Listen to the Country online: Chris Hipkins on Winston Peters, India FTA and winning rural votes

Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay today. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Today on The Country radio show, host Jamie Mackay catches up with Labour leader Chris Hipkins for his response to Winston Peters’ comments and to explain why Labour has backed the India free trade agreement.

Hipkins also discusses Labour’s path back to government, including polling momentum and whether the party can win support from rural New Zealand.

On with the show:

Chris Brandolino:

Friday’s weather guy warns of more wet weather for a sodden North Island, while some parts of inland Otago are crying out for rain.

Chris Hipkins:

We salute the Labour leader for supporting the India free trade agreement, despite his reservations.

Plus, what’s his response to Winston Peters’ calling Labour “woke self-confessed communists who would turn our country into a basket case” and saying “we won’t do a deal with Labour or their Marxist and separatist mates”?

We also ask if he is electable with no policy and Te Pāti Māori as a stablemate?

Bruce Weir:

We catch up with Rabobank’s general manager of country banking.

He says farm worker pay growth has levelled off in the last few years, after a post-pandemic period of rapid growth.

The 2026 Federated Farmers-Rabobank Farm Remuneration Report, released today, shows the average salary for a farm worker increased by $1367 to $72,778, or a weighted average rise of 3% across 13 job positions.

Rachel Shearer:

The general manager of PGG Wrightson Wool comments on why the Middle East war could be good for New Zealand wool growers.

Barry Soper:

Our political correspondent comments on a bizarre Beehive week, his new book One Last Question, Prime Minister, and Anzac Day.

Listen below: