatha Paul over latest comments
Opposition leader Chris Hipkins has offered his own criticisms over a Green MP's controversial comments. Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul claimed many feel less...
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Luxon explains why staying in the Paris Accord is good for NZ
The Prime Minister says staying in the Paris Climate Accord is in the country's best interests. National's coalition partners - ACT and New Zealand First - want...
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Minister McClay explains trade deal with India hasn't been abandoned
The Trade Minister says the elusive dairy element of a free trade agreement with India hasn't been abandoned. Todd McClay is with Prime Minister Chris Luxon in New...
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Federated Farmers’ banking spokesman calls for the Reserve Bank to change capital rules
Federated Farmers’ banking spokesman is calling for the Reserve Bank to change its' banking capital rules to benefit Kiwi farmers. Richard McIntyre has labelled...
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Geopolitics and trade wars: What can we expect ahead of the Peters-Rubio meeting?
Geopolitical instability and the budding trade war are likely to lead upcoming talks between New Zealand and the United States. Foreign Minister Winston Peters...
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Infrastructure Investment Summit: Luxon explains how NZ stands to benefit
The Prime Minister says New Zealand should benefit from an increase in global wealth. Some of the world's largest banks and investment firms are arriving in Auckland,...
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Trade Minister issues warning as NZ farmers brace for Trump tariffs
The Trade Minister says his officials are trying to understand and limit fallout from Donald Trump's tarrifs. They've been applied to China, Canada and Mexico -...
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Luxon encourages caution ahead of agricultural tariffs potentially hitting NZ
The Prime Minister says he's waiting to hear the nuts and bolts of potential agricultural product tariffs that could impact New Zealand. US President Donald Trump...
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Is NZ on the road to economic recovery?
One economist has outlined how New Zealand could bounce back after an economically challenging 2024. Interest rates have lowered and the OCR has come down after...
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Seymour defends school lunch 'teething problems' amid ongoing backlash
The Associate Education Minister's making no apologies for his scaled-down, cheaper school lunches. A number of schools have complained of late or sub-standard offerings. David...
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Finance Minister outlines plan to put more pressure on banks
The Finance Minister has outlined a new set of expectations for the Reserve Bank - and she's determined to create more competition in New Zealand's banking sector. Nicola...
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Are we better off in a world without cows?
Dr Vaughn Holder, Alltech’s Kentucky-based global research director for beef, joined The Country to discuss a new documentary about the beef industry. World Without...
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Farmer confidence jumps to 10-year high - Feds
Farmer confidence has risen to its highest level in over a decade, rebounding from record lows in recent years, Federated Farmers says. The advocacy group has released...
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Winston Peters latest to urge NZ to pull out of Paris Agreement
The Deputy Prime Minister has added his voice to questions on New Zealand's place in the Paris Climate Accord. ACT leader David Seymour earlier this month floated...
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NZ First's Shane Jones talks fisheries reform consultation, expands on 'anti-woke' banking bill
The Fisheries Minister's taking aim at what he's labelling opponents of the sector. Consultation's open around proposals to loosen catch regulations and restrict...
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ACT's David Seymour raises doubts over NZ's future in the Paris Agreement
New Zealand's next Deputy Prime Minister is casting doubt over our future involvement in a landmark climate deal. The Paris Climate Agreement is an accord signed...
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NZ First's Shane Jones criticises 'woke banks' and their impact on the productive sector
NZ First MP Shane Jones has fired back against the nation's biggest banks and accused them of holding back Kiwi industries in the name of sustainability. Jones has...
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Prime Minister Luxon hopeful NZ can have a good trade relationship with the US
The Prime Minister says New Zealand's well positioned to have a good relationship with America's new administration. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and...
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Peters credits Trump's team with Gaza ceasefire
The Foreign Minister's suggesting Donald Trump's personnel helped make the Gaza ceasefire become reality. The pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas began...
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Minister McClay talks trade, tariffs as President Trump sworn in
Co-operation talks have started with the new US Administration around New Zealand trade. There's uncertainty whether Donald Trump will impose blanket tariffs - or...
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ACT's David Seymour hopeful despite latest poll drop
ACT's leader is confident his party's on the right track, despite a poll drop. The latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll has Labour overtaking National, which has fallen...
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Who is Christopher Luxon's ag person of the year?
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...
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David Seymour reveals his pick for Politician of the Year
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...
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'Get things back on track': Winston Peters defends ferry announcement
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...
